Big Month Ahead

We have a HUGE month ahead of us and are hopeful that weather will do the unthinkable and cooperate.  The law of averages has to be on our side after what we've been through the past 5 months.  The next month includes cart path repairs, greens aeration, bunker work, and catch up on turf applications that wet conditions have disrupted.  

If you've looked at the calendar lately you've noticed that from April 19-April 30 the front nine will be closed for cart path repairs.  Flatline Contractors will be coming up from South Carolina to help us repair holes 3,4,6, and 7.  This company specializes in golf cart path repair and will be far more efficient than anyone we've used in the past.  This will be the biggest chunk of path repair we've tackled in one sitting.  If we are as happy as we expect to be, there will be more repairs coming in the following year(s).  We are hoping to get 180-200 sections replaced this year provided we don't encounter too many obstacles.  At the very least, we will be taking a big step in the right direction.  There will be plenty of recovery work from this project in the form of turf repair to the areas adjacent to the paths.  Lots of equipment is involved and you should expect some temporary set backs along the edges.  Smooth paths will be a huge improvement and any turf damage should bounce back quickly. 

Greens aeration is scheduled to coincide with the beginning of our cart path project.  April 19-April 21.  Those of you that saw the brief slideshow at opening night, understand why we need to do this.  The process will involve the use of 1/2"-5/8" coring tines (we have some decisions to make soon on which size to use).  We will try to do a test run on one or both of the practice greens in order to get the aerator properly set up and the topdressing quantity dialed in before the big day comes.  Recovery rate will be as fast as we can make it, but weather will be the biggest factor.  

Typically we also use a contractor with the spring aeration process.  The contractor goes ahead of our machine with a deep tine aerator.  This helps to loosen up the profile well below the reach of our aerator.  Unfortunately, our good intentions to do this in-house with our newly purchased deep tine aerator won't play out as planned.  The machine arrived right on time, but COVID related supply issues have the tractor that we need backordered indefinitely.  So...when the tractor arrives, we need to find a gap to work in the deep tine aeration separate from this April 19th project.  In the future, having our own machine will be a big help.  Rain related schedule changes will be no big deal anymore and we'll be able to do the task as often as needed without worrying about the contractor's schedule.  

Bunker work continues at a pretty steady rate and we've got about 20 truckloads more to come.  So far we've done a great job with drainage in bunkers on 3,5,14,17, and 18.  With conditions as wet as they are, we are forced to focus on prep work or just work with bunkers that are close to the path.  

Thanks in advance for all your support, patience, cooperation, and understanding.  April is going to be a great month!