For Once in my life...........even I'm sick of winter

The winter of 2014 will not soon be forgotten. After the destructive ice storm that damaged so many trees across the property, Kyle and I made a plan to begin clean up only to find that it was very dangerous for the two of us trying to move around because of the slippery ice layer and for the tractors we were using to help with the chore. On the first day of our clean up Kyle and I fell numerous times and we found even the 4 wheel drive tractors were sliding around because of the ice. Knowing we couldn’t wait until we had a melt to continue I found some ice traction pull ons that we installed over top of our work boots which have carbide lugs on the bottom allowing us to walk on the ice with excellent traction.

We also had to investigate and purchase new industrial tires for the tractors as the turf tires they have allowed no room to add chains for added traction we needed.

It was slow going compared to trying to clean up a tree with no snow or ice to deal with, but we did make pretty good progress. Because of extreme cold temperatures there were days on end which we did not get out on the course. When we could get outside progress was steady, but only for branches on top of the snow and Ice. Many more are currently encased in ice and snow and until we get a melt we don’t even know how much material is buried.  Additional snow falls only hampered our efforts. As of today we have the back 9 complete once through, and have not yet started the front 9 clean up.  However we now have another issue on our minds. After the ice storm we received a warm spell with rain. This event lead to a layer of ice on our greens surfaces. It has been something we were monitoring, but today marks day 30 of ice coverage on the putting surfaces. It’s time for us to change gears. Our high Poa population on these putting surfaces can survive 45 days under such an ice cover before the Poa succumbs to gas build up and dies. Upon making numerous test digs we found we actually had two separate layers of ice buried under approximately 30 cm of snow.

 

This is an excellent photo of the three distinct layers. Snow on top, a crisp ice layer in the middle, and the black layer at the bottom is the ice that is right on the turf surface.

This photo shows the middle ice layer which has snow on either side of it. If it were just this ice under our snow, we would not be concerned at all as there is significant room for oxygen and gas exchange in the snow layer below the ice.

 

Even with the new industrial tread tires we have gotten the 4 wheel drive tractors stuck numerous times. once the frame is dragging through the snow drift, a rescue is required.

 

The thick layer of snow is, by itself a good thing that insulates the turf from the extreme cold temperatures we have experienced this winter. The upper layer of ice is in between two layers of snow and is in no way causing harm to the turf. But a second ice layer right on the turf surface is an issue. And in order to get to this layer, we need to get all the other layers off the surface. This past Monday we began removing snow from the greens in order to apply an organic fertilizer directly to this ice layer which will speed to melting of this ice. You may remember the winter of 2010 also had a significant layer of ice which was much thicker than we currently have. Back in 2010 the ice came much earlier and was far thicker requiring us to proceed with mechanical removal of the ice. This time around we are removing the layers above the ice, and will let the organic fert melt the ice for us. A warming trend over the next 10 day is perfect weather for all the pieces to fall into place.  In an ideal world we would prefer to have the snow cover on the greens surface until a normal melt occurs in mid March, but this year we cannot afford to wait any longer.                    

Step one is getting the equipment to the green site. Then the snow blower clears the top layer of snow off to expose the mid ice layer.

 

This mid ice layer is so tough, the only way we could get through it is by scraping the bucket of the loader across the ice surface. We will come back early next week to apply our organic granular fertilizer.

Whitevale Golf Club Announces New Head Professional

Ryan LaRose Becomes 6th Head Pro in Club’s 56-Year History

TORONTO (February 3, 2014) — Whitevale Golf Club, a member-owned equity club north of Pickering, today announced the appointment of Ryan LaRose as Head Golf Professional. As only the 6th Head Pro in the Club’s 56-year history, LaRose will assume responsibility for all golf operations including the pro shop, back shop, events, and a new Thomas McBroom designed world-class practice facility set to open in 2014. LaRose will report to Alex Maggiacomo, General Manager of Whitevale Golf Club.

“We are delighted to welcome Ryan to Whitevale as our new Head Pro. His experience will be a great asset to us as we move forward with our new practice facility and clubhouse,” said Maggiacomo. “From many excellent candidates, Ryan stood out as the best fit for us due to his energy, passion and creativity – and his track record of service excellence.”

LaRose joins Whitevale after 6 years at the Oakdale Golf & Country Club as Head Associate Professional. Prior to that he was first Associate Pro at Weston Golf & Country Club, and he began his golf career in the mid-90s at The Glen Eagle Golf Club. A Graduate of the Professional Golf Management Program at Georgian College in 2001, LaRose attained his CPGA Class “A” Certificate in 2006.

“I’m thrilled for this opportunity,” said LaRose. “Whitevale is a great club with a thriving membership, a fantastic history, and many exciting changes on the horizon. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Founded in 1958, Whitevale Golf Club provides a unique combination of high-quality golf, lasting friendships and the flexibility and value of a member-owned equity club – all nestled in the picturesque Hamlet of Whitevale, only 30 minutes from downtown Toronto. In 2006, renowned Canadian golf architect Thomas McBroom completed an extensive redesign of the golf course that now offers a contemporary golfing challenge and aesthetic underpinned by over 50 years of history and tradition. Having paid off the course renovation in 6 short years, the club is now investing over $8 million to build a new clubhouse and world-class practice facility, the latter set to open in 2014. Equity membership applications are always welcome.

For additional information:

Alex Maggiacomo, General Manager
(905) 294-9600
alex@whitevalegolfclub.com
www.whitevalegolfclub.com

Pickering Closes Whitevale Bridge Over Safety Concerns

Pickering, ON, January 16, 2014 – Effective immediately, the City of Pickering has closed the Whitevale Bridge to vehicular traffic due to safety concerns.


The replacement of the Whitevale Bridge is a budgeted capital project with a planned closure date in June to facilitate construction. However, the most recent safety inspection revealed that an abutment has shifted outward, due to the recently experienced extreme weather.

The City’s engineering consultants believe that the bridge’s structural integrity is compromised and they have recommended that the bridge be closed to vehicles, but can remain open and accessible to pedestrian traffic until the replacement project commences. The City will consult with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and other stakeholders about possibly starting the project earlier than scheduled.

City staff will be implementing a traffic management plan and detour routes to help facilitate vehicular movement around the closed bridge. Staff is in consultation with Canada Post to install temporary postal boxes for the convenience of residents/businesses located west of the bridge.

The City of Pickering will be employing several methods to notify Whitevale residents of the bridge closure and detour routes including door-to-door notification. Additional signage will be installed to enhance visual notification in and around the hamlet.

Although earlier than anticipated closure of the Whitevale Bridge will cause an inconvenience to the area, the City’s primary and overriding concern remains residents’ safety. Council and staff will work diligently to ensure that the bridge closure and replacement project will result in a positive outcome for the community.

Margaret "Margo" ASHE

Margaret Ashe, mother of Whitevale member, past president and current city councillor Kevan Ashe, passed away suddenly on Tuesday January 14, 2014.


On behalf of the Board of Directors, Management and entire Whitevale membership our deepest condolences are extended to the entire Ashe family.

Friends will be received at the McEachnie Funeral Home, 28 Old Kingston Road, Pickering Village (Ajax), 905-428-8488, on Friday, January 17, 2014 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Donations in Margo's memory may be made to Parkinson Society Canada

Online condolences may be placed at www.mceachniefuneral.ca

Ice Storm Update

I'm sure all members are anxiously waiting for a report on how the course fared the ice storm. With apologies to all,  my family and I were out of town until Sunday night.

Monday morning I arrived to the ice which had trapped the chain and lock on the front gate.

I spent the day trying to get sand and ice melter onto the driveway, parking areas and walk ways to the trailers/office.

By the time three or four hours had passed I realized I needed help from some "Big Guns".

After another hour the phone I finally found a snow plow contractor who agreed to bring down his truck and sander/salt spreader. He insisted on cash up front. While I waited for him to arrive I toured the course to assess damage.

Most everything had between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch of ice.

Weak trees, especially Silver Maples which we have far too many of, received the most damage. This large Silver by the 7th tee is typical of the damage sustained to all weak species, mainly Silver Maple and Willows.

Not a lot of Chines Elm's left on the property, but they also are weak and many upper branches were lost.

Silver Maples on right sd of 5. 

Looking into the valley from 4 tee

Not all bad news. 6 newly spaded trees at 8 were unharmed

I would have bet the spruce beside 15 green would have lost the top half....but no damage at all

Strong species such as this Sugar Maple......

....and the Oak behind 4 stood up to the ice with very little problem. There's no question we have a big clean up ahead of us, but at least we were not trying to open the course the next day.

I will be submitting a special request to the Board of Directors to purchase a wood chipper as renting one for the length of time it will take to complete this clean up task  will cost so much we may as well invest in one for the future. I still have significant ice layer on the driveway and parking area to deal with once Christmas is over. Whitevale, the last time I checked is still without power.

Now.............I need to get back to the family.

Merry Christmas all!

Pre Christmas Update

 

I have high hopes that the start to this winter is proving a return to consistent winter weather for us. The last few winters fluctuations in high and low temperatures along with rain events rather than snow falls gave us some challenges to keep the turf healthy as we went through this part of the season.

 Early cold weather put frost in the ground and a recent blanket of snow is absolutely perfect for the golf course. The early frost also allowed us to get the large tree spade on the property to plant 6 new maples on the left side of the 8^th hole last week.  As you know these trees replace Ash and Austrian pines that were removed as they were dying off from disease and insects.

Dropping the first of 6 significant sized new maples on the left side of 8

 

 

All 6 were successfully installed before the latest snow fall

Not completely spectacular without leaves, but I am confident they will be fully appreciated next season when the leaf breaks from the bud on all these new additions.

 

As mentioned in an earlier Blog we stripped the back of the 7^th green to stop water from pooling which will also cause significant ice buildup making the grass prone to winter kill.

 

Poor surface drainage leads to pooling of water as seen here on the Putting Green after a summer rain. This leads to saturated soils and if left long enough, death of the turf during the growing season.

 

 

The same pooling of water in the winter over frozen soil is a much bigger job to remove before it freezes. In this file photo we are using a shop vac to suck water up from the greens surface.

 

This photo shows how we remove the sod with the sod cuter and meticulously reshape the surface by hand with a shovel. This project was about 75-80% complete when the snow shut us down completely. There is no concern for us getting it finished and sod back in place for opening day 2014.

With Christmas around the corner I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.   I look forward to spending time with my family over the holidays and hope to see all of you at our AGM in January.

Winter Golf School

As mentioned in the last Sideline 30, Kevan Goble and Steve Rodriguez will be operating a winter golf school. Originally called Active Golf and scheduled to open on December 1st, their location will now be known as Better Golf and the new opening date will be January 10. Better Golf will offer Whitevale members a location to take lessons until the new range opens.

Below is an article on Better Golf submitted by Kevan and Steve.

Teaching Philosophy

Better Golf’s teaching philosophy will be based on the twin pillars of technology and physical fitness. By utilizing today’s latest technology, golf lessons can be more productive and dynamic than ever before. We also believe, in conjunction with the Titleist Fitness Institute, that the true potential of a golfer’s swing can only be attained when his/her body is in optimum condition. Do you have to be ripped like Tiger Woods or as malleable as a gymnast? Of course not. But even a moderate improvement in your strength and flexibility will directly enhance your ability to hit great golf shots.

Screening Process

When first arriving at Better Golf, we encourage students to take a screening test designed by the Titleist Performance Institute to help determine their current level of strength and flexibility. The screening will help enable us to determine the best course of action to follow for each student’s situation. After the screening, you’ll also have the option of consulting with one of our sports fitness and injury experts who can create a program for you ensuring your body becomes stronger, more flexible, and less susceptible to injuries.


If you are only interested in golf lessons, you may choose to bypass the screening and/or the option for a fitness program. That’s entirely up to you. Bear in mind, after consulting with the sports fitness and injury expert, you may find some of their services are covered by your health insurance.


Our Technology

Simulator: instead of hitting balls at a busy dome or into a net, the simulator enables you to enjoy watching your shots from start to finish, with true-to-life graphics.

Launch Monitor: reveals all the characteristics of your ball flight including distance, roll, sidespin, spin ratio, ball speed, and smash factor.

Head Measurement Technology: measures the characteristics of your clubhead during a swing, including clubhead speed, swing path, and face angle at impact.

KVest: a 3 dimensional tool capturing the biomechanical movements of your body. From a teaching perspective, it allows us to measure the efficiency of your swing. Bottom line: efficient swings are more important than pretty looking ones.

Tomi Putting: calculates swing path, tempo, and clubface data during your putting stroke.


Lesson Packages

Screening Consultation: $90.

One hour process designed to determine your current level of strength and flexibility as well as clarifying your objectives for taking lessons. Upon completion of the screening, we’ll recommend a program intended to help you realize your goals. Both Steve and I have been certified by TPI to perform these screenings.

*Screening is complimentary for Monthly and Winter Technology lesson packages.


Technology Lessons

One hour sessions taking full advantage of the technology we have at our disposal.

1 lesson: $90.

Monthly Package: 4 lessons, includes complimentary screening: $320.

Winter Package: 12 lessons, includes complimentary before and after screening: $875.


Old Fashioned Lessons

Half an hour long. Use of video included.

$50 per lesson.

Monthly Package 4 Lessons: $180.

Winter Package 12 lessons: $425.



*Junior Lessons: 25% off all above listed prices.



Fitness Programs and Services

Through our association with qualified health and fitness experts, you will have access to services such as physiotherapy, chiropractic, spinal decompression, massage therapy, and acupuncture. As mentioned previously, the cost of fitness and health programs may be covered on your health insurance. The fitness programs are designed to work in conjunction with the golf lessons.



Location and Contact Numbers

Better Golf will be located at 1101 Kingston Rd (at intersection with Dixie Rd), Pickering, Unit 104. It’s conveniently located between the Whites and Liverpool Road exits on the 401.

Kevan Goble can be reached at: kevangoble@gmail.com or 416-873-6984.

Steve Rodriguez can be reached steverodriguez@outlook.com 905-767-2110, Twitter@Roddy_Golf.

If you have further questions regarding the winter lessons, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Wishing everyone a great holiday season. Look forward to seeing you in the New Year.


Kevan Goble, Whitevale Teaching Professional.

Migrating south for the winter?? I wish!

It's not uncommon for Ontario golfers to think that once the course closes for the season, the turf department brings in the flag sticks and tee blocks and goes home for the winter.

 Nothing could be further from the truth.

 It took us almost a full week to bring in, clean, inventory and put away all of our course furniture, and then our winter work has just begun. It took another two days to fully winterize the irrigation system. We have also leveled low sprinkler heads, added, removed and relocated other heads and valves to better suit the layout of the newly added range and practice facility. Additionally, we aerified our sand greens with ½ inch hollow tines to continue removal of the organic layer, and all 18 greens were then deep tine verti-drained and top dressed. A final dormant fertilizer was also applied to all greens.

 

Course clean up of leaves and branches continued through last week from the significant number of weak and messy silver maples we have across the property.

The new driveway has been marked with T-bar to help keep snow removal equipment off our new practice facility. Snow fence has been installed to help snow drift onto the new greens and range tee which will act like a blanket, keeping the cold, desiccating north winds off our tender seedlings.

I have put significant time and effort into preparing the 2014 capital and operations budget. Properly building the  budget requires me to detail the time, equipment, supplies and labour required to complete every task we intend to perform next season in the most economical way possible, while providing the high level of course conditioning expected by our members. It's never an easy task.

Construction of a new path has been completed for better access to the first tee and parking lot area by power carts. We are also enlarging the 12^th black/blue tee deck. With the amount of play this par 3 tee receives in a season I’m proud that we were able to keep any turf on the deck at all. When complete this project will double the overall tee surface, improving this area significantly. In addition, we have stripped the sod off the back of the 7^th green so that we can re-grade to establish better surface drainage to allow water to escape without pooling. The early arrival of snow and freezing temperatures have put the brakes on these last two projects (and allowed me to stay in the office long enough to finally do a Blog entry), possibly until spring arrives. But that does not mean we get to put our feet up.

Fill being placed at the back of 12 tee

 Jobs on the to-do list:

I have been working diligently to prepare for the Ontario Government regulated public Integrated Pest Management (IPM), meeting which requires us to compile all pesticide applications and detail where, when, and why they were applied. We also report the total active ingredient of each product we use over the season and put it into a presentation for the general public. Once completed, I prepare for the follow up audit mandated by the IPM Council of Canada which confirms all our reporting is accurate. In all, a tedious and costly program.

Perhaps the biggest job of all is safely completing all the tree work required. Winter is always the season to evaluate the health of our trees and execute a plan for pruning and if required, removal. This winter may mark the most significant tree work in any single year in Whitevale's history. This is due to a number of reasons. First, any tree that is a safety concern or hazard must be taken down before it comes down on its own. At no time will we take a chance with the safety of our members, their guests or our staff.

 

To the untrained eye this tree looked solid, but inside significant rot made it a hazard

 

Second, any tree that is either dead or in significant decline will also be removed. This accounts for a significant number of trees which must be dealt with. Austrian pines have been killed or are near death due to a disease called Diplodia. We have slowly been removing these pines for the last 8 years, but this winter we have many more that must come down than in previous years. Emerald Ash Borer is a devastating insect that is killing ash trees all over southern Ontario. This will be the most noticeable of the removals to members, with trees on the left side of 8 and right side of 15 being removed.

Lastly, but most significantly, are trees that cause shade to our putting surfaces. While we all have attachment to trees for different reasons, I cannot let a tree that is causing turf decline on any of our putting surfaces take priority over the health of our greens. Trees that were not an issue 5 or 10 years ago have grown significantly and now need major pruning or removal. It is clear that plantings undertaken for the first 40 year of the club's life were not done with the consideration of the size of the tree at maturity, or its location with regard to the morning sun. The sun is in a different location in the sky depending on what season we are in, and this needs to be taken into consideration when we are talking about shaded green sites. Some trees cause significant shade this time of year but are not an issue during the growing season, and vice-versa. In the 30 years I have been managing turf grass, I have not once regretted the removal of a tree I have cut down with my trusty chain saw. Safe to say, I have never met a chain saw I didn’t like. We continue to strategically plan tree variety and sites requiring trees, and are planting new trees yearly. In the years after course renovations were complete, we invested over $100,000 in new plantings around the club, and this will continue with a capital commitment of $13,000 in new plantings during 2014. Tress are an asset, but only if the right species is put in the right location.

 

Significant shade on a sunny day wont even melt off the lightest layer of snow by mid day

In conclusion, here's an update of Whitevale’s practice facility. I owe everyone involved a big thank you; from Thomas McBroom, to the Vergeer boys to my staff. Everyone put in a committed effort to complete the job within our fair weather window. When this area has had a chance to mature, I have no question it will be the envy of almost all private clubs in the GTA.

 

A sneak peek at the chipping green when we removed the tarp to apply winter fungicide and fertilizer shows significant green fuzz! We have seen great germination across all seeded areas and anticipate an explosion of green growth as soon as soil temperatures jump in the spring. I know the spring will bring a flood of members asking the same question……..”When is the practice facility going to open”? Of course I have an answer for you right now….”Not until its ready”! The best the winter can do for us is to give us frost in the ground and a layer of snow and stay cold, so far exactly what we have got. The worst would be no snow cover and significant cold temperatures and wind which would cause desiccation and the ultimate death of some of the tender seedlings. Mother Nature cannot be controlled, but as always the turf department is at the ready to respond to whatever comes our way.

One last note, I have decided to start “tweeting” on Twitter. While there may not be a lot for me to tweet about until spring, if you’d like to follow me, you can find me @BlairWhitevale.

Hope you enjoy the winter; I’m heading to sharpen my chain saw.

Niilo Schonfeld - 369 Yard Drive!!!!

Whitevale member Niilo Schonfeld represented Canada last week at the International Long Drive Challenge held in Mexico. He finished with a drive of 369 yards helping the Canada 1 team to a 1st place finish in the event and came 2nd in the individual competition.

Nilo Schonfeld runner up on the left and Ryan Winther- champion on the right

Niilo recently competed as well in the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship held in Nevada and despite bombing a drive of 389 yards was eliminated in the 3rd round of that competition. A bright future seems to be in store for Niilo in the world of Long Drive.

Special shout out to Dave Myrvold for bringing Niilo's accomplishments to our attention.

Demo Done, Range Done, Building Permit?

We haven't had much in the way of news for the R2R. The demo is done, the contaminated soil has been removed (the unofficial count is just under 1,500 tons) and the hole is partially filled.

We brought in a crusher to crush all the concrete left over from the demo and we will using this as the base for the road, round about and parking when the time comes. The demo crew filled and compacted as much of the hole as possible but the remaining soil was wet and couldn't be used for this purpose. The plan will be to fill the hole with the material used from the clubhouse excavation.

The range is 100% complete and the good news is we do have some seed popping. The area has stood up well to the few rain storms we have had which is great news. A warm spring will help us get this open as early as possible next season.



View from behind the tee deck, you can see the green in the middle of deck



View from West side of tee, germination has started

Practice chipping/putting green, we have some life

Now for the clubhouse. The permit drawing are in, we had a meeting with the building planner last week and the best case scenario for a building permit is Mid-November. The city has really been working with us (in fact the head planner has personally taken on our permit process) but the permit has to go through the process. This will delay our construction schedule but depending on the winter, we may be able to make up time during construction. 

As soon as we have new news we'll post it on the blog.