Thankfully, the snow didn't last...

On Sunday, the course was covered in a blanket of snow.  It melted away quickly and we reopened for play on Monday.

Today we were able to capture a pic of this rainbow that just might be a sign that spring is coming!

'Old Man Winter' Not Welcome Anymore!

I guess it's hard to complain since it is still February, but this time last year we were hosting the Winter Olympics in shorts!

'Old Man Winter' delivered a cruel reminder that he's not ready to leave yet...

  

Politics, Religion and Play on Winter Greens

The winter course closures once again dominated the discussion at last evening's Golf Committee meeting.  After much discussion the committee determined that our current frost delay policy is only in need of some minor tweaking.  From now on, shortly after the frost has completely lifted from the course we will open for play.  Our Turf Care team only requires about a 15-20 head-start in front of the first group to setup the course.  There may still be a 9-hole shotgun start in conjunction with the immediate tee times to accommodate more players getting onto the course ASAP.

Here is another very telling article from the USGA about the repercussions of play on frosty and/or frozen turf (thanks to Jim McGarvey, Superintendent, from Seymour Golf and Country Club for passing it along):

http://www.usga.org/course_care/articles/other/winter_play/Politics-Religion-and-Winter-Play-on-Greens/?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d5ad84b34943435,0

On a lighter note, here is a comical take on a discussion between the Superintendent and a Golf League Captain regarding frost delays:

Enjoy!

Life on the "Wet Coast"

So I've been here at QGolf Club now for just over 2 years and I must say, the biggest adjustment between life in Ontario and B.C. is the HUGE difference in weather over the winter months.  I always wondered what it would be like to maintain and prep a golf course 12 months a year.  In Ontario most courses are blanketed in snow for most of the winter so as long as you applied your winter protection (fungicides) you could sleep easy while you wait for things to thaw.  That is unless things thawed and then froze before draining away.  Ice and turf DO NOT get along well!  Prolonged ice cover on turf leads to crown hyrdation.  Crown hyrdation kills, it's that simple (as seen below)...

That being said, the wet west coast winters really limit what we can and cannot do on the golf course.  When we do get a "break" in the weather we are often just trying to catch up on routine work that was delayed due to wet conditions.  Our main goal during the winter is to keep the course as playable as possible while completing a few small projects (i.e. - drainage, tree removals/plantings).    

So when people ask me, "Don't you get tired of the rainy west coast winters?" my response is simple, "Nope, you don't have to shovel the rain!"

Gotta run, I'm on the tee!!!