2012 Photos of Bittersweet

Dom Grotti Tournament

On June 19 Bernardo and I entered the Dom Grotti Tournament for superintendents and their assistants at Blackstone Golf Club. We came in second place and Bernardo won the closest to the hole proxy.

I guess I should mention that only three teams signed up, but we won't let that detract from the day.

Observed Soil Moisture Data

Observed soil moisture data are collected at 19 sites in Illinois by the Illinois State Water Survey’s Water and Atmospheric Monitoring program. The soil moisture is measured at 5 cm (2 inches), 10 cm (4 inches), 20 cm (8 inches), and 50 cm (20 inches). All amounts are reported as the fraction of water by volume of the soil. For example, a value of 0.35 means that 35% of the soil is occupied by water.

Silty clay loam soils, common in Illinois, are considered saturated at values of 0.45 to 0.50. Field capacity is in the neighborhood of 0.35. Values below about 0.20 would be at the permanent wilting point. As the name implies, that is the level where plants wilt and do not recover. Plant roots are unable to recover any water below this level because it is tightly bound to the soil particles.

See link to most recent soil moisture data:  http://www.isws.illinois.edu/warm/soiltemp.asp

Drought

It is offical: we are in a drought. The rainfall total map, below, shows that much of northern Illinois has received only 2-4 inches of rain in the last 60 days.

Northern Illinois

                                                                                                                                                             Here in Gurnee we are at 2 inches for the last 60 days.

Gurnee

8-14 Day Outlook for Rain

Water Shortage

The dry weather has been great for golf rounds but we are running out of water in our irrigation reservoir. This week we began transferring water from ponds on the golf course through the irrigation system backwards to the reservoir. Eventually we may need to buy water from the village, but if we can hold out, until the rain replenishes our supply, the water savings will be applied to better use.

trash pump #1 connected to pond feed

trash pump #2 to pond feed

getting dry but hanging in there

starting to aerify fairways and hand water to conserve water

Wetlands Burn Photos

Opening Up The Left Side of 17 Tee

The left side of the 17th tee is very densely shaded with invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle underbrush. This tee has always struggled for lack of air circulation.

The nice warm winter days have allowed us to get in to this area and remove the invasive underbrush. This will create a more open feel for the golfers.



KEITH HAS RIGGED A STIHL WEEDEATER WITH BLADE ATTACHMENT



It will also reduce lost balls from errant shots on the adjacent 16th hole.

Left side of 16

We have also cleared brush on the right side of the 16th hole. The back nine has a much more open feel to it now.

Right side of 16

 I can't remember a winter with more opportunity to get work done outside!

Conservation Work Near 11 Tee

Keith and I have been working on clearing willow and buckthorn saplings that have grown up around the pond between 11 and 16. 



Brad



In the spring we will plant grass here and maintain the pond banks as turf grass. The turf grass will provide a much more effective filter for keeping silt and sediment erosion out of the pond than the sparse cover of reed canary grass that grows in the shade of the willow and buckthorn plants.

And now the golfers will be able to actually see the fairway landing area from the tee. Our championship flight golfers will even be able to draw the ball after we have finished the work.

Before Clearing of Right Side



After Clearing the Right Side

 

Whenever you present more options to the golfer from the tee you make the game more interesting and rewarding.



Opening Up View of 16th Hole



The warm winter days have allowed us to spend most our time outdoors performing forestry and conservation work.  We have now completed removal of invasive Buckthorn and Honeysuckle between holes 11 and 12. This spring we expect to see a proliferation of native wildflowers and ground cover.

Before

After

Conservation of Illinois hardwood forests involves identifying the invasive species, getting after them with chainsaws and burning.

Brad

Rich & Keith

The pond between 11 and 12 has now been cleared of Willow and Cottonwood saplings that were compromising the ecosystem.

11 Pond Before

After

When Willow and Cottonwood saplings are allowed to take over the embankments of a pond, the shade and root competition compromise the density of the turf grass buffer, now silt and sediment erosion enter the pond for lack of an adequate grass buffer and filter. 

When the percentage of silt increases in surface water the invertebrate populations decrease to the detriment of the fish population. So we are working this winter to reestablish sunlight on our pond perimeters for a healthier turf system. 

In addition to providing recreational benefits, turf grass protects surface water from silt and sediment erosion - the number one source of pollution in the world today.