Double verticut

On Wednesday this week we verticut the greens lightly in two directions. This helps thin out the canopy a little and stand the grass up. After the picture as taken we came behind the verticutters and mowed the surface. During that mowing we removed about three times the grass we usually do.

6.4" of rain the past two weekends

The past two weekends we have received 2.5" and 3.9" of rain. The bunkers washed out this past weekend, but the course was not in too bad of shape. By Tuesday afternoon we should have all the bunkers repaired and the cart paths cleaned off.  It will take a few days for the course to dry out so we can go out and mow fairways and rough.  Greens have recovered from aeration and look very good.

Rainbow at 6:50am this morning

One of the most vibrant rainbows I have ever seen

Champions Tour Prep at TPC Sugarloaf

I had the opportunity this week in the evenings and Saturday morning to volunteer with the preparation for the Greater Gwinnett Classic over at TPC Sugarloaf. Mike Crawford, CGCS and his staff had the course in great shape for the Champions Tour event. Below are some pictures from the course.

One of my favorite things from tournament preparation is the equipment train in the evenings getting out onto the course.

View Wednesday night after cutting #18 fairway

Cutting fairways and approaches

Looking down at #5 Green on Saturday morning

The crew raking bunkers and preparing the green Saturday morning on #6.  Great golf hole!!!!

1.65 inches of rain - Course cleaned up

Thursday night into Friday morning we received 1.65" of rain. Luckily we dodged the storms and really only had washouts in the bunkers and debris and silt on the cart paths. The crew worked a long day Friday and had all the bunkers repaired and the course cleaned up for this morning. Greens were brushed, mowed and rolled today and we will be off the cart path tomorrow morning(Sunday).  Notice the amount of pollen in the water in the bunkers.

Spring 2013 maintenance crew

We had all the full-time and part-time staff at the golf course this morning prepping for over 240 golfers during Masters week. We also got our new polo uniform shirts making it a perfect time for a group photo.  These guys have worked extremely hard keeping the course in great shape!!!

Spring 2013 Golf Course Maintenance Crew

Spring 2013 Golf Course Maintenance Crew with safety helmets

Start of Masters Week

The start of Masters week is Monday, yet at Bear's Best Atlanta the excitement starts an extra 3 days early. After a busy day on Friday, today started with a 7:15am Final Four shotgun, an 8:00am MGA Masters tournament and a full tee sheet to follow. Greens were mowed and rolled today and are firm and fast.  We will finish the weekend with over 210 golfers Sunday, and a very busy Masters week after that. Hopefully these mid 70s temperatures will continue and the rain will stay away later in the week.

Greens Mower, cup changer, blower, and roller all in action on #17 green early Saturday morning getting ready for Final Four Shotgun

Beautiful sunrise looking from the Big Putting Green to the Clubhouse

#1 Tee at the start of the MGA Masters tournament

Fairway fertilizer

Here are two pictures of number 9 fairway about 3 weeks ago and then this week. We sprayed a fertilizer package with some pre-emergent and the color change is remarkable. Just wait until real spring weather hits!!!!

Pictures from this past week

With warmer temperatures, some rain and a fertilizer application the cool season grasses on the golf course have very good color.  The greens have healed from aeration and are smooth and fast.  Here are some pictures from this past week.

Front of Clubhouse

Striped up clubhouse lawns

Cool double/single striping pattern around Big Putting Green done by Jesus

10 Fairway early Saturday morning

Chipping area Saturday morning.  Aeration holes 95% healed. 

5 Tee Wetlands

The crew cut down the tall plants at the wetlands by #5 tee. It really looks good from the tee box.

Monday's aerification

We decided to aerate Monday instead of Tuesday to best the rain. We used 3/8" coring tines on 2" spacing. We put a little more than a light top dressing down and roll the greens twice. 1.4" of rain washed the sand in nicely. A lot of the holes are still open and we will topdress again next week. Greens should heal up rather quickly and still roll very well.

Finishing up #18 Green right before dark

Blowing sand into the holes on Wednesday

Up close after sand was blown around