Funny video about golf carts....................

http://www.turfnet.com/tv/randy.php OK, I tried the site out to see if it took you to the right video. Guess what? It doesnt so you have to work at because this video about the break room is crap. Go to the right of the screen and some other videos will pop up; scroll all the way down to the last one about golf carts.

GCSAA tv

Here are a couple of interviews from the Chapter Delegate's meeting in Kansas City last fall. The first one discusses the GCSAA dues increase. The second one discusses the statistics associated with certification program and its value to golfers and their facilities.

I appear in both these videos. That should make you want to watch?

http://www.gcsaa.tv/view.php?id=342

http://www.gcsaa.tv/conference/?obj_id=361&gis_filter=1

Soil temperature.............

Today I took a soil temperature on number #18 green. Why? Because we know that bentgrass is fairly dormant until soil temperatures reach 50 degrees. Today the temperature at 2 inches was 38 degrees. We also know that Poa doesnt start germinating until soil temperatures reach 55 degrees (like corn). Thats why at Hillcrest some fairways and tees dont look good until June 1. It takes time for the poa to germinate and grow.

That's also why the greens sometimes arent as smooth as we all think they should be in May. All the different grass types dont catch up to each other depending on the soil temperature. Not to mention shade, prolonged snow cover, and soil type all effect the speed at which soil temperature rises.

But the real reason I checked soil temperature today was because I am using the readings to determine my fungicide treatments for take-all (root fungus) this year. My goal is to better determine when exacltly is the right time to start scouting and treating the greens.

PROJECT ALERT

Today Jeff and I demolished the landscape area at #2 tee. The area has always bothered me because we had the garbage can by the cart path, the tee sign by the cart path 25 feet away, and the ball washer on the back of the tee. The other 17 holes have everything in one location and to make things worse #1 green and #2 tee are very close and sometimes people air mail the green and then have to navigate scattered furiture to save bogey.

The plan is to use some of the block to make a new area for the furniture left of the paver pathway and sod the leftover bed when we find some sod later in the spring. We could have the new post cemented in within 10 days.

Course opens for carts tomorrow..............

Max and I just finished cutting cups (3/19) on the front nine. After a quick tour of all the likely wet spots from the thaw we couldnt find a reason not to open for cart traffic as well. Tomorrow I will put flags in and blow the bigger debris off the greens. I promise to remember to put a flag in #10 too. So officially Hillcrest opens on 3/20 this year.

Tee markers and the rest of the furniture will appear next week and the weather could force us to put on cart restrictions for a few days yet this winter. Goals for this week are to continue picking up debris, clean up the remainder of the tree on #9, clean up the shop, finish some touch up things in the clubhouse bathrooms, and maybe get some bunkers raked.

Clubhouse Bathroom Progress...........................

This is picture of the women's bathroom during the new sink installation which was not installed by us.

This is a picture taken on 3/16 of the men's bathroom. We also did not install the tile, but it looks good.

The bathroom will be all but done this week with freshly painted partitions and new fixtures in both bathrooms. The dining room and entry to the clubhouse all have been painted with new shades, curtains, and some new fixtures. I didnt do any of the design or any of the finish painting.

You may ask if we didnt put the top coat of paint on, pickout the paint, tile the floors, or install the vanity, and put up the curtains or shades what did you do......................? Everything else.

I'll post some finished pictures when it is complete or you can visit your club and look with your own eyes. The directions to the bathroom are the same it just looks completely different.