Course Clean Up

 The clean up from the winter has begun. This blower is used to clean small debris off the fairways. After the fairway is cleaned we will come along and pick up the piles in the rough.

The stumps have all been ground down and the wood chips from this needs to be cleaned up. After we get this cleaned up we will be able to add soil to this areas and seed or sod them.

March Weather

Typical March weather.

Disease

Snow Mould

At first look the greens and tees are clean of disease and there is no noticeable ice damage with what we can see. There are some fairways that have snow mould on them but it’s not consistent on all fairways. This is the fairway that has been the hardest hit. The grass on our fairways is susceptible to this disease when we have extended snow cover like we had this winter. These irregular shaped patches will fill in with some warm temperatures and a raking to break up matted areas.

Snow Removal

 This week we have seen lots of our snow disappearing. We went from 95% covered  to 15% .  It is still going to be some time before things dry up so we can get the course ready for golf. We hope to get some nice rains to help get the frost out of the ground and finish off the rest of the snow. The last remaining snow on the greens was shovelled off. The covers on the greens will remain until we see some warm, consistent weather.

 This is the 4th tee that is very sheltered. The snow that remains on the course is in the sheltered areas that are north facing.

The snow on the left of this picture is sheltered by the trees on the left.

Stumping

The stump grinding has begun. This machine will grind stumps above and below the surface. Wood chips will be removed and holes filled with soil. Depending on there location they will be sodded later on in the spring or seeded. The man standing on the cart path is operating this machine. It has wireless controls so that the operator can stand at a safe distance and have a good view of where he is grinding.

Pond Restoration

With the rain and snow melting the water level of the ponds are very close to capacity.

Looking forward to some more consistently warm weather to get rid of the remaining snow so we can get started our spring clean up. The remaining work to be done on the ponds will have to wait until dryer days in the spring.

Pond Restoration

The pond on #5 is now 95% complete. The contractor will be back in the spring to clean up around the edges of the ponds and top up the stone wherever necessary. Also, they will clean up where their machines have been travelling and where the material they cleaned out of the ponds has been placed.

This is the retaining wall on the walk path to the 5th green. We also stabilized it with some more material and topped it up with stone.

Pond Restoration

Stone being installed on the pond on #5.

Found

It may be hard to see in the picture but this flag pole was found in the pond on #5. Using an excavator to find flag poles is a little bit over kill.

Pond Restoration

The pond on #8 is now 95% completed.

The pond on #5 begins with the ice removal.

Tree Work

This is the back drop behind #8 Green.

A few weeks ago we had some strong winds. A cedar tree behind the green broke off.

We removed what remained of the tree and fortunately a maple tree behind the group of cedars will keep the back drop visible and provide shelter from the 9# tee shots.

Pond Restoration

The weather changes quickly. We had over an inch of rain and 4-5 inches of snow over the weekend. The water level is rising but work continues stabilizing the banks.

 

The pond on #8 is getting closer to being done. 

Pond Restoration

 The pond on #3 is 95% complete. When the snow is melted and frost is out of the ground the top edge will be cleaned up and sodded where necessary.

Pond Restoration

 Pond on #3 excavated.

A shelf is built to hold the stone along the top edge of the pond.

 Stone and filter cloth being installed.

Pond Restoration

 Shaping the edges to make sure banks stay stabilized and you can see the pond will end up being 4 to 6 feet deeper.

 Pond on #8 fully excavated.

Removal of the ice on pond on hole #3.

Pond Restoration

 The ice has been removed and the soil is being excavated.

 The excavator that is being used has an extra long arm to reach as far as possible. This lets the machine do alot of work without constantly moving.

To make the excavation easier the operator took his machine into the bottom of the pond.

Pond Restoration

We are having the ponds cleaned out to a depth that will hopefully reduce the weed infestation in the future.  Along the banks, about 2 feet above the water level and two feet below gabian rock will be placed to help stabilize the bank and deter any animal activity. Under the stone a filter cloth will be placed to help control vegetation growth.