Course Update 8/31/21

 We've received 3" of rain since Wednesday 8/25, with nearly 2" of heavy rain coming Sunday afternoon and evening.  Every bunker on property washed out and the strong winds brought down a lot of tree branches and debris.  The Lakes course seems to have gotten the worst of it and the staff has spent the past two days cleaning up debris.  Most of the bunkers are still flooded and we will begin repairs once the sand dries out, hopefully later this week.  The forecast calls for more rain tonight and tomorrow from the remnants of tropical storm Ida, and we could receive significant amounts depending on the storm track.  We were able to mow greens, tees, and some rough on Grove today, but fairways and approaches remain too wet to mow.  Mowing in wet conditions negatively affects the turf by creating compacted soils that limit oxygen and water movement for healthy roots, there's a greater chance for mowers to spread fungal spores outside of the wet areas, and the turf is more prone to mechanical damage (scalping) from the excess water in the plant causing cells to be swollen.  A little patience now to limit turf damage will have us back in good condition sooner than you think.

The amount of water draining near Lakes 5 green exceeded what the 36" pipe could handle. Debris collected above the pipe, in the bunker, and out in the approach.

Course Update 8/15/21

 So far this month we've received 2.7" of rain, but 2.58" of it fell over the past week.  That much rain combined with the hot, humid weather is stressing the turf and keeping many areas wet.  We were hoping to dry out this weekend but the overcast conditions aren't helping.  Worn areas are showing up in the high traffic areas around greens and tees, which isn't surprising considering how busy the Men's Invitational was.  The cooler temperatures forecast this coming week will help with turf recovery, and the maintenance staff has already implemented different methods of how and where we turn the mowers.  A little shot of fertilizer scheduled for later this month will also help the turf bounce back.  Golfers can also help by practicing the 90 Degree rule when driving to your ball from the cart path, following the cart directional signs, and keeping all four wheels of the cart on the path around greens and tees.