Spring progress

The Grounds staff started back last week on a limited schedule. We eased back into being around one another again, while still maintaining our distance. So far everything has progressed well, and we will be increasing hours this week, looking towards the following week to resume our regular schedule. It is just in time to be getting everything back in gear (safely) because the grass is growing, and the pool area needs work.

The golf course is off to an above average start. The Bermuda grass is greening up nicely across the course. There are a few areas of concern, but nothing like we have seen in the past either in severity or distribution. Even these bad areas look better than they have before and are showing signs of life. The cold stretch we entered at the end of last week and look to possibly dip in and out of for this week also, will slow the Bermuda grass progress though. It may even take some of the color out of the grass, but it won’t injure it permanently.

Likewise, the rough has come out strong. We have put an initial cut on rough immediately adjacent to fairways, about 30 yards on each side, to get started. We will get a complete mowing on everything starting this week. We have also made our first cut on green surrounds, with tee surrounds to be done this week also.

2 weeks ago we discussed the minimum maintenance programs we needed to complete while the staff was off. Each of those things has been completed or continued: our seed head control applications continue on schedule with above average results; the pre-emergent weed control has been applied to all areas of rough; the post-emergent herbicide has been applied to the Bermuda grass; and our first 

Annual Bluegrass weevil insecticide application has been made to the greens.

Taken early last week, this shot looks from 12 green back
down the fairway. There is another 5-10% more green Bermuda
grass now than in this picture.

Looking forward, our focus will be on the pool area. As discussed, we must expect a reopening at some point, and we intend to be ready. We will continue to clean the pool grounds and lay new sod. The pool covers were taken off last week. The remaining work will take our staff several hours each day once we finish our morning tasks on the golf course.

The Grounds staff looks forward to getting back to a normal schedule and working hard. We are mindful of balancing safety and maintenance and preparing for our eventual reopening.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

In addition to repairing your own ball mark on every green, please repair at least one other as well.

Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Bunker etiquette

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org