Spring Work

Well spring is finally here and there is plenty to do on the golf course.  This is typically the busiest time of year for the maintenance staff as we are getting the course set up with tee markers, bunker rakes, benches, hauling stone to cart paths and hauling sand to bunkers just to name a few.  If you pulled in to the parking lot earlier this week you probable notice a 50 ton pile of sand!  This was used to fill in some bunkers on the driving range as well as on holes #4 and #6.

Over time, the wind, rain and normal play/maintenance can move sand to undesirable places and will need to be replaced.   This year the driving range and only a few holes on the course are in need of new sand.  Here are some pictures of a driving range bunker before, during and after we added new sand.

We also have done some bunker work on hole #5.  A good portion of the bunker face had to be resodded as well as the edge of the bunker where our sand pro enters and exits the site.  It is common for sand to settle in the lower area of the bunker due to a variety of factors.  Below are pictures showing the bunker face before, during and after our renovation.

The area where our sand pro enters and exits the bunker will accumulate more sand than desired and has to be re-leveled from time to time.  This picture shows the "mounding effect" from sand building up over time.  Notice the 3-4" crown that we took out and re-leveled. 



Most of the bunkers have been edged and cleaned out, however, since our edger broke down we still have 6 holes left to do.  The holes that are done look really good and will be maintained on a regular basis throughout the year.  Here is a bunker from a week or so ago after it had been edged and cleaned.

We have also been repairing some catch basins that have "wash outs" around them.  This is a before and after pic of a catch basin on hole #3.  These repairs are made by digging down to where the hole is in the tile and if bad enough, we replace the tile.  If it is a small hole, then we will patch it with some concrete to seal it up.  Finally, new sod is laid and marked with white paint until it has rooted down.

There has been plenty of fertilizing this spring, including a pre-emergent for crabgrass and other weeds.  This picture is from back in march and was our first application of the year for fairways. 

Last but not least, our finishing touches of some winter work.  We have replaced the brushes on our sweeper that we use to collect divots from the driving range.  The sweeper is also used during aerification in the fall to sweep up aerification plugs.

Our benches that are located on the par 3 holes have a new look to them as well.  Gone are the green painted boards!  With the help of Dick Marten we have new boards that have been stained and polyurethaned.  These look a lot better! 

We have enjoyed seeing some of you already out golfing and look forward to seeing many more in the near future!