I realize we have not reached the middle of February and we are about to get hit with another blanket of snow, but I cannot stop thinking about getting started on the coming golf season. I was watching the Golf Fix on the Golf Channel last night, and am already itching to get out there and work on my game.
The USGA website has a number of interesting tools to provide you with your own "golf fix". In addition to rules quizes and video demonstrations, there is a whole section dedicated to golf course management. Right in the center of the USGA home page there is a link to webcasts that are available for both live participation, including a question and answer section, and recorded viewing if you miss the scheduled time. Today I watched a recorded web cast from the USGA titled "Aeration -does tine size matter?" It describes the fundamental basics of aeration programs, and what techniques are most effective for achieving your course's specific goals. This particular web cast includes presentations from USGA agronomists that tour all regions of the country, as well as questions and comments from superintendents. I strongly urge anyone that is in a position to affect the decisions made at your course to review this web cast, as it will provide a thorough explanation of the aeration process, including the timing and equipment selected.
I try very hard to provide the members with as much information as they desire in hopes that they will understand what we do and why. This is one area where I think it is important to consider outside, expert opinions. This subject is extremely controversial at almost every club, and deals directly with the balance between maintaining quality playing surfaces and preserving the value of a membership.
Please take some time to download the appropriate free software to participate and review this, and other web casts from the USGA. I have included a link to this particular web cast, but others can be found in the center of the USGA homepage at http://www.usga.org/.
Pete/ love the 8th green left side visual standing on the tee box... really makes that left miss look daunting. Opening that up provides nearly 50% more pin placements and the bump on the left edge, middle green can be played!
ReplyDeleteHowever- standing on the tee... have to say it... take the other two down now as well. This would be a dramatic view once the 9th tee ornamental hedge is (moved) and ultimatly the tall arborvitae hedge between 9th and 3rd green is gone! I know, I know... but?
The other trees will be discussed over the course of the next year. These trees have no impact on the hole from the perspective of sunlight and therefore are not as high a priority. The oak on the back corner does present some root competition issues, but we will watch how the health of the green improves over the course of the season, and evaluate how the tree impacts the hole from a visual standpoint.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about hole-locations is dead on. There are bumps and contours in the putting surface that never came into play because we could not use the left front quarter of the green. The other key consideration is the hazard down in the hollow. Balls that missed long and left used to be knocked down by the tree. Now they will bounce off the bank and head toward the stream.
I will be putting together a detailed explanation of the subject in the next week or so. I want to post before and after pictures if it ever stops snowing.