Colder temperatures and frosty mornings are on the way again. You can see by Sunday, the high temperatures will not get out of the 40's.
It is cart path only today after the nearly 5" of rain received yesterday.
Tee aerification is being postponed until this Thursday (was scheduled for today) due to the clean up effort required of us today.
For the remainder of the year, we will be single cutting greens and raising the height of cut slightly. This is predominantly due to the poor growing environment many of our greens are in, specifically lacking adequate sunlight. Continuing to mow at a low height of cut doesn't allow the grass to prepare itself for winter and ultimately a good spring. As I always say, we don't want to do anything to compromise the turf leading into the next year. Finally, keep in mind that another round of DryJect aerification is scheduled for November 6th. It's crucial to get this accomplished before the greens freeze for the year. I am often asked why we can't simply wait until we close? The reason is, the irrigation system is drained and we risk the greens being frozen. If the greens are frozen, we can't aerate the greens. Skipping greens aeration a year for that reason is unacceptable and will lead to playability issues for the coming year. The best Club's that understand the importance of these processes, set these aerification dates first and then schedule the golf calendar around it. Without healthy greens, the golf calendar isn't as important. These are incredibly important programs that shouldn't be subject to negotiation. I would be doing you, the membership, a disservice if I didn't feel strongly about their importance.
While this time of year is great for golf, the greens can get a little fast. We've had a number of complaints recently and going to a single cutting schedule (in addition to the 5" of rain), green speed will not be an issue. It is our goal to set the course up daily for the benefit of the entire membership. This is no easy task, of course, given the fact that every member has their own opinion. However, we do realize that faster greens will slow down play and make the round for many, less than enjoyable. Striking a balance is the key. Unfortunately, green speed isn't something that is accomplished like flipping a switch. It takes time (and labor) to build up to it. A smart superintendent also knows when to back off extreme practices when we get into adverse weather.