Plug It!

We are up and running on 18 as of Friday, Apr. 16th and it's early season conditions but still tolerable.  The time spent on the front greens paid off with over 1000 plugs used to repair winter damage (tried to do a minimum of 50 a day since the middle of March).  Tarps were on and off up until the end of last week and the protection they provided helped greatly in giving the greens the needed kick in the *ss.

#4 Green. Sorry for Picture Quality. Maybe its all the shade!!!!

The unfortunate trade off was neglect on the back greens which came through 90% but were set back but an ill timed mowing and lack of water.

#15 Green. Looks icky but its coming along

I'll need to pound the water and I would love to tarp them but that would mean they'd be out of play.  I'm not sure but I think I may mess with strategic tarping throughout the week days just to speed/protect their recovery.

We have been able to aerate the healthy greens and top dress them but the will have to hold off on the back ones until they are happier.  The timing is completely wrong and recovery will be very slow.  Even though the ambient temperature is generally above normal this year you have to remember the sun is still in the earlier spring horizon and the type of light (amount and quality) and warm temperatures are short lived during the day.  An early spring aeration is my selfish way of performing a necessary operation at a time of year when people are slightly more tolerant of rough conditions on the greens.  This early in the year I believe most players are just glad to have something to do during the day than stay at home and watch daytime T.V.!