There are many projects happening around LRCC. We continue to finish our mulch and pine needle applications. This has been especially tough this year due to our work crews being delayed three weeks and the abundant rainfall. We are working on each area when a free moment and Mother Nature allow. With the abundant rain, clumping of the grass clippings has been a problem. If one thing drives me crazy on a golf course, it is clumping of clippings. Normally, afternoon mowing reduces this complication because clippings are dry. However, with the evening rain showers, the grass is never really drying. A turbine blower is being sent out daily, but the wet clippings make blowing extremely difficult. Thank you for your patience with this issue. Due to the course receiving so much rain and being so wet, I ask all golfers to please follow the cart path ruling for the day. The sign signaling the daily ruling is located at the #1 white tee. Driving where prohibited damages grass by turning, spinning, or simply compacting. I know that it is tempting to drive across the fairways and think, “one cart wont hurt”. If everyone had that thought, that’s 20-50 carts per day!
We are trying a new product for our cart path ends and walkways. In years past, a coarse sand was used on these areas. Teaming up with Green Mountain Golf, a Klingstone product will be tested that is applied over a more coarse stone. We will be using this product on the path at #5 green and #14 greens walkway. As well, a similar product will be applied to a bunker on #5 to test the benefits of washout reduction.
The culvert on #17 is set to be replaced hopefully next week. Material is settling around the current pipe somehow and causing a slow collapse. The other course culverts will be evaluated this year as well since they are all the same age. When this work starts, a cart path detour is possible for 1-2 days.
A new set of tee markers has been ordered and will be added to the fairways soon. A few members had the idea of a forward tee location to assist play on some of the harder holes. I have ordered a complete set of markers for this purpose.
Hopefully, everyone is happy with the course progress. Being mentioned in the same sentence as Biltmore Forest CC and Balsam Mountain Preserve is an honor and confidence builder to my team. I thank you for the encouraging words and hope you each have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!
Logan H. Nesbitt, Golf Course Superintendent |