The Industry

This blog is in its second year of operation and while I am always looking for new ideas with the site, I came across this article this morning. Cited from Golf Course Industry magazine's website, it highlights numerous Superintendent blog sites. Click here to view.

Fortunately this site was mentioned as one of the top Superintendent sites. I am honored to be recognized by those in the industry.

After reading the brief article I did a little exploring to see what else is out there. Pretty neat stuff. There are approximately 180 Golf Course Superintendent blogs out there now which is proof that this stuff works. It has been the communication tool I had hoped for and more.

Bare Spots

Due to the massive amounts of elk traffic around the course, they like to nest on top of the mounds surrounding sand traps on the golf course. Holes 8, 9, 10, 12-16 and 18 have been night time resting places for the elk. They prefer the feel of the turf, so they dig their way down to the surface. With the limited snowfall, they do not have far to go.
Pictured here is Mark Jero, Parks Manager and Nordic Groomer extraordinaire, shovelling snow onto the mounds on 18 fairway traps. This is done to prevent these high areas from dessication due to the lack of moisture.
Most high points and mounds tend to hold the least amount of snow due to wind, so they are the first to dry out. There are numerous areas on the course and the Nordic track that we continue to shovel snow. The golf course has mostly been due to elk. The Nordic track has seen its bare spots due to limited snow fall and wear and tear on the course from grooming and use.

News from Amherst

January 13, 2010

Considering that this is only the end of my second week I can say that the transition from the working community back to being a full time student in a classroom hasn’t been too bad. Despite the times I become temporarily disoriented with the layout of campus, furthermore wondering if I needed to walk due east or north to find the appropriate building, I'm adapting. None the less, learning UMass Amherst campus area and adapting to being a full time student again hasn’t taken long and I have finally begun to feel more settled in the classroom.

Since the winter program with which I am involved is only 7 weeks, the amount of material we cover each day is staggering. A typical day includes four, two-hour classes from 8 am to 5 pm, allowing just enough time to grab something to eat and walk to the next building where another class will be held. I must say, the intensity of the program hit hard the first few days. I remember thinking the first week that I couldn’t waist what little time it took to check my emails because I had work to do for more classes the next day. Whether the intensity has gone down from then or I am just becoming accustomed to it, I can not tell. I can understand, however, that what I am absorbing from the professors will indeed be useful for me. I enjoy having moments in the classroom where we are learning about a certain pesticide, grass type, or snow clearing practice and I can directly relate that to experiences and discussions I have had many times with Justin and Steve.

I can honestly say that I am completely thrilled to have this opportunity. Furthermore, I am very excited to continue to learn about the turfgrass industry and “put a picture to the name” for a lot of these experiences I have had while working in the field for the past 4 years. With week two shortly coming to an end, I am sure that the remaining 5 weeks will only fly by.

Tony Giroux

2^nd Assistant Superintendent

Vail Golf Club

By the Numbers

2009 has been a tumultuous year at Vail Golf Club. We began the season with Landscapes Unlimited moving into town for the irrigation project and to renovate #3 tee. The third hole was the focus of much attention early on. Then the rains came and came and came. LUI continued to work through the weather until they completed in the middle of August. September was the busiest month of the year for golf with numerous (and successful) tournaments.
The staff explored new ideas with pace of play management and at the end of the year the GCM staff began constructing some new tee boxes of their own on holes four and eight.

As I eluded to earlier, the weather has been a bit out of sorts in 2009. So here are the final weather numbers. (We obtain daily weather information since 1990):
The highest daily temperature recorded: 83 degrees Fahrenheit
The lowest daily temperature recorded: -12 degrees Fahrenheit
The coldest December in 20 years with an average of 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit
The driest November in 20 years with a total of 0.60 inches of moisture, edging out 1999 with 0.66 inches of moisture.
21.23 inches of total moisture
3.15 inches fell in June (wettest month)
179.5 inches of snow for the calendar year
42 inches fell between October 1st and December 31st

Grooming

The grooming this year has been decent. Due to low snow levels, I think anyone who is a frequent visitor to the Nordic Track would enjoy it. The track is 100% open.

Beware of the occasional rock popping through in East Vail, or some "dirty" turns as the native soils that lay beneath are loosened from the snowcat tracks.

Be as it may, yesterday was booming! A free demo day for nordic equipment, there certainly was a buzz around the clubhouse and every kilometer of the track. From the Olympic hopeful to the beginner skier, this track is becoming a hit.

The VRD's GCM and Parks Maintenance staff arrive long before the sun rises each morning to lay down new corduroy on the 17K track. During a season such as this it sometimes takes more of an effort marking trails, shoveling, blowing, plowing snow and constant communication.

So far this season no matter how long it will exist has been a success.

Back To School

Second Assistant Superintendent, Tony Giroux, is heading back to school to further his turfgrass career. He has left the Vail Valley for Amherst, MA. While at the University of Massachusetts, Tony will be enrolled into an intense eight week program that will teach him the basics and beyond of golf and turfgrass management.

After spending four years here at Vail Golf Club he felt it was time to expand on that B.S. degree from Colby-Sawyer, NH. We could not be happier for his commitment and decision. Originally from Maine, he'll be able to take a break from studying and visit some family and friends. I am hoping a time or two, Tony will briefly let us know what he has been up to while in western Massachusetts.

Good Luck and hopefully we won't be seeing you in a hole like this for quite sometime!

Attack of the elk

With little snow fall so far this winter the elk will travel. During the early evening a herd of elk return to the valley floor for water and nest for the night. Fencing and light reflectors attempt at keeping them away from greens.
Elk urine and hoof prints can damage turf underfoot and we have seen this in the past. The only way to prevent the elk from roaming through the golf course and nordic trails are heavy snowfalls. Once we begin measuring snow in feet, we hope the elk will find "greener pastures".
We have not had too much trouble with them nesting come spring time. At this point they are doing more damage to the ski trails.