Water, water every where, and not a drop to irrigate

Now that the U.S. Open has made headlines by going to a more traditional "links" course, the spotlight has been put on less maintenance, more "browning" due to less water, and, wait for it, *GASP*, more fescue type rough areas.

The climate of golf has changed in the past 5-10 years.  With less time being allotted for recreation and more emphasis on family time, the norm may soon be courses of the style of Chambers Bay, Whistling Straights, and yes our little Links at Piper's.  We are following some of the more traditional "old world" values of golf greens keeping with lowered input of water on fairway and rough areas, as well, with any luck we will be adding a few waste areas in the future to lower the water needs further.

As we are all aware, the drought that has grasped the Southwest United States, is a very real threat with climate issues arising near daily.  To say as an industry we need to change and evolve is an understatement.  We are very lucky in this area to have a near inexhaustible source of water in the Saugeen River, and Lake Huron as well.  But we also know all to well that we have rolling water restrictions put on us in the Town of Saugeen Shores every summer.

Our philosophy in our Turf Department is less water on fairway and out of play areas the better.  We know our fescue is punishing, imagine how thick it would be if we watered it?  And really whats a hard fairway aside from a few extra yards of roll, who wouldn't want that?  As we hear the pros complaining about the conditions at Chambers Bay, remember we are now adjusting the game to make the course more sustainable in the long run, because there are very real dangers of water restrictions, should our little slice of heaven all of a sudden cease to be there.  If we slow the process, we will have fresh water for many generations to come.

So this summer, when your drive lands in the fairway, and you see a puff of dust, remember that we are just doing our part to help Mother Earth sustain us for the long haul, by not spending as much if her assets in areas where they may not be needed.  Brown may soon become the new green.

Clear Sunny Weather

Albeit cold out, this clear sunny weather has been great for the golf course.  The snow is melting slowly, we should have a lot less standing water around this spring, and to boot, the greens came out of winter looking absolutely fantastic.  We have take the last of the snow off of the few greens that did have lingering snow amounts, and we are now just waiting for all the snow to be gone so we are able to work on the course and prep it for our members and golfing public.

We are just starting to bet busy in the shop, reconstructing mower heads, and sharpening our blades in anticipation of grass in need of cutting.  Now is the key time for spring green up, and we are hoping that the temperatures stay around the 0 degree to 10 degree mark with ample sunlight.  We are in need of a couple of spring showers as well to help thaw out the soil, as it is still quite chilly down there in the root zone.  This way the grass can start to uptake any nutrient locked up in the soil from last fall's fertilizer applications.

We will be hoping, as many of you are, that Mother Nature will give us exactly what we need in a timely fashion, so we may get the course operating at full potential much earlier than last season.