Sometimes a good day of rain helps in many ways.  This year is at least starting with some weather that might help in the long term, to slow down the drought conditions we have experienced the last several years.  Of course this does not change what happens week to week as we prepare the golf course, but knowing that we are not starting out dry keep our hopes that temperatures will be mild early and the course will respond well once we finish the irrigation project.

I took this chance with the rain to attend the annual USGA seminar at Woodholme Country Club.  This annual meeting is not only a great way to catch up with local superintendents and share some time, but to learn from those who have seen conditions from US Opens to local courses.

It's amazing with all the technology available, that there still is not enough time to pull all the resources together to be fully informed, but days like today and the National Conference every year, just emphasize how complex the maintenance of a golf course has become, and how important it is to stay involved and most importantly open minded.

A few thoughts to share from today:

Bradley Klein, who chairs the Top 100 rankings, discussed the importance to renew your sense of place at your course.  What are the roots of your course, the history and design and how best to showcase that and bring out the greatness of what was once an architects dream.  Some great examples from not only the best courses of the world, but those here and there that have lost there way and now returned to their roots.  Very interesting and I know it will shape the way I continue to look and view our course from all angles.

Matt Shaffer,  Superintendent from Merion on how he is preparing for the US Open and his thoughts on how golf should be played.  He has been very experimental in his approach to conditioning, many practices that have failed, but many lessons learned in the process.  I'm not sure many here would be fans of his approach to rough and bunkers, but thats why all the courses are different.  If you get the chance, a trip to this years Open is worth the time.

David Staebler,  USGA rules education director on why the rules are so complicated.  I wanted to share a link to the USGA web site concerning rules.  This is one of most confusing areas for so many, mostly because we all know a little, which in many cases is very dangerous.  The USGA has done a video series discussing common rules and their impact.  A great series to see before you start your season.

USGA: Rules

It's a great time to the year, new ideas, fresh starts and a sense of getting underway.  I once again appreciate the chance to work on our beautiful course and I look forward to any and all feedback on how we can improve.  This great game is played on a field that has only one absolute, the hole is 4.25 inches wide, other than that it is what tests us every time we step onto the first tee.  Go Golf!

One Step Closer

We are getting there one step at a time.  Today was the beginning of the installation of the new pump system into the new pump house.  A crane lifted the pump from one of our trucks on Military Road and placed it inside the shell, which now can be roofed and we are almost there!

Lets hope the snow holds off a little bit and we will be ready for some not so cold water to fire the system up.

A little fine tuning and we should be able to start the long process of punch list items to repair.  We are still looking at being complete before opening day.  Plenty of work will need to be done, touching up low spots and getting yardage plates on all the heads, which by the way will have 3 yardages now.

In all nearly 650 yardages will be around the course, so be patient, it takes time to sort those out to make sure we  get them on the correct location.  An example is shown below.