The Polar Vortex has descended, and set up shop over the Tri-State. After a slightly above normal December and January, February is looking very cold. An overachieving snowstorm on February 9th dropped around 5+ inches of snow, adding to the snow that we received in early February, and there looks to be more on the horizon. Looking back on recent winters, this seems to be one of the coldest we have had in recent memory. Compared to the last two winters where we were mowing greens and fairways in January and February, this year we have not mowed any turf since December 10th. Also, typically this time of year we have between 20 and 50 GDDs by mid February (Growing Degree Days-used to measure bloom time and insect emergence based on the amount of average 24 hour daytime/nighttime temperatures that are greater than 50 degrees). According to the Ohio State Phenology Calendar, currently we have zero. This is the least GDDs for this area since 2010 when we had 1 by this time. The consistent early winter temperatures (no extreme warm temperatures like highs in the 60s) and the recent cold spell have resulted in 0 GDDs. This is actually a good thing, holding off the blooms of early blooming plants that would be susceptible to hard freezes. On a side note, allowing the fruit trees to slowly wake up from winter's grip and become acclimated will help many of the area fruit growers who lost a large number of their crops, especially peaches, last year due to early flowering and a very late season frost. Hopefully this cold weather will yield to a very normal spring and help many of these plants bloom regularly.
Luckily, for the Grounds Department, most of the tree work has been accomplished before old man winter blanketed the area. All of the in-house and contracted tree removals have been completed, and all the limb removals have been accomplished. Now the Grounds Department is starting the stump grinding removal process. All the cut trees have stumps that have been ground out and the grindings need to be removed , filled with topsoil, and seed or sod added. This is a long process and takes a couple weeks to accomplish, weather permitting.
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| Limbs removed left of #4 fairway |
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| Limbs removed right of #4 fairway to help with chip shots to green |
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| Tree company climbing pin oak tree left of #4 fairway |
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| Finished product left of #4 fairway. Now very open. |
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| Stump grindings of dying cherry tree by #6 cart path |
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| Stump grinding removal |
The recent snowfalls have the Grounds team busy with snow removal. The cold snap has left the pavement temperatures below freezing. Any snow that has recently fallen has left the parking lot slippery and snow covered. The Grounds crew has done a fantastic job making sure the lot is clear, staying on call during club hours and plowing as early as 3:00 AM, before patrons arrive. The new snow blower that was purchased last year is finally getting good use.
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| Michael Westendorf plowing the parking lot in the early morning hours |
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| Chris Wheeler and the new snow blower making quick work of the circle driveway |
The Horticulture team is busy drafting landscape designs. One area that will be getting an upgrade is to the right of #12 tee by the entrance. Currently, there are old irrigation pits, a main line water shut off box, and a power meter station in that location, and it could use some sprucing up. There is a big amur
honeysuckle bush (an invasive weed) by the main entrance that needs to be removed and replaced with a green giant arborvitae to match the other plant material. The design will include
limelight hydrangeas,
tiny tuff stuff hydrangeas,
feather reed grass,
emerald green arborvitaes (for screening of #12 tee), and
stewartstonian and
fushai azaleas. This should add good color and interest to an otherwise bare area.
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| Honeysuckle bush by the entrance will be replaced with a green giant arborvitae to match the ones behind it. The water valve box will be hidden by limelight hydrangeas. |
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| Design for the right of #12 tee/entrance |
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| Next landscape design area to include #5 yardage marker. |
Soon old man winter and his polar vortex will be a distant memory and we will be busy with spring-time maintenance once again. Until then, the Grounds team will continue to tackle the important winter projects and we look forward to having a great 2021 season.
Brad Piecuch
Grounds Superintendent
