Flood Update

The golf course will reopen at 1pm on Saturday.

The driving range remains open for use from the mats.

We received a little over 6.5" of rain in the recent storm.  As of 9am most of the floodwaters have receded except for portions of the 5th, 9th and 10th holes.  We are currently utilizing pumps to expedite water removal and return the golf course to playable conditions as soon as possible. 

Snow is in the air this morning!  If you look close you can see some snowflakes on the 9th green.

Bunkers drain quickly, but the floodwater leave behind washouts around the perimeter and a layer of silt and debris.  This silt contamination must be removed before washouts are repaired and bunkers raked in preparation for play.  A labor intensive operation.

Pumps are utilized to expedite water removal.

View from the 5th tee at 9am.

18th tee looking towards 1st green taken Thursday and again on Friday, nearly back to normal.

Flooding Rains

Thursday, April 18th - 6" of rain so far...

The forecast is calling for 1-2" of additional rain today and tonight.  Once the rain ends staff will begin pumping water from low areas to help speed up the drainage process.  I expect the course to be back in play for the weekend with little if any noticeable damage.

From the 5th green looking at the 5th & 10th fairways.

Looking back towards the 5th tee from the fairway bunker.

From the cart path on #1 looking east at #1 green.

Course Preparation

 

                                   

Quite a difference from the first fairway mowing (top) compared to the most recent fairway photo.  Warm spring rains and frost free nights have allowed the turf to break dormancy.

 

Unfortunately we had to remove one of the large Oak Trees at the club entrance.  Our certified arborist recommended immediate removal of the tree due to its declining condition and potential hazard in a wind storm.  Once removed it became apparent that the trunk was almost completely hollow and what little wood remained was soft and rotten.

 Aerification of greens is scheduled for Monday, April 29th.  The benefits of aerification are visible in this photo taken recently on the 10th green.  Notice the healthy green turf growing in last falls aerification holes.

   

Spring bunker preparation is nearly complete.  Edges were cut, winter washouts repaired and excess sand was removed.  I expect you will notice an immediate difference in the firmness and consistency of our bunkers.

The Season Begins...

The golf course officially opens Friday, April 5th.  I am expecting numerous frost delays as the colder than normal temperatures still have a grip on Chicago.  Please keep in mind that the majority of the turf is still dormant and unable to recover from daily wear.  It is extremely important that ball marks be repaired and divots replaced.  I look forward to seeing you on the golf course in the near future! 

The removal of covers signals the beginning.  The first step is a quick cleanup with a backpack blower in preparation for the first rounds of the season.  I expect the kelly green color to fade with exposure to a few cooler nights. 

A pass with the roller smooths any rough spots from winter freeze and thaw cycles.

Greens mowers make the first cut of the season on #3.

Antonio mows #18 green, still dormant from the recent cold weather.  Mowing along with warmer temperatures will help stimulate the grass into a growth cycle.

Todd cuts the first cup of the season on #3

Spring is around the corner...

The transformation will soon take place!

Todd and Mick inspect the 13th green.  Green covers will be removed as soon as the weather breaks.

Miguel puts the finishing touches on the tee markers in anticipation of opening day.

Several dangerous trees were identified by our arborist and removed over the winter.  The tree above is an example of a hollowed trunk, potentially dangerous in a wind storm.

Juan, Cruz and Benito work on stump removal during a sunny afternoon.  Frozen ground allows us to use larger equipment without damaging the dormant turf.

Todd hauls trunk pieces to our storage area near the 4th hole.  Later this wood will be split and seasoned for firewood.

Wood chips and stump grindings are stockpiled before being hauled off site.  These chips and grindings will be recycled for mulch and compost.

Winter Maintenance

    

Green covers are in place on select greens while other greens have been protected with a chemical shield and heavy sand topdressing.  Covered greens must be closely monitored during extreme temperature swings to prevent damage.

With the help of IDOT the "totem poles" behind the first green have been removed.  

Tree trimming and removal is ongoing throughout the winter as weather allows.  Frozen ground allows heavy equipment access to the entire golf course.  The majority of this work is performed using in house labor and equipment. 

Preparing equipment for the upcoming season is a top priority.  Equipment is steam cleaned before undergoing a complete check of all systems.

Our new equipment lift allows for safe access to the underside of equipment.

Cutting reels are removed, rebuilt if necessary and sharpened for the upcoming season.

Preparing for Winter

The first step in preparing for spring 2013 is surviving a Chicago winter...

Irrigation Winterization - A large air compressor is connected to the irrigation pump house located behind the 13th green.  Compressed air is forced through all irrigation piping to remove water out which could potentially freeze and damage piping and other irrigation components.

Irrigation Winterization - Compressed air mixed and remaining water is blown through each of our 1200 sprinkler heads and fittings.  The entire blowout process is completed in 2 days.

A final application of plant protectants is applied to greens, tees and fairways to protect against snow mold.  An anti-desicant is also added to protect the plant from winter weather extremes.

A heavy sand topdressing acts as a blanket from winter weather.

Green covers are utilized on select greens to promote further growth, and add another layer of protection in certain microclimates.