Tye Heidbreder – Superintendent

Greens Aerification – This work was completed in full last week. The greens are recovering very well and should be back to “near normal” in another week.
Crabgrass – We don’t like it so, we are chemically treating all tees and the roughs, as conditions allow.
Holes #10 & #18 – We have revised the fairway lines in front of our new red tees on these holes. The old fairway will be seeded over the top with cool-season grasses. Our preference is a mixture of bluegrass and fescue. This will turn these areas that were previously fairway into rough.
Hole #14 Gold Tee – We will be installing irrigation for this tee soon. As that work is completed we will complete finish grading in preparation for sod.

The Missouri State Men’s Amateur – The club has the honor of hosting this event in June. In preparation for this we have been instructed by the Missouri Golf Association to have the following work completed by the date of the tournament.

1. Fairways – will be narrowed a minimum of 12 feet each side (total of 24’ narrower) excluding par threes. Fairways will be mowed in an alternating “zig-zag” pattern – as players begin to focus on their tee shots, the thought is they will become periodically disoriented and confused from these random patterns.
2. Rough – 2nd cut will be set at 3” and primary rough will be set at 5”. (they will lose golf balls – we don’t care)
3. Bunkers – New sand will be placed in all bunkers, fairway and greenside, to ensure tough fluffy lies and to create a nice play area on each hole for players that bring their children.
4. Hole two – Although this hole was the second most difficult hole during the last State Amateur, installation of miniature beads of silicon on the entire putting surface will ensure that putting will assimilate “downhill on glass.”
5. Hole three – a new fairway bunker will be placed on the left side of the fairway running the entire length of the landing area (around 75’ in length and 20’ in width). This bunker will be un-tended and random weeds will hopefully grow to varying heights. Any player unable to play a fade will most likely stray into this wonderful wasteland (we don’t care).
6. Holes ten and one – A new tee will be placed on the extreme southwest corner of the practice green (elevated to the height of one tee), this allowing added distance for both holes. Hole one will become a dog-leg left from this tee playing approximately 30 yards longer but remaining a par four. Hole ten will play approximately 80 yards longer giving the club its first 600 yard hole. As participants tee off on hole ten, those players practicing putting will simply be asked to lay flat on the putting surface to avoid injury. The MGA originally asked that this new tee be placed on top the roof of Mulligans. The Grounds Committee declined this request.
7. Hole fifteen – The MGA has asked that a swimsuit contest be held in the middle of the lake during each day of competition. Any player that has a good round going through fourteen holes (or not) will be thankful for this mental rejuvenation (or not).
8. Hole eighteen – Although this hole played the hardest during the prior State Amateur, the MGA feels that a new fifteen foot mound running down the right middle of the fairway will facilitate many contestants’ golf balls careening hard left into the new water feature. Contouring of the fairway from the end of the mound towards the water feature will ensure that this occurs. To keep players from playing down the right side of the mounding this entire area will be converted to prairie grass. The MGA has confidently told club officials that the Audubon Society will look favorably on this.

NOTE: Regarding the MGA course changes listed above APRIL FOOLS from the grounds staff!

A BIG thank you to Annette Hall, Bobbi Sell and Randi Barlows for our Tee-Off “Par-Tee.” If you missed the “Par-Tee” it’s still not to late to join our flock. Dues are only $20 for the season. Please send your checks to Kathy Munsey. It would suit us to a “Tee” to have you join us in our quest for “Par.”

We will have league play on April 6 and 12. Our first monthly scramble will be April 20 (and every third Tuesday for the season). We plan to tee-off at 8:30 a.m. Please meet in the Ladies Locker Room by 8:00 a.m. for sing-up.

If you have questions, comment or ideas, please contact Patsy summers (881-4339).

Together we can make this the best 9-Hole League Season yet!

Patsy Summers
9-Hole Chair

P.S. May 4 and 5 will be the 9 and 18 hole Tournament. Please remember that it is a two day 18-Hole Scramble.

Tye Heidbreder – Superintendent

• Lines on the Greens – Last week you may have noticed very light lines appearing on the greens. This is a result of a process called “verti-cutting.” As the grass begins growing on the greens many of the blades remain flat on the surface. This is a normal occurrence resulting from winter’s freeze/thaw as well as foot traffic. The process of mowing greens and cutting individual blades creates (facilitates) growth. “Verti-cutting” also helps develop overall growth by cutting those blades that are laying flat. An additional benefit is that the process makes the greens surface smoother and of course benefits putting.
• Tees & Fairway Bunker on Five – We will continue to prepare the new tees and the fairway bunker on hole five for sod in the next week or so.
• Just When the Greens are Perfect – We intend to seriously mess them up next Monday and Tuesday. To maintain a consistent putting surface through-out the golfing season we utilize a maintenance procedure each spring called greens aeration and topdressing. Aeration is achieved with a machine that pulls soil cores out of the greens. The cores are one-half inch in diameter and approximately three-four inches in depth. After these plugs are pulled and removed from the greens, a very heavy top-dressing of sand is applied. The overall process is important to the health of each green. Without the introduction of more oxygen through regular aeration and topdressing the root systems would eventually suffocate. Because our existing root systems are healthy and deeper than the cores taken, the greens will return to a suitable putting surface within two or three weeks.

The Kick-Off 2010 Tournament scheduled for Saturday March 13th has been Cancelled!

The next event is the Spring Open on March 27th. 

You may make reservations beginning the 20th. 

The format is 2 Man SHAMBLE and a 2 Lady SCRAMBLE. 

On this rainy miserable day take a little time to browse your NEW website!!!

Thanks…Rich

Tye Heidbreder – Superintendent

• The Native Area east of the Creek (Ward Branch) – A prescribed burn has been completed in this area. Fire has shown to be an important tool for maintaining vigor in native wild flowers. Fire can also control many undesirable woody plants and other weeds. This should provide a significant boost to the wild flowers planted three years ago. During the last two years we have been directed to mow this area to control undesirable growth. Unfortunately the mowing process has eliminated wild flowers that had blossomed. With this burn it is hoped that we will not have mow and the wildflowers will blossom all summer. The club is responsible for maintaining this area under the supervision of the Missouri Department of Conservation. They will be consulted as to future burns.
• Fairways and Tees – We are in the process of applying granulized crabgrass/weed pre-emergent chemicals on these areas. This is a “pre-emergence” control that must be applied and then activated by rain or irrigation prior to the emergence of weeds. This maintenance is best done between March 15th and April 15th.
• Tee Projects – As of tomorrow, dirt-work on the forward tees on ten and fourteen should be completed with the tees ready for sod. Typically sod is first available towards the end of March or early April. The grow-in period after sod work is very quick and members will soon be able to enjoy these course improvements. Dirt work should begin on the new red tee on hole eighteen within the next couple of days.
• Employees – The next time you are on the course and see one of our grounds crew, stop and say thanks. During this winter in the many cold periods we experienced, they have still been outside completing the many winter maintenance tasks. FACT: We have a combined 129 years of service vested in our top five senior employees.