Greens Update

The majority of the greens are open to play on! We will still utilize temporary greens on 1,2, and 3. Mother Nature has given us a little help the last few days allowing us to aerate, topdress, fertilize and seed all the greens. The use of temporary greens on the remaining few, will allow the turf to fill in and get healthy for the summer ahead.

For more information on temporary greens and course conditioning, check out the latest USGA Regional Update from Keith Happ, Director of the North-Central Region.

http://www.usga.org/course_care/regional_updates/regional_reports/northcentral/Turf-Will-Need-Time-To-Heal-This-Season---April-2014/

Thank you for your patience and continued support.

The Course is Open for Play!

We finally have some decent weather.  This winter has been brutal with all the snow, wind, and cold.

We will be opening on temporary greens because the soil is not warm enough for the turf to start growing. Without growth, the greens can't recover from normal, day-to-day golfer traffic. By utilizing temp greens, we can enjoy the property without risking damaged greens for the rest of the summer.

There are a few greens that are currently under greens covers to help increase the soil temperatures and stimulate growth.  This tactic will allow us to see any areas that may need some additional attention. The good news is that there is no catastrophic damage, but some spots may need a little assistance.

Thank you for being patient as we work with Mother Nature and kick off the 2014 golf season.

Golf Course Opening Factors

Weather is the biggest indicator on when it's safe to open the golf course. Changes in soil temperatures and moisture levels are dictated by the weather.  Once the surfaces are clear of frost and snow, the turf can begin to grow out of dormancy.  Turf must be growing in order to allow player traffic, otherwise there is no opportunity for recovery from the normal wear and tear that occurs during normal play. The course needs time to warm up and start growing.

Patience is required this spring more than ever given the extreme conditions of this past winter.  To paraphrase the assessment of Dr. Trey Rogers of the MSU Turf Team, "the turf thinks it's really March 8th".  It is quite telling that the Golf Association of Michigan has declared that the "official" start to the golf season (for handicap posting purposes) has been delayed more than two weeks.