Frost delays

Frost delays are always a concern at golf courses, but it is magnified at Bears Best. Without returning nines, we have only one direction to send off straight tee times. Shotguns also work, but since we have so many shaded greens, they all have to be clear to do a shotgun. Holes 1, 3, and 5 are the slowest to melt during a delay and those are the ones that need to be open for play first. As always, the maintenance staff does everything to tee off as early as possible. Here are two pictures from #1 this past Saturday.

Frost on #1 around 8:00AM

Frost on #1 at 10:30AM.  Front quarter is clear where the sun shines through, but entire back is still covered.

Clearing of natural areas

We are currently doing our yearly trimming of all the brush/natural areas at #2,4,5,8,9,and 13. We will work on these areas throughout the winter during frost delays and other slow times. Here is a picture from last week on #2.

New root growth

Golfers always complain about aerification, but most realize it is a necessary evil. Below are two pictures showing how important aerification is even when small holes are punched. Notice the new white root growth we have seen in the new holes just in the past 16 days.

Notice the new white root growth that goes down in the aeration hole from the surface

Looking good

A week ago we punched little 1/4" holes in the greens. They have almost completely healed already. With weather in the upper 60s the next few days we decided to lightly topdress them today. This should further smooth out the surface and increase ball roll.

Up Close almost 100% healed

#18 green

View from the hill behind #18 Green

Giving the greens some air

On Tuesday we punched small 1/4" holes in the greens. This will reduce our thatch and organic matter levels, relieve soil compaction, increase oxygen levels, and stimulate root growth going into the winter. The holes are so small that after three rollings and a mowing this morning, the surface is very smooth and fast. You can still see the holes, but it has not affected putting quality. No sand was applied yet, but if the weather is as good as forecasted next week, we will do a light topdressing to even further smooth the surface. You can see in the pictures below how small the holes are and how they looked right after we finished on Tuesday. They look even better today.

Fall pictures

The first picture was taken at #2 tee box with frost on Saturday morning. The second picture is from #4 approach in the evening with the trees in full fall color.

Ryegrass pictures

The ryegrass has come in nicely this year and has matured well going into this cold stretch we started yesterday. With temperatures around freezing tonight and later this week there is the potential for some frost. I do not expect any tonight or tomorrow because of the high winds, but our first frost delay is in the near future.

Pansies

We have added our fall color around the clubhouse in the annual beds. The past two years we have just mulched these areas because of our deer population. This year we decided to put flowers back in. I have talked with other superintendents and horticulturalists and have developed a plan to hopefully have beautiful flowers instead of deer food. Lets hope this continues.

Ready to be cut

With the rain the past two days the ryegrass has taken off. If we dry out enough between now and Thursday afternoon we will cut all 40+ acres then. As you can see in the pictures below it has come in good and is ready to cut.

5 inches of rain

Bear's Best Atlanta received 5 inches of rain since Sunday night. It is very wet out there. I have only seen the bunkers washed worse one other time in the past two and a half years.