Weclome Back !!!

I have returned. After briefly trying another blog program (and being disappointed), I will begin posting again.
I have included several photos of our recent projects, including rough aerification/soil amend and bermuda seeding, which is designed to improve the overall turf stand in our high traffic areas. The granular material should help hold moisture in these areas. A subsequent granular wetting agent application and a shot of starter fertilizer (8-30-15) will help with establishment. The membership can help greatly by keeping carts off these areas. This follows a successful program last year where we established close to 1 acre of new bermuda. We only have 90 days to get this done due to the required soil temps for bermudagrass germination.

The other project was to solve several areas that held water for extended periods of time. These were "bird baths", areas of slight depression in fwys 6,12 and 15, where water simply did not run off. We used an auger to drill 24" holes to a depth of 5'. Holes were then filled with gravel and the turf returned. So far they are working very well.

Also this past month saw us establish a massive(compared to the previous tee) new gold tee on #8. We are gradually reducing the height of cut to .325".  Fertilization this week should help it recover from transplant shock. Also, please note that even the coyotes observe the traffic stakes!!!

Industry News

I thought this might be interesting. It is encouraging to see WR holding its own in this challenging economy.

NGF: Course closings outpace openings in 2011

The number of golf courses in the United States continued to shrink in 2011.
The National Golf Foundation reported today that last year saw the closing of 157.5 18-hole equivilent (18HEQ) golf courses vs. just 19 new openings. That marks the sixth consecutive year that golf course closings have outpaced openings, and represents the largest number of annual closings during that time. All told, more than 358.5 18-hole equivilent golf courses have closed since the market's peak in 2005.
According to the NGF, this "supply-side market correction" has been long overdue for golf as the growth in the number of golfers and rounds played over the past 20 years was not nearly sufficient to support all of the golf courses constructed during the game's boom that began in the early 1990s. Since 1991, the number of 18-hole equivilents in the U.S. has grown by 30 percent, far ahead of the 6.5 percent growth in golfers over that same span.

"The cumulative reduction in course supply over the past six years has been quite modest, and pales in comparison to the net increase in facilities that occurred over the two decades prior to this recent pullback," said Joe Beditz, the president and CEO of the NGF. "In 2000 alone, we gained 362 courses, and over the 20-year period from 1986-2005, we added more than 4,500 courses (18HEQ). The slow correction that is now occurring is very much overdue and necessary, to help return the golf course business to a more healthy equilibrium between supply and demand." The NGF Golf Facility Supply Index, which tracks the ratio of golfers to golf courses, remained at 83 in 2011. The baseline value of 100 represents the average number of golfers per course (18HEQ) in the U.S. for the five years between 1986-1990. According to the NGF, the index can be viewed as a measure of how busy courses are likely to be, or how difficult or easy it might be to arrange a tee time. The score of 83 means courses are 17 percent less crowded than they were 20 years ago.

March 2012

Here are some photos snapped at WR. THe irrigation work has involved adding quick couplers to strategic locations in the fairway in preparation for the summer battle to keep grass growing on high traffic areas. These tend to be at fairway bunkers. Ruben Flores, our Irrigation Tech, has spent all of February digging holes and re piping and we recognized his stellar work with the Employee of the Month for February.

Pinehurst

There has been much buzz in the golf world about Crenshaw and Coore's restoration of Pinehust #2, Donald Ross classic which will host both the Men's and Womens' 2014 US Open in back to back weeks. The restoration took out all the rough surrounding the fairways and widened the fairways, in some cases now 60 yards wide. The grass is hybrid bermuda and is maintained at one height of cut for tees, green surrounds and fairway. The only other type of grass on the entire mown portion of the course is the new bentgrass greens. The fairway simply goes directly into the watse areas, planted with 80,000 switch grass plants. Firm and fast will be the norm. I was there several weeks ago for a conference and the course was spectacular. I have included several photos to highlight the renovation. The statues are of Payne Steward and his now famous winning putt pose and of Donald Ross and Robert Dedman, the man responsible for the revitalization of Pinehurst. Enjoy!

Even I could probably hit the sweet spot, although taking it back and through may be challenging!

2011 WR winter wonderland and Golf in India

I have included some pictures from a recent frosty morning at WR I ahve also included an interesting video on golf in the slums of India. It really highlights how the joy of the game ultimately is not necessarily tied to perfect playing conditions. While perfect conditions are the goal of many, golf's unique attraction is that it allows us to spend time with friends. The video shows that no 2 golf courses are ver the same. Enjoy!


http://search.espn.go.com/mumbai/videos/6

2011 October post overseed

Enjoy some photos taken 3 weeks after overseed and aerification

13 tee complete

Here is a slide show of the tee renovation on #13. It should be in play for the week of October 24th. Enjoy