Happy New Year, Unhappy Trees

After an extended break due to saved vacation time, our full-time crew of six returned to the shop today, and the wrenches will be flying until spring.  We hope that the holidays treated you well and that 2013 brings happiness and prosperity.

Prior to Christmas, the big story around here was the blizzard that dumped 15+ inches of heavy snow on the area.  As you can probably imagine, many evergreens didn't appreciate this storm, and we will have some damage to clean-up once we can more easily get around the course.  The large white pines that mostly populate holes 6-9 lost quite a few limbs and many arborvitaes have splayed under the weight of the snow.



Damaged white pines between 4 and 6 fairways (above) and arborvitaes by 18 green (below).

From a turf standpoint, the snow is just fine, as long as it doesn't repeatedly melt and refreeze.  And, when it does melt, it will help replenish some of the soil moisture that was lost during the 2012 drought.

Winter sports enthusiasts have been taking full advantage of the abundant snow cover, and I'm not sure that I've ever seen so many sled and cross country ski tracks on the course.



As the above picture illustrates, the sledders have been out in full force on hole 1, and they slick track that they have created isn't for amateurs.  In my opinion, if it's going to be cold, we might as well have snow.  So, get out and enjoy it while it's here.