Snow on November 12th...

 Snow on November 12th........Thankfully it didn't accumulate much and wont be here for long! 

Well Meter Testing and Certification

Each year we are required by the state to submit water usage reports and well meter certifications for each of the 7 wells that feed our irrigation system. Each year, depending on the weather, we pump anywhere from 10 to 20 million gallons of water out of our 7 wells combined for irrigation purposes. Part of the yearly re-certification process for the wells involves hiring a licensed company to come in and test / certify the accuracy of the 7 well meters that measure the volume of water we pump from each individual well.

 

"Blowing Out" the Irrigation System

             

Air Compressor attached to the irrigation system 

           As anyone with an irrigation system at home knows, "blowing" the water out of irrigation lines before winter is of the utmost importance. Usually this is achieved by hooking an air compressor up to the irrigation system at its source and using compressed air to pressurize the irrigation lines and  force the water

in the lines out through the sprinklers or any other open valve.  The same concept applies on the golf course but on a much larger scale. Obviously, as water freezes it also expands. If enough water is left inside of an irrigation line, sprinkler, valve, or any other sensitive component, when it freezes it will expand and cause serious damage to the irrigation system in the form of shattered pipes, broken valves, and cracked sprinklers.

Sprinklers "blowing" compressed air

                I'm sure you can imagine that it takes a rather large air-compressor to "blow out" the irrigation system here at CCNB. The entire process takes roughly 8 hours and involves turning on each and every one of the 650 plus sprinkler heads on the golf course in small groups until all of the water is blown out of the system and only compressed air is coming out of the sprinklers.

Air Compressor

Draining and Cleaning the Water Towers for Winter!

Notice

As of Friday, October 25th:

• All water coolers have been removed from the golf course.
• All Ball washers with the exception of the 2nd tee, 5th tee, 13th tee, and 15th tee have been removed from the golf course. A ball washer has been placed in the hallway of the downstairs clubhouse entrance.  
• All trash barrels have been removed from even numbered holes. 

Frost Delays at CCNB

Frost in the rough on the 7th Hole

After an extended stretch of beautiful fall weather it appears that colder temperatures have finally arrived. On Friday October 25th we experienced our first frost delay of the 2013 season. Unfortunately, because the colder temperatures have now arrived we will inevitably be faced with a number of frost delays for the remainder of the 2013 golf season. Frost delays are as equally frustrating to the turf care staff as they are to golfers. While tee times are significantly pushed back due to frost delays, our ability to mow greens, change cups, rake bunkers, etc. is put on hold until the frost melts. While frost delays are frustrating, it is important to understand that driving a golf car, or even walking, on frost covered turf can cause serious damage to the plant.

 Essentially, frost is crystallized, frozen dew. This type of frost occurs mostly on the outer surface of the leaf tissue (pictured above) and causes the leaf itself to become rigid and brittle. Additionally, because the leaf of a turf grass plant is roughly 90% water the leaf itself will freeze. Walking or driving a golf car on turf under these conditions will cause the leaf to break and the cells to rupture.  A commonly used analogy is to that of a cracked egg. Once it is broken there is no putting it back together. The damage from walking on frost covered turf is not immediately visible. However, within 24 to 48 hours the turf will start to turn color and die. Anyone who has ever seen the damage done by a golfer driving a golf car over frost covered turf knows just how appalling and ugly it can be.

Turf damaged by a golf car driving over frost

To help us avoid any turf damage please observe the following guidelines..

            When there is a frost delay it is of the utmost importance to keep off all playing surfaces until it is determined by either the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent that the frost has melted sufficiently enough to open the course for play. Once the determination has been made by the turf care staff to open the golf course it is imperative that all golfers follow the instructions of the golf shop staff in regards to which holes are okay to start on. Traditionally the 3rd green, 7th green, 10th green, and 12th green, are the last to thaw. In order to allow golfers to tee off as soon as possible typically we will instruct the golf shop staff to temporarily allow golfers to start on the 1st tee and 13th tee only.  The reasoning behind such a decision is that by the time the first group of golfers play the 1^st and 2^nd holes the frost on the 3^rd green will have melted. When such a restriction is put into place there are NO EXECEPTIONS. Any hole restriction put into place must be followed in order to avoid damage to the turf. The golf shop staff will always be notified immediately by the turf care staff when any frost delay or hole restriction has been lifted. Until this occurs we ask for your patience and understanding.