Golf Course News - 10/1/2009
The days are certainly getting shorter and the calendar says that Fall is here. The unusually warm temperatures will eventually give way to more seasonal averages. As the nights get cooler I will begin to watch for frost. I pay particular attention for frost whenever the forecasted temperature is for forty degrees or cooler on a clear night with light winds. Even though the thermometer is above freezing, the cool air is pooling in low areas creating frost. When it does get below the magic number we must continue to watch for frost until a half hour after sunrise. This is because a half hour after sunrise is the coldest part of the morning. When frost does blanket the golf course nobody can be on it. If grass that is covered in frost is walked on, the leaf blades will be damaged and in some instances the plant could be killed. On frosty mornings it is up to Mother Nature when we can get on the golf course – for maintenance and golf.
This Fall we will once again be continuing the bunker renovations. This Fall we will be working on the renovation of the bunkers on holes 9 & 10. This has once again been made possible by generous donations to the Bill Hird Foundation. I apologize for the inconvenience that this will create. We will make it as brief as possible. Another update on a Bill Hird project is the sod nursery that we constructed this Spring. It has turned out fantastic: the grass looks awesome and is ready to be used. This will be a valuable resource in the management of the golf course.
Fall may be here, but there is certainly a lot of golfing weather left. The golf course is in great condition and I hope to see everybody out enjoying it.
-Mark Siems
