Course Update

The damage that has occurred on #10 this years is as severe as I
have seen in my 20 years in the business.  We have started the
recovery process with seeding and frequent fertilizer
applications.  As bad as this looks we have been here before
most recently in 2011.  It will recover.  It's just going to take a lot
of hard work and patience.

This is a picture of the damage that occurred in 2011.
The damage this year is in a similar location and
pattern.  Water continue to be our nemesis
during the winter.

The Green Committee had an opportunity to join me, my first assistant Jeff, and Darin Bevard of the USGA today to assess firsthand the winter damage to the Old Course greens. The damage is the worst I have seen in my 20 years in the business. Although the greens were covered, the freezing, thawing and refreezing created the perfect storm of bad conditions for these greens.  Darin reported many other fine clubs in the Northeast have experience similar damage.

The Falls greens fared much better because they have better water run-off and have a sand composition different from the design of the Old Course greens. We are reseeding the damaged greens, which also suffered from the 80 degree highs over the weekend followed by freezing temperatures today. This seeding process and the healing of these greens will require minimal traffic. Accordingly, we anticipate the Old Course will be closed for at least the next three weeks if we get some warm weather to assist us. The Falls nine will be open for play every day. If we can re-open the Old Course earlier we will certainly try to do that.

Please be assured we are working very hard each day to restore our course to the condition the membership deserves, and we will be communicating with you each week to apprise you of our progress.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and support.

Gregory Boring, 
Golf Course Superintendent