Typical but frigid January weather. Ben Longest steps up as Nick moves on!

 

Cold temperatures, snow and ice do well to keep golfers off the course which means we are full speed ahead in the bunkers on the Manakin. We still have work to finish on the right of #1 but 8 green proved more accessible this week. Tae jumped in the excavator and chipped away the old frozen sand. We will let yet another batch of winter storms through tomorrow and then get both these bunkers drained and ready for capillary concrete next week.

With the Manakin guys mostly occupied in the bunkers the Sabot team took to the "close to the path" list. This high traffic area by the putting green was spruced up a bit with some more pavers.

We have two opposite curbs here now on each corner apex, ready for all you F1 drivers that are trying to get the most of your cart through this grandstand turn.

The weather has definitely slowed down the irrigation company but that is expected in January. The real work has started now. Every 70 feet or so, the mainline is dug back up and the lateral line is connected in order to run water across the hole to feed the new sprinklers. Holes are dug and then the pipe is plowed right through the soil for every lateral.

Here is the view down on top of the main, with the lateral line tapping into it. A valve is fused on just off the main and then the two inch pipe takes off across the hole. Rain and snow make this a miserable process!

By the time you read this Nick Scheible will probably be half way to St. Louis on his new adventure. Our internal discussions have been ironed out and we are also ready to start the season with our existing management team. Joe Wagner is going to move from Superintendent of the Sabot over to the Manakin. Joe is handing the keys (and 9 holes of amazing new greens and irrigation!) over to Ben Longest (pictured). Ben has been an Assistant Superintendent on the Sabot for about 7 years now and is eager to step up and into the spotlight. Ben plays to about a 2 handicap and cares deeply about the conditioning of his Sabot golf course. We are interviewing candidates to replace Ben's now vacant Assistant position. There is no doubt the Sabot (and the Manakin) will continue to get better and better every day!