Bill Murray days of Caddy Shack are remembered

Hole #11 had a critter move in. He was leaving piles of sand on the green where he had been digging his tunnels to live a happily ever life---PROBLEM, for him---wrong place to be digging---on a putting green---not going to work.

The beginning stages of his/her digging. Multiple holes was left on the green. Camp had been established to terminate the critter but he was playing smart and would not show himself.

The critter has know been terminated, however the tunnel he was once traveling in, in know collapsing

.

End of the highway!
Serafin has know began repairing the putting surface. Multiple plugs were cut 12" apart and sand was stuffed back into the tunnel to lift the grass back up to a flat surface.

Adding Sand to the Bunkers

Be on the look out for additional sand being added to the bunkers.
The greenside bunkers will get an additional 3 inches of sand in the center and/or the bottom of the trap and 1 inch or a bit more around the edges/flashes.
The fairway traps will get an additional 1 to 2 inches added as well.

Here's the plan of attack so far:
Start on holes #3,4,5,6,7 will include up to 6 loads of sand
Next, holes #1,2,8,13,14, will include up to 7 loads of sand
Next holes #9, 18, chipping green 3 loads of sand
Next, holes 10,11,12 will include 7 loads of sand
Finally 15,16,17 will include 5 loads of sand

As of July 3rd-
12 loads of sand have been put into the greenside & fairway bunkers at #3,4,5,6,7,9,18.

Golf Course Fertilizer

On Monday June 9th, the golf course maintenance staff applied 10 tons of fertilizer to the golf course. The fertilizer was applied at 5 lbs. p/1000 sq. ft. or at 220 lbs p/acre equivalent to 1 lb. of nitrogen.
 The fertilizer was applied to tee tops, tee slopes, fairways, roughs, and green slopes. Two of our staff members applied  fertilizer  between the bunkers and the green as well. The large spreader is not able to go into these areas because it will throw the fertilizer onto the green and  fertilizer burns will take place if this fertilizer sits on a putting surface to long without being watered in. This fertilizer is designed for turf mowed at higher heights of cut not turf being mowed at .117.

 Checo applying the fertilizer on hole #17.

The staff had reloaded the spreader with fertilizer. This type of spreader typically will handle 2 tons of fertilizer in one load.












The picture below shows the amount of fertilizer on the turf. Once it was watered in a large quantity of this was gone and moving to the plant.

Here's the even better news. By watching the weather on daily basis actually several times a day on daily basis. I knew the chances of rain were good for this afternoon and on top of that there was a line of storms to the west of us moving towards Katy. I told my staff to get after it and lets get every hole fertilized so that Mother Nature can water it in for us. So basically, we got two big hits yesterday;
1. Mother natures water-there is no better than hers!!!
2. 10 tons of fertilizer on the ground!!!

Turf will be on the move in about 7 days

Thanks

Willy Plowman

Golf Course Superintendent

Texas Parks and Wildlife on Snakes

Snakes!

Snakes look so different, Where do they fit in with the other animals?

Like us, snakes are vertebrates, which means they have a backbone consisting of numerous vertebrae that provide their bodies with flexible support. They share this characteristic with fishes, amphibians, other reptiles, and mammals. Snakes belong to the Class Reptilia, meaning they are cold-blooded, have skin covered with scales and lay eggs (oviparous). Some snakes retain the eggs within their body until they hatch, thereby giving birth to live young (ovoviviparous). Snakes are close cousins to lizards and share the spotlight with them in the reptilian Order Squamata. Snakes belong to their suborder Serpentes, consisting of 15 families, 417 genera and over 2,375 species worldwide. Five of these families (depending on your classification system) are represented in the United States by 50 genera and 127 species. Snakes, though of relatively recent origin, are a diverse and highly successful group.

Texas is always bragging about having the most, the biggest, and the best of everything. How do we rank in terms of snakes?

Granted some Texans may be reluctant to brag about this one, but the Lone Star State is, undeniably, a cornucopia of snake diversity. Although the exact number of species is hard to determine, we boast a stunning 76 species of snakes. If you include both species and subspecies in that number, it gives you a grand total of 115 or more - the highest number in all of the United States. The vast majority of Texas' snakes are non-venomous and completely harmless. Only 15% of the total number are venomous and should be treated with caution and respect. The venomous varieties can be grouped into four basic categories: coral snakes, copperheads, cottonmouths (also known as water moccasins), and rattlesnakes.

Which of the five families of snakes that occur in the U.S., are found in Texas?

Texas hosts four of the five US families of snakes: the Slender blind snakes (Leptotyphlopidae), the Advanced snakes (Colubridae), the largest group; the Old World fixed front fang snakes (Elapidae) and, finally, the New World Pit vipers, the hinge-fanged snakes, a subgroup of the Viper Family (Viperidae). Texas can claim no boas (Boidae).

Where are snakes distributed in the state of Texas? Are some places more "snaky" than others?

Snakes occur throughout the state of Texas. Of the 254 counties in Texas not one of them is snake free. According to Fred Gelbach of Baylor University, 36% of the 68 snake species in Texas are of eastern origin, like the Eastern hognose snake and the Texas rat snake. Twenty-three percent are basically western or southwestern in origin, like the long-nose snake, ground snake and prairie rattlesnake. Fourteen percent are central US Great Plains species, like the Texas blind snake and the central lined snake; while nine percent hail from the Chihuahuan desert region, including the Trans-Pecos rat snake and the rock rattlesnake. Another nine percent are transcontinental species and occur throughout the US, like the speckled king snake and several species of garter snakes. Finally, a few snakes, like the beautiful indigo snake, cat-eyed snake and black-striped snake are essentially tropical species reaching the northern limits of their range in the Tamaulipan region of south Texas. There is a single endemic species snake, the Harter's water snake, which consists of two subspecies, found only within the state of Texas. The Central Texas region has the largest number of species. As for parts of Texas where there are many individuals, West Texas, Central Texas and South Texas are great places to go to find snakes.

What basic information should people know about snakes?

Snakes are a natural and integral component of the ecosystem. As predators, they are invaluable for their role in maintaining the balance of nature by helping to keep populations of their prey in check. Their prey consists of everything from earthworms to rabbits, and this includes other snakes. Snakes are especially important in the control of rodents. Bull snakes can be a farmer's best friend.
Snakes are distinctive in possessing an elongated, scaly body without limbs, external ear openings or eyelids, and like all other reptiles, they are cold-blooded or, more properly, ectothermic. Snakes cannot tolerate extreme cold and will normally hibernate in the winter, emerging from their dens late February or early March in Texas. They also avoid extremely torrid conditions, confining their activity in hot climates to early morning, evenings, and night-time. Limblessness has in no way been a handicap to evolutionary success. Snakes successfully occupy many terrestrial, arboreal, underground, and aquatic environments around the world.

Where do snakes occur in the world?

As a group, snakes are cosmopolitan, occurring on all major land masses except Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Newfoundland and New Zealand. While there may be more species of lizards in the world, snakes are less limited in distribution, so that in most areas there are more snakes than lizards. Among the reptiles, snakes are the most successful group.

What makes snakes look so different?

All snakes have long, flexible, scaly bodies. But underneath their scaly skin, they possess muscles, bones, lungs, intestines, a heart and a liver, just like other vertebrates. To accommodate the long slender body, most snakes have many more vertebrae and ribs than do other vertebrates of comparable size. Additionally, most or their paired internal organs have been reduced , removed, or drastically repositioned to get a better fit. A snake's jaws are truly unique, allowing the animal to swallow prey much larger than the narrow mouth opening would deem possible. A snake can do this because the two halves of the lower jaw are joined by a stretchable ligament. The expandable gape enables the snake to engulf a large prey item rather like a stretchable stocking. Other structural features facilitate the process including the loose articulation and reduced number of the bones supporting the jaws, a protrusible glottis that permits breathing while the mouth is blocked by prey; and sharp, back-pointing teeth which help manipulate and drive the victim irrevocably backward towards the stomach.

What other distinctive characteristics do snakes exhibit?

Snakes possess a few other typical traits. The forelimbs and pectoral girdle are totally absent in snakes, though vestiges of the hind limbs and pelvic girdle do still occur in primitive snakes. Eyelids don't move giving snakes that riveting, stony-eyed stare, while the cornea is protected by a fixed transparent scale called the brille. This transparent scale is shed along with the rest of a completely molted skin. And while snakes have no external ear and thus cannot hear air-borne sounds, they are very sensitive to vibrations emanating from the ground. The tongue is long, retractile and fork-tipped. Though it appears menacing, it is not a stinger, inflicts no wound, and contains no poison. This sensitive mouth part tells the snake much about its surroundings. It can be flicked in and out vigorously then inserted into two depressions on the roof of the snake's mouth called the "vomeronasal" or "Jacobson's" organ. These function together as a highly sensitive chemoreceptor system enabling the snake to "taste" and "smell" the particles of the air. Some snakes, like the pit vipers, can even sense heat and target the position of a warm-blooded animal in the vicinity by means of heat sensor pits. These may be located along the lips or between the eye and the nose of the snake depending on the species.

How did snakes get to look the way they do?

Snakes are the most successful of all living reptiles. They are amazingly adapted for their life close to the surface of the ground. And while many people assume that snakes have always looked the way they do, scientists believe that this most recently evolved of all the reptile groups achieved their current form as slender, tubular animals devoid of legs, quite late in geological history, some 65 million years ago. They are believed to have evolved from a Mesozoic monitor-lizard-type ancestor. According to Alan Tennant, who wrote The Snakes of Texas, the scenario goes something like this. In order to escape increasingly heavy predation from the many agile, voracious, warm-blooded little dinosaurs which combed the late Cretaceous plains in search of easy, slow-moving prey, ancestral snakes took to the underground. Over time, in the safety of subterranean burrows, their lifestyle changed radically as they gradually abandoned their limbs, free breathing, good eyesight and hearing - a big sacrifice for any animal - to better suit their new way of life. Foregoing life on the surface, they came to rely more on taste and smell than on sight or a keen sense of hearing for their survival and legs were more a hindrance down under than a help. Bit by bit, they were no longer lizards at all. Other herpetologists contend that the evolutionary history of snakes is shrouded in mystery. And while they concede that snakes are morphologically distinct and easily distinguished from lizards, they believe that snakes are still basically highly modified lizards.

How can you tell one snake from another? Don't they all look alike?

While it's true that snakes are all basically shaped like a rope, there are several discernible differences within this basic format. Despite being superficially similar, upon closer inspection, snakes display an incredible diversity of color, scale pattern, and subtly of form. For instance, some snakes are small and slender, more like large eyeless earthworms than snakes. Take the Texas blind snake, for example. Others, much larger, seem long and whip-like. The western coachwhip and the buttermilk racer fall nicely into this category. Still others can be thick and stocky. Western cottonmouths are definitely chunky. It's always instructive to notice the relative width of the head in relation to the body as well as the relative length of the tail. The length and shape of the snout anterior to the eyes can also be a give away. The hognose, patchnose and longnose snake are good examples. While tails are usually somewhat longer in males than in females of the same species, relative length and thickness of the tail can also help to identify one species form another. Scale patterns are also extremely good aids to identification. Their number and distribution on various parts of the body are relied upon heavily in dichotomous keys to identify a specimen to species. And the scales themselves can be distinctive. Some are smooth while others are keeled. (The keel is a horizontal line-like ridge on the scale.) Smooth scaled snakes appear polished or satiny when the snake is seen up close, while roughly keeled snakes seem dull or sometimes, just after shedding, kind of velvety. Colors and color patterns are probably the first thin a person notices. Patterns can be roughly classified as striped or banded lengthwise, as in lined or garter snakes; or transversely banded, as in broad-banded water snakes. Some bands go all the way around the snake as in the coral snake, while others seem to only partially encircle the animal as in the gray-banded kingsnake. Some snakes have blotched patterns or have a row of large saddles along the back as in some rat snakes or copperheads. Other snakes possess small, elegant spots arranged in a checkerboard fashion as in the Buttermilk racer. Spots can also be uniformly distributed as in the Central American speckled racer and speckled kingsnake or they can be irregularly scattered as in the beautiful desert kingsnakes. A few snakes like the diamondback rattlers have a symmetric series of rhombs or diamonds along the back. Indigo snakes, on the other hand, are a uniform dark color. Snakes can be all green, brown, blue, black, peachy coral, or gold. Some snakes even have melanistic or dark morphs, while all grades of albinos also exist. It's always good to check the color of the belly which is sometimes a lighter or different color or has a distinctive pattern compared to the rest of the body. Remember the young of some snakes are sometimes quite different in color and pattern from adults, which can be confusing. Let your portable field guide to the snakes be your constant companion in the field. There are a number of good ones available at your local library or at bookstores. Some of the best titles for Texas are listed at the end of this document. The more species of snakes you observe and identify, the more you will come to appreciate the beauty and complexity of coloration and pattern design. For many herpetologists (people who study reptiles), snakes embody incomparable works of art.

What other ways can you identify a snake, if the color pattern doesn't give it away, and the snake is acting too feisty for an analysis of the scale patterns?

Many snakes give their identity away by their characteristic and sometimes bizarre behavior. An excellent example of this is that of the super thespian, the Texas hognose snake, who can really put on a show. This amazing critter has evolved an elaborate pattern of behavior designed to make it as unappealing as possible to any potential predator. If molested, according to Alan Tennant, it may coil or raise its head, and flatten its forebody to make you think it's bigger than it really is. If you are still unimpressed, the snake will next launch several pseudo strikes in your direction, violently jerking its head backward each time. This should immediately suggest to you the aggressive style of pit vipers and frighten you off. If not, next the intrepid snake will emit a sharp, hair-raising hiss with each breath it takes. If the observer continues to be unmoved by all this, the snake will proceed to act two of the performance. It now resolutely conceals its head under its tightly spiraled tail and begins to writhe convulsively, regurgitating and at the same time discharging a foul-smelling musk form its anal glands. Still not convinced? The final ploy - the piece de theatre so to speak - the snake turns belly up with its tongue hanging loosely and pathetically from its open jaw - to all appearances dead as a door nail. Should you take a stick and try to turn it upright - bingo it will flop back over again. Just to let you know in no uncertain terms, there is no such thing as a dead snake in an upright position. In evolutionary terms, this amazing repertoire of behavior must have worked more times than not, or these snakes wouldn't still be around doing this. Not all snakes exhibit such amazing antics, but many of them do have characteristic behaviors that will give you immediate clues to their proper identity.

How would you describe the behavior of most snakes?

Generally snakes are shy and retiring. And when you think about it, they really live rather sedentary lives. Most are non-migratory and if they do migrate, they don't go long distances. Much of their behavior is a function of survival within the limits and opportunities of ectothermy or "cold-bloodedness."

What does it mean to be cold-blooded?

Like all living reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded or, more appropriately, ectothermic. This does not mean that their blood is always cold, but that their body temperature varies with that of the external environment. Unlike war-blooded birds and mammals, snakes are unable to regulate the temperature of the body internally. Snakes can, however, absorb heat form the ground, form the surrounding air, and from objects next to them. They can also create certain amounts of heat by flexing their muscles. This makes their life style different, but not necessarily inferior to that of birds and mammals. In fact, snakes have been able to colonize and adapt to many environments which have proved hostile to warm-blooded animals. Being ectothermic demands less energy. High levels of metabolism don't need to be maintained. So snakes aren't forced to eat all the time. Growth does not have to be constant, rather it can be discontinuous with long pauses between spurts. There can be long periods of fast between meal-times, sometimes as long as three years. Cold-bloodedness is the original or ancestral state of life (all invertebrates, fish, amphibians and reptiles are ectothermic), it is not an inferior state, just different, with different limitations and possibilities. Being ectothermic makes snakes sensitive to both very cold and very hot temperatures. They have a narrower range of temperatures, only about 30 degrees, within which they can survive. Snakes need to hibernate when the ground freezes and air temperatures descend below 32 degrees for extended periods of time. Likewise, they need to take shelter during times of excessive heat. Temperatures over 110 degrees for prolonged periods can be lethal. Snakes protect themselves from temperature extremes by means of behavioral modifications rather than by internal thermoregulatory devices. To warm itself, a snake can bask in the sun, or lie on a paved road at night. To protect itself from cold temperatures, it can burrow deep below the ground where the soils are warmer and unfrozen.
Snakes are absolutely dependent on external heating for their muscular activity and the important life processes of digestion and gestation. They cannot derive their body heat chemically from their own metabolism. So they can live only in parts of the world where the daily and seasonal temperatures are fairly equable. Snakes are just as sensitive to overly hot weather as they are to excessively cold temperatures. Survival time under extreme conditions can be as short as ten to twelve minutes. Even sidewinder rattlesnakes may succumb to the heat at about 113 degrees depending on the duration of exposure. Under cold temperatures, a snake becomes increasingly lethargic. Instinctively it will seek some refuge. It must do this before it becomes immobilized by the cold. In paralyzing cold, snakes can no longer procure food or defend themselves against enemies. In short they can no longer move. The can endure temperatures of 37 degrees for a few days, but not extremes in the teens. Temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees are probably the best and most comfortable for them. Snakes will behaviorally adapt to the temperature ranges of an area. In habitats where daytime temperatures are lethally hot, they will confine their activities to the night. In an area with excessively cold winter temperatures, a sudden drop in temperature will induce long periods of wintertime hibernation with activities resumed in the spring with the return of warm temperatures. Many snakes mate and resume foraging activities in the spring. Snakes can cool themselves by seeking shade, lying in shallow pools of water or crawling down a rock crevice out of the sun. They can warm themselves at night in hot climates by lying on still warm paved highways.

Do snakes have any social structure? Do they ever hang out in packs?

Snakes are essentially solitary and don't congregate into large organized groups. Certain favorable environmental conditions such as the burrows of other animals, attractive shelters for hibernation, or termite galleries may attract small groups of individuals. There is, however, no community like or social structure within these groups. This lack of social organization may make it difficult for snakes to find members of the opposite sex during mating season. Males search out females by smell. Females may, however, congregate at egg-laying areas that are especially suitable.

How long do snakes live?

Snakes are comparatively long-lived. Even small snakes may live as long as 12 years. Large species may live to a ripe old age of 40 years or even longer.

What do snakes eat? How do they swallow their food?

There are no snake vegetarians. Snakes are confirmed meat-eaters. Depending on the species, prey items consist of slugs, worms, insects of all kinds, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, other reptiles, birds and/or mammals. Eggs are also a favorite menu item for some species. Prey is generally swallowed whole. It is usually take alive. Thorn-like teeth which are curved backward help move the prey item in the direction of the stomach. The prey is often seized in the mouth by a rapid strike, and the process of overpowering and swallowing begins. If the snake is nonvenomous, the prey is usually small in size relative to the snake. A few species can subdue larger more active prey by constriction, thus immobilizing the victim before swallowing it. Poisonous snakes are able to subdue large active prey items by striking them, envenomating them with a complex proteinaceous substance which both begins the digestion process and kills the victim at the same time. Many venomous snakes will immediately release their prey, allowing time for the poison to do its work, and locate them later by means of the heat-sensing pits, sight or scent. Once relocated, they proceed to swallow the moribund carcass. Teeth are frequently broken off in the process of the strike, but they are soon replaced with new ones ready for use.
Most snakes have restricted food preferences, while others are more eclectic in their tastes and will take anything that they can effectively subdue and engulf. A number of snakes specialize in taking certain kinds of prey only and have special adaptations to do this. Slender blindsnakes specialize in eating ants and termites. Hognose snakes are toad specialists. The crayfish snake, as its name implies, targets crayfish or similar crustaceans. Some snakes are fish-eaters, others are bird egg specialists. Kingsnakes and Indigo snakes are snake specialists, Smooth and Rough green snakes are insect-eaters with a special liking for crickets, grasshoppers and caterpillars. Rat snakes, great friends of the farmer, of course, love to eat mice, voles, cotton rats and the like.

Family life - Reproduction - Courtship - Finding mates

In temperate climates, mating usually takes place in the spring. Commonly a snake will have spent the winter in the company of others of its kind in a large hibernation burrow. Snakes emerge en masse from their dens at this time and can be found basking in the sun, sometimes in significant numbers. The first order of business, aside from eating, is for the snakes to shed their skin. This molting activity releases a chemical signal in those female snakes that already have mature eggs in their oviducts triggering a readiness to mate. Males probably locate females by scent which arises from epidermal secretions emanating from just inside the female's cloaca. Certain female snakes mate with only one partner in a season while other females store viable sperm from several males for various lengths of time, sometimes up to five years. Courtship usually consists of pushing, rubbing and weaving movements initiated by the male. He will rub his chin against the female's neck thereby stimulating her to receptivity. In some cases there may be a nuptial interlude where the snakes coil around each other. Males of some species participate in what is described as a ritual display of aggression called a combat dance. It is not known whether this is territorial or a display to females in the vicinity. It is only done during mating season and it occurs only between males. Fertilization is internal and the male will terminate courtship activities by getting into position with relation to the female and inserting one side of the double pronged intromittent organ called a hemepene. Sperm passes along a groove in the hemipenis and enters the cloaca then travels up the oviduct where it fertilizes the waiting eggs. Females of some species appear to guard their eggs, but this is not commonly observed in most species. Young rarely if ever receive any kind of protective care form the female. Most snakes simply lay their eggs on the ground usually in warm damp soil. May lay eggs in or under rotting logs, under bark of downed trees, under stones, in holes in the ground or other secluded spots. Snakes can lay as few as 1 to as many as 100 eggs. A number of snake species bear live young. Few snakes exhibit any kind of parental care.

Do snakes have any enemies?

Snakes and people have the same arch-enemy: people. Humans have always waged war on snakes and there is no way of knowing just how many millions of harmless individuals have been battered, shoveled, run over, gassed, and shot to death through the years. And while it's understandable that people object to the dangerously venomous snakes, it is a shame to kill all the harmless ones too, giving as a rule of thumb - the only good snake is a dead snake. For many of us, any enemy of a snake is a friend of ours, no matter what form it may take. In the natural environment, several animals stand out as enemies of snakes. Badgers are major snake predators so are weasels. Several species of wild cats including mountain lions, bobcats, ocelots and jaguarundis will take snakes. The domestic and feral cat should be included in this group. Domestic cats will often take the smaller snakes, both harmless and venomous. Other snakes and large lizards are known to prey on snakes. The indigo snake and the kingsnake are well-known snake predators. Kingsnakes appear to be highly resistant to the venom of most venomous species and over power their victims by constriction. As a matter of fact, a kingsnake will eat almost any snake they find that is small enough to be eaten whether it is venomous or not. When you think of it, the elongate body of a snake is a very convenient shape for consumption by another snake - no pesky legs or horns to get in the way. Some people in South Texas and Mexico used to keep indigo snakes as pets around the house to keep other snakes away. Some birds are well known snake predators. They may eat them as part of a diet which includes other groups of animals or they may be specialists. In the United States, perhaps the best known avian snake predator is the Greater roadrunner. They probably eat more lizard than snakes but that has not prevented quite an elaborate folklore to grow up about their snake hunting prowess. Some roadrunners were reputed to build a wall of cactus spines around the rattlesnake victim so that it would die of heat prostration. Smart bird, probably fiction. Laughing falcons in Mexico are snake specialists and focus most of their foraging attention on the capture of snakes. Turkeys, many large buteo hawks, eagles, herons and cranes are also known to devour snakes with relish when they are small enough to capture. As for domestic animals, pigs like to eat snakes and will attack them viciously before devouring them. They also appear to have a high resistance to snakes venom due to the slow transfer through all that fat. But finally all of the above are no match for man. Through direct actions or indirectly we have completely eradicated snakes in some localities. We have destroyed or modified their habitat and their food supply. We have wiped out great numbers of individuals due to fear, anger, sadism, greed, fun, desire for their hides, or to a lesser extent, for food. Of course, snakes are not our only victims, other animals suffer too. But because of widespread human aversion, snakes have been singled out and targeted as bad animals and have been persecuted beyond all reason.

How do snakes defend themselves?

Think about it, suppose you had neither arms nor legs and were shaped like a flexible hose, with top speeds not exceeding 3 mph. Add to that, being cold blooded and always at the mercy of the weather, especially the temperature, how would you defend yourself? Amazingly snakes have evolved a number of ingenious behaviors and clever strategies to stay alive in an often hostile environment filled with hungry, aggressive, warm-blooded predators with highly developed senses. Snakes are like magicians, and many of them sport a versatile bag of tricks. Most snakes have adopted a somewhat cowardly or cautious attitude towards danger. Defensive tactics include staying hidden and relying on their excellent camouflage in hopes that the predator won't notice that they are even there. I suspect that this is one of their most successful ploys. Some snakes will curl up into a tight ball with their vulnerable head tucked safely and inconspicuously away somewhere in the middle of their body. Other snakes will play dead or try to "bluff" the potential predator into thinking they are larger and more dangerous than they really are. A very common and consistently resorted to strategy is to leave the scene of danger as quickly and unobtrusively as possible, avoiding confrontation at all costs. Discretion is the better part of valor. Finally a few snakes have evolved the ability and the arsenal of equipment necessary to stand their ground and defend themselves against enemies much larger than themselves. If cornered and not given an opportunity for retreat, they will strike with speed and force and envenomate their enemy.

Is a snake "poisonous" or "venomous?"

An animal that has venom is called "venomous." An animal that would make you sick if you ate it is "poisonous." Only a small number of snakes have venom. So although some people refer to those snakes as "poisonous," technically, they mean venomous.

How can I tell the difference between a venomous snake and a harmless one?

Unfortunately, there is no one simple hard and fast criterion a person can use to tell a venomous snake from a harmless one. None of the popular criteria such as a broad, triangular head, a heavy body, cat's eyes (vertical pupils), a flat body, or rough scales are safe since both harmless and dangerous snakes are known to share some or all of these traits. The only unfailing method is an examination of the snake hollow of grooved fangs and venom glands. For obvious reasons, this is not a practical approach. A better method is to know which venomous snakes occur in your area and have a good idea about what they look like. With this in mind, keep a copy of a good field guide to Texas snakes handy, and remember a few simple facts. While many species of harmless snakes will vibrate their tail, only rattlesnakes have rattles which produce a recognizable "cicada-like" buzz. And while most rattlers will sound their rattles when they sense your presence, this is not always the case. If you catch a rattlesnakes totally by surprise, ti may choose to strike first. Pit vipers, such as rattlesnakes, water moccasins, massasaugas, and copperheads, do have cat's eyes with vertical pupils, but so do Texas lyre snakes, Northern cat-eyed snakes and Black-lined snakes which are harmless. Knowing the range of these latter snakes and knowing where you are will make this a more valuable criterion. The Texas lyre snake occurs only in extreme West Texas while the Texas cat-eyed snake and the Black-lined snake occur in extreme South Texas.
Coral snakes, which are venomous, do not have cat-eye's. They are the only venomous snake in Texas that is brightly colored red, yellow, and black bands completely encircling the body. Because harmless Texas scarlet snakes and Louisiana and Mexican milk snakes share the red, black, yellow coloration pattern, it is important to notice the order of the colored bands. A good memory-jogging device to learn is "Red next to black is O.K. for Jack; red next to yellow will kill a fellow." Finally, with scarlet and milk snakes, the bands do not completely encircle the body but stop at ground level, under-bellies being uniform in color.
Many large harmless snakes appear to have large triangular heads which are wide in proportion to the neck, especially when you are looking down at them, so this is really not a good criterion in the field. Additionally, many harmless snakes can make themselves look and act like pit vipers, the Texas hognose snake is a good example. Water moccasins, also known as cottonmouths, do not have rattles, but the do have facial pits. Sometimes these are hard to see without binoculars and still maintain a safe distance. Blotched, Yellowbelly and Diamondback water snakes are often mistaken for water moccasins because they share thick trunks, dark, dimly patterned backs and sides, as well as the same aquatic habitat. Cottonmouths do exhibit rather distinctive behavior, however, that usually helps to differentiate them in the field. They are significantly less agile than water snakes and often hold their ground and gape open-mouthed in a threat posture. The open gape is cottony white, hence their common name.
Copperheads are venomous and can be prevalent in wooded suburban neighborhoods. While their venom is only about half as destructive as that of an equal quantity of western diamonback venom, they are sometimes hard to see in habitat. Due to their cryptic coloration, they blend in beautifully with their surroundings. While they are not highly aggressive, they often get stepped on. According to Alan Tennant in Texas Snakes, not a single death resulted from 308 copperhead bites over a 10-year period.

How best can I avoid getting bitten by a venomous snake?

The best defense against venomous snakes is avoidance. To avoid a particular animal, it is best to know what it looks like and where it is likely to be found. Snakes are often found under rocks, fallen limbs and in the leaf litter. They can also be hidden in tall grassy & brushy areas. Rodents are one of a snakes favorite meals, so avoid areas where mice and rats may be, such as trash, brush and rock piles, stacked lumber and stone walls fences. When outdoors, always look where you step. When you know you are going to be in snake territory, wear boots, thick jeans or chaps and gloves. Never reach under rocks or into holes or other blind crevices. This is definitely asking for trouble. If your are playing ball or frisbee and it lands far from you in tall grass, LOOK before you reach down to pick it up. This also goes for hunters who are retrieving their downed game. Look before you reach. Don't remove or turn over stones and rocks with your bare hands. Be careful when climbing around rocks and watch where you sit. Always watch where you step on warm rocks, especially in spring. Basking on rocks is a popular activity among snakes as they warm themselves in the cool morning air. Be careful when stepping over or on fallen logs. Always pay attention to where you step and make sure you can see where you are placing your feet. The best rule of thumb is to watch where you put your hands and feet; don't put them in places without looking and don't put them in places where you can't see. If you lift a stone or log or any object under which a venomous snake might be, first move it with a stick or hook. Don't place your fingers under it. You can use your foot if you have thick leather boots. If you are walking in grass brush or cactus patches, stay in the cleared areas as much as possible. Remember rattlers are hard to see in their natural habitat as they are protectively colored. Avoid walking around your campsite in the darkness. Rattlers are nocturnal much of the year. If you have to move about, use a flashlight to light your way and don't go barefoot. Step on a log never over it. Carry a stick so that when you walk through tall grass and brush, you can beat the ground with the stick. This will warn the snake that you are in the area. Most snakes will try to escape from the vibrations. If you should see a snake remain still and slowly move away. Pit vipers strike at movement. When you just hear a rattlesnakes, but don't see it, don't move until you have ascertained which direction the sound is coming from. You don't want to mistakenly move towards instead of away from the snake.
In Texas we have an average of 2-3 deaths per year from snakebites, compared with 5 to 7 for insect bites and 8 for lightning. The closer the bite to the heart, the more dangerous it is. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the effects of snakebites. Because children are small and close to the ground, they are often bitten on the face and arms. Finally, the best approach to avoid getting bitten by a venomous snake is to learn to recognize the venomous snakes of your area. Avoid killing the harmless ones as these are competitors of the rattlers for food. If you take a trip away from your area, learn which venomous snakes occur there and what they look like. Finally, don't let the fear of venomous snakes ruin your enjoyment of the out-of-doors. Poisonous snake bites are rare occurences. Being careful, alert and knowledgeable is the best way to avoid any danger of being bitten.

How can I make my habitat hospitable to snakes?

For those landowners, farmers or ranchers (even homeowners) who like the idea of making their land hospitable to snakes, there are several things you can do to attract them. Snakes are attracted to loose rock piles, large brush piles, hollow dead logs where the leaf litter has been allowed to pile up a bit. A nice lake or large pond with good emergent vegetation can be a big attraction for water snakes and the more aquatic species. If your land hosts lots of meadow voles, deer mice, cotton rats and the myriad of other small rodents that abound in the country or on farms, rat and gopher snakes will find this very attractive.

How can I discourage snakes from coming into the yard?

Snakes often occur in the vicinity of suburban and urban residential areas. They can even show up occasionally in your backyard. If the presence of snakes is deemed undesirable, removing their shelter is one of the most effective ways of discouraging them. Eliminating rock piles, brush piles, and areas of tall grass will cause snakes to seek a more suitable habitat. Store lumber, wood piles and other debris around the home at least 18 inches off the ground. Controlling insect and rodent populations in the area will also help to discourage snakes by eliminating their food supply. Snakes will sometimes enter houses, barns and other buildings because they are attracted by the presence of rodents and insects as well as by the cool, damp, dark shelter provided by these buildings. To keep snakes out of houses or other buildings, you must seal off all entry points. Snakes usually enter a building at or below ground level. For this reason, all openings around water pipes, electrical outlets, doors and windows should be sealed. Any holes in masonry foundations around the home should also be sealed off with mortar. Hardware cloth or sheet metal can also be used to seal holes in wooden buildings or siding.

Are there any snakes considered rare, threatened or endangered in Texas?

The following snakes are considered either threatened (T) or endangered (E) in Texas:
Northern scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea copei) T, Texas scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea lineri) T, Black-striped snake (Coniophanes imperialis) T, Indigo snake (Drymarchon corais) T, Speckled racer (Drymobius margaritiferus) E, Northern cat-eyed snake (Leptodeira septentrionalis septentrionalis) E, Brazos water snake (Nerodia harteri harteri) T, Concho water snake (Nerodia harteri paucimaculata) E, Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis melanoluecus ruthveni) E, Big Bend blackhead snake (Tantilla rubra) T, Texas lyre snake (Trimorphodon bisutatus vilkinsoni) T, and the Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) T.

Fun Facts about Snakes

• Snakes range farther north and occur at higher elevations than lizards. They also adapted to a much wider range of environmental conditions.
There are no snakes in Ireland, Newfoundland, New Zealand or on numerous south sea archipelagos.
• In Australia, the majority of snakes are venomous, approximately 80%. You need to watch where you step down under.
• Rattlesnakes can't hear the sound of their own rattles.
• Large prey and their slow metabolism give snakes the advantage of not having to eat so often. Few eat more than once a week; many eat from 8 to 10 times a year. Some are capable of very long fasts.
• Numerous species of snakes occasionally or regularly eat snakes of other species, usually much smaller than themselves.

Texas Parks and Wildlife on Alligator awareness

Alligator Warning   The Texas Parks and Wildlife have been contacted and the Management Company has been advised by the  TPWD that this alligator is not defined as a “nuisance”,  which is how they base coming out to the location for  assistance and/or removal. Based on that information,  the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, has advised that  each resident should be aware of the following:  IF YOU SEE AN ALLIGATOR... If the alligator is not approaching people or otherwise                             posing an obvious  threat, wait a few days if possible                               - even up to a week - before contacting  TPWD. In                                     spring and summer, alligators are moving to breed and                                 find new habitat. Most of the alligators moving around are                               smalle ones that have been pushed out of their normal                                habitat by larger alligators. Usually,  these smaller alligators                         will move further on in a week or two. If you hear an alligator hiss, it's a warning that you are too                         close. Alligators have a natural fear of humans, and usually begin                               a quick retreat  when approached by people. If you have a                         close encounter with an alligator a few yards away, back                             away slowly. It is extremely rare for wild  alligators to chase                           people, but they can run up to 35 miles per hour for short                         distances on land. Never make the mistake of thinking that                             an alligator is slow and lethargic. Alligators are extremely                               quick and agile and will defend themselves when cornered.                             A female protecting her nest might charge a person who                               gets close to the nest, but she would quickly  return to the                               nest after the intruder left. It is not uncommon for alligators to bask along the banks of                             a pond or stream for extended periods of time. These                             alligators are usually warming  their bodies; they are not actively                       hunting. Often times a basking alligator may be seen with its                   mouth open; this is a way to cool its body temperature down,                   since alligators do not pant or sweat. An  approaching human                   should cause these alligators to retreat into the water. (In some               cases, the alligator may be protecting a nest - see below.)                     However, an alligator may be considered a nuisance if it leaves                   the banks of the water body to spend time near homes,                           livestock pens, or other structures. If you walk near the water and an alligator comes straight toward                 you,  especially if it comes out of the water, it is definitely a nuisance       alligator that needs to be reported to TPWD. In many cases, these             are alligators that have been fed by people or have been allowed                   to get human food. If you see an alligator while walking a pet make sure that your pet is               on a  leash and under your control. Your pet will naturally be curious,           and the alligator may see an easy food source. Alligators have a               keen sense of smell. In areas near alligator sightings it is wise to               keep pets inside a fenced area or in the house for a few days, during           which the alligator will  often move on. If you see an alligator in the roadway, DO NOT attempt to move it!             Notify local authorities so the alligator can be handled safely. If you see a large alligator in your favorite swimming hole or pond,                 do not  swim with it. Although alligator attacks in Texas are rare, it                 can happen. The "attack" reports in Texas are usually more accurately described as  "encounters." As with all outdoor activities, realize                   that wildlife encounters are a possibility. It is not uncommon for alligators to pursue top-water fishing lures, and        this  activity does not constitute a threat to humans. As with fish,          alligators are  attracted to these lures because they mimic natural food.  Most alligators can be easily scared away from boats or fishing lures.  However, alligators that repeatedly follow boats, canoes, or other      watercraft, and/or maintain a  close distance without submersing may be  considered nuisance alligators. If you see a nuisance alligator, consider why it is there. Did someone      clean fish and throw the heads into a pond or river? If so, they created a  potential alligator problem and could be breaking state regulations.        Since October 1, 2003, it has been a Class C misdemeanor punishable      by a fine of up to $500 for anyone caught feeding an alligator. DOs AND DON'Ts FOR LIVING WITH ALLIGATORS Don’t - kill, harass, molest or attempt to move alligators. State law               prohibits     such actions, and the potential for being bitten or injured by                   a provoked alligator is high. Do - call your TPWD regional office if you encounter a nuisance gator                   that has lost its fear of people. Don’t - allow small children to play by themselves in or around water. Do - closely supervise children when playing in or around water. Don’t - swim at night or during dusk or dawn when alligators most actively               feed. Do - use ordinary common care. Swim only during daylight hours. Don’t - feed or entice alligators. Alligators overcome their natural                 shyness and become accustomed or attracted to humans when fed.                     It is now a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500, to intentionally feed an alligator. Do - inform others that feeding alligators creates problems for others               who want to use the water for recreational purposes. Don’t - throw fish scraps into the water or leave them on shore. Although           you are not intentionally feeding alligators, the end result can be the same. Do - dispose of fish scraps in garbage cans at most boat ramps or                     fish camps. Don’t - remove any alligators from their natural habitat or accept one                     as a pet. It is a violation of state law to do so. Alligators do not become             tame in captivity and handling even small ones may result in bites.                         In particular, never go near   baby alligators or pick them up. They may               seem cute and harmless, but mama alligator will be nearby, and will               protect her clutch for at least two years. Do - enjoy viewing and photographing wild alligators from a safe                 distance of at least 30 feet or more. Remember that they're an                   important part of Texas 's natural history, as well as an integral                         component of many wetland ecosystems.  Thank you to our member Al Fuller for sharing this article.

South Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association Article

A record-setting winter in some parts of the country will mean longer-than usual recovery times this spring for many golf courses and the superintendents who manage them
One sure sign of spring is the return of golfers to their local links. But in many parts of the country, when those golfers tee it up, they are likely to find more than a few reminders of the long, cold winter that just concluded. From parts of the Up-per Midwest to the Northeast and in areas as far south as Texas and the Carolinas, the winter of 2013-2014 was one of the longest, coldest and most severe in memory. And according to golf course superintendents and turf grass researchers who have been monitoring conditions with great concern, golfers getting in their first swings of the season are likely to get an up-close-and-personal look at the damage. “I spoke with a superintendent the other day who has been in his current position for 22 years, and in the industry longer than that, and he thought this was the worst winter since the late1970s, something like 40 years," says Kevin Frank, Ph.D., an associate professor in turf grass science at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. "Winter injury isn't uncommon on golf courses in many parts of the country, but it might normally be just a handful of courses that are affected. This year, it will likely be just a handful that aren’t affected." "At a local superintendent meeting we just had, a climatologist from Michigan State told us that this was the worst winter in 100 years," said Steve Cook, Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. "It was just so far out of the norm, even for those of us in this part of the country. "So what made this winter so unusual and problematic for golf course turf grass? Primarily, it was the unusual mix of snow, ice and long stretches of below-average temperatures that created the recipe for trouble. And depending on where you were in the country, the impact was felt to varying de-grees. More southern climates may have largely escaped the heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures, but winter still took its toll, most notably when an ice storm felled the famed Eisenhower Treeat Augusta National, site of last week's Masters Tournament. More broadly, golf courses featuring warm-season turf grasses such as Bermuda grass or zoysia grass that were exposed to unusually long periods of near-freezing temperatures may be slow to take shape this spring. In the Upper Midwest and Northeast, that winter recipe created even more significant issues. The most notable troublemaker, according to Frank, was ice that took up residence on golf course turf and refused to leave, choking off oxygen that turf counts on to survive winter. “In some places, there was constant ice cover for a period of 60-70 days. And talking to superintendents, you'll hear a range of depths on that ice cover, anywhere from a half inch upwards to 4 inches. That's something I haven't seen here in my 15 years here." Frank says. “Combine that with the heavy snowfall, and it created a situation that was pret-ty much beyond the control of any turf manager. There just aren't many options when you have that much ice-covered by 2 feet of snow. “What will golfers see once that snow and ice finally gives way to spring in those areas of the country? There will likely be areas of turf grass that simply didn't survive the winter, an occurrence superintendents refer to as winterkill. So bare spots on greens, tees, fairways and in roughs will not be uncommon. Golf courses might also be facing disease pres-sures because of the long winter, most notably snow molds that could be thriving despite the fact that most superintendents preventatively treat their golf course before winter sets in. As spring begins to take a firmer hold, superintendents and their teams will be taking active steps to repair any damage left behind by this unusual winter. In cases where snow mold is pre-sent, spot fungicide treatments can be expected. And golfers can also expect to see plenty of spring seeding of areas im-pacted by winterkill, whether those are bent grass or annual bluegrass greens. “One of the first questions I've been asking superintendents is, 'Do you have enough seed?’ “Frank says. "Bent grass seed is going to be a hot commodity for golf courses this spring. I think golfers can expect to see some temporary greens out there, maybe some greens that are half playable and half roped off until they can get some new growth. That's what superintendents do; they grow grass. So I ex-pect them to get everything in great shape eventually. It just might take a little longer than after a normal winter. “One final tool in helping repair the damage left behind by the brutal winner of 2013-2014, at least according to Cook: Open lines of communications between golfers and superintendents. "I really think one of the most valuable things you can do in situa-tions like this is to just talk to your members, talk to you golfers," Cook says. "Just let them know what is going on with your golf course and what steps you and your team are taking to address any issues," he explained. “I think Trey Rogers with Michigan State said it best - we just need to relax and see what happens. It's going to take some patience by turf grass managers, some babysitting. We'll pull out all the stops, but at the end of the day, it just takes time."

Questions concerning to the golf course

1      This e-mail was sent to the club on Wednesday May 21, 2014 by a member of Willow Fork Country Club.I thought I would try to answer some of these topics.

        It is inexcusable for the greens to be in the shape they are in.  It is the absolute worst and has been for a while. Anyone should have been able to tell that there was a disease problem early on - there is absolutely no way they should have been cut down to the level they were for the Member/Member. 

                    

      It is inexcusable for the greens to be in the shape they are in-Are we talking about the putting green? if so, yes there is an issue whether it would be drainage issues, traffic issues, disease issues-I will get that figured out. It take me time to get test results back from disease and soil testing labs.

 It is the absolute worst and has been for a while. Are we talking about #1,2,3 &18 green, if so, Poa Annua which is a winter weed appeared starting back in January, Since January 6th-5 herbicide application have been applied to the putting surfaces of these greens and absolute no kill resulted. I have pictures of me pulling the plant out by hand and one single root holding that plant to life-yet our available products would not terminate the life of these poa annua plants. For 2015, I am looking into different steps to get better control, the EPA has removed the top 2 products that have been used for years that were successful, they are not available for use anymore!

Anyone should have been able to tell that there was a disease problem early on-I'm confused can I be educated of what type of disease our greens suffered through this winter. Very little Bipolaris Leaf Spot was detected and treated compared to years past. Just 2 years ago holes #2,3,4,5,7,14, & putting green were devastated with disease every year. It seems like it was almost just acceptable that we were going to lose grass on those greens. Willow Fork golf course maintenance staff began to investigate the drainage on these greens and found huge problems. After a full winter of doing drainage repairs 19 out of 20 greens now have grass completely covering them throughout the winter month and spring months. 

 There is absolutely no way they should have been cut down to the level they were for the Member/Member-Greens were lowered 1/64" of an inch??? and then double cut and doubled rolled for week before. Have we already forgotten the temperatures had dropped significantly the week of the event? That's devastating to the turf!!! Lowering the greens a 1/64" of an inch, has no devastation to the turf, whether it would have been in the spring, summer, fall, or winter. 

The lack of grass on the fairways is also deplorable - I have played a number of the area courses and by FAR our fairways are the worst.

The lack of grass on the fairways is also deplorable-I will not apply fertilizer down to the fairways and/or roughs until the 150 temperature degree rule is met. If you do not understand the 150 temperature degree rule, there is a write up about it in this blog. This is a huge investment for Willow Fork, fertilizer will be applied once it will work. Every fairway has grass completely covering it. We do have watering issues to deal with, very few people want to accept this as part of our issue but we do have to meet permits on the amount of water that is applied on a yearly basis. Just 10 years ago water was free and you could use all the water you wanted here at Willow Fork Country Club today we are paying $2.25 p/1000 gallons. Right know our annual cost to pump water from the ground to our lakes is estimated $88,000.00. I have commented that we should begin to charge members $2.25 p/round of golf to help in compensating the cost, but even then that would not fix the problem because the water authorities control the amount you are allowed to pump from the ground. Every year our permitted amount is lowered by the Fort Bend Water Authority. In our near future, we are supposed to be receiving effluent water. This is supposed to help in offsetting the cost of groundwater but does not offset the amount we will be permitted for. They (water authority) are now 2 years late getting here.  

by FAR our fairways are the worst.-Wow-hear we are mowing fairways twice a week, we have already aerified them plus I cannot tell you the amount of members that have complimented the turf this year.

 The range is an absolute joke and it can't be blamed on the kids - there is absolutely no sand spread to fill in the divots.

 Again, I am going back to the 150 temperature degree rule. When you add the night time and day time temperatures together and you don't reach 150, then grass is not in full strides of growing. Sure it's green but that doesn't mean it's growing. In order for an area such as the driving range-grass must be in the full stride of growth in order to recover from the impact of damage it receives. Yes, I'll confess more sand should be applied to the driving range tee. Tuesday May 27th the tee box is scheduled for a heavy top dressing and plus an additional fertilizer application. Already 4 fertilizer applications have been made since mid-April, (I'm going to say it again) the 150 temperature rule has just barely been met, just turf recovery is in progress.

The bunkers on the course are poorly conditioned and the lack of sand in them is fairly obvious.

The bunkers on the course are poorly conditioned
Conditioned
1. Have a significant influence on or to determine the manner of outcome of something.
2. Bring (something) into the desired state for use.

 I have been asked throughout the years why do we rake traps with the trap rake machine? Really a simple answer, we have 65 bunkers to get ready for play, 5 out of 7 days of the week we have play starting on the front 9 and back 9 as early as 7:00 A.M. In order for our staff to get the bunkers ready for play, the trap rake is our quickest route. 
 Drainage is another issue we have, I do not even know when Willow Fork did the last bunker renovation to the greenside bunkers, my guess it had to be in the late 90's or early 2000's. You can put the finest drainage systems in and they typically last 7 years on average. Our worst bunker conditions usually occur after heavy rains or during a rainy cycle. Rain causes the sand to erode from the edges of the bunkers and then coincides with soil. When soil mixes into the sand it stops the water from being able to drain through and then we pumping water from traps. Just last week 4.75" fell in one day. Bunkers were then pumped in 2 days and raked, but even then the sand is still wet so it does not rake as well as dry sand does.
the lack of sand in them is fairly obvious. Yes some bunkers lack sand and additional sand is planned for later this summer. Also, I am working with Century Golf on a bunker renovation plan. 

I am also frustrated that we are spending money (the maintenance pictures are ridiculous bc that is what is supposed to happen) on little projects that do little to the improvement of the golf course.  Maybe we should improve the quality of the course such as:

I am also frustrated that we are spending money (the maintenance pictures are ridiculous bc that is what is supposed to happen) on little projects that do little to the improvement of the golf course.  

2014 improvements so far:  

Cart Path repairs-we all used to the breaks in the cart paths and you just took the bump and went on. This is normally considered a capital project, however I wanted to make an immediate impact on the repairs. Our staff went in and broke out all the necessary concrete-installed rebar, plus additional rebar supports were installed into the ground to keep the repair from moving and we then poured new concrete. The pictures are there just to show the membership what we are doing. Repairs took place on holes #1,4,6,8,9,10,16-these were the worst of the worst. I could have chose to not do the repairs and just leave it up to the corporation to do the repairs but I wanted to make an impact and I knew a majority of the membership would appreciate it. The expense was quite a bite out of our budget to this project.
Leveled Tee Boxes-the worst 2 tee boxes were completed first. #5 gold tee was the single most complained about tee box on the course, the #7 gold tee was next. The maintenance staff removed the turf from the tee box and either removed and/or added the necessary soil to level them out. There are plans to do other tee boxes as well. The Ladies Golf Association has already presented to me a list of tee boxes they would like for me to address. So I do know there thoughts and needs and plan to address them. Again, this is a project that I figured the membership could appreciate.
Tree Trimming- Our maintenance staff takes pictures of pruning trees -  this is not an improvement it is normal maintenance.
tree trimming will go forever, however it is an expensive project. Between the necessary equipment such as chainsaws, fuel, mulching machines, and lifts these can add up quickly. I wanted the membership to know that the golf course maintenance staff was doing the tree trimming and not some outside service. Sure, we know it's a normal golf course maintenance tasks to complete, alot of hard work from our employees go into this project and we want everyone to know who does this work. I had members coming to me and asking for a business card to the company that was doing the tree trimming, it was Willow Fork Country Clubs golf course maintenance staff doing the tree trimming!
Landscaping at the scoreboard area-The golf course maintenance staff plan was to help in beautifying this area. Making this area where it can be enjoyable to see the landscaping and having a nice place to sit and relax after playing golf. Additional landscaping beds are planned to go later this year. The pictures are there for informational reasons, we want the membership to see us at work.

I hope this answers a few questions

Willy Plowman
Golf Course Superintendent

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