Work continues on 18. Total golf expects to finish next week. It has rained all 3 days this week thus far. Tomorrow we will lower irrigation pipe and add pop ups around green for Sod next Tuesday.
Picture below of shaping of 18 approach
Below: Wilnor leveling #3 back bunker sod “dip”
Below: #5 bunker renovation started today. The nose was removed and washout area sodded. Drainage will also be added as weather permits
Below #3 collar/bunker slope repair.
We received 0.47 inches of rain in March and our salts are currently at 2900 TDS. The faucet in our shop has a TDS of 250. Despite the dry, salty and windy conditions the course is playing well. We did lose some impatients and some bougainvilleas lost some leaves because of the salty water. The last two full moons our TDS jumped to 9800 because of the higher river level.
The last two weeks the roughs were lowered from 1.5 inches to 1.0. This is where the Brown has come from. We were able to renovate the first bunker on hole #3. We plan on finishing the 2nd fairway bunker after Senior Club Championship the week of April 9th.
When entering bunkers always enter low side of bunkers. John Sanford our course architect designed the bunkers with a bullnose on edge making high points steep. The sod is less than 9 months old and some slopes may not be rooted 100%. This will avoid any trip/fall situations.
Rakes should also be left ½ in ½ out for ease of retrieving.
Our goal for summer 2018 is to renovate fairway bunkers for reduced maintenance and sand/drainage upgrades.
See you on course!
Shane Wright, CGCS
Today we started on 15 fairway pot bunker. The bunker was eroded and infested with roots. Overtime from wind, rain and golf activity a bunker looses its shape. We are getting the Sod from 11 gold tee area that will be raised and coquina cart path added.
Knocking 2 birds out with one stone…11 Tee improvement with 15 bunker improvement!!! Win Win!
It was 33 degrees this morning at sunrise. We had frost this morning and likely more to come Friday. Expect course to turn brownish until nighttime temperatures return to 60’s. The turf will be in a semi dormant state.
We topdressed fairway wet spots on 2,4,5 fairways today. Tomorrow we will do 7,8,11 and 13. Hopefully by Friday all wet areas will be topdressed after the 2.5 inches of rain from Saturday. The course played great on Sunday for the Pro Am. We were already over 30 inches of rain above normal.
Sand applications over time will firm the wet surfaces for improved playability and drainage. We use a drag brush to work into canopy of turf.
The last 3 mornings we have dipped below 30. The course will be off color until night time temperatures increase back into the 60’s for an extended time. Enjoy the crisp nights before we know it summer will be here!
We can’t seem to dry out with 2nd rain event this week and Saturday forecast for more. The course will continue to play wet.
Break out the gloves and parkas as Sunday am will be 39 degrees for final round of Pro Am.
We rented a plate compactor the last 2 weeks to tamp the bunker edges of all greenside bunkers. We added new sand after Hurricane Irma. The sand is called G-The angularity and larger particle size of G/Angle not only increases playability, but also significantly reduces bunker maintenance costs.G/Angle bunker sand will: • PROVIDE GREATER WIND RESISTANCE TO DECREASE PRODUCT LOSS • STAY IN PLACE BETTER ON STEEP BUNKER FACES DUE TO INTERLOCKING PARTICLES • PROVIDE EXCELLENT DRAINAGE • REDUCE THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF WASH-OUTS • DECREASE LABOR EFFORTS NEEDED TO COMPACT / FIRM-UP BUNKERS
Hole 5 will be cart path only. 
The weather is still a concern this week as it has rained 5 of the last 7 days. The cloud cover and persistent rain showers have increased disease pressure. Please continue to exit cart paths at white line at end of fairway. Driving carts around greens will thin turf and lies will deteriorate. This week we will continue to refresh green side bunkers with new sand. We are on back 9 today and hopefully weather dependent will finish them this week. We would then refresh fairway bunkers starting next week.
Shane Wright, CGCS 