We’ve been closed for 2 weeks, had torrential rain, can’t mow, and the construction projects are stalled. Open in 3 days and today 3 people called off. That’s a third of our workers. He’s juggling well though 
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The other day though the DOG and his Pro we’re going to help so I got the chipper and two chainsaws ready for them. They attacked one of the numerous scrub tree stands. They are not used to this. I had to bring the chipper in 3 times to unclog it.
They made a valiant effort but were done in by 1PM.
Archive for the 'On the Course' Category
We have this process that we do to our POS Tiff Eagle greens. We’ve been doing it for years and I call it churning..
First, you have to have well top dressed ones. The more sand the better. Then, you need a really good set of groomer reels (or two). Next, you need to get at least two REALLY sharp sets of reels ( ), preferably ones that have been freshly sharpened.. and following up you’ll need a roller or two..
The groomers slice and dice, the two mowers and the roller smooth everything out. It’s a quick way to get it from a 10 to about an 11 or more on the stimp meter. It’s amazing what Superintendents go through to provide fast and smooth greens..
Each groomer reel costs about $3000 and there are 3 per machine. Sometimes we use two machines. This sand, is from nine holes. Typically we’ll do each green twice, at 90 degrees.
It’s my day off but I came in, I knew we’d be shorthanded and I can use the overtime. Good thing, two called off and the fertilizer guy drove off with his fill hose attached 
The weather report for AM:
It will be a cloudy overnight. Expect a mix of wet snow and rain. The snowfall is expected to begin near 6:00am. Total snow fall for the day should reach less than an inch.
Last snow we saw snow here was in 1977.
If there is, pictures to follow
Yesterday was a full day and most people were a little miffed that we have a full crew in for the morning. It’s been raining since about 3AM and right now 5AM it still hasn’t let up. Two weeks ago we were told that we will mow everyday regardless. That day I ended up walkmowing for 3 hours in a light rain. Still, there was only a dry spot in the center of my shirt. So now I have a new rainsuit to tryout. I had thought I might be going a bit overboard on it but hopefully it will be fine..
This is a “sleigh” we made a few years
ago (about 10). It’s pegboard on angle iron frames that hook onto the sides of a Workman. The pegboard makes a great place to add lights and garlands. The “pooch” came out of an idea from Dr. Seuss.
Fortunately we’ve had more near misses on 16 then splashes. Probably the most spectacular was the 5500 sprayer with one wheel over the bulkhead. The one that did go over was a GroomsMaster bunker rake. We had to use the backhoe to lift it back up onto the turf. Our operator had a little to much “Buddy Wiser” the night before. Until we lifted it we had no oil spill on the water. After it came up we had to scramble to keep the “sheen” from escaping. We probably only lost about a cup of fuel and were able to gather that up with our pads.
This pic was of a close call. It was left in neutral while the operator was putting the flag back in. An experienced operator but it still happens. And for those of you who maintain these, you know what a chore it is to keep up with the brakes. But this is the key reason we make sure our parking brakes work. (Usually)
Back from 3 weeks in India and we are just beginning to overseed. Right now we’re wondering where the spreader truck is.
He just showed up.