I thought I might just put together a quick update this morning as things start to wind down. We have a few things going on as we get through the next few weeks before we go to temporary greens in December. 

On Thursday we used our tiny Emperor Tines on the greens at 2.5 inch spacing to pop a little thatch and put down a light topdressing. The playability is basically the same. This will allow some gas exchange and aid in some late season thatch removal without any mechanical damage to the turf. We picked away at and have completed fairway aeration over the last couple weeks. We also core aerated our typically thatchy tees on holes 7,9, and 12 as well as the new tee on 8 and the new 7th approach. I also aerated the lower, wet portion of the 3rd fairway a second time and have been trying to work some sand into the thatch to help firm it up. This is a little bit of a test project that hopefully really improves playability on the first half of the hole. Most of the mounds on the left of 3 have been rough shaped, I have to bring material to the left of the green for that larger mound over the coming weeks as we get access from the hotel. I think these will really make this hole stand out and should fit in beautifully. Our architect Robert is also pleased with this so far. 

We started with the brush removal to the right of the 7th green and will move on to the corner on the left side when we are done. Our plan is to only remove the scrub brush below the tree canopy. The smaller trees will also remain with the exception of the large sumacs (weeds) that were on the immediate edge of the right bunker. Once the brush is removed we will grub out the area; I hope to hydroseed it next spring with a fescue mix that will give it a similar appearance and  playability of the area between 4 and 7. I cut the new 7th green for the last time on Saturday morning; all other surfaces were cut for the last time earlier last week so that's a wrap on that. Here are a couple photos of what she looks like; I am extremely pleased with where we are.

Tomorrow, Tuesday Nov 11 we have Sportscapes coming in to do our deep tine aeration on greens. I hope we don't have a long frost so they can get in and out. The compressor is coming Wednesday for us to blow out the irrigation system, the clubhouse system and the on course bathrooms. Leaf cleanup is ongoing but we are making great progress; most of what is left is the oaks which will hang on until the very end. We will be making our snow mold applications sometime in the coming weeks when the weather is cooperative and will begin covering on Monday, December 1 following Thanksgiving. Temporary greens will be available through the winter as always with the exception of the 2nd hole. There are a couple trees by the lower tennis courts that are dead as a doornail. I am planning on having Mayer Tree come in to remove them sometime over the next 2 weeks. We also have some that are hanging on but are fighting a losing battle to an invasive pest, the emerald ash borer. 

Jim is cranking it up in the shop. He has started breaking down reels in preparation for servicing bearings and sharpening both reels and bedknives. This will take him to Christmas and then the full service on everything else will start. We're getting a lot of orders in for service season, repair parts etc. I have much of my fertilizer, seed and chemical order put together already and certain items will be arriving next month through March. Using early order and payment saves us a decent chunk of money and allows us to stretch things next year. 

Enjoy the next couple of cold weeks while you can because winter WILL show up eventually.