Hiawatha Goes Electric

2011 has begun at Hiawatha. All be it a slow beginning with a late spring and cool weather.

We can't dwell on that. Mother nature is out of our control. So, we have to set our eyes on the rest of the 2011 season.

This year we have decided to do our part to embrace the Green Movement. We have taken delivery on two new fully electric powered Greens Mowers. They are Jacobsen Eclipse mowers. Jacobsen is owned by Textron. Textron is the company behind our EZGo electric Golf Carts. The mowers utilize basically the exact same charging system as the golf carts.

The mowers charge is good for about 12 greens. Then we simply return them to the shop and plug them into the wall. The mowers will start to actually last longer the more charging cycles the get on the battery packs.

The mowers are very quiet. It's really odd to be mowing with something so quiet. For many many years we have become used to the traditional gas engine and the noise that goes with it.

I am really excited that the golf industry is getting to a point of having reliable electric equipment.







- Posted from my iPad

Fall Season

Well, the Fall Season is in full force. The leaves are almost completely down. We have been trying to keep on top of blowing and mulching leaves. I have a limited staff this time of year, but we are doing pretty good.

The Fall is also a time to kinda look back at the season that was. For the most part the season was good. The end of August and Early Sept brought us some turf damage. That was hard to deal with. The golf course is a part of my life. I almost look at it like one of my kids. When damage occurs, I take it very personal. I have always tried to provide the best conditions. However, sometimes no matter what you do, the turf can only handle so much.

As we exit the fall and enter winter the turf has been showing recovery. Greens 3,7, and 17 have been growing new seed. We will also be doing some sodding on those greens as we have time this fall. What we don't get done this year, we will finish up in the spring.

Stony and I are already looking ahead to 2011. We have been discussing potential projects and enhancements. Stay tuned.


- Posted from my iPad

Wider Fairways

At the request of many patrons we have widened the fairways a bit. Many of you have said the fairways are getting to narrow. Today we mowed all fairways with one added pass to each side of the fairway. They have now gone from 8 stripes to 10.


- Posted from the rough

Sodding

We have been doing some sodding of late. We have been fixing some of the bunker ends that have seen years of entrances and exists from the trap machine. We have also been doing green side bunker tops. Where the sand has been blasted out from shots. These areas get rather hot and burnt up during the heat of the summer.

Bunker on 9




Right side of 17 before


After





Right side 17 Green Side Before



After



Left side 3 Green Side



-- Post From My iPad

Leagues

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of our leagues that played Hiawatha this year. Not sure how many of you read this blog, but thought I should say thank you.

This season has been a tough one on the turf. Specifically, here at the end of August. Unfortunately, we have had some turf loss on a handful of greens and a couple fairways. So, I just want to let you all know we are addressing these areas. The affected greens were seeded last week. We will go after fairways here as soon as we can. We will also doing a bit of sodding.

Thanks Again
Bob

USGA Regional Update- Must Watch

This video describes conditions and damage from the Mid Atlantic region. However, it very much mirrors the weather and conditions here in the Central Region.

This weeks USGA Regional Update is a video presented by Darin Bevard. This is a must watch!! Click on the link below.

USGA Regional Video Update

Weather Changes Plans

Well, due to the 1" of rain we received today, we cannot aerate as planned. We only did a couple of the practice greens. They were really wet.

So, in the short term we will Veritcut the thin areas on greens to help create a seed bed. Then we will seed and fertilize.

The equipment is being used by one of our other course next Tuesday and subsequently will go to the other courses in our system.

We are scheduled for our regular aeration date on Sept 27th. Hope the weather works out.

Bob

- Posted from iPhone.