Embracing the Chill: A Golfer's Guide to Winter Play

Winter is upon us, bringing a new set of challenges and beauties to the golf course. As the temperature drops and frost becomes a morning staple, it's time to adjust our game and mindset for winter play. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your winter rounds:

1. Understanding Frost Delays
Frost delays can be frustrating, but they're crucial for protecting the turf. Walking on frosty grass can crush the blades, causing long-term damage. Use this time to practice your swing, enjoy a warm beverage, or chat with fellow golfers. Patience during frost delays helps ensure the course remains in top condition for everyone.

2. Preventing Frost Damage
To minimize damage, stick to designated paths and avoid walking on frosty greens. If you're unsure, ask the course staff for guidance. Working together to respect the course during winter conditions makes a big difference in maintaining its health.

3. Adjusting Your Game for Winter Conditions
Cold weather affects ball flight and roll. Dress in layers to stay warm, and consider using a softer ball for better control. Club up to compensate for reduced distance, and be prepared for slower greens. Adjusting your strategy can help you adapt and still play your best game.

4. Embracing Winter's Unique Beauty
Winter offers a serene landscape on the course. Enjoy the frosted fairways, crisp air, and the challenge of navigating different conditions. These elements make winter golf a special experience worth appreciating.

5. Warm-Up and Stretching
Cold muscles are more prone to injury, so take extra time to warm up and stretch before hitting the course. Focus on dynamic stretches that mimic your golf swing to improve flexibility and performance.

6. Course Management in Winter
Winter is a great time to work on your course management skills. With less roll on the fairways and greens, focus on accuracy and strategy. Plan your shots carefully to navigate the course effectively and keep your game sharp.

7. Equipment Care During the Off-Season
Winter conditions can be tough on your equipment. Keep your clubs clean and dry, and consider using headcovers for added protection. Store your gear in a warm, dry place to prevent damage. Proper care ensures your equipment will perform well when the season ramps up.

Winter golf presents an opportunity to refine your game and enjoy the course in a whole new light. With the right approach and a positive attitude, winter golf can be just as rewarding as any sunny day on the green. So bundle up, embrace the chill, and make the most of the winter season on the course.

The Core of Golf Course Maintenance: Passion, Leadership, and Teamwork

Golf course maintenance is a challenging but rewarding career for those with the right mindset. Over the years, I’ve learned that the people who truly thrive in this line of work often come with a built-in passion for the game of golf. This love for the sport not only drives them to stay in the industry but also inspires them to bring their best effort to every task. They understand how conditions affect play and take pride in creating a course that golfers will love.

But not everyone shares this passion—or the resilience it takes to succeed. The work is demanding. It starts early in the morning, often outdoors in tough conditions. Rain, wind, or cold don’t stop the job, and for some, the realities of the role are just too much. While I want to nurture new team members and help them find joy in golf course maintenance, the truth is, this isn’t a job you can do halfway. It’s a career for those who are all in.

My approach to leadership reflects this. I focus on building and retaining a strong core team. These are the people who make things happen—the ones I count on. My long-term mechanic, Scott, is indispensable, as are my experienced contract laborers, who I’ve worked with for years. Without them, assembling a new team every year would make this job unsustainable for me. These key individuals form the backbone of our success.

For those on the periphery—the newer or less experienced hires—it’s sink or swim. I give them the opportunity to learn from the core team and the chance to adapt to the demands of the job. But if they can’t rise to the challenge, they usually don’t last long. That’s okay because the strength of our operation lies in the people who are fully invested.

As a hands-on leader, I believe in working alongside my team. I wouldn’t ask them to do anything I wouldn’t do myself. They see me on the course, active and engaged, not just handing out orders from the office. This approach earns the respect of the core team and reinforces the culture we’ve built—one of mutual loyalty and shared dedication to excellence.

At the heart of it all is the sport of golf. The revenue generated by active participants in the game supports everything we do, from staffing to equipment to budgeting. Beyond that, passion for golf fosters interest in the industry itself, potentially inspiring the next generation of superintendents and maintenance professionals. Unfortunately, that passion seems to be waning, and with it, a connection to the sport that sustains us.

As I reflect on these challenges and successes, I remain committed to nurturing the people who share my dedication and to delivering a course that reflects the pride we take in our work. For those who stay, who truly embrace the demands and rewards of this profession, there’s nothing quite like it.

My thanks to all that have helped in flood recovery

The past five weeks have been challenging as we work to restore the golf course after the recent storm, and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to those who have supported this recovery effort.

First, I’d like to thank John Pace, who not only called early to offer his support but also brought one of his excavators and operated it for us during that crucial first week. John, the owner of Tarheel Paving, just happened to have the equipment available when it was nearly impossible to find. He helped us restore flow to the culverts on hole 17, resolving a sticky situation and giving us a strong start.

Sam Beddingfield provided a huge boost by hooking our generator to our panel, allowing us to pump gas and diesel without siphoning manually.  We didn’t have any power or water at our shop for over a week and Sam was a big help with wiring both our generators to the main panel to provide power inside the mechanic’s shop.

Dale from Pinnacle Golf generously provided a skid steer, which has been essential for clearing silt, allowing us to start re-grassing sooner. A special thanks also goes to our friends at Henderson Oil, who ensured we had a full supply of diesel and gas to keep our efforts moving forward without interruption. I want to thank Dwayne Hill and his son, Blythe Hill, for their hard work in removing tree trunks and large branches from the course.

An extra, extra special thanks go to my old foreman and friend of eighteen years, Demetrio Nunez, and his company, Nunez Family Landscaping. Their tremendous effort in removing silt and clearing branches has been a game-changer.  Without the support of Demetrio and his employees we would never have been able to open the course back up for play as fast as we did.

I am incredibly proud of my crew for their dedication and hard work throughout this entire recovery process. They showed up without hesitation on the Monday after the storm, ready to tackle the enormous task of clearing and restoring our course. Their willingness to work long hours, even under tough conditions, speaks to their commitment to this place. I’d also like to extend my gratitude to my assistant, Nik Marques, who has not only removed silt and debris but also led the hydroseeding crew with exceptional focus, making sure that our reseeding efforts are thorough and timely. Nik’s hard work has been invaluable as we approach the final stages of recovery.

I also want to thank Mark Gosnell, a longtime friend of the golf course who will complete much of the culvert repair work around the course. His knowledge and assistance have been instrumental in this recovery.  He is also lending us the Hydro seeder we are using to reseed the damaged areas in the rough and fairways.

My thanks also go to our general manager, Dave Ford, for his support over the past five weeks. And to all the golfers who respected the course by holding off on bringing their private carts during the initial cleanup—your consideration helped prevent additional damage.

A sincere thank you to our owner for the unwavering support during this challenging period. His quick approval of the resources and tools we needed has been instrumental in our ability to restore the course efficiently. Beyond the financial support, I greatly appreciate his time and attention, coming out to tour the course with me and Dave to personally assess the damage and understand our needs. His involvement has made a significant difference, enabling us to take decisive steps toward recovery with confidence.

I especially want to thank my Dad. With five decades in this industry and extensive experience in flood recovery, he has faced nearly every challenge imaginable. His stories of past recoveries and the challenges he’s overcome have kept my spirits up, helping me maintain a positive attitude throughout this process.

And finally, to my wife, Holly: thank you for your patience and understanding as I dedicated these past weeks to the recovery efforts. Our seventh wedding anniversary was the first day of storm cleanup, and you set it aside without hesitation. I hope we can take that long-overdue vacation soon to celebrate properly. Your support means the world to me.

Thank you to everyone who has played a part in this effort. Together, we’re bringing our course back stronger than ever.

 

Flood Recovery Report

Kenmure Country Club

Flood Recovery Report

November 14, 2024

 

Background: On Friday, September 27th, a historic flood impacted the Kenmure Country Club golf course, causing extensive damage across multiple areas. The course partially reopened on October 8th, and by October 11th, it was fully accessible, though temporary greens were in place on holes four and seventeen. The recovery efforts involved a series of structured actions and adaptations as conditions allowed.

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Initial Assessment and Immediate Response

 

First Survey - September 28th:

• Upon arrival, silt contamination from Kings Creek was evident, especially in areas like the fourth approach, creating a large, impacted zone.
• Significant damage was observed at the culvert on hole ten, where erosion created a forty-foot-wide chasm. Further inspections revealed compromised culverts on seventeen, where creek water had diverted across the cart path, and severe silt accumulation covered parts of the seventeenth green.
• Additional silt contamination was noted on the fairways and approaches for holes four, six, and seven, alongside damage to the cart path near the creek on seven and over thirty downed trees blocking key pathways.

Priorities and Planning:

• The immediate priority became clearing silt off the greens to prevent turf death, focusing on the seventeenth green as an initial target.
• With significant obstacles, a multifaceted approach was established to systematically clear routes, remove tree debris, and restore accessibility, allowing regular maintenance to continue in unaffected areas of the course.

 

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Week One – Two: Beginning Cleanup and Stabilizing Operations

 

Debris Clearing and Path Access:

• Initial tasks involved small-scale silt removal on cart paths to maintain course access and prevent mud buildup.
• Additional club employees assisted with minor brush and debris cleanup, creating manageable work zones.
• By the end of the first week, the primary focus was tree removal, with debris like limbs and brush stacked visibly at the lower parking lot and maintenance area, providing morale-boosting, visible progress.

 

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Week Three – Four: Intensive Tree Removal and Access Restoration

 

Tree and Debris Clearing:

• With accessible routes established, focus shifted to removing larger tree debris and stumps, completed by a dedicated outside crew. This milestone marked a turning point, visibly restoring a sense of normalcy and reinforcing the team’s progress for both members and staff.

Silt Removal and Irrigation Challenges:

• Concurrent with tree clearing, silt removal continued in impacted areas, including the seventeenth green surrounds and fairways on four, six, and seven.
• Manual irrigation became necessary due to flood-damaged control boxes on holes seventeen and four, limiting water distribution to these zones until repairs could be scheduled.

 

 

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Week Five – Six: Large-Scale Silt Removal and Hydroseeding

 

Restoration of Fairways and Approaches:

• Specialized crews managed extensive silt removal and reshaping, particularly around seventeen and four. This preparation facilitated reseeding efforts in these critical zones.
• A skid steer enabled the creation of a central silt disposal site between holes four and seven.

 

Seeding and Favorable Conditions:

• Hydroseeding began, with bentgrass seeded in fairways and tall fescue in rough areas. Ideal weather conditions—warm days and nights, followed by steady, light rainfall—supported successful germination across these areas.

 

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Irrigation Repairs and Continued Progress

 

Irrigation and Watering Adjustments:

• The irrigation system suffered damage, with flooded pump stations and damaged control boxes. Initial manual watering filled the gap until repairs could proceed.
• A diver inspected the intake in the irrigation pond, while a repair team restored the pump station, returning critical functionality.

Further Seeding and Turf Health:

• Despite irrigation limitations, consistent rainfall supported germination in reseeded areas. Repairs to control boxes on seventeen and four, expected shortly, will restore automated watering and ease maintenance demands.

 

 

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Current and Upcoming Infrastructure Projects

 

1. Cart Path and Culvert Repairs:
• Hole 7 Cart Path: Repair and repaving of the path is a major upcoming project.
• Hole 10 Culvert: A new culvert will replace the previous structure, scheduled to start in a few weeks. This aims to reestablish normal traffic flow across the course by the new year.
• Hole 17 Cart Path and Creek Bank: Stabilization work is planned for the creek bank near the cart path, along with cart path repairs.
• Hole 12 Underground Culvert: Repairs are needed to prevent ongoing traffic diversions near this path.

 

2. Irrigation Pond Spillway:
• The spillway sustained major damage, with a significant wall section currently being reconstructed. Concrete pouring is scheduled to complete this critical structure, addressing water flow and structural integrity.

 

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Conclusion

While not committing to a specific completion date, recovery efforts have made substantial strides toward restoring Kenmure Country Club to its pre-flood condition. The collaboration between regular staff, outside crews, and supportive partners has been crucial, allowing significant progress in the face of complex challenges. Work on infrastructure, turf recovery, and irrigation continues, with key goals set to enhance both the immediate and long-term resilience of the course.