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.

Ice Storm

Everybody was hit hard during the recent ice storm that went through Augusta and the surrounding areas. Hopefully you and your family made it through this awful event ok. The golf course sustained quite a bit of damage. Thankfully no transformers , fans or irrigation boxes were hit. We had more damaged trees than trees that uprooted and fell over. Anywhere from Pine trees to Live Oaks, Crype Myrtles, Oaks and Maples took a beating. We have cleared all the cart paths and most limbs and debris around greens, so that we can reopen the golf course today as a par three course. All holes will be played as a par three. This way you will not be in any danger from hanging limbs and us and the tree company cleaning up. 

Preemergent time

During the last couple of weeks we have been spraying the entire golf course with a preemergent for summer weeds. It takes about 40 hours for us to spray the entire course. Lucky for us both sprayers were up and running so we were able to knock it out quicker thanks to the second sprayer. While spraying we use a foam to mark where we have sprayed. This way there is very minamal overspray and skips. 

Dealing with Ice and Snow

Today was only the second time in my entire life that I had to put down some type of material to prevent and melt any ice or snow that had accumulated during the night. Before the snow came to town last night we received some freezing rain. The combination of the two caused the main entrance to the Club, walkways and stairs to become dangerous. The first time I prepped for weather like this we used sand to help melt the ice and snow. I was not a big fan of this process because we first had to shovel the sand where it was needed and then after everything had melted and became very messy we had to pick it all back up again. This time I used Calcium Chloride and it worked out great. I used a rotary spreader like we would use to fertilize the grass with and applied it to the areas that I felt would receive the most traffic. I'm glad this only happens every now and again because 4:30 was a pretty early start time.

A loss in the Augusta Country Club family

This will not be one of my typical blog postings. This one will be about Ms. Beverly. Beverly Bentley was the recently retired golf course office manager.  Ms. Beverly passed away this past Thursday while in her own home. The shop was already different not having her around to brighten your day. She could always put a smile on my face and she would do the same for the others as well. She loved talking about her family, especially her grandchildren. Ms. B as a lot of us called her was the heart and soul of the golf course department and she will never be forgotten. She touched so many lives during her time as office manager for us. I will never forget the day I told her that I asked Alex my wife to marry me. She looked dead at me and said Andrew now don't go and do anything foolish you won't find a better women than Alex to put up with you. Ms. Beverly you will be truly missed and I'll see you again one day.

You never know what you might find on the course

Over time a golf course is bound to find and rescue a dog. Today we found two puppies on hole number two thanks to a group of ladies who called them in. After I caught the two pups I took them back to the maintenance shop and we dried them up and got them some food. The stayed in the mechanics shop in a couple of boxes where they were nice and warm. Ron our mechanic will be taking home the girl pup. This will be the third dog Ron has rescued over 15 years at the country club. The second pup will be going home with one the cart guys Bryan. I personally rescued two puppies six months ago when I found them on number seven tee box. It takes the right kind of person willing to take in and give a home to a stray animal.

Eight Creek Erosion

During some of the more recent heavy rains the fairway side of number eight creek had begun to wash out a little. To prevent further erosion problems and to cover up the unsightly looking bank we have reinforced the bank with rip raft. Rip raft is rocks that come in different sizes ranging from a softball to a basketball. These rocks will help prevent further washouts on this half of eight creek.