Leaf discussion

 

We are knee deep in leave cleanup right now. A few cold days have triggered the process and leaves are falling across the property. We do not so much try to stay ahead of the leaves as much as we try not to get buried.

Windy days (we have had several), rainy days (only a couple), warm days (above average for October), or cold days (some) can all contribute to leaves falling off the trees. At this time of year, sometimes looking at the leaves will make them fall. This makes managing the cleanup particularly difficult.

You can read more about our overall process here, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

• ·        If it is frosty or wet, we may have to wait until later in the day or for another day entirely before we can resume cleanup. Similarly, if it is windy, trying to corral the leaves is nearly impossible. We may choose to skip trying to clean the playing surfaces until a calmer day. So, playing through leaves may happen.
• ·        Blowers will be running for several hours or more each day. They cannot stop for every golfer that is within earshot or we would never finish. The same is true for the vacuum. Please be patient.
• ·        We make piles for the vacuum in the most efficient places. For example, blowing a large amount of leaves the entire length of a hole does not make sense. We make the pile where most of the leaves are already located. Sometimes this will be near the line of play and balls can easily be lost in the piles. Unfortunately, this is a fact of fall golf. We will make every attempt to keep our piles away from play as much as possible.
• ·        Lastly, while leaf cleanup overwhelmingly dominates our course prep attention, we do have other tasks we are trying to accomplish (e.g. #3 and #17 bunker work). We must balance our efforts.

Blowing leaves can be frustrating (a big gust of wind comes and completely undoes your pile!) but keeping the course clean is the goal. It takes several weeks to work thru most of the leaves and we are amid the worst of it now. Thank you for your patience.

 

Also, our bunker renovation work is progressing well. #17 has been completely sodded. Look for the greenside bunkers to open early this week and the fairway bunker to follow likely by the end of the week. Work has already shifted to #3 and we will follow the same process as #17. The final bunker that we will work on this year will be the practice bunker at the Chipping green.

 

Starting in November, and running thru February, we will reduce our posts to once per month. Thank you.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please stay off all grass surfaces during a frost delay.

 

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