Hermitage CC Golf Course Management

  After what has felt like an endless stretch of heat and humidity, Mother Nature is finally starting to cooperate with us. This week we're enjoying overnight lows well into the 60s, with even a couple of nights dipping into the upper 50s. It's a welcome change that both golfers and the golf course have been waiting for. The courses are finally beginning to dry out and firm up—about a week later than we would have preferred—but we're happy to see conditions trending in the right direction. As mentioned in last week's blog, we kicked off the week by completing a ¼-inch hollow tine aeration on the Sabot greens. While aeration may be temporarily disruptive, it's one of the most important cultural practices we perform. Removing organic material and replacing it with clean sand helps maintain healthy putting surfaces for the long term. One of the photos from this week shows an old aeration channel that we uncovered while changing cups—a perfect example of how these c...

 When I first started at Hermitage back in February, both courses were covered under a sheet of ice. Even then, our first goal was simple: get the courses to The Valentine in great shape. We have been planning and preparing for this event for months, and before we knew it, it had come and gone. This past week gave Ben, Grant, and their incredible teams the opportunity to truly show what they do best. Both courses were in outstanding condition and showcased exactly what Hermitage is all about—top-level golf and top-level experiences. Heading into Wednesday and Thursday, both courses were set up exactly how we envisioned despite the heat and intense humidity. Our biggest concern was the forecast. We knew that if the weather cooperated, by the weekend both courses would be absolute fire. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. Thursday night, a large storm cell rolled through with high winds, lightning, and torrential rain. After inspecting the courses that evening, we determine...

  What a week it's been! We kicked things off on Monday by hosting a Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) event. It was a great opportunity to showcase everything that makes our club special. Every department brought their A-game. Food & Beverage delivered an outstanding experience, our service staff was exceptional, and (selfishly) I thought the Manakin Course was absolutely shining. It was a great team effort, and we're proud of how the club was represented. Tuesday brought a different kind of excitement as a Midwest-style supercell rolled through, leaving quite a mess on both courses. Thankfully, our maintenance crews responded quickly and did a fantastic job getting everything cleaned up and back in championship condition ahead of the Ladies Club Championship. The crew did a great job getting things cleaned up in short order.  Grant and Wil Lannon were out late into the evening getting Manakin greens sprayed with fungicides and wetting agents to beat the rain....

 This is the kind of week we were hoping to avoid. Nearly 4 inches of rain , followed immediately by hot, extremely humid weather , creates one of the most challenging combinations we face all year. These are the conditions that can quickly lead to bentgrass decline here in the Transition Zone. Thankfully, we've made it to August. The days are beginning to get a little shorter, and while the heat certainly isn't behind us yet, cooler nights and more moderate temperatures are finally starting to appear on the horizon. One thing is certain—we're glad these conditions didn't arrive in the middle of July. This week also serves as a reminder of just how valuable our fans are. They may require plenty of maintenance and occasionally cause a few headaches, but when weather like this rolls in, every bit of air movement matters. Keeping the leaf surface dry and temperatures lower is one of the best tools we have to maintain healthy bentgrass and keep the greens in top condition a...