LaurelSpringsGCM: Weather, Weeds, and Tree Work

As you all know, our staff has struggled greatly with the weather pattern we have been dealt. Since the first of March, the golf course has flooded a total of three times, the bunkers have washed during every heavy rain event, and mowing has become virtually impossible at times. All of this, coupled with a greens renovation, has been the utmost challenge we have faced as a crew.

Areas of the course have suffered due to the massive amounts of rain we have received, over 30 inches since March with 20 of those inches falling in the month of July. Outer areas have become virtually untouched because of the constant scramble we are faced with to get the course back in playable condition. Weeds have, of course, exploded over the past three weeks and we are working diligently to get them under control. I personally have sprayed 20 acres of fairways and rough with another 20 being sprayed today. During the month of July, the areas we sprayed just washed away as rain event after rain event continued to plague us. Our preemegent we applied in February has all but broken down and disappeared.

Our outer have become an extreme challenge for us to maintain, also. Areas that were scheduled to be cut back and sprayed have fallen wayside to flood repair, course maintenance, and bunker repair. If the bunkers wash it takes four men, two days, to repair them. That equates to over 64 man hours just to repair the bunkers every 4 days. Imagine the amount of weed eating and detail work that could be accomplished if we weren't in the bunkers every week.

The tree work that was planned to help get sunlight to the greens was scheduled as a three week project. Instead of quickly being able to move through the course the task took an unbelievable three months. Every area the worked in was completely destroyed to some extent. 12, 8, 10 and other areas suffered major damage from trying to get the logs out. This repair work to these areas has severely hampered us from the other projects we had planned during the renovation i.e.: sodding of traffic areas and cleaning of outer areas.

Below are some pictures from Wednesdays rain event. I can't tell you how disheartening it is to see this constantly. Our staff is working diligently to get the golf course back in shape so we can have the type of grand re-opening that members, guests, and our staff anticipated when this much needed and welcome project was announced.

If you ever have a question or comment about the course, please feel free to contact me at any point in time.

Wesley Michielsen

Wesley.michielsen@ourclub.com
404-886-3627 cell
770-888-4928 office