SHOULD WE DO IT?

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/regional-updates/northeast-region/2018/should-we-do-it-.html

USGA Winter Report

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/regional-updates/northeast-region/2018/a-whole-lot-of-winter.html

GOLF COURSE UPDATE 2/7/18

• All project work scheduled to start this March/April once the weather allows for construction to begin.
• All off-season preventative maintenance and cutting unit sharpening has been completed with our full-time mechanic.
• Rough grading and machine work complete at Chipping Green Bunker construction. Finish work and sod will be laid out once crew returns.
• Extension to #13 Black Tee started and will continue 3/18.
• Pond excavation and cleanup work at clubhouse ongoing with water refilled 3/18.
• Tree work will be finishing up the week of 2/10/18 for this winter and cleanup of stump areas will begin for sod or seed this spring. Areas addressed were all part of long-range tree maintenance plan and laid out as part of my handout in the year-end review.

Our friend Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and with six more weeks of winter, we'll be busy wrapping up 2017 projects before course cleanup and 2018 capital project work begins. Over the past few months, we experienced brutally cold weather in  December and January and with very little snow you will notice a straw color on all turf especially our greens. Unfortunately, we have had very little snow which helps to insulate grass from low-temperature kill and desiccating winds. Even though grass always goes off color and dormant this time of year the extreme color differences are where blowing snow was not present during the cold temperatures in January. At this point, we have grown out plugs taken from the off-color greens and know some injury has occurred. I do not believe we have any extensive winter damage as the Northeast saw a few years ago, but will continue to monitor our playing surfaces and update you if any issues in plant health occur.

Fortunately, when we have a winter with no snow that also translates into a very productive off-season for project work. Even with no staff and my Assistants taking their vacation, we've been busy taking down trees around the property detailed in our long-range tree maintenance plan. Our biggest statement is the main drive where removing undesirable and poorly growing specimens will not only improve the growing conditions of the hardwoods planted but will open up views to the club's best asset. These areas will be cleaned up in the coming weeks and prepped for sod or seed this spring giving a great visual to all our hard work.

Along with the tree maintenance, we have also been busy setting the stage for this spring's capital projects to begin in early March. The cart path work will start first and stretch from the staging area at #1 tee around the putting green to #10 tee including asphalt removal, cobblestone block installation, and seamless asphalt laid. While working this area we will also be reorganizing the plant material left of #1 tee and filling in the swale creating a new mulch planting. Our second project is set to start in early April with the turfhound.com mat and could potentially take up to a week for completion. This process will consist of removing the existing mat, pouring a new concrete pad, and the product installation. The grass tee at the lower level will be made available for membership and communicated together with Steve Donnelly as the contractor's schedules are known.

As you can see it's going to be an exciting spring for the Club and I'm hopeful our friend's shadow is as accurate as most forecast predictions. Thank you for your continued confidence and support and we will see you soon.