Tale of two seasons and getting high on the course.

Now that we've moved our clock ahead an hour (and hopefully changed the batteries in our smoke detectors) you can sense a noticeable "twitch" in our membership.  Opening day is certainly getting close, but relative to last year we could be looking at a much later opening date.

The reasons are fairly obvious to most.  Last year by this time we were warm (Upper 60's to near 80 degrees!), green, and the grass was growing quite nicely.  We had already mowed the greens, fairways, and tees once or twice and the turf was ready for play which allowed us to open shortly after St. Patty's Day 2012.  Subsequently, we proceeded to have the best March golf season I've seen since I got here 8 years ago.  Today, one only need step out of the back dining room doors to notice that the surfaces are still soft and the grass is still pretty much brown, dormant, and nowhere near ready to cut.

To put a bit of turf "nerdism" behind it, here are some numbers to help explain.  To help predict the growth of plants many superintendents, landscapers, horticulturists, and scientists use "growing degree days" or "heat units" which are "a measure of heat above a threshold for a day" or even simpler - how much time has the plant had in temperatures that are favorable for growth.  We use this data to predict flowering, growth, chemical applications, insect growth and other things.  So far, in terms of heat units we are 75% behind where we were last year.  Using the heat unit calculation, it would take 15 days of 60-degree highs and 40-degree lows to catch up to where we were last year at this time. As of right now, the forecast isn't anywhere near 60 daytime or above 40 at night in the next few days.

Some may have a tendency to gripe that the course is not open this past weekend with our first nice 50-60 degree temperatures.  Several public facilities were open with carts available.  While this make sense on their end for revenue, it does not for us.  Had we put a full Highland Meadows weekend day with carts on our soft, saturated course, it would likely have made ruts, tracks, mud holes and footprints from tee to green that would be slow to recover and offer substandard conditions for the remainder of the spring.  It is the mission of HMGC to offer outstanding, private club conditions all season long to differentiate ourselves from the daily fee golf courses.  A premature opening would put us behind from day one.

That being said, I fully understand your desires to get out there and enjoy your course as soon as possible.  Rest assured we are watching the conditions daily and will be prepared to pounce when the time is right.

Since we aren't growing and mowing like last year, we have been using our time to get some necessary pre-spring work completed.  This past week we took on the task of pruning our key oak trees.  TIP: It is important to prune oak trees prior to April 1st in our area in order to minimize exposure to Oak Wilt Disease (OWD).  OWD can wipe out an oak tree in short order.  Check out this article in the Toledo Blade to learn more:  Toledo Blade OWD Article Click Here

Some of the most important oak trees on the course are around 8 green and at the start of #16 fairway.  On 8 green the focus was to increase air movement and sunlight in this "over-treed" area and on 16 we wanted to improve the look of the trees as well as increase the window for the tee shot.  These two oaks have grown far into the line of play and made it quite difficult to craft a proper tee shot.  A large "cherry picker" bucket lift was brought in so we could reach the higher limbs.  Since the skeleton crew of two are afraid of heights, I got to be the one in the bucket while they cleaned below.  Don't tell them, but I had a blast and it gave me some unique perspective pictures of the course.  Also, it was just great to shake off a little "shop fever".

The view from the top looking toward the snowy 8 green.  

A lot of large limbs were brought down around number 8.  This will allow more air, sun AND golf balls to get to the green.

16 oak trees BEFORE we trimmed it as viewed from 16 tee.  We all know how difficult it is to get around this thing with a driver.

16 oaks from the tee AFTER we trimmed.  We brought it more out of play and opened up a  little more room to fit a tee shot.

Both the north and south oaks were trimmed to make a symmetrical silhouette.

Just a shot from about 40 feet above 8 green.

A look down 16 fairway at the chickens below.

A nice view of #5 green from above

 Overall a very productive day.  We will be bringing the bucket lift in again for some more pruning in the near future, but getting those crucial oak trees early was key.

Let's hope for some better temperatures soon so we can get out and play some golf!