El Nino is not our friend

 

Our weather has changed this year to an unfortunate El Nino pattern. This normally means cooler weather and more rain for us on the east coast. The La Nina pattern that we were in the past few years brought a warmer winter and less rain but that ship has sailed. We got battered again with 2.6" of rain this past Tuesday, creating plenty of debris clean up and bunker repair.

Before the rain we were able to get some Poa annua control out around the greens while the sun was out. These specific pre and post emerge herbicides applied don't move on to the green so it allows us to get right up to the edge of the bentgrass. More pre-emerge is set to be applied to the fairways and tees as soon as we can dry out for more than two days in a row.

The rain has slowed progress on the Manakin irrigation project but we have plenty of time before the bermuda is going to be looking for supplemental water. The guys cut a trench through the oak trees between 8 and 11 last week in order to get this line of rough heads wired up.

This week we were able to get all around the green on 11 competed and the right side of the fairway done. We hope to finish 11 before any snow comes out of the sky next week.

The guys are in a groove now and make quick work of the wiring when the sun is out and conditions are decent.

The lines have been rolling down nicely and the overall operation has proved to be very clean once each hole is complete.

The pickle/paddle area however is very far from being clean. The rains continue to keep this area wet and muddy but we are trudging along. Some freezing temperatures should help out next week which will then give the green light to the paddle construction company to get moving. 

The bald eagles have been enjoying the wet weather, swooping in and picking fish out of the lakes all week. We counted 9 flying around and hanging out in the trees opposite 17 green today! Get ready for some cold temperatures next week!