The Metrolink project has started in our maintenance area and into the long driving range. They are building a road from our maintenance area into the back of the driving range that will take them to the staging area in the back left corner of the driving range. The bins will be replaced, fence put back up but the road will be left in place which will give us a permanent road back to the dump area during winter and or wet conditions which will be very helpful for our operation.
During the project, you may expect dump trucks, flatbed trucks and other equipment will be coming into the club from St. Mary's Lane and coming out of our maintenance building area on a regular basis. The work hours should be between 6:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. For your safety, please allow trucks to exit St. Mary's Lane before you enter with your vehicle.
Material bins being removed.
The roadway that comes into the driving range from the material bin area. Rock is being laid to build the road back to the staging area.
Late fall and winter golf is interrupted on a frequent basis due to frost and or frozen turfgrass. Early/light frost covers the blades and can be damaged more cosmetically if walked or driven upon. As temperatures begin to drop further, the individual cells of the blades can become frozen and traffic can lead to plants being damaged severely and or die. For these reasons, the course will not open until until the frost has lifted.
In an effort to respect your time, I would recommend that you call the pro shop if you have times before 10 a.m. and the temperature is below 40 degrees. We will make every effort to give the pro shop an approximate time when play might begin.
There are occasions during the winter that the temperatures are cold enough to where the grass blades remain frozen and the course will not be opened. We do not have a large number of winter players on the course but there are a few who are hardy enough to try to play during some of the colder periods.
The course will also remain closed when greens are covered with snow and or ice. There are also times when the turf is clear of snow and ice but the greens are softening from the freeze that begins to come out of our soil push up greens. Roots can be sheared and long term damage may occur. I will make additional posts regarding this issue when we get into the winter thawing periods of the year.
Below is a very informative video from the USGA regarding frost and the damage that can occur from both foot and cart traffic on frost covered turf.
With the fairways going dormant and conditions becoming wet from the rain over the last few days, all carts will be required to remain on the paths the rest of the fall and throughout the winter.
We will allow individuals who have been given red flags during the main golf season to receive a flag as well during the winter when conditions are dry enough to allow access onto the fairways without damaging turf.
Zoysia does not handle wear and tear well during its dormant period and could be slow to come out of dormancy in the spring when everyone is excited about the new golf season.
We will allow carts off of the paths in the spring when we begin to get growth that requires mowing.
The back 9 greens aeration was completed today. Holes poked, topdressed, sand blow and brushed into holes, greens brushed and rolled. The front 9 are healing well and should be in good shape by the end of this week.
18th green being aerated this afternoon.
Tom blowing sand into holes on #17.
Jason changing the holes and Jeff rolling the greens.
