Course Update

As I look back and read my last post we are still in the "hurry up and wait" mode. The course experienced a minor flooding yesterday and with more rain expected today it will be another tough week to schedule any maintenance practices.  We have been unable to mow fairways yet this year due to excessive soil moisture.  I'm optimistic that we can cut them for the first time later this week.  If we are unable to mow fairways this week please keep this in mind as you play the course.

The golf course opened last week and I am overall pleased how the course survived the long winter.  Many golf courses in New England suffered horrific winterkill so I feel very fortunate.   The greens, tees, and fairways suffered winter damage from prolonged icepack and the damage is in low lying areas where ice accumulated.   The greens are recovering after an application of fertilizer last week.  Pictured below is the 2nd green and all the light areas are areas of dead poa annua.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program newsletter you received outlined our goals for the 2015 season. Members interested in participating in any of these programs please contact me or Vince McDermott.  These programs are a great way for families and friends to get involved in environmental stewardship. 

•   Bird and Mammal inventory
•   Tree inventory
•  Bantam River water quality test
•  Bluebird box monitoring

White Memorial Foundation graciously donated six bluebird boxes.  If anyone is interested in monitoring a box or boxes this season please contact me.  There has been significant activity in the boxes since we put them up!  We have also installed two wood duck boxes on the 9^th hole as we continue to make strides towards our Audubon certification.

 

The new equipment wash pad is completed and will be in service soon.  The equipment wash water will filter through a screen and rocks and then into a bed of long grasses.  The synthetic mat is helping prevent soil erosion and warm soil temperatures for the little camper bluestem and sheeps fescue that was planted. Once the grass reaches maturity it will look very attractive and will effectively trap and filter residue from the equipment.  I'm very proud of the crew and how this project turned out.

 

If any of our members have old pictures of the golf course that they would share it would be greatly appreciated!  I am researching how the course layout has evolved over the years.

 As a professional courtesy I am happy to lend you advice for your home lawn.   Please feel free to contact me and we can arrange a site visit.  567-8383 ext 5  litchfieldcc@att.net

Looking forward to 2015 season!