7-Day Forecast

Fall 2025 Aeration Plan

 

Fall 2025 Aeration Plan

 October 28:  Aerate Tees on 2” spacing with ¾” tines.

 November 3:  DryJect all putting greens 2 directions.

 November 4:  Aerate Croquet Lawns, chipping greens and nursery at the practice range with 5/8” tines on 2.5” spacing.  Croquet lawns are closed until 12:30PM.

 November 5: Start aerating approaches with ¾” tines on a 3” spacing.

 November 5: Start aerating roughs with the pull behind aerator. Start on the back nine and work in reverse.

 November 10:  Aerate the driving range tee with ¾” tines on a 2.5” spacing.  Drag the plugs and topdress, dragging in sand between applications.

 December 1:  Aerate fairways with Toro Procore.

If you have any questions about any of these dates, please don't hesitate to reach out to me! (828) 787-2778.

Tuesday

Our big focus right now is leaf clean-up!  Rather than hauling the leaves to a dump site, we blow them into the rough, where they are mulched up and become an organic amendment to the soil.  Custom baffles are installed on the rough mowers, allowing the leaves to be finely chopped up before returning to the soil.

We are aware of some mole activity on the 7th green. We are working to catch the rodent the past two days. 

Finally, I'd like to report that our lake dredging project (scheduled for November 1st start date) has been temporarily postponed.  Dredging requires permitting from the NC Department of Environmental Quality and the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Because of the government shutdown, we cannot get the permitting from the Corps.  The project will be on hold until after the government shutdown ends and we receive the required permits.

Building a USGA Spec Green in 4 minutes...

 

USGA Green Section Record

CLICK HERE!

Click above for the link to the latest edition of the USGA Green Section Record. 

Fish Study in Club Lake

For the last ten years we've made an effort to introduce new species of fish to Club Lake. We continue to add trout, but with our shallow lake getting warmer each year, it just isn't a fair environment for trout, who prefer cold, running water that is high in oxygen content.  Largemouth bass on the other hand, do better in warm water and actually prefer it.  Thanks to green committee member, Reid Freeman, we were but in touch with a company called Southeastern Pond Management, who are experts in the science of maintaining lake environments most suitable for fish.  Spending a couple hours with these guys was fascinating to me.  We asked them to come to HCC and shock the water to be able to study the fish population.  No worries, no fish were harmed during this work!  In the coming weeks, they'll be issuing a report that will tell us what the general population and health of the lake is.  This will give us insight into future stocking needs, both the fish themselves and the feeder fish they rely on for food.  

Above, Blake with Southeastern Pond Management is showing the difference between male and female bass.

The boat has two outriggers that have an apparatus like shown above.  A generator on the boat puts electric current to these, which temporarily stuns the fish.  They are then scooped up and placed in a live well, where they can be observed and studied. 

Again, stay tuned in a couple weeks for the report that we'll be issued if you're interested!

Bear Calculation

This time of year, bears are everywhere, looking for food. Years ago, at a nature center program, I learned Black Bears consume as much as 25,000 calories a day, leading up to winter.  So what does that look like in terms of food? You begin to see why dumpsters are the preferred source of black bear food!  5,526 acorns a day seems a little difficult to swallow without a steady source of water!

Golf Course Photography

For the next few days, renowned golf photrogapher, Larry Lambrecht, is in town photographing the golf course, thanks to Past President, Clay Jackson.  You be seeing more of his work in the next couple months.  He is an impressive person to work with!  Stay Tuned! 

Baroness Mowers

This morning, the marketing department from Baroness, the company who manufactures the greens mowers we use at HCC, were on site to photograph their mowers in action as well as get video interviews with myself and Equipment Technicians.  These mowers did exceptionally well this year and its a company I am planning to work with more in the future.  The steel used in their reels and bedknives is far superior than any other equipment manufacturer out there.  This means it lasts longer and doesn't get damaged as bad from sand applications to the greens.  Topdressing is a golf course mechanic's worst nightmare because it dulls mowing units.  The more damage, the more grinding of reels is required,  which ultimately leads to replacing these parts more often.  This in turn, costs more money.  Better steel gives us a better quality of cut and also saves money.  The better quality of cut results in faster putting green speed and better plant health.

7-Day Forecast

Fall Weather

Fall is always the best time of year!  It tends to be drier, allowing the golf course to play firm and fast unlike a month or two ago, when August rains and extreme humidity slowed the course quite a bit.  Like the summer, we focus on hand watering to prevent the fairways and approaches from staying too wet.  This allows us to pinpoint with precision, exactly where the water is needed, instead of irrigating wall to wall, including areas where irrigation water isn't needed.  It improves playability and conserves water use, a winning combination.  Simply put, this is the best this golf course has ever looked and played since day one in 1928.  I say that but also recognize all the work that is still required to get better! That's what my team and I live for and the reason for our long tenured staff.  Seeing Highlands CC improve year after year, and having the resources to keep moving forward, is an awesome feeling that is hard to top!  I'm sad to see the season coming to an end but I'm really excited to have you back in April or May, to hear your feedback on all that was accomplished over the winter.

Coming Up...

 

Our two big capital improvements this winter are one, dredging the portion of the lake behind the tennis courts and two, installing drainage on fairways #1, #6, #9 and #11.  We'll also be installing drainage below two approaches on the golf course, #15 and #17.  Here are specifics about each project:

1. Dredging

This project is scheduled to begin during the first week of November and involves removing sediment in the lake from the Hummingbird Lane bridge to the east (towards #10).   Unfortunately this work has to be done before the lake begins to freeze.  Ideally, I'd love to accomplish this when no one is here, but that just isn't feasible.  We'll be dredging the lake using a hydraulic pump, that will move the water to a machine located in the lower parking lot of the Hudson House.  There, the slurry of water and sediment will drain off, allowing the sediment to be hauled off-site.  A lane for vehicular traffic will be left open but you'll need to proceed through this area with extreme caution.  Please see the diagram below that was created for the permitting process.  In the next 2 weeks, you'll begin to see equipment being brought in for this project.  It takes two weeks to setup before they begin pumping.  To be ready to go by November 1, requires the setup to begin as soon as possible.  After October 16th, the dredging contractor has the green light to begin bringing in equipment.  I will also warn you that there will be some noise associated with this project.  Because of that, we will not work Wednesday-Sunday of Thanksgiving week.      

2. Drainage

The drainage project will begin on November 10th.  This is also important to get a jump start on before the ground freezes.  We'll be installing drainage on fairways #1, #6, #9 and #11.  We'll also be installing drainage below two approaches on the golf course, #15 and #17.  We will work on one hole at a time to minimize disruption to play.  Golfers will need to skip the hole being worked on.   The spoils from the trenching will be hauled to #11 tee complex, where we are planning to raise the level of the ground to improve drainage.  Currently, water is trapped below the 2 tee, making it difficult to maintain.  

Both projects will improve the campus and golf course alike.  We are hoping for great weather during the early part of the winter to help us get these projects completed as efficiently as possible!

7-Day Forecast

Odds and Ends

 

As we look ahead to the remaining 2 months of golf left to be played, there are a few things to keep in mind:

On or around November 1st, the dredging project will begin.  This involves the portion of the lake behind the tennis courts and LEC.  This will be a somewhat noisy process and will consume the lower lot at the Hudson House.  A long trailer with a generator and de-watering machine will sit off in the grass next to club lake and pile material up as it's pumped to it.  The contractor is hoping to work 7 days/week, but will not be working the week of Thanksgiving

Monday, November 3rd, we'll be DryJecting the greens like we always do during the first week of November.  It's important that this gets accomplished prior to the greens freezing.

On Monday, November 10th, we'll be starting on the drainage project, which involves holes 1, 6, 9 and 11.  We will work on one hole at a time, to minimize disruption.  It's important to note that the hole we are working on, will be closed to golf.  It's important for this outfit to be able to work uninterrupted.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give me a call! (828) 787-2778

Fall Color Timing/Peak