Snow Showers Expected

We're expecting to experience a heavy storm system this Friday and I'm hoping it comes in the form of rain, rather than snow. While temperatures have remained consistently in the 50's, Fridays high won't make it out of the 30's so we'll probably be looking at closing the golf course down for the weekend. Anyone needing to travel west on highway 70 should probably do so now. Be safe out there and have great weekend.

Snow

February hasn't offered much in the way of playing golf. Giving the golf course a much needed break from traffic normally doesn't hurt my feelings in any way, but the lack of life out there is beginning to wear me out. This winter hasn't been one with large amounts of snow, it has merely been a case of the little snow we have gotten not going away. The average daytime temperature is still ranging in the lower 30's and we have yet to break into the 40's for more than an hour or two. Unfortunately, Colorado's front range is not the only area to be lacking in snow totals. Unless March brings some snow with her, this might go down as the worst ski season in recent memory. I realize that snow and local golf enthusiasts usually don't go together, but snow totals play a major role in how the golf course is managed throughout the season by way of runoff. The large retention reservoir adjacent to 3West fairway and 5West tees is the major source of our irrigation water and is solely fed by runoff. The reservoir is currently at 22.5" and is looking good for the time, but without some higher totals in March, I fear this supply will not get us through the season and force us to fire up the lower pump station to supply the golf course. We'll cross that bridge when we get there, but looking at the big picture, going through another draught year isn't something we are all looking foreword to.

58 Degrees in January

It's about this time of year when my thoughts of Christmas and celebration tend to turn towards Crown Hydration Injury, Desiccation, and Ice damage. Quite a mental swing to say the least. With the weather taking on a bit of a change, the golf course will be open this weekend for the first time since Thanksgiving. To combat this weather trend, the crew has been hand watering all of the exposed greens and tees this week to hydrate the crown (growing point), of the plant. Although the turf is in a dormant state, its requirements for water and gas exchange is still vital to the survival of each plant. For all our members and guests who winter in Colorado Springs, I would strongly encourage you to get out and water your lawns during these breaks in the weather. Because the ground is, and has been frozen, this application is not meant to be taken up systemically as the root system will not accept the water. Instead, a light syringing of the turf will suffice with the goal being to hydrate the crown of the plant. By doing this, you're dramatically increasing the avoidance of turf casualty from extreme dehydration. Although wind events haven't been as intense compared to recent years, the light breezes on the mesa further compound this drying out condition. I expect to see you all on the golf course this weekend, but if I don't, be sure to get out there and water the lawn.