Making Progress!

 

While the picture above may not look very pretty, it is a thing of beauty for the grounds staff.  The dreaded 11th green has been a thorn in our side since it was built in 2011.  After fighting to keep bentgrass thriving on it, a battle we were slowly losing, we opted to transition it over to poa to match our other greens.  This variety of bentgrass could not tolerate our aggressive management practices and would thin out every year.  Finally, 2 years ago we decided to start working poa into the green every chance we could.  Each aeration we took small plugs from our other greens and spread them on top and then punched them into the soil.  By the looks of this green, we are more than 85% poa now and will continue to encourage poa.  Allowing the poa to go to seed allows more poa to spread in the spring and being the bentgrass is not waking up, the poa will out-compete it right now.  I feel confident enough when the green is rebuilt this fall, we can strip the green sod and reuse again.

A Little Facelift

 

The staff provided a much needed facelift to the overgrown landscaping around the clubhouse.  In a matter of 2 days, much of the landscaping around the building and patios were replaced with simple, yet elegant plants.  It is imperative to stay on top of maintaining all the new plants with proper pruning, fertilizing and watering.

Its Getting Real!

 All the planning for the past few years is starting to become a reality as the irrigation materials are starting to arrive for a July start.  10 truckloads of pipe in total will be delivered and you can see how quickly the area by the houses is filling up after only 5 truckloads.  This will be the irrigation hub for the installation contractor and it was the only area on the property that could handle the amount of materials and not be seen by members.

A Flock of Seagulls

 

If you are wondering what the green dots are on the greens that are near the pond on 7, it is from the seagulls that visit for a week every spring.  After picking fish from the pond and eating them on the greens nearby, this is what is left behind a week or two after.  No worries, they will all level out in color but right now we have uneven growth in these dotted areas.  Greens that are effected are 2,6,7,14 and 13.  

Busy Week!

 

A busy and productive week by the grounds staff.  Almost all projects are completed including the building of new bridges, ditches, mounds, new tee on 16, hydroseeding new native areas,  plus fairway aeration and topdressing.  This is a normal spring for most clubs, but this is 5 days at Arcola!

Timing is Everything!

 

The large maple that was damaged last summer in a thunderstorm is vital to protecting the dogleg on 18.  To find a significant replacement is costly.  We moved this decent London Plane from 17 to take its place.  This tree will not only grow quickly, we have time for it to get established before we remove the maple.  Luckily we moved it right before the heavy rain last night!  The cost of this is about 20% of what we originally thought.  We are also moving other trees in locations noted by Andy Staples to support the renovation work this fall.

Seasons Here!

 Despite the cold winter, a few warm days and its business as usual.  A few rolls this week to help smooth out greens from the winter frost heaving and now changing cups and raking bunkers.  While the weather still feels like March, we are in April mode.