What season is it?

 I'm not sure if it was the 95 degree day in early October, or the 8 degree morning in early November, or the fact that we ate Christmas dinner in short sleeve shirts outside on my mother-in-laws patio, but I'm having a hard time figuring out what season it is. This year fall and winter seem to be producing the same roller coaster temperatures. With the exception of one week in January, where it was 34 degrees for the low and high 7 days straight, mother nature can't figure out the calendar. As I write this the GDD (growing degree days) for Western Hills stands at 37 days. Silver maples (the first trees to bloom) have their first blooms at 34 growing degree days so, technically, spring has already sprung. However, the forecast is calling for old man winter to make another appearance putting spring on a brief hold. These big temperature swings have made this winter a challenge for the Grounds Department. The winter work has been getting accomplished in between mowing, course setups, and monsoons. Yet, we are making progress and the tree work is inching closer to completion. The big trees were taken down by a tree company in January and we will finish up with the in house tree removals and pruning in the next week. After removals are accomplished, the remaining stumps will be ground up, grindings removed, dirt added, and completed with either seed or sod.

In house tree removals and pruning

Felling black locust by #7 lake

Two blue spruce trees removed in between #8 and #9

Felling of dead hickory tree in between #17 tee and #15 tee

Hickory tree down

Felling of white pine killed by a lightning strike

Ash tree to the left of #16 fairway pruned back to help with iron shots 

 The area in between #17 tee and #15 tee has taken much of the Grounds Department's winter time. The honeysuckle and debris in that area has been removed. The next step is to have the tree stumps and honeysuckle stumps ground up and cleaned out. This work has opened the area and given it a much cleaner appearance. 

Honeysuckle removed

 The railroad tie steps on #9 and #18 were replaced with limestone by Hafner Landscaping. We have some sodding, mulching, and cleanup work that needs to be accomplished around the steps but the new limestone looks great and should last for years to come.

Old railroad tie steps #18 tee

New limestone steps #18 tee

#18 tee

New limestone steps #9 tee

#9 tee

 The Green Committee along with the Green Department have assessed and agreed upon the worst cart path areas that need repairs. The repair process will take place as time and budget constraints allow.

Cart path repair areas

 Currently, landscape designs are being completed. The area by #13 tee has been approved for a makeover. A perennial/wildflower garden will be created parallel to #13 tee and behind #12 green. Right now the area is not in use and the garden will not affect any golf shots. It will consist of perennials such as, yarrow, shasta daisies, black eyed susans, swamp milkweed, asters, phlox and many others. This area will become a beautiful garden that will attract song birds, monarch butterflies, and pollinators. It will add color and beauty to an underused location. So be on the lookout for this improvement as spring progresses. 

New landscape area by #13 tee

 As the calendar switches to March dormant seeding will take place to improve the stand of grass in some rough areas. This time of year is a great time for seeding due to the freezing and thawing temperatures, its proximity to consistently warmer temperatures, and the copious amount of rainfall that usually occur. A shade mix seed will be utilized in heavy tree lined locations and a tall fescue/perennial rye mix used in sunnier spots.  Other spring jobs will include adding fresh sand to bunkers, trimming bunkers, edging and mulching landscape beds, and beginning the consistent mowing and course set up operations. Hopefully mother nature will get back in sync and we will be in a normal spring blooming season soon.  

Brad Piecuch

Grounds Superintendent