the grand finale

The grand finale of the work on the golf course is the annual wet-well maintenance.  The wet-well is a large cistern located inside the pumphouse beside the 17th tee.  We close the valve on the 12 inch pipe that connects the well to the lake and then pump out the well with our big 3 inch pump.  We need to pump out 10 feet of water before we can go down and check the pump intakes.  In the picture you can see the three submersible pumps and the green hose that is removing the water from the well. 

This duck didn't seem to be bothered by all the commotion and noise.

More wind

And to think that the Alberta flag was just a few days old.

Chinook winds

A little breezy at the country club today!

New forward tee

With all the golf course projects we try to keep all the material on the golf course and the plugs from the tree planting were deposited near the new forward tee on 13.  Unfortunately the ground is now frozen and we will need to wait until spring arrives to finish the tee box.

Trees on 9 and 13

Here is a view of the area on 9 after the all the trees were planted.

The same view over on hole 13.

New trees

On Wednesday November 16 we brought in Bill Zarn and his crew to plant some excellent looking spruce trees.  Here is a look at the spade digging the holes on the 9th hole near the fairway bunker.

The trees are set into the hole and straightened if necessary.

The burlap and wire basket are peeled back from the trunk and any cracks are filled with loam.  The trees were watered right after they were planted.  With the mild temperatures we will water them a couple more times this week.

New forward tee on 13

Word has it that the grounds crew was in on the weekend, apparently taking advantage of the mild weather.  As you can see, we dug up the much-too-small forward tee on 13 and will be replacing it with a new deck that will be large enough for both sets of forward tee markers.

We have used this technique in the past where the ground is excavated down 8-12 inches and we haul (or push, in this case) all the accumulated branches, leaves, sod and old flowers.  Then this material is covered over with the soil and a layer of screened loam.

Greens covering

On Saturday November 5th the grounds crew installed the remaining greens covers.  Thanks to Brent and Colin for helping out myself, John, Terry, Don and Dale with the covering.

Before putting the covers down we topdressed the greens with a heavy layer of sand to help protect the crowns of the grass over the winter.

There was a 2inch layer of snow on the greens when we covered them but that has since melted off.

Another interesting shot taken on the course Tuesday morning and no, it isn't shaving cream or meringue.

Snow circle?

Hmmmm...an interesting picture of a snow circle on the golf course Monday morning...what in tarnations caused this?

Turf vs golf cart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgTTp6OPiJE&feature=youtu.be

The new porch

Those of you playing a round at the end of the season may have noticed the new deck on the front bathroom.  John and Terry have been working out there diligently replacing the old rotten wood with some new pressure treated timbers.  Great job boys!

Circa 1999

Here is a shot of the good ole boys with the last load of straw being cleared from the practice green.  We have since switched over to permeable covers...thankfully.

The fairies

I think the maintenance fairies were out on the golf course this morning, dropping some balls around the course for the hearty souls that were playing today (it was actually pretty nice out).

A gorgeous day

It was a gorgeous autumn day on the golf course today...there was the sweet hum of the leaf blowers (that's Jayme blowing off the 18th) that managed to finish up just before the 11am shotgun went out. The greens are in mint condition going into the winter with roots down to China...or whatever place is on the other side of the world.

Here is one of the old metal 100 yard markers that I have never really liked.  They were hard to see and needed to be painted several times each year only to look the same the next week.

The replacement process starts by removing the metal marker, which will eventually be recycled at Rainbow Salvage.

I dig in the outline of the granite marker where the old marker was.

 I get the hole to the correct depth and add some sand below the new marker.

 Making sure that it is level and flush with the turf so that the mower won't nick it.

Add some sand around the edges to fill the gap and....voila, the new granite 100 yard marker on #13.  The square patch of sod will be reused in another area.

The Perch

While we are on the subject of the perch, I managed to snap a picture of a gosling leaving it on May 3, 2010.  The bottom picture shows how the dedicated mom will stay in there even during a snowstorm with cold temperatures and high winds.

Canada Geese

Made in Canada?  This year the geese were a popular topic of discussion.  It started in the spring with the runt goose that was left to fend for himself.  This was followed by the lame goose that wasn't actually lame enough to catch.  I think he healed over the course of the summer and is probably somewhere far south of here now, with winter on the way.  Nonetheless they will be back and fighting over the perch in the spring.

Before and after

Here is another before and after picture looking south over the 3rd green.  I remember planting those evergreens when they were 2 to 3 feet tall.  The deer almost took them out one winter but they survived.

Double-crested Cormorant

Some of you may have seen this bird around the course over the last couple of weeks. It is a Double-crested Cormorant and is fishing in our ponds every year in the fall.

Before and after

Here is a before and after picture of the 11th hole, just overlooking the 12th green.

Two days later

Two days after the aeration, following a rolling and mowing and a couple of irrigation cycles, you don't even know we were there.

August greens aeration.

The August greens aeration is done with our Procore aerator equipped with 1/4 inch solid tines.

Following the aeration the greens are mowed in 2 perpendicular directions with a mower equipped with groomers.

The sand/seed mixture is applied with our TORO Workman and Propass topdresser.

We mix some T-1 bengrass seed in with the topdressing sand in our never-ending battle against poa annua.

After the topdressing sand is applied the greens are dragmatted in 2 directions to get the sand/seed mixture into the canopy.

New tee open for play

The new blue tee box on the 17th hole was opened for play on August 3. It is fitting that one of the ground's crew was the first to play off the tee. 250 right down the middle.

Don Cox was second to hit off the tee, but I think he missed the fairway.

Real time weather

For realtime weather at the golf course check out the Davis webpage

http://www.weatherlink.com/user/bc1792/

Water Smartweed

One of the golf course members was asking me about this aquatic plant that is on the 15th hole and I did a little research and found out that it is called Water Smartweed.

Water Smartweed - POLAMP
Polygonum amphibium
This aquatic plant is relished by waterfowl that eat the seeds in the fall. It has pink flowers and rounded leaves above the water in the summer.

Colour: Pink Blooms: July-September Height (cm): .1-50
Sun: Full Soil: Loam Moisture: Wet

Other traits: Oxygenator, Wildlife, Water Smartweed is an oxygenator and its seeds are a major food source for many waterfowl during the winter. Water Smartweed has been used by Native Americans for headaches, ulcers, haemorrhoids. It contains antiseptic properties that were also useful for cleaning and helping to heal cuts and wounds. Smartweed is edible and has a peppery flavour that can be added salads or boiled and served as a cooked green.

Duck families

One of the many duck families on the course this year. This family was by far the largest with 9 young ones.

Blue Heron

A shot of one of the Great Blue Herons inspecting the 16th hole.

July hail storm

Here is a shot of the 17th green the morning after the hail storm. Some of the residents that live nearby said that there were hail stones larger than golf balls in the area.

Here is one of the sand bunkers that was blasted by the Friday hail storm.