Drainage projects...

Ryan Gordon, TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, Snoqualmie, WA:

"The crew has been hard at work knocking several drainage projects off our list. Two weeks ago, the wet area behind #6 green to the right of the bunker that guards the green was tackled. This project will also indirectly firm up the approach at the bottom of the hill by catching any water coming down the hill.

After the project on #6 wrapped up, we moved our equipment to the approach on #11. This area has always been one of our softer approaches due to relatively heavy shade from the trees found on the right side of this hole so we were pretty excited to finally have the opportunity to install some drainage here.

Jorge and Baudellio excavating the new drainage channels on #11 approach.

Water moving through the freshly dug channels.

Once we started digging on #11, it quickly became apparent how much we are going to benefit from this project. We did not have any rain coming down when this picture was taken but a sizable amount of water was already seeping into the trenches and quickly flowing down to the exit point where the catch basin is located."

Visit Ryan's blog at tpcsrturfcare.blogspot.com.

The best laid plans...

Frank Tichenor, Forest Hill Field Club, Bloomfield, NJ:

"The other day I was reading blogs from some of my fellow superintendents and I ran across my friend Jeff Johnson's latest posting. Jeff is at the Minikahada Club in Minnesota, a top 100 Donald Ross design. Jeff and I met on a trip to Ireland a few years back and have stayed in touch ever since. Jeff is kind of my antithesis; he is soft spoken and at times reserved. I guess opposites do attract as I am always glad to see or hear from Jeff and I believe the feeling is mutual. Jeff's latest posting dealt with planning and how much of it is done in the winter. Though Jeff and I might be somewhat opposite personality-wise we do share a common belief that success is 99% preparation.

Though Jeff and I might be somewhat opposite personality-wise we do share a common belief that success is 99% preparation..."

The winter months for the superintendent in the Northeast can be a time of relaxation, but they are also the time of introspection. What worked? What didn't? How can we do it better? Cheaper? More efficient? All of these are questions we ponder and then we put pen to paper and start the planning process.

All areas of the superintendent's responsibility must be considered. Greens, tees, fairways, step-cut, rough, natural areas, bunkers, trees, landscape beds, accessories, irrigation/drainage systems, practice areas, buildings, equipment, staff levels, training, communication, budgets, etc, need to be examined. 'Should we mow approaches with one machine or two' may seem like a relatively easy question but when you consider the availability of staff, machinery, amount of play, mowing heights, supplemental irrigation, spray and top-dress scheduling this question takes on a whole different aspect. These questions are repeated over and over during the planning process.

I have been lucky enough to develop friendships with some very talented individuals in the industry and I have used, yes used, these friendships to help with the planning process. If I have a question on fungicide efficacy I can turn to my friends at Rutgers. Question on a piece of equipment I seem to always go to my former assistant Pat Quinlan and if I have a question and have no idea where to look I usually go to the TurfNet forums. I say this because the planning process involves many individuals who collectively help form the plan.

What happens when plans go awry? The other night I got a call that the police and fire department were on the 18th hole where a pickup truck was on fire. As mentioned above I do ponder many questions during the planning process but I can assure you "what to do when a pickup is smoldering to left of 18 green" is not one of them. It seems a lady and a gentlemen wanted to take a scenic tour of FHFC at night. I guess they didn't follow the cart signs and proceeded to get stuck. While trying to get out, the pickup must have overheated and then caught on fire. I guess what seemed like a great idea to them earlier turned into 'what was I thinking' as the flames erupted.

Bottom line, there was not a plan in place for this. The reason I mention this is that all plans must be flexible. The damage that the pickup caused will be taken care of, and it will be forgotten soon enough. When things do not go according to plan we try not to overreact, but simply adjust. With good plans in place adjusting is possible; when no plan is in place it is not. So for all of you who ask 'what do you do in the winter?' this is one aspect of the workload.

In conclusion, I leave you with a quote that I copied from my friend Jeff's blog:

"People don't plan to fail, they just fail to plan. — Zig Ziglar"

Visit Frank's blog at fhfcgreendepartment.blogspot.com

Weather confusion...

Craig DeJong, Hendersonville (NC) Country Club:

"January was one strange month for weather, and I am beginning to accept the theory of global warming. The golf course received 9.75" of rain, and a great variety of low temperatures ranging from 16-59 degrees. The movie Chasing Ice adds to my acceptance of a changing climate. I would recommend this flick if only for the beautiful cinematography.

Bunker with tree debris.

Note high water mark.

Yesterday brought 3" of rain, sustained high winds, flash flood, severe thunderstorm, and tornado warnings. Now we begin the cleanup process all over again."

Visit Craig's blog at hccgcgd.blogspot.com.

Construction begins on new vegetable garden...

Peter Wendt, CGCS, Kinloch Golf Club, Manakin-Sabot, VA:

"As winter progresses along, the maintenance staff has begun preparations for this year's vegetable garden. Due to last year's success with our small scale plots, we have decided to expand the garden to nearly 10,000 sq ft. This will provide ample room to implement a season long growing and harvesting schedule.

Work has begun on grading the existing garden as well as the area around it in order to provide proper water runoff. In addition, drainage will be installed in case of larger rains and continuously wet conditions. In order to provide proper conditions for growing, sub-ground irrigation will be installed. Plants will be cultivated in raised beds which will allow for ideal soil conditions for growth."

Visit Pete's blog at kinlochgcm.blogspot.com.

Nemo hammers The Farms with 38 inches!

Paul Sabino, The Farms Country Club, Wallingford, CT:

"Wallingford is not one of the official measurement stations for the state of CT. We know we had at least 35 inches of snow. The only way to clean our lot is by loader. It took five hours to just clean our maintenance driveway so we could get to the clubhouse.

I'm very proud of the hard work the maintenance staff performed under the most grueling of circumstances. We still have a long way to go. Our #1 priority is to make the clubhouse accessible for staff tomorrow by 10AM."

Many more photos on Paul's blog at farmsccsuperintendent.blogspot.com.

Gloss or flat?

Shane Conroy, asst supt, Park Ridge (IL) Country Club:

"Ball washers here at PRCC are found on every men's tee and most ladies tees, and they all take a beating throughout the year. We use our time during the winter months to make them look like new again.

The first step in the process is dismantling every ball washer and cleaning each part. After each part is cleaned we then sand the parts using a fine sand paper to get a nice, smooth surface. Once the sanding is complete we set up our makeshift paint room and dilute either a flat or gloss paint (depending on the part) and spray them using an air powered spray gun. We have found that by using the spray gun we were able to achieve the best looking finished product.

The water tank portion of the ball washers drying after being sprayed with a gloss paint.

A few bases of the ball washers after being painted with a flat black paint.

Once the paint is dry we re-assemble each ball washer and put them in a safe place until they are ready to go out this spring."

Visit the Park Ridge blog at parkridgeccgrounds.blogspot.com.

Golf poem...

Rick Tegtmeier, CGCS, Des Moines (IA) Golf & Country Club:

"As we are nearing spring I saw this little poem and thought it might start to make people think about spring and golf:

In My Hand I Hold A Ball,
White And Dimpled, And Rather Small.
Oh, How Bland It Does Appear,
This Harmless Looking Little Sphere.

By Its Size I Could Not Guess
The Awesome Strength It Does Possess.
But Since I Fell Beneath Its Spell,
I've Wandered Through The Fires Of Hell.

My Life Has Not Been Quite The Same
Since I Chose To Play This Stupid Game.
It Rules My Mind For Hours On End;
A Fortune It Has Made Me Spend.

It Has Made Me Curse And Made Me Cry,
And Hate Myself And Want To Die.
It Promises Me A Thing Called Par,
If I Hit It Straight And Far.

To Master Such A Tiny Ball,
Should Not Be Very Hard At All.
But My Desires The Ball Refuses,
And Does Exactly As It Chooses.

It Hooks And Slices, Dribbles And Dies,
And Disappears Before My Eyes.
Often It Will Have A Whim,
To Hit A Tree Or Take A Swim.

With Miles Of Grass On Which To Land,
It Finds A Tiny Patch Of Sand.
Then Has Me Offering Up My Soul,
If Only It Would Find The Hole.

It's Made Me Whimper Like A Pup,
And Swear That I Will Give It Up.
And Take To Drink To Ease My Sorrow,
But The Ball Knows ... I'll Be Back Tomorrow."

Visit Rick's blog at dmgcc.blogspot.com.