Completing a few small projects

We worked on a few small projects today:

After spraying the front of 11 fairway with Round-up a few days ago, we seeded the area today.

Also, we painted the floors of the 15th hole bathrooms, trying to keep this little shack in decent shape for the high traffic it receives. 

Newsletter article

Unfortunately my last newsletter article got left out of the May Foreword, I can't let it go to waste, so here it is:

Well, this will be my last Foreword article I write, let me get a few business items out of the way first.  The course is in great shape for this time of year, we did end up seeing a few spots of winter damage on a couple greens but they will fill in soon.  The poa seed heads are prevalent this year due to the timing of our growth regulator applications, they will subside in a few weeks and we will be left with great greens for the remainder of the season. 

            As usual for this time of year, we can’t keep up with the rough mowing and there are too many projects to be completed for the allotted hours in the day.  The Grounds staff is firing on all cylinders, staying busy and being efficient, knocking tasks off one by one as our priority list dictates.  Soon we will be edging landscape beds in preparation for the May mulch delivery and the annuals that will be coming soon after. 

            I was looking forward for this upcoming summer as I feel we are in a really good place regarding course conditions, we had a few small projects on our list to complete, and the staff coming in this year is the best I’ve had.  Speaking of staff, the guys and gals on our grounds team are great people, they care about FCC and truly want to provide a great product.  It has been a pleasure teaching, leading, learning from, and working alongside this team. 

            FCC is a special place, I will miss it.  You, the members have treated me well and provided abounding support.  I will miss the early morning sunrises over the driving range, the friendly waves from golfers, the ladies that comment on the landscaping, the staff that gets my quirks, the opportunity to work with the Board and Committees, and the look of a perfectly manicured course even if it only lasts for one day.  I will be back to visit as I am invested in this property.  It would be hard not come back to see how our trees have grown, how the landscaping has matured and how the staff has improved upon what we have worked so hard to get. 

            Normally I would end an article by saying ‘check out the grounds blog for updates’, I can’t say that here.  I’ll end it with; thank you for giving me the opportunity to be FCC’s Superintendent. 

And it keeps getting wetter

Another .5" last night brought us to 2.8" in the last 12 days.  Yes we are wet, but what a great time of year to get the wet spell over with, the temperatures haven't been great for playing anyway.  The other great news is that during this wet spell we aerified green and fairways, getting that out of the way for the year. 

When you can't get out on the turf because it's too wet - you can always play in the sand. 

 Yesterday we spent the day edging the bunkers; today we pulled weeds, picked out rocks, smoothed out edges and gave them the first rake of the year.

We cleaned out all the bunkers and the rakes are out, they are ready for the season.  

Bittersweet announcement

Many of the FCC members have heard the news already, some of my followers outside the club may have not.  It is with a heavy heart that I need to announce my leaving Findlay Country Club.  I have accepted a position of Property Manager in Grand Rapids, Michigan and will be leaving FCC on Friday, May 5th. 

 

Findlay Country Club has been especially good to my family and me.  As I told the Board, you have met and exceeded my expectations in many ways.  While I am excited for this new opportunity, I am saddened to have to leave FCC and the many friends, co-workers and members that I have worked with.  The choice to leave FCC was a hard one for me, and in the end, it came down to the opportunity to be closer to our family.

You may have a few questions regarding my new position and I would be glad to speak with anyone individually.  I have offered my assistance to the Executive Committee in their search for the next Director of Grounds.  I am fully confident that you will find a competent individual that will embrace FCC and provide you with an outstanding golf course.

Over the next month, nothing will change in my expectations on the course conditions.  I wish FCC all the best and will look forward to seeing you at the Club over the next month.

 

On a 'blogging' note, I plan to keep making posts up until the end, stay tuned. 

Range opening suspended

Due to the recent rains and forecasted rain / snow for the next few days, I have asked the Golf Department to hold off on opening the practice range until this coming Monday.

While from a distance the range looks green and ready to go, at closer look it reveals puddles, mud and soggy ground conditions.  Opening now will only lead to massive amounts of lost balls through plugging in the mud, and stuck range pickers. 

Fairway aerification

We completed fairway aerification today, at least what we could get at.  A few fairways were still too wet from the recent rains, so we passed them up for now.

We had a slight frost delay, finally getting out around 9.

 

During the next few days we will be cleaning up the mess we just made, before long, you won't know we aerified.