GOLF COURSE UPDATE 5/27/18

• Seasonal Height of Cut - GRNS .110" and double rolled every WED/FRI/SAT/SUN, TEES .350, Approaches .350, FWYS .375", All Rough(bunker edges included) 2.25" cut twice a week to give a 2.5" rough for weekend play.
• All flowers, planters, and mulching complete.
• Bunker sand detail work will continue with depth checking and additional quartzite added for firmer faces and less plugging.
• Mower line detail around Tees (red lines) and Collars (red dots) this gives mowers guidance.
• New fairway extensions on #3 and #4 fairways seeded and topdressed. 
• New areas to be cut down at step cut height include the left side of #17 greenside bunker and between #14 green to #10 fairway.
• Tournament season greens conditioning started with weekly grooming, topdressing, and aggressive rolling.
• Property detail and moving towards maintenance mode for tournament golf.
• Bi-weekly greens venting to begin 6/16/18 this practice is largely unnoticeable to golfers and has been performed each of the last few seasons for plant performance during summer stress. 

The unofficial start of the summer is here and with it brings more inconsistency in our forecast. We have seen four Noreasters in March, a cold dry April and a wet May with temperatures fluctuating from 60's to 90's challenging our patience to play and condition the course. But finally this week welcomed more golfers to enjoy a course starting to pop with color, quicker more consistent greens, and rough with teeth to penalize players missing fairways. Over the next few weeks we will be working to wrap up any open projects and turn all our attention to maintenance and plant health leading into the summer.

Relocating Trees #3 

This holiday weekend kicks off what is going to be another great golf season and my staff is excited to deliver another great golf experience for you and our guests. As always the Green Department appreciates your continued support. Thank you!

#3 Fairway Extension Work 

SLOW GOING and SLOW GROWING

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/regional-updates/northeast-region/2018/coping-with-a-slow-growing--sneezy-spring.html

TURFHOUND INFORMATION

TurfHound we felt produced the most realistic, versatile and durable synthetic golf surface due to their patented Active Foam Technology. TurfHound surfaces most accurately simulated the feel and performance of healthy fairway turf. While most golf mats focus their attention on the hitting surface with high clubhead bounce, TurfHound replicates the physical dynamics and response of natural turf embodied in the top 1/2" of an actual playing surface. You can practice your swing again and again on a TurfHound surface, then step onto the fairway and enjoy the same swing on natural turf while reducing the risk of joint and muscle injuries due to club impact shock. A few other selling points for us were the options of the first cut surrounding the hitting area which is also great to practice off, the teeing slot for player specific tee heights, and the versatile rotating panels for extended life. We hope you enjoy the new tee line when the grass tee is closed and please remember to be respectful when the practice range is placed on the mats.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16AVYC-akNGBWVb5VvmwodsV__Pg3mwPG/view?usp=drivesdk

What Spring?

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/regional-updates/northeast-region/2018/may-4th-or-february-88th-.html

OMAHA! OMAHA!

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/regional-updates/northeast-region/2018/omaha-omaha.html

GOLF COURSE UPDATE 4/17/18

• Spring Aeration - Greens complete 4/9/18 with 3/8" tines filled, Tees delayed, Fairways delayed.
• Cobblestone, asphalt work, and sod wrapped up at 1st tee.
• Bunker and fairway at chipping green finished and currently closed until 5/6/18.
• #13 Black Tee extended and re-leveled. Currently closed until 5/6/18.
• All bunkers were raked, depths checked, and addition of Quartzite sand made to faces for firmness.
• Stump areas to be finished with seed or sod week of 4/16/18.
• Detail work will continue around the property with mulching, debris clean up, and normal daily routines now that weather and temperatures should begin to average out.
• Driving Range Tee work will begin 4/17/18 with removal, followed by concrete pad installation, and finished with Turf Hound Tee install. Turf Hound is set to start installation on 4/25/18.
• Tennis courts have been resurfaced and will be opening as fences are repainted and new wind screens installed. Our plan is to have 3 courts fully open by 4/20/18.

Finally, the Northeast had some spring weather this past week to help welcome members back to Pine Hollow. Our staff was also finally given the opportunity for a productive week and I'm optimistic that the extended forecast will provide us with more good work weather ahead. 

Over the coming weeks, we will continue playing catchup on project work and spring aeration once cleanup and desired property details are achieved. The only exception is the Driving Range Tee Project which we will begin work on this week. I'll communicate accordingly to the Pro shop on which tees are open daily once ground breaks utilizing both grass tees to minimize member inconvenience and traffic. Our plan is to have all work finished and open by the final weekend in April.

Better golf is ahead and once the season begins we will be ready! Thanks again for all your support and we will continue to keep you posted on our progress. Welcome back!

Handicap Checklist

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2018/04/nine-items-for-your-spring-handicap-checklist.html