March has been a roller coaster of temperatures on the golf course, keeping the grounds crew constantly adjusting from one extreme to the next. Warm, springlike days have encouraged early growth and brought golfers out in full force, only to be followed by sharp drops in temperature that slow everything back down. As I write this post we are sitting at a high of 28 degrees and this weekend the forecast has temperatures soaring into the 70s. Along with the temperature extremes Mother Nature has provided us with more than a couple storms leaving a decent amount of debris to cleanup.
 |
| Mowing #1 green for the first time this year. |
Wind
If there’s one thing the grounds department dreads most, it’s wind. Over the past few days, gusts reaching up to 45 mph have created a constant battle with debris, leaving the crew repeatedly clearing and restoring different areas. Playing surfaces have been blown off multiple times, requiring ongoing attention just to keep them usable. Several trees have also suffered damage—some completely uprooted—while a large pin oak lost nearly half its canopy after splitting apart under the force of the wind. We are in the process of removing the pin oak and it should be completely cleaned up by the weekend.
 |
| Pin oak tree damaged by wind |
 |
| Half of the tree fell onto #2 cart path and fairway. |
 |
| White Pine tree blown over by #17 green. |
 |
| Cleaning up the #2 pin oak tree. |
Drainage Project Update
As I wrote about in the last post, Golf Preservations was finishing up the drainage project on holes 11 and 15 when old man winter dropped a 5" snow storm in early December that brought the project to a screeching halt. Golf Preservations is adjusting their schedule to try and get the remaining two holes completed in early April. The drainage has worked well on the three holes that were completed last fall. #4 valley, #6 valley, and #7 valley all drained very well after the late winter snows and the early spring rain events. This will improve drainage, allowing water to move off the fairways more quickly after summer rains and reducing the risk of standing moisture, hopefully, before the intense heat of the summer sun can stress and damage the turf.
 |
| Slit seeding #4 hillside in early August after the summer moisture "boiled" the turf. |
 |
| Hillside now, right after an early spring rainstorm. It drains much better! |
Slit Seeding
The new Vredo slit seeder has been getting alot of use so far this spring. Most of the dead fairway areas from last summer's heat wave monsoons have recovered. There are some stubborn bare patches that we are slit seeding this spring. In addition, we are working to incorporate newer bentgrass varieties into the fairways to improve their overall health and enhance recovery during the stress of the summer months. These improved varieties are better equipped to withstand heat and wear, helping to maintain stronger, more resilient playing surfaces throughout the season.
 |
| Slit seeding #6 fairway. |
Robotic Mowers
Four additional robotic mowers are being installed at the driving range, expanding our ability to maintain the entire area more efficiently. These units will be capable of mowing all key surfaces, including tee tops, surrounds, target greens, and the range floor. These mowers will help ensure consistent playing conditions and a high-quality appearance throughout the range. A technician will be on site in the coming weeks to map out the area and install the necessary software, after which the system will be fully operational and ready to go. This investment represents a step into the future of course maintenance, embracing innovative technology to improve turf care.
 |
| The four new robotic mowers at the driving range. |
Additional Projects
Bunkers are currently being measured and replenished with sand to ensure they meet WHCC standards of 2 inches on the faces and 4 inches in the centers. We have already applied one load (22.5 tons) of bunker sand, with an additional load on order. Due to winter delays, the next shipment (sourced from Cleveland) is not expected to arrive until later this month as production has only recently resumed. Please keep in mind that even with proper springtime measurements, heavy rains can wash out bunker sand, making it challenging to maintain a consistent depth throughout the season.
The tulips are emerging rapidly thanks to the early stretch of warm temperatures. The horticulture crew has been busy mulching. If the current forecast holds, blooms could begin appearing by the end of March—or possibly even earlier— with hopes they will continue through Easter in early April.
The stump grindings from winter tree work have been fully cleared, and we are now in the process of filling the resulting holes with topsoil. To do this, we are repurposing the spoils from the late-fall drainage project. Sod will be ordered in early April to complete the project.
Mowing operations have also begun across many playing surfaces. Greens, fairways, and tees have each been mowed at least once, while the rough is beginning to actively grow and is scheduled for its first cut later this week.
March is always a crazy weather month. As conditions begin to settle into a more consistent warm pattern, we will transition fully into our daily maintenance routines. Until then, we’ll keep holding on tight and adapting as Mother Nature makes up her mind!
Brad Piecuch
Grounds Superintendent
