Another short week over and a great effort from the boys in getting the courses into the condition they are in.  After a second consecutive long weekend it is always a bit daunting come Tuesday morning and you wonder if we will ever catch up, particularly with the amount (and type) of play we are getting.  It is very hard to be productive in amongst 500+ players each day with a large number hitting it sideways but somehow the boys get it done.  With that many players it is impossible to keep up with everything, particularly bunkers, but looking at the courses this afternoon is pretty satisfying.  The weather also co-operated with 32mm of rain falling in the evening storms this week which was just what the doctor ordered.

We have been super busy but across the country at Wembley Golf in Perth which is a local council run 36 hole course, they had 850 golfers listed on the timesheet last Tuesday with more than 350 playing on the mini golf course as well.  Oh and in the 80 bay driving range, 76,000 balls were hit. 

Most Supers around the world when asked what their favorite product is answer '"Primo," which is the growth regulator that is most commonly used on turf.  We use it across all playing surfaces here at Tweed and it allows us to control the growth to such an extent that even in fairly favourable growth conditions we can get through a four day week-end with no excessive growth noticeable, on fairways in particular.  The timing of the applications has to be just right to have the effect at its greatest when needed and we hit the mark perfectly this year.  I really don't know what we did before the introduction of the product although I do remember when it first came out and the rep excitedly blurted out that it will stop your fairways from growing.  That was when I was in Melbourne without fairway irrigation and my reply was that the Couch in Melbourne really only grows for a few weeks and I want to enjoy watching it thanks very much!!

Next week we will be starting to reshape 4R fairway to allow for the water to move off the fairway to a collection area to the right of the fairway where it will be piped down to a drainage sump next to 6R tee.  The work is planned for next Thursday and Friday with the turf being laid the following Monday.  During the works and turf establishment the hole will be played as a par 3 for workers and turf safety.

Some amazing shots on social media of the wild weather battering the Monterey Peninsula and indeed the whole west coast of the USA.  Along 17 Mile Drive there is a famous ''Lone Pine'' that has been there seemingly forever and the top of the tree is 150 feet above sea level.

The lone Pine with waves smashing it.

In calmer times.

Next door at Monterey Peninsula CC a tidal surge inundated part of the lower lying area of the their two courses as pictured below.  Although not a common occurrence it has happened before and most certainly will again but dealing with that much salt water across cool season turf is not good to say the least.

 

And there I was thinking how we were going to come back from this bit of flood damage last year!!  March 1, 2021 won't be a day I will forget for a while.

1R green just 10 months ago.