2020...

We finally have some cold weather coming in after a long, grueling summer.  My small crew and I were able to keep Arrowhead in great shape despite the little rain we received.  We only had two large rain events all summer.  One took place on May 25th (1.12") and September 6 (1.17") which was a rain/snow mix.  The course held up to the hottest year on record, but we had some stressed turf where our irrigation coverage is not great.  When you a have 48 year old, 90 foot spaced sprinklers system with daily winds every night and morning, not all the turf is covered. We were able to hold it all together with rollers bases in the fairways and rough and dragging hose around green and tee complexes. 

We did a lot of great practices this year which helped our turf and the course playability.  1. We finally were able to edge all the bunkers on the course.  All 68 of them.  We have very large bunkers, that total close to 4 acres.  2. Our greens clean up pass was getting very stressed from our Triplex units.  Even though we only mow the clean up 4 day a week, the hot summer was showing it signs.  Rick, our Senior Assistant Superintendent made the call to only walk mow greens clean ups.  With our small crew, I was a little nervous that we would not be able to get it done, but someway we got it done.  The greens looked so much happier and healthier after.  This practice will continue on in 2021.  3. Both of our rough unit now have canopies on them.  The needed shade for our team members was a hot topic for me as both machines stay out all day mowing, no matter what.  Because of the increase in height of the machine, we limbed up all the interior tress on the course.  Not only did it help the mowers, it also allowed better irrigation coverage to those areas.  Water was know able to hit more turf instead of being knocked down from the low laying branches.

In September, we aerifed all the tees and approaches again.  We did the practice in the Spring, but we had to get back on schedule on when we aerify.  We normally aerify greens and fairways in the spring and tees and approaches in the Fall.  Last Fall, we unfortunately did not aerify tees and approaches due to lack of staff.  I noticed a big difference in health the more we aerify. Maybe we should do it more??

Our last project of the year, was our most fun.  It has been in the making for a long.  Just needed the money and the time.  Last week, we renovated lower #13 tee complex.  There were so many things wrong with it, I am not sure where to start.  It was not aligned to the green and it more humps in it than a whale.  The center hump was 12" above grade.  This was by far the worst tee box on property.  We are were ashamed by it.  After about 20 yards of topsoil and 5 yards of 80/20 mix and 1400 square feet of sod, we know have a proud 500 square foot tee box.