Spring Projects

When we opened the golf course in mid-March we were looking forward to an early spring season.  Unfortunately the early season warmth has turned into a cool wet spring to date.  This past weekend we even experienced some light frost, which is somewhat abnormal for this date.  The good news is the long range forecast shows significant improvement with temperatures near 70F and a somewhat drier pattern.  Several spring projects are underway as we prepare for the season, details are outlined below.    

With the full driving range tee reconstruction on hold, grounds staff applied a heavy sand topdressing to the tee in the late fall of 2015 before over-seeding with 007 bentgrass.  The tee was then covered for the winter.  We expect the tee to open mid-May.

Work is underway on a new private lesson tee and junior area to the southwest of the main driving range tee.  The junior area is designed to accommodate the influx of youth golfers, kids camp and alleviate wear and tear from the main driving range tee.  The private lesson area will allow for undisturbed one on one instruction with the golf professional staff on a grass surface that mimics on course conditions.

Repairs to the sewer and storm water systems were completed over the winter to close out the MWRD (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District) swimming pool permit.  Over the next few weeks grounds staff will be backfilling and sodding disturbed areas near the 18th tee and clubhouse lawns. 

Extensive drainage was added to the approaches on 2 and 14 early this spring.  These two areas have historically been the wettest approaches on the golf course and experienced some turf thinning late last summer due to water logged soils.  So far this spring the drainage has been performing well and the approaches are quickly drying after rainfall.

Two Maple trees were removed from the right side of the 11th green this winter.  The first tree was dead, and the second was casting extensive shade on the green causing the grass to thin.  Removal of these trees left an opportunity to reroute the cart path further to the east and also install some lower plantings between the green and cart path.  Grounds staff is currently moving irrigation and with some dry weather will continue cart path relocation and regrading east of the green.

The stone curbing project continues throughout the golf course in high traffic areas.  Late last fall Grounds Staff installed curbing near the halfway house, 14 green, 10 tee and 5 tee.  This spring staff is working to backfill behind the installed curb and level the sod to the top of the curbing.  An asphalt contractor will be on site later this month to repair any areas of asphalt that were disturbed during installation.

Winter Updates & Projects


March brings us closer to spring weather and the much anticipated opening of the golf course. The winter months were spent working inside the shop and on the golf course as the winter weather allowed. An overview and pictures of a few of these projects can be found below.

Over the winter, we also made an addition to the Grounds Management staff. Our new Assistant Superintendent Jason Hazel joined the Ridgemoor Staff in January.

 

New Assistant Superintendent Jason Hazel


Jason attended Purdue University where he earned a Bachelors in Turf Science before moving to Atlantic City, New Jersey. In Atlantic City, Jason worked at Galloway National Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey as a Second Assistant Superintendent. He also has worked as an intern at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, IN, Chevy Chase Country Club in Chevy Chase, MD and interned two years at Galloway National Golf Club. In his free time Jason enjoys the outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

 

 

Equipment Maintenance

 

Performing routine and preventive maintenance to our equipment fleet is one of the most important winter tasks. This maintenance includes grinding all of our reel mowers, changing fluids & filters in all machines, and addressing any mechanical issues. The time spent pays significant dividends in extending the life span of our equipment fleet and avoiding down time during the golf season.

 

Ernesto preparing a fairway reel for grinding

Benito changing a fairway mower bedknife

 Spray boom sanded and ready for primer and paint

 

 

 

 

                        Winter Tree Work

The cold weather and frozen ground over the last few months has allowed for us to continue our removal of Ash Trees throughout the property. These Ash Trees have extensive Emerald Ash Borer damage. Several other trees throughout the property were removed due to significant disease and decay. Although the Ash Trees were damage due to insects, the hardwood was still salvageable. This off season we worked with 2 local companies to re-purpose much of the wood.

 

 

Ash Tree damage from Emerald Ash Borer

 

 

Rotten and decayed tree trunk

 

 

Horigan Urban Forest Products will re-purpose the salvageable lumber from our tree work for use in custom construction projects throughout the Midwest.

 

Northwest Wood Products will re-purpose the remaining of our lumber to build pallets and grind into mulch.

 

 

 

                             Oak Park Avenue Fence Clearing

Staff spent a week the winter clearing brush and overgrowth from the fence line along Oak Park Ave. This fence line was neglected and extremely overgrown. With this clearing project we will be able to monitor any issues with the fence and remain in compliance with the village of Harwood Heights.

 

 

Fence line extremely overgrown unmaintained

 

 

Substantial growth removed from fence line

 

 

Noticeable difference after crew removes over grown material