Cart Path Repairs

Overtime the cart paths on the course become damaged and need replacing. Usually a section of path will break due to tree roots that become bigger over time. Today a contractor worked on replacing these bad sections. First they break up the existing path, frame the new path and then pour the concrete.

New Look at Number Three and Fifteen Greens

The recent ice storm damage caused quite a mess and changed the look of the golf course as well. Along with the loss of  a Live Oak and some Georgia Pines we unfortunately lost the massive Oak at three and fifteen greens. The rings in the tree were not counted, but the tree had to have been there well before the golf course was built in 1899. Losing this tree is bittersweet. On one hand it was a beautiful tree that came into play if you approached the fifteenth green from the left side, causing you to think how you played your second shot on the par five. On the other hand it was a nightmare to keep up with all of the leaves; we spent at least eight months out of the year blowing  these Oak leaves. Instead of replacing the tree with another it was decided to sod the area where the tree stood, allowing for more views across the golf course.

No Carts On Fairways

Over the next two to three weeks we are asking all golf carts to stay off of the fairways. We are asking you to stay on the cart path or in the rough. By having the carts stay off of the fairways it will engourage the Bermuda grass to green up sooner. Thank you for your cooperation.

Demoing Equipment

I am sure that everyone of you has some sort of toy, gadget, car or some other item that you cannot wait for the newest edition or model to be released so that you can demo it or purchase it. On the golf course it's equipment; most importantly mowers. We are very fortunate here at Augusta Country Club that we lease almost all of our equipment. At the end of our lease we get brand new state of the art equipment that has all the new bells and whistles. Even if we are not in the market for a specific type of mower, sprayer or any other type of machine that would be put to use on a golf course, we still like to demo them. This way we can see what is out there and how these types of machines could possibly benefit the golf course in the future. During the past week we have been demoing a John Deere walking flex mower. We currently only have walking mowers with fixed heads. The difference between a flex head and fixed head mower is the flex mowers reels are not attached to the actual mower, where as with a fixed head mower the reels are attached to the mower. The benefit to using a flex mower is that it will flex with the contours and undulations of a green. With a fixed head mower it does not flex with all contours and undulations, thus causing the mower to dig into the green ever so slightly on some slopes and mounds leaving behind scalped turf.

This is a flex mower. If you look closely you will notice that a chain attaches the reel to the mower.

This is a fixed mower. Notice that reel is attached to the mower.

Storm update

It's hard to believe that it has been over two weeks since we were hit with that awful ice storm. The course was hit pretty hard and it felt like we would never get it back to normal. The golf course crew along with Arbor Equity tree company has done an unbelievable job in getting the course cleaned up. Between everyone most of the trees, limbs and stumps have been chipped or removed from property. Now the golf course crew will work on picking up pinecones and all the remaining small branches and other debris.

Redefining some of the Green Edges

You probably have noticed by now the new pieces of Bent sod around the edges of the greens. Over time either Bermudagrass has encroached into the green or the original edge has been lost. To correct this issue Bent sod was laid along the edges that needed to be corrected.