Westfield Greens

Three Days and Counting...

 
No this isn't a mirage...but it should be the picture we see this Friday/Saturday/Sunday morning.  As most of you know by now, the club management staff decided to open the course on Friday of this week instead of Saturday…with the forecast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the weather is looking like late-May instead of April 3^rd…Sunny and high in the mid 70’s.   After last week’s weather 1.25” of rain Monday – Sunday along with the 2” of snow Thursday night, we are entitled to some summer like weather.

The staff is busy preparing the course for the opening.  With the inclimate weather last week we were unable to mow anything, so in order to get make sure we are ready to go on Friday Assistant Kyle Smith the work week is shaping up like this:

 
    Picture of #7 North greenside with sand washed from bunker face  

 

Tuesday

Prep Bunkers by pushing sand up to wash out areas

Course Accessories

• Ball Washers
• Trash Receptacles
• Bunker Rakes (120)

Debris clean-up

Finish edging flower beds around Clubhouse and North Course

Wednesday

Mowing

• Fairways, Short Rough, Rough
• Greens
• Tees

Thursday

Rake Bunkers bottoms and edges

Roll Greens

Mow Rough

Set Pins

Set out yardage markers, tee markers and mark water hazards

Friday

First Tee Time 9:00

• Mow Greens
• Mow Tees
• Mow Fairways

 It should be an interesting week, we'll keep you posted on the course activities.

The first mowing of 2010...

The smell of fresh cut grass is in the air!

  

With the great weather we've had this week and the bleak weather forecast for the beginning of next week, we mowed greens and tees today for the first time this season...Greens mowing video 

Believe it or not, with the snow cover we had over winter, the grass is somewhat ahead of where it typically is at this time of year. I've had some people ask how we know when it's time to mow the greens and tees. 

Unlike your home lawn (go ahead...wait until as late as possible), the greens, tees and fairways need to be mowed soon after growth has been initiated.  Rough and home lawns,are traditionally mowed between 2" to 3", the areas mentioned above are mowed at 1/8", 1/4" and 1/2" respectively, so it is important not to put off the first mowing too long. Excessive leaf tissue removal will affect the long term health of the plant.

Club Projects- Week of March 15th

Clubhouse Pavers - JTS Landscaping repaired pavers on the Pro Shop Terrace

 
  

Main Line Water Repair at Pool House - City water line ruptured on Wednesday of this week...The water line was approximately 6' deep. For those who use the pool quite a bit, you'll see that the locust tree at the front gate had to be removed.

 

 

 

 

Wearin' of the green....

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day and the golf course...if I didn't know better, I would think Mother Nature had some Irish in her...The perfect time to look green! 

Today's post covers some of the turf pests that have been busy at working under the heavy snow blanket we had this past winter.

  South Course #2 Fairway...Looking Green for St. Patrick's Day

Snow Mold

After the snow melted last weekend, we found severe cases of snow mold on fairways (see pictures below).  There are two types of Snow Mold, Pink and Gray, with Gray proliferating under the heavy snow we had.  Not to worry though, because as soon as the grass starts growing, most of the snow mold will melt away just like the snow. 

  

  #15 South Green Pink Snow Mold

  #15 Green South Gray Snow Mold

   

 #15 South Fairway Gray Snow Mold
 

Moles...does your yard resemble this?  If so, click on the link below

 
Without a deep freeze in the ground, the moles have been very active so far this late winter/early spring.  I have had a few people ask about mole control and as you will read in the link below, the best way to control them is through trapping.  Mole Control

The Countdown Begins

As the countdown clock shows, we are a mere 24 days away from opening day...the temperatures are rising and the snow is melting, but still plenty of snow remains.  With the mid 50 temperatures and rain forecasted hopefully the snow will be gone by weeks end. 

I have attached some photos taken this afternoon form the South Course to provide a visual status on how much snow remains.

 

#1 South fairway into the green

 

#16 South left rough into the green
 

#2 South from tee to fairway

Home Office Lawn and Landscape Show

 

Thanks to the Westfield Group home office employees who participated in the 2010 Lawn and Landscape Show.  We had a 19 vendors from around the area representing lawn care, landscape design, landscape maintenance and equipment manufacturers participate. 

We also had Westfield Group experts provide educational sessions on lawn and landscape maintenance.  Lona Meshula (Horticulturist), Kyle Smith (Asst. Supt.), Greg Tracy (Asst. Supt.) and Ed Smith (Lead Equipment Tech) provided insight and knowledge in their respective disciplines.

 

Welcome to the WGCC Greens Blog

Welcome to the WGCC Greens blog...where you will eventually find everything you need to know about golf course management and then some.  The intent of this blog is to update, educate and communicate information regarding many aspects of golf course management, to Westfield Group Country Club members, Westfield Group employees and Westfield Insurance agents regarding course conditioning, standard practices, projects and day to day activities of  the WGCC Green Staff.

Initially our intent is to update the blog a couple of times per week. We will also post a schedule of events, periodic polls and other features pertinent to our operations. 

As you see, we have set up a variety of pages on the blog 2010 aeration schedules posted, Weather links (direct feeds to national weather service radio) and a greens conditioning poll...we appreciate your participation. Keep in mind...this is work in progress, so take a look and please feel free to provide feedback.