It's never too early to start thinking about golf!

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/.

Fresh Perspective

Welcome to the new and improved Superintendent's blog for the Suffield Country Club maintenance department.

It is a new year and I am very excited about the coming season at Suffield CC. The past few years have been very rewarding for me both personally and professionally. I have been working very hard to develop programs and make improvements that will enhance the members' overall golf experience on a consistent basis. Perhaps the most successful program has been the communication program, which allos me to inform the membership regarding what we do and why. The cornerstone of this program is the Grounds page on the website, especially the Superintendent's Blog where I address course conditions, the nature and necessity of maintenance practices, and most importantly the value of your continued support.

We have been working very hard over the last few years to provide you with superior playing conditions in spite of the numerous challenges that we must overcome on an almost daily basis. I have commented before about how much it means to us when we are faced with a seemingly insurmountable challenge, or feel as though we are spinning our wheels (probably in mud), and one of you share how much you are enjoying the golf course. This never fails to lift our spirits.

People often ask me what I do over the winter. We perform our seasonal repairs and maintenance on the equipment, prune or remove trees that have become unhealthy or encroach on the golf course, as well as a variety of other tasks that we can not complete during the peak season. Perhaps the most important project for the off season is evaluation of the maintenance operation and its programs. We spend a lot of time identifying the programs that are most effective as well as researching alternatives to those that are not. Once the opportunities for improvement are identified we develop new programs that we feel will give us the best chance of achieving our long and short term goals for the golf course.

One of the most popular changes we made last year was moving our fall aeration from the end of August to early November. This decision to reschedule this process was made in July, to preserve the condition of the greens in the peak season, and to compensate for the days that were lost due to persistent rain early in the summer. By delaying the fall aeration and altering the nature of the process, we were able to correct compaction issues within the greens that are not addressed by our normal aeration program. The benefits of this process will allow us to eliminate the spring aeration for 2010. We will return to our aeration program in late summer, but it is scheduled at a time when there is normally a decrease in activity on the golf course and the conditions are optimal for growth and recovery.

While it is not reasonable to expect that we can eliminate greens aeration altogether, I feel that it is my responsibility to regularly perform an honest evaluation of the the costs and benefits associated with our maintenance programs. In the past I have placed the emphasis on maximizing the benefits from an agronomic standpoint because I have been trained that the golf course always come first. I now realize that in doing so I have underestimated one of the costs associated with providing these benefits, specifically your ability to enjoy the golf course. Therefore, I am researching all options available that will allow us to maximize the number of days that the golf course is in peak playing condition.

We are not only reflecting on the past season, but also looking forward to completing the project you funded on the seventh hole. The bunkers have been removed, mounds reshaped, and drains installed that will address many of the issues that have plagued this area for years. There is still a lot of work to do, but once completed the project will restore many of the architect's original features and will present you with new challenges on what initially appears to be a fairly easy hole.

This project has inspired us to discover other opportunities to highlight the character that is found throughout the golf course. One of the key features that we wish to highlight is Clay Creek, and the steep banks that meander along through the lower portion of the course. Through pruning and removal of trees, we have revealed the beauty and interest that the features contribute to the character of the property. The impact of these features is so valuable that the architect repeated them in other areas of the golf course such as the banks on the 2nd, 6th, and 8th greens, as well as the 9th tee. The visual effect is that the shoulders that cross the 4th hole and support the 5th fairway are more prominent and the oak trees that line them appear to be much more mature, especially when viewed from a distance. Looking forward we plan to address the drainage issues in the hollows and improve the playability and appearance of the area in hopes that the true character of the golf course is revealed.

As I look out the window of my office it is hard to imagine that a new golf season is right around the corner. Last year we opened the greens for play on March 20th which is less than ten weeks away. Over the next few weeks we will continue to evaluate our programs in an effort to maximize the value of your membership. This is where we need your help. We need to know what aspects the club have the greatest influence on your ability to enjoy your time at the club, as well as any issues that have a negative impact on your experience. Your input will allow us to focus our efforts on the conditions and services that contribute to the value of your membership, and enhance your ability to enjoy your time spent here with family and friends.

Please forward you comments and suggestions on to your board and committee members. Any comments related to the golf course or its condition can be submitted to me at superintendent@suffieldcc.com. Thank you for reading and we look forward to seeing you on the golf course in a few weeks.