7-Day Forecast

 

Putting Green Rootzone Analysis

Every year, rootzone samples from your putting greens are sent to a lab for analysis.  This allows me to see how the rootzone is evolving and if our topdressing and aerification programs are effective.  This isn't the entire report but allows you to read the executive summary on the findings.  In short, the greens are in great shape below the surface!

 

Sunday Weather Update

While the ice storm is creating some power issues in the area, the storm hasn't been nearly as bad as initially expected.  From what I am seeing on social media, those who lost power seem to be having it restored within a few hours.  Roads that were pre-treated with salt, seem to be fine. However, walkways and other areas are very slick, with about 1/8" of ice covering everything.  There has no snow accumulation.  Today, we are experiencing mostly sleet and rain.  Again, the initial prediction was as much or more than 1" of ice.  If that occurred, the added weight on tree branches would have led to many downed trees, power lines etc.  It is still best to stay home and not be out and about if you don't have to... everything seems to be closed in Highlands, regardless.  This storm could potentially go through the night.  Tomorrow, mid-late morning my team will be evaluating road conditions around the Club and will more than likely be making another salt application to the roads to ensure safety for those traveling on them.  Be safe and stay warm!

This gives you an idea of the thickness of ice on everything.

Weather Updates for the Weekend

Bluebird Boxes

When the ground is frozen and we’re limited with what we can do on the course, it’s a good time to focus on upcoming case studies for our Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Status recertification in the future. We constructed 40 new bird boxes that will be placed on the golf course in late winter and monitored through the spring and early summer for use stats.  The bird boxes are even branded with the Highlands CC logo!

We have several case studies underway currently, on the golf course.  In addition to the bird box program, we've also been monitoring deer populations on the golf course.  And finally, we are in the process of working with Southeastern Pond Management (from Alabama) to enhance our fisheries program in Club Lake.  This is included identifying the need for feeder fish species to sustain our bass program as well as improving the lake to better support our trout population, which has always been popular.  

The Audubon Program is really important for a number of reasons.  Highlands CC first became a cooperative sanctuary back in 2003; the 11th golf course in the State of North Carolina to do so.  It shows our commitment to sustainability, the community and the environment.  

Thursday

Now that our tree work is complete for the season, we are making an effort to get the back parking lot of Golf Course Maintenance cleaned up by splitting as much wood as possible for the Clubhouse and Hudson House.  Again, all the wood for the Club fireplaces comes from the golf course.  This year, we have a good mix of Cherry, Oak and Pine.  Obviously, the Pine is not suitable for burning, so it is hauled off site and disposed of.  At this point, there is no real market to sell the pine logs to local saw mills.  That is a question I am asked often.  On top of that, in order for us to be able to handle the logs to get them off the golf course with our equipment, requires us to cut the logs in 4' lengths.  Saw mills prefer 10' plus long lengths for making lumber.  

While on my 7:30AM golf course walk, I watched this Bald Eagle fly above hole #1 and come to rest in this Oak tree between #2 and #3.  I always appreciate golf courses for the wildlife we're able to witness on a daily basis!

Winter Storm

The winter storm approaching seems to be shifting from a heavy snow event to more of a freezing rain/ice event.  We have our equipment ready to salt and plow the Club roads and will do our best to keep up with what Mother Nature throws our way.  Obviously if ice becomes an issue, we may not be able to treat and scrape the steepest roads in the community.  Stay tuned! 

Snow on the Way...

We are in for some interesting weather this weekend.  Although its early, I've models predicting anywhere from 6" up to 20" of snow on Saturday.

Club Lake and the Dam

As I continue working with our engineering firm on the projects associated with the Club Lake dam (at the corner of Hudson Rd and Dillard Rd), I learn some interesting facts I've never known.  For example, and todays trivial information for you:

1. The watershed that serves Club Lake (this is land area where all water runs into the lake whether it be from roads, golf course etc) is 1.33 square miles.  That's a lot smaller than I thought it would be.  I would have guessed 5 square miles.  The Upper Cullasaja Watershed is one of the smallest in the country at only 14 square miles.

2. On an average day 5 cubic feet of water flows over the dam every second.  To convert that to gallons, 1 cubic foot of water is equivalent to 7.5 gallons of water.  This means 37.5 gallons of water cross the dam each second.  This means 2,250 gallons cross the dam in one minute, 135,000 gallons/hour or 3,240,000 gallons a day.  This information is used to determine what size pipe is needed to siphon water over the dam in order to drop the lake level.

Friday

On #17, we picked up on where we left off last year, cleaning out the woods and under-brushing closer towards the tee on the left side of the hole. This will allow golfers to find errant shots pulled left, much easier. Not that any one would ever hit a ball towards that area! :)

USGA Green Section Record

 CLICK HERE! for the latest edition of the USGA Green Section Record.

7-Day Forecast

 

Wednesday

Drainage work is ongoing.  The forecast doesn't look positive in terms of temperatures because the ground is sure to freeze.  We are removing sod while the turf is thawed and hopefully this will allow us to continue.  We're finishing up #9 and then starting #11.

Tree work also commenced today.  Above, 3 declining White Pines have been removed on the right side of #6 fairway.

Monday

Above, curbing along the 18th green is moving right along.

This afternoon, we started aerating roughs on the golf course.  With the fairways complete, we're now focused on all other areas, "wall to wall."

Tee Markers

17* mornings are perfect for inside work!  Today. we are making tee markers for the coming season. This is something we do annually because the life of a wooden tee marker is only one season.  Using branding irons, we burn the number of the tee into the end of the wood.  These tee markers are better looking and more original than anything we could order from a golf course supply catalogue and are constructed from Rhododendron harvested off the golf course.

In total, we need 144 tee markers for the golf course at any given time.  That's a total of 8 markers per hole.  We'll also may about 5 spares of each marker should one or two get damaged or go missing.  In all, we'll produce 164 tee markers; that's a lot of wood branding!