So the aerification is done.........................now what?

Well, in a way we wait. Only time will allow the turf to grow itself enough to heal so all greens are back to 100%. Once that happens, we can lower the height of cut and get to the green speeds and smooth putts we are looking for. For the next week we will be mowing greens in the afternoon. If you were playing on Friday you may have been interrupted by Murray and me trying to mow greens around play. The reason for this afternoon mow is that the sand sticks to the mowers when there is any moisture present. Mowing in the morning when dew is present only cause’s problems as the sand sticks to the rollers and drums and then falls into clumps on the putting surface. The goal is to leave the sand where it is and let the turf grow up and overtop. So mowing when the turf is dry is our best option to promote faster and proper healing.

With the cool wet spring we dealt with we are currently behind in many jobs. At this point our labour is under budget by approximately $12,000

This is not a savings, it is a sign of all the jobs we could not get done that still needs our attention. Not that I want to point out weakness on the course, but you don’t have to look too hard to see all the things we still need to finish. Like the stump removal areas which need finishing with soil and sod. The drain line on the right side of 16 is still open. We are behind in the trimming…………..I mean have you looked at the grass around the bunkers????

Mulch need to be hauled out of the parking lot and taken down to 5 and 12 greens and spread out, divots in fairways need attention, we have sod to finish up at the 2^nd and 11^th tees, bench pads at the 6^th and 14^th tees still need flagstone, bunkers need fine tuning, weeds need spraying. There are irrigation sprinklers to adjust, soil to add around the catch basin back right of 14 green before we can finish and sod…………wow, the list goes on. So thanks for being patience with us whether we are mowing greens around you in the afternoon, or whether your ball comes to land in an area that’s not ready for play, we will get to these jobs!

On a side not long time and dedicated staff member Mickey McCue has been off with some minor health issues. He is currently on medication and resting comfortably at home. Doctors are watching to make sure medication is improving his condition and although we think he will be off for a few more weeks, we anticipate him back for June at the latest. Get well soon Mick!

Hart sinks his First!

Richard Hart made the first Hole in One of the season and the first of his golfing career with a great shot on hole # 9. It is the second time we have had a Hole in One during a Men's Opening Event and as you can imagine the Insurance didn't last long at the Bar!!

Richard Hart, Kim Blake, Dave Convery and Bob Williams

 

It is hard to believe but that is the first Hole in One at Whitevale since Tom O'Connor made his in July last summer.

Congratulations Richard!

 

What a Weekend!

Men's & Women's Opening Field Days

The weather was smiling on Whitevale this weekend with not a snowfalke in sight! This may the earliest date that the Events have been held due to the way the calendar lined up and the resulting effect it had on our greens schedule.

The Women's Opening Field Day took place on Saturday morning with 40 players participating.

The new format of using 3 drives each seemed to be well received. It certainly worked for the winning Team of Jan Pugh, Lisa Brewer, Anne Hill and Janet Martinko who fired a net 67.4.

Second Place went to the Team of Angela Colm, Mary Charlton, Norma Columbus and Teresa Arbuthnot who shot a net 70.4. The Team of Ann Griffin, Lynne Sage, Kandice Brackenbury and Betty Lemon finished in third place with a score of 71.0.

 

The Men's Opening Field  Day had a wonderful turnout of 140 players. The spectacular weather saw an equally impressive winning score!

 

The winning Team of Mike Lindsay, Birthday Boy - Pat Burrell (he didn't give us his age), Stan Lam and Heinz Ludwig shot a net 57.5 which was 2 shots clear of the field.

Second place went to the team of Pat Lamanna, Al Swartz, Alex Maggiacomo and Bob Tennyson fired a net 59.5 narrowly edging Ed Hanna's team of Walt Lemon, John Doyle and Elmar Moser who carded a net 60.3.

Bob Nebel splashes it close on # 18

The Famous McAuley Walk Through!

 

 

A SNEAK PEEK.........

 

Things are slowly starting to get going on the golf course. We got the greens mowers out for the first time today. As it turns out, only 6 greens on the entire property had any growth to mow off. All but one of them were tarped since November.

 

Below, Mickey puts the first cut on 12 green for the season.

 

 

 

As mentioned in an earlier Blog, we are much further behind getting the course prepared for opening than we have in the last bunch of years. Notice all the snow still on the left of both photos? We still have snow and ice along tree lines and in some bunkers. Clean up has only just begun this week and I hate to say, but next week has significant rain in the forecast, which, if we get, will stall the clean up causing us more grief. With less than two weeks to our opening date, it is becoming clear we will be no where near as prepared as we always strive to be. We will undoubtedly be continuing clean up around play in April. Lets just hope we get some spring like weather before July gets here.  

 

Titlesit Pro V1 Loyalty Program

Titleist Pro V1 Loyalty Program

Buy 3 Dozen Pro V1 Balls and receive the 4th FREE

Limited Time Offer - Closes April 29th

Call the Pro Shop to place your order!

905 294 1056

FINALLY....Something to report!

 

Sometimes no news is good news. This years' minimal winter news reports fall into that category. When winter finally arrived in February, it did so with one heavy dumping of wet snow. A thick layer of snow is beneficial, acting as a layer of insulation for protection of the cold northern winds that often blow across the property.   

Yesterday, March 25th, the golf course was still approximately 85% covered in snow and ice. Having formed only a few weeks ago, the ice is unlikely to cause us any problems.  The long term forecast is calling for a slow warming trend, and our current condition of ice and snow is actually ideal for the turf to slowly break dormancy.

This photo was taken March 25th looking east from the putting green across the 1^st Fwy.

Tuesday's forecasted high of 8 degrees with sunshine, ensured this would be the first significant melt of the season. Knowing we still had between 3 and 6 inches of snow on top of an ice layer on most greens, lead me to remove as much snow as possible to help the ice begin melting off the green surfaces. A layer of snow reflects much of the sun’s rays and slows the melt process. The same sunshine will melt through ice faster than snow as there are dark particles of dust, dirt, sand and fertilizer in the ice which speeds up the process significantly.

Using heavy equipment to remove this snow is a very delicate process and can cause more problems than good if done at the wrong time, and should only be attempted by seasoned staff. It is a process that can cause damage to the green and collar if not done cautiously, also trying to get the equipment from green site to green site can cause extreme damage if done with inexperienced operators. Yesterday, I trusted no one but Kyle and I to execute this operation.

 

In this photo you can clearly see six inches of snow being removed from the fifth green. 

Below the layer of snow is approximately 3 inches of ice. 

I would anticipate that by mid weekend all greens will be 100% free of ice and snow cover.  We are not yet fully out of the woods on possible turf damage, as warm days and cold nights can still cause hydration damage. Rest assured we are doing all we can to win the battle with Mother Nature. As a foot note, not since 2008 have we had snow covering the golf course this late in the season. It's quite the contrast to 2012.

 

 

This is the before picture of the 2nd green covered in snow, which also hides the ice layer

 

About 30 minutes later the loader has removed most of the snow cover, the ice

below actually protecting the turf from the heavy equipment. This photo was taken March 26th at noon and by four o'clock ice had melted enough that I was able to kick through the ice with my boot. By the end of the day approximately 20% of the green had completely melted off. 

And finally, less than 24 hours later we have approximately 50% of the ice melted off and turf showing.

 I know the question you keep asking at this point is “what does this mean for opening day”?  We plan on sticking to the April 19^th date we have on the calendar for spring opening.  I firmly believe that opening the golf course in the best possible condition is paramount for a successful spring opening and subsequent healthy season.  It is clear at this point the golf course will not be as well-prepared for opening in April as I would like it to be.  Members can expect greens, tees and fairways to be clear of all debris, freshly mowed and in great shape, however the rough and the bunkers take significant man hours to clean up and properly prepare for play. 

I will prioritize crews to areas as required, but members can expect ongoing cleanup and spring restoration around play early this spring.  It is too early to tell whether we will be able to get all greens side bunkers perfect for opening day but they will be our priority over fairway bunkers and over getting the rough cleaned up of sticks, branches and pine cones. I'm sure most of you will see nothing but green striped turf as you hit it straight down the middle and enjoy par after par. In a few weeks a clean, green golf course will await your arrival. We'll be ready for you.

In the mean time, I hope you all have a fantastic Easter.

New Documentary on Golf

A great new documentary on golf is set be released this year. Check out the trailer below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ud6bY208IGI

R2R Approved

The membership have voted with 91% support to move forward with the club's Road to Revitalization project.

Thank you to all who voted!

Kevan Goble Publishes a Novel

  Whitevale's Teaching Professional Kevan Goble has published his first novel, Peter Burke Hates Golf . Kevan will be selling copies at Whitevale on December 8-9, the week-end of the AGM.
The book retails for $20 and is an outstanding read.

I have been fortunate to have read an advance draft and Kevan has woven a wonderful story that I know you will enjoy. To give you a feel for what the book's about, here's the synopsis from the back cover:

"Peter Burke's in trouble. He's a slave to his job, disconnected from his teenage daughter, and hates golf. Not ideal for a golf pro. Humiliated after a particularly bad round, he vows to quit. Listening to his brother's passionate trumpet playing at a jazz club that night reinforces the truth: his life has bottomed out. Searching for answers, he re-examines his past hoping to confirm his bond with golf was once as strong as his brother's to music. To reclaim some meaning in his life, Peter needs help. Perhaps an old diary he happens upon at a yard sale will offer him a lifeline."
A real family affair, the book cover was designed and illustrated by Kevan's wife, Laurie Lafrance.

Copies will be available to purchase in the Pro Shop during the annual Christmas Sale. If you email Kevan in advance at goble@xplornet.com  he will make sure a signed copy of Peter Burke Hates Golf is waiting for you to pick up in the Pro Shop.


If you cannot make it up on Dec. 8 or 9th, Kevan will be at the Club the following week-end, December 15-16. Come up, buy a copy, and shoot the breeze with him while he's setting up the indoor teaching net in the Clubhouse.

So You Think You're Tough....NOT!

The annual So You Think You're Tough tournament closed out the year yesterday under extremely difficult 16 degree temperatures. 72 players "toughed" it out on the adventurous cross country track. Players submitted an individual score and 4 player teams were determined via blind draw. All players received 50 percent of their 18 hole handicap. Congratz to Craig Ferns for scoring the lowest 9 hole net score of 32.5. It feels like Men's League all over again for Fernsie who would have most likely posted 52 on the back nine to protect his questionable 11 handicap.

For those of you who have not played in this event before, here are a few holes that we're popular amongst those that played.

Tee off on the black tee on #2 and hit to the 4th green.
Tee off on the white tee on #15 and hit to the 16th green.
Tee off from the fairway on #11 and hit to the 13th green.

The winners were.....
Tied 1st
Justin Timlin, Paul Cormier, Greg Shea, Wayne Carpenter
&
Steve Rodriguez, Clayton Spahn, Howard Kirke, John Dimopoulos
3rd
Steve Campbell, Ed Griffin, Tom Fennell, Tim Charlton
Tied 4th
Bryce Percy, Craig Ferns, Brian King, Art Belanger
&
Dec Dunn, Dave Denysek, Kim Blake, Elmar Moser

Winnings can be collected in the Pro Shop.

Thanks to those of you that came out, and we look forward to seeing you all next season!