Bluebird trail open for business

Tweet from Hart Common G C (@HartCommonGC)

	Hart Common G C (@HartCommonGC)
3/28/15, 4:56 AM Something to think about before you buy your next golf shoes vine.co/v/OT1AYlId1lX

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Pete Gorman

Golf Course Superintendent 

Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club

Branford, CT

Transition to Spring

I am reluctant to refer to the recent weather as warm as it has been ten to twenty degrees below normal this week, but I am grateful for every degree above freezing at this point.  This week we have experienced a lot of melting and soon we will be able to resume working on the golf course.
Our main concern is obviously the condition of the turf beneath the snow.  As the snow and ice melt, we watch for signs of damage to the turf from disease or ice damage.  Thankfully, I have not seen anything that would be cause for alarm.
Typically after a winter with extended snow cover we would expect to find "snow molds" that grow in cool wet weather, and emerge as matted down patches of turf that sometimes appear to have a pinkish hue to them.  I have seen some signs of this in the rough and on fairways that were not treated with a fungicide in the fall.  We always treat the greens, and last fall we treated the tees and a few wet approaches to use up some product that had been on the shelf for a few years.  As far as I can tell, these areas are free from disease.
Another type of damage that we often see is from voles.  These small, mouse-like rodents burrow under the snow and feed on the grass.  Generally the damage is not severe, and often recovers once the turf resumes growth.  I actually do not mind seeing activity from these varmints, as they are a valuable source of food for foxes and hawks that live near the golf course.
The hot topic among superintendents over the last six weeks has been ice damage.  If you follow golf maintenance on twitter (and I am certain you do) you have likely seen hundreds of tweets regarding ice damage and the mad rush to remove snow and ice from greens.  There are two main schools of thought regarding this issue; clear them off ASAP or leave them alone.  I have been involved with both scenarios, and firmly believe that the best plan is to be very cautious with regard to working on greens in winter.
I have seen some extreme winters (this year doesn't make the top 5) where snow, rain, and ice storms created ice sheets up to 4"-6" thick, and there was a legitimate reason for concern.  One year I remember running our aerifier on the greens to break up the ice that had formed, and another where I used a front end loader to push 20" of snow off the greens.  At the end of these extreme winters we discovered that more damage was done to the turf by removing the ice than was caused by the ice itself, which is why I rarely do anything more than apply a dark topdressing material to help speed the melting of the ice and snow.

5th green - 3-11-2011

In my opinion, a better approach is to address ice damage long before the snow begins to fall.  First, I build my fertility programs to allow the turf to gradually enter dormancy throughout the fall.  Next, I like to make sure the greens are draining well heading into the winter.  My favorite practice is to deep-tine the greens in November at the same time I apply our heavy winter topdressing, which allows any water to drain into the soil during warm spells that occur over the winter.
The absolute best way to prevent winter damage is to maximize the amount of sun that reaches the turf throughout the year.  Any trees that cast a shadow on the green surface will favor weaker turf species throughout the growing season, and will delay the melting of snow and ice in the spring.  This is a recipe for disaster if and when we experience a truly extreme winter.  
Thankfully the weather conditions this fall were ideal for preparing the turf for winter and we did not have snow cover until the end of January.  This scenario leads me to believe that our turf will grow out of any superficial damage from disease or cold temperatures, and will be ready for another golf season if and when the temperatures return to normal.

These trees shade the 13th green throughout the year.

Shadows on 13 green 

Tweet from Your Life Tricks (@yourlifetrickss)

	Your Life Tricks (@yourlifetrickss)
3/18/15, 12:34 PM Put your golf glove in a ziplock bag - it will last significantly longer.

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Pete Gorman

Golf Course Superintendent 

Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club

Branford, CT

Tweet from St Andrews Links (@TheHomeofGolf)

	St Andrews Links (@TheHomeofGolf)
3/9/15, 9:18 AM The greenkeepers were out clearing reeds in the #EdenCourse pond this morning. pic.twitter.com/fUX41EQbJv

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Pete Gorman

Golf Course Superintendent 

Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club

Branford, CT

Looking forward to the Masters

Every season the first full week of April inspires a wide range of emotions for golfers, especially those that have been buried in snow. For the PGA fan in me it brings a level of excitement that eight year olds feel at Christmas. As a golfer it inspires a sense of envy similar to the "always a bridesmaid" cliché, since I doubt I will ever experience the joy of playing a course that is as challenging and manicured. 

As I look out my window at the melting snow, I hear my grandmother telling me about the watched pot of water. Thankfully the strengthening sunlight is an indication that spring is right around the corner, and that means the azaleas will soon be blooming in Georgia. 

For me, and many others diagnosed with a debilitating form of cabin fever, The Masters serves as the starting gun for the marathon golf season. 

I found this interesting photo from an article on The APosition written by Anthony Pioppi, author of the book "To the Nines". It shows how the golf course at Augusta National Golf Club has changed over the years. As Mr. Pioppi explains in his article, all of the changes to ANGC are made in the interest of the one week of the year when the best players in the world, professional and amateur alike, are invited to participate in The Masters, rather than for the enjoyment of the members.  Just another example of how the first full week of April is closer to fantasy than reality. 

I will be adding more thoughts and ideas as the tournament approaches, and hopefully the snow will melt and we will be able to watch the coverage after enjoying our first rounds of golf in New England.