Course News

Course Update

Course preparations continue for the 2025 golf season.  We are happy to report that the course has wintered well and is off to a very manageable start this season.  The Turfcare team is busy working through many items to ensure a positive opening and year ahead. 

The week of April 28th will see some final items that are required for opening take place.  The most important of these items is the irrigation system.  We have been busy spending many hours attending to numerous issues with the irrigation system that has prevented us from filling the lines.  With the golf course being dominantly poa, opening without water leaves us with the inability to manage wear on the poa turf which in turn can be detrimental to our goals and long term success for 2025. For 6 consecutive seasons we have ensured that we have water available prior to opening and it has served us well with positive seasons of conditioning.

The bunker capital project continues to make progress.  All green side bunkers will be completed and in play when the course opens with the exception of green side on 16.  This bunker is undergoing renovations to improve drainage and aesthetics of the golf course.  The reduction in size of this bunker will also provide a more economical maintenance bunker complex by reducing sand requirements up to 50%.  Fairway bunkers will continue to be filled with sand when we are open.  Please be mindful of the contractors working to complete the process.  We do not expect this process to run much past the middle of May weather permitting.  With this process continuing the back parking lot will be unavailable to members until the project is complete.

With the spring roller coaster of weather we have had some challenges completing some of the items on course we desired.  Turf repairs to areas of the property have yet to be buttoned up.  When we open there will be areas under repair waiting for sod.  We are working to coordinate one load of sod which means the 5^th green and 16^th bunker complex need to be ready before sod can be ordered.

The 5^th green resurfacing project is well under way.  This Saturday April 26^th our irrigation consultant will lay out the irrigation changes for the 5^th green.  Irrigation installation should begin sometime on Monday April 28^th or when our irrigation components arrive.  Our hope will be to have this green seeded in and around May 1^st which should set us up to return to playing the 5^th hole in the later part of July weather permitting.

While we are experiencing a very positive weekend ahead of weather we continue to have frosty mornings that delay course preparations.  The forecast for the start of the week is wet with a -5 predicted overnight on Monday.  We are still dealing with weather variables that have a negative impact on turf and preparations.  We are hopeful that the overnights begin to stabilize in turn allowing conditions conducive for plant growth and the game of golf. 

We are excited to get the golf course open for the membership in the week ahead.  More updates will be provided ahead of opening to members with information on what to expect as the first rounds of the season are played.

Respectfully,

Shawn Major, AGS

Golf Course Superintendent

Course Update

Work has begun on the resurfacing project for the 5^th green.  We have stripped the old poa turf and removed it from the green site.  As soon as we can get some green mix delivered we will quickly move into the final preparations of the greens surface.  Irrigation install for this green is set to be laid out on Saturday.  If all goes well and the weather cooperates we are hopeful to have this green site completed and seeded by May 3^rd.  Other course preparations continue as we work towards getting the property ready for the game of golf. 

Vole Damage on the 5th green

Course Update

Golf course preparations are slowly beginning to take place.  While we have experienced some nice days we have yet to see a stretch of weather to dry the property out.  We continue to wait on frost to leave the ground.  This week the Turfcare team will focus on removal and storage of winter covers and begin with some general spring cleanup.  The capital bunker program has resumed work for the spring.  We are hopeful for good weather in the days ahead to assist with course preparations and the bunker program.

Course Update

The snow slowly continues to melt across the golf course.  Much as it was with the last update, the overnight low’s hitting as cold as -9 on April 3^rd have slowed the encouraging start to spring we had at the end of February. 

We are beginning to see a lot of the turf on the golf course and we are eager to get into spring temperatures that will allow us to begin course maintenance.  While much of the snow has melted we still have a ways to go before we can begin to prepare turf for play.  We need a good stretch of weather to thaw the ground, soil temperatures to warm up into the 10 degree range to support turf practices and the game of golf.

Enjoy the Masters week ahead!

Course Update

The Turfcare team continues to monitor conditions on course.  The daytime temperatures are initiating some melt on the property.  This process is slow with overnight temperatures still freezing solid.  The forecast this week is relatively positive.  We would expect to lose a lot of the remaining snow early this week before a cold stretch returns at the tail end of the week.  We will continue to assist with the spring melt while we wait for conditions to be sufficient for us to begin preparations of the golf course for the season ahead.

Course Update

It is an exciting time of year as we begin to experience the spring like weather.  As the snow continues to melt the Turfcare team will continue to monitor conditions and assist with the movement of snow and water where necessary.  With the forecast showing positive temperatures moving forward we would expect the preparations of the golf course to begin sometime in early April.  We are hopeful the forecast remains positive with overnight low temperatures staying above -15 to assist with positive opening conditions.

Course Update

With the early spring like weather we are beginning to see a significant reduction in snow cover on the property. With the loss of snow we will ask members to refrain from using the golf course for the foreseeable future. We no longer have enough snow cover to accommodate ski trails. Further to this with the warm temperatures any traffic on course will now cause ice to form. With a roller coaster of weather possible over the next 30-45 days any ice formation can be detrimental to turf health especially the poa fairways and tees. Let’s hope that the forecast for the remainder of February and into March is beneficial to turf conditions and assisting us with successful overwintering as we close in on the spring golf season. Cart paths can still be utilized by members for walking.

Ski Trails

With the recent snowfalls we are happy to let members know that ski trail has been groomed for use. 

Please be mindful while skiing to keep to the groomed trails. They have been set in areas that will least impact turf health in spring. 

Snow shoeing and walking on the course should avoid travelling on the groomed trails. Please snow shoe and walk beside the groomed trails. 

We are happy to have winter activities available for the memberships enjoyment.  By keeping to these few small rules we can ensure the winter use on the property will not have a negative impact on the game of golf in spring and will provide those skiing with a good experience. 

Course Update- Cross Country Ski Trails

With the arrival of snow we have been receiving inquiries about cross country ski trails.  Unfortunately at this time we still do not have the volume of snow required for safe grooming practices.  The snow cover is light and thin.  The tracks of the groomer at this point would impact conditions in spring by damaging the turf.  With some mild days ahead thinly groomed trails turn to ice which also result in poor turf conditions in spring.  We ask that all members refrain from snow shoeing and skiing for the time being until conditions are conducive so as not to cause harm to the turf.  We will update membership once we are capable and open for winter activities on course.