Good Morning everyone.  It is Thursday April 25th and I wanted to update a few things.

All Sod is now down on all new bunkers.  The only bunker remaining to shape and cut in will be a new addition to 15 Weiskopf.  This tee shot is a bit bland and we would like to add a bunker on some of the mounds over to the right.  I don't think this bunker will add any difficulty to the hole, but it will show you to move your ball off the right towards the center of the fairway.  It will be another small bunker, but I believe it will set the tee shot up better.  Sand is now down in a majority of the bunkers and starting next week, we will begin raking all bunkers that have sand.  Our goal is to have all the bunkers open for play starting next week.  Let me reassure you that these bunkers will be soft initially.  Primarily on the faces.  The risk of plugged lies will be high for the first couple of months.  But as these bunkers age and firm up, the risk of fried eggs will go down.  As we continue to water the sand and pack it, they will firm up.  I can honestly say that the bunker project was a complete success.  Some additional projects upcoming will be as follows.  We will cut and shape the drain area around 1Weiskopf tee so that water will no longer be standing on the cart path as well as the areas between the tees.  We will use a series of drain pipes, catch basins and shaping to promote this water to get into pipes and into a storm drain.  Also, we will be building two new forward tees.  These tees will be on #10 and #5.  The tee on #10 will be closer to the cart path and the players will no longer have to drive over to the tee on #10.  The tee on #5 will be closer to the cart path as well as 20-30 yards shorter.  This will allow those playing the forward tees an easier time to fly the fairway bunker on #5.  Lastly, we will reshape and redrain the storm water run off ditch on 9 and 10.  We will strip sod and regrade this entire area making it a smoother surface for water to quickly escape those holes.  This will also allow golf cart traffic to drive over any of these areas versus now where we have 2-3 places that can handle cart traffic.  This should allow the water to drain off faster as well spread out the cart traffic. 

The season of growing grass is officially started.  Our nighttime temps are on the rise and the course should start to really pick in grass growth.  The fertilizer applications three weeks ago is really starting to show on all three properties. The grass is green and I can't wait to see how good things look in a few weeks with the right temps.  That's all for now.

Regards,

Donny Latham

Due to the heavy storms that pushed through on Sunday afternoon, Miller tee times will be delayed until 10AM.  We will need to clean debris that is blown everywhere and there is a tree down on 16 and a very large limb on 15.  We will be CPO all day on all 3 courses.

Donny Latham

Good morning all,  We've been busy.  As of this Saturday, we have installed sand in bunkers on Weiskopf 9, 10 and are currently putting it in 18.  The team will compact this sand and water them heavily to water settle them.  Next week we will be doing the same and then putting bunker rakes out.  Once we have put rakes in bunkers, this signifies they are no longer GUR.  Just a note, they will be SOFT.  As with any new bunkers, they will be soft and I will leave it up to you and your group to decide if you get relief from a fried egg. They will be soft for some time.  Until these mature and settle I anticipate fried eggs.  We will do all we can to expedite these firming up by watering them by a hose and plate compacting them, but time is always the best way. 

The little green pellets you see everywhere on all 3 courses is fertilizer.  I applied 62,000 pounds of fertilizer last week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on the closed days.  I fully anticipate these courses to start growing like mad.  The temps are now conducive to make the plant actively grow.  I am so excited to see the courses really green up and enjoy mowing again.  It was quite the long wet grey winter. 

We will try and spray our spring pre-emergent next week, but there is significant rainfall in the forecast, so we may have to postpone to the following week.  More info to come on that.

If there is anything you ever have a question on or a comment, please never hesitate to either comment below or email me at dlatham@bentwaterclub.com

Green days are coming!

Donny