Preparation

While the weather turns to more snowfall, it is a great time to continue preventative maintenance on turf equipment. Here is one of our greensmowers a Toro 3250D. This triplex mower is 11 years old, but you wouldn't know it. Gutting the machine, replacing hydraulic lines, bearings and tires to increase the performance of the unit are important.
Kirk, our equipment manager does a fantastic job keeping this equipment prepared for the golf season. The cutting reels are sharp and set up at conservative height to begin the season.

As for course conditions, last night we had several inches fall, covering the cleared greens once again. At this point of the year, one full day of sunshine and any new snow will be gone by day's end. The greens that have been cleared are 2,3,4,15,16,17 & 18. Greens 5,6 & 14 are next, with the 1st green and the practice greens to follow. All of the greens along the frontage road, (aka "the sun belt") are melting away quicker and will be much easier to clear in the coming days. We can usually clear 3 or 4 of them a day by the end of the month.

Head Scratcher

Just thought I would share this photo. We are amazed to see that two carts have identical damage.

Hydraulic Leak

Every Superintendent cringes when this happens. Last weekend we had a pin hole leak in a hydraulic hose on one of our rough mowers. Fortunately there is not any severe damage, just some streaking around a few greens. You will notice the damage around greens 14-16. The majority is where the machine was turning. The oil is extremely hot when it comes out of the hose and cooks the turfgrass plant and kills it. Interseeding and a little extra fertilizer to promote growth is the remedy. We are still in the "grow zone" to recuperate before the winter.