October 16, 2026

Course Update: Fall Conditions, New 13th Tee, and Upcoming Aeration

It’s been a great couple of weeks out here, with on-and-off rain events providing the turf with some much-needed moisture. You know how dry things have been when a two-inch rainstorm leaves only one puddle on the 13th hole and the streams are still running dry!

We’re still busy with regular play, member-organized competitions, tournaments, and outings. This is one of the best times of year to enjoy the course, provided we can avoid frost delays. We may see our first frost delay of the season this weekend, which could push back the start of play. We can only hope the warmth of the ocean and a stiff breeze will help keep the frost at bay!

New 13th Tee Is Open

We were happy to get the new 13th tee built and ready for play in record time. Things came together quickly as we hauled in material to construct the tee pad, installed the internal drainage, added the tee mix, rerouted the irrigation, and finished with sod. It was open for play in about two weeks—a record for me!

We won’t be using the new tee every day just yet, as the roots are still quite shallow and need more time to establish. Our goal is to use this teeing area primarily for both the blue and white markers once it’s ready for more consistent use.

Looking Ahead: Leaves, Cooler Weather, and Fairway Aeration

The leaves will be coming down in full force over the coming week, and cooler nights will continue to slow turf growth. Mowing will taper off considerably as we shift our focus toward helping the turf build carbohydrate reserves for the winter months.

In the weeks ahead, our priorities will be leaf cleanup, maintaining playability, and completing fairway aeration. If the weather cooperates, we plan to begin aerating later next week and continue until all the fairways are finished.

The fairways will be cored and allowed to dry before we drag the plugs and blow off the remaining thatch. We’re hoping to complete two or three holes per day while working around our regular mowing and leaf cleanup. We’re starting a little later than planned, but our busy schedule and a few weather events forced us to adjust the original timeline.

Good Luck This Weekend!

Good luck to everyone competing in the Cape Ann Cup against Rockport this weekend!

And get ready for the Turkey Shoot. The crew has been looking forward to giving you fits with some fun and funky setup ideas, so come prepared for a few surprises!

Enjoy the fall golf while it lasts, and we’ll keep you posted as we work through the final stretch of the season.