2009 & 2010 Winter

Good golly, will I be happy when the warm temperatures return. This winter has been brutal on grass, constant cold temperatures along with rain. It is official the National weather Service has listed this as the 5th coldest winter in history, 1974 was number four. Sure we can look back and remember some brutal cold conditions we've experienced in the last 36 years, but those conditions were quickly rebounded by warmer conditions, therefore the average winter didn't meet what the winter of 2009 & 2010 has given us. Snow fell in the first week of December, the entire northeastern United States had not recieved any snowfall yet! Well they certainely have made up for it. We have recorded 39 days of frost 47 days of measurable rainfall. By the way we've had 6.50" of rain since December 1st 2009. Soil are temperatures are down in the 50 degree area and nothing is growing. Here's a rule of thumb I tell everyone so that they can understand when grass will actvely grow and green up toatally. Add the night time and daytime temperature together and see wht you get. What you need is at least 150 degrees bbetween the two. So let's take February 24th--Low 33 degrees--Hi 41 degrees add those togehter and you get 74 degrees no where near the 150 degree mark. What the turf needs is 70 degree mornings and 80 or more degree days. So everyone get out there and do a warm temperature dance.

Hole # 18 Bunker

In case any of you noticed we changed up the face on the bunker at number 18 green on the right side. We removed the sod from around the trap trimmed away some dirt and replanted the sod. The bunker did not change in size we simply just rolled the grass down to the height of the sand in the bunker. I can tell you this, two inches of rain fell on Thurday, February 11th and there was no erosion from the rainfall. within minutes the bunker was raked and ready for play! I plan to approach the Greens Committee to put a plan together on how many bunkers and which particular bunkers we agree on.

Tree Trimming

Most all the tree trimming has been completed through out the entire course. I'm sure there's got to be a couple we've missed. When we find them we'll get em trimmed. We are currently in process of grinding all those trimmed branches into mulch. The Men's Golf Association provided us with the chipper. The additional mulch will be around the restrooms at hole #6,#10, and #14. Also the hedgelines on #10,#13,#16,#18 tee box as well. That will be our start then the MGA along along with the Greens Committee will select the remaining area's. So if you hear some loud noises out on the course chances are you are near the chipper.

Hole #6 The Chipper

For those of you getting out to play golf, when you get to hole #6 take a look to the right of the cart path along the fairway. The Men's Golf Association provided a chipper for us in help to clean up this area. We agreed to have the chipper for four weeks so we needed to get as much done as possible. I will tell you this, everything that has been put there in the last two years is gone plus going back many more years of piling up cut branches. At this point we are know in the process of fine tuning whatever material is left on the ground. Plus, moving the mulch to different areas around the course. The MGA Board along with the Greens Committee Board worked together in deciding where the mulch should be put out. Our beginning stages will start with the three restrooms on the course then the hedgee lines on #10, #13, #16, & #18 tee boxes. Once these areas are completed we will meet again to decide the next location. Just for reference: The remaining branches on hole #5 will be cleaned up during the fall months once the grass has stopped actively growing.