11 fairway is slowing beginning to look like it did before we began throwing soil with the trencher 4 weeks ago. 3 days of rain delayed work the second week into the project, and rain with Thanksgiving last week delayed more progress. Our original projection of 2 weeks turned into 4 weeks.
Other than the weather delays, the project did go as planned. We did add 2 more drainage basins to the originally planned 2 for a total of 4 basins on the main line of the [.....]
We have spent the last 2 weeks working towards closing the course for the winter and our list is about checked off.
irrigation system winterization was started on Wednesday and completed on Friday. our final spray for snow mold was completed yesterday. all benches, ball washers and trash cans are off the course. the Halfway House is winterized and closed for the year. the temporary cups are cut in the approaches, but the greens will remain open for a short while longer. we are still battling a few [.....]
Snow Is Up Next: Weekly Updates Conclude, Winter Conferences and Education Begins and Tim ends by saying "Winter Research Project"
Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -
It's cold. In a week we saw nights drop to 20˚ F, their lowest yet on Sunshine Course. We've now stopped field scouting as the growing season has ended. The basis of the weekly Scouting Report is to keep superintendents abreast of what we see and do. In 2011 we wrote a total of 36 reports which ran from 18 Mar [.....]
We are beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel with the drainage project on 11 fairway. Last week's weather only allowed us a few hours of work on Monday before the rain started. A little under 2 inches of rain forced us to stop work on project until the area was dry again. We were back at it again yesterday, and feared the chance of rain could prevent more progress this week. Luck has been on our side so far this week and we [.....]
Triple 11 is Good Luck Somewhere? First Snow, Few Issues, Hindsight is 20/20, and Tim says Scleropthora macrospora
Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -
It snowed in northern Illinois! It was what we had been waiting for - all around first reports had occurred. In Chicago early November had been cruising along with few periods of frost, but on Thursday all would change when clouds combined with freezing tempertures would deliver a more solid substance. For most Midwesterners it was nothing new and reports of snow had [.....]
We have a heavy frost today, and 28 degrees. This will be a longer frost delay. First tee times could be pushed back towards 10:00. [.....]
The weather had the drainage work on 11 stalled this week, so we turned our efforts towards getting the accessories off the course for the winter. Only a few trash cans and ball washers remain for any late season golfers. All signs, boundary stakes, and tee markers have be brought in for the winter as well. We closed the driving range tee this week and are almost finished filling the divots and having it ready for the winter.
The rain earlier this week has stopped the drainage [.....]
It's November: Earthworms, Morning Frosts, Very Few Issues and Tim says Zoysia japonica
Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -
Weatherwise we've seen it all in 7 days from snow to unseasonable warmth. Last weekend, folks to our east got a sneak preview of winter when a significant storm caused power outages and left a blanket of snow that measured more than a few inches. Meanwhile, Illinois continued to enjoy a relatively normal period and, if you looked up, you could see peak fall color of many decidous [.....]
Just a reminder that today is the last day for the driving range and chipping area. We will begin the winterization of these areas tomorrow. [.....]
We are starting Saturday morning with a frost delay. It is patchy frost at the moment. We will get a better idea about the length of delay after the sun comes up. [.....]
We do have a frost delay for Friday. Look for first tee times to be a little after 9:00am [.....]
I do the posting about the work getting done on the course, but this is the group that gets the work done. We are fortunate to have a group of guys that show up everyday and work through rain and heat to get done what needs to be done. All of our crew returned from last year, and we hired one new employee for the summer months.
Name, years of service; Back row L to R:
Torres, 16 years
Nick,
Antonio, 5 years
Juan, 4 years
[.....]
11 fairway has always been one of the worst areas on the course after rains. The edges of the fairway slope towards the center, and there is significant grade sloping towards the tee. This concentrates the surface drainage into the center of the fairway and to the lower part of the fairway. Though the surface grade is steep enough for water to drain, the size of the water shed is too large. As a result, too much water gets concentrated to too small an area, and wet conditions [.....]
We have started our biggest project of the fall this week in 11 fairway. This is a much needed drainage project on the first half of the fairway. We will be installing about 5000 feet of drainage tile to allow this fairway to drain more rapidly. To help us keep the project moving, 11 will be played as a par 3 from a temporary tee in the fairway until this project is completed. Our plan is to be done by next Friday, Nov. 11th. Our suspicion is this [.....]
Over the coming 3-4 weeks we will be going through the process of winterizing the golf course. Usually the first area we close is the driving range and the chipping green. We are into a time over year when the divots that are made now will not begin to heal until next season. Because of this, we try to limit the amount of wear these areas receive this time of year. This Sunday will be the last day for the driving range and the chipping area. We will also begin bringing in the benches, ballwashers, tee markers, signs, cooler boxes, etc. this week. [.....]