This winter has been colder and snowier than the past several years. While certainly not unprecedented, it has been a change from what we are used to recently. The cold and snow have hampered winter golf, and it has hampered winter work for us. With the slow progression to warmer temperatures, golf is starting back up, but the Grounds department is also catching back up on work.
The biggest hurdle this winter was not the cold, it was the
snow cover. Although the snow was helpful in protecting the turf from some very
cold temperatures, it kept us from completing some of our work because we just
could not access the course. Now we are in a sprint to catch up on some projects
before the full force of the golf season is upon us.
One of our main goals for winter is to add new bunker sand
to all the bunkers. With the persistent snow cover this year, we were unable to
start at all. Over the next few weeks, we will work as quickly as we can to get
new sand added and prepped for the season. This will take time, as well as an understanding
that during the work, the bunkers will play inconsistent across the course. However,
we have done this work in past seasons, and the bunkers are returned to a consistent
state for the season.
There were a few breaks in the cold and snow early in the winter
that allowed us chances to get out and tidy up the course. However, we still
have a lot of spring cleanup to accomplish over the next few weeks also. This includes
stick cleanup, general bunker maintenance and flower bed cleaning and mulching.
March is also a critical time for some major agronomic practices
as well. We completed aeration of the greens last week- a huge accomplishment.
Although aeration was later this year than usual, it will allow for lots of
healing before we start our PGR program. At the next available window, we will
also be applying our first pre-emergent herbicide to the Bermuda grass. This
will set a barrier against weeds growing in the Bermuda grass for the start of
the season. It will be followed by a second application in May.
Lastly, not to be forgotten is the soccer field. March is
also the time we put in major work in repairing the field from any fall and
winter wear and preparing it for the upcoming season. The weather starts to warm
enough that the turf begins to grow and heal, but it is still early enough that
the soccer season hasn’t quite made it into full swing.
March and April are always busy. Waking the course back up
from winter and setting it in the correct direction for the season. This year
we will be working on some delayed projects along with all the regular spring
tasks.
We will now resume weekly posts through October. Thank you
Etiquette Reminder of the Month
When parking your cart at a tee or green, please keep all 4
tires on the path
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
See you on the course!
Joe
jvillegas@bwrc.org
