Slow Progress

We are just starting to see some grass on south facing slopes.  It is still very difficult to predict when golf will be possible.  Ice takes a lot longer to melt than snow and the night time temperatures are about to get back into the low 20s for a few days.  Next week looks promising so perhaps there could be some golf by Tuesday or Wednesday.  Rain on Sunday is going to fall on an already saturated and perhaps even snow covered course which means the course will probably be unplayable for a day or two after the snow vanishes.  We ask for your continued patience and promise to get you on the course as soon as it's safe to walk on greens.  

While we've been buried, Ernie and Dalton were able to get the bridge work on hole 2 started.  Our guys busted up ice from our shop all the way to the bridge so that the truck could make it's way to the bridge.  Thankfully they only found two joists that needed replacement so it's essentially just a re-surfacing project.  Stain will be applied later this year.  Since the course is closed for snow, this bridge work didn't disrupt play.  The bridge on 16 may get started next week and that will likely require that we close a few holes.  We will figure that out when the time comes, but are doing our best to avoid adding more downtime than the snow has already given us.  

Irrigation mainline replacement at the pump station is an ugly task that we are hopeful to get started in the next couple of weeks.  This section of steel pipe is rotting from the inside out as we highlighted early last year.  Replacing it now will be much easier than doing it in the heat of summer when being without irrigation for 2-3 weeks is not an option.  Excavating the existing pipe, fabricating the new section, and then putting it all back together will take a few weeks from start to finish so we were really hoping to have this completed by March.  Snow and ice have put us behind schedule by 3 weeks.  

Staff has been largely absent the past few weeks which, for most of them, means no paycheck.  This has been a tough stretch of weather on everyone that loves to play golf, but also those who make a living working on a golf course.  We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.  Our guys will be fired up to see grass again....hopefully next week.  

South facing slopes finally have some visible grass after 19 days under snow/ice

We chipped away at about 400 yards of ice in order
to get the lumber in place.

Bean made regular inspections

Luckily only two of these joists had to be replaced

Completed

Enclosing our fertilizer storage so we can keep it dry and secure

Footprints on 2 green are the only places where any bentgrass is visible.
The surface is frozen just below the surface.  This will be soggy for a few
days after the snow finally vanishes.  

Breakroom floors getting a good wax job