Perfect weather continues, toeing the frost line

 

We know the crew at CCV is happy that frost has yet to form this week. The forecast temps have been 39/40 but we have been coming in to 42 degrees each morning. A few of us have been helping out in the early mornings for the Dominion Energy Classic. The River Course looks fantastic! Hopefully we can make it through the next few days and keep the frost away because next week again looks amazing and we don't mind the leaves hanging in the trees a little longer.

We have started swapping out the summer annuals with our winter plantings. Not much more than snapdragons and dusty millers go in the ground this time of the year. Anything else just becomes rabbit and deer food!

Dunstano and Carlos have been making some headway on their mechanics shop renovation. The second lift is in place and ready to be wired up. They are certainly enjoying the added space by moving the parts room to where the old lockers were.

We are patiently waiting for November 1st to roll around so we can get moving on our two big projects for the winter, finishing both the Manakin bunker renovation and the 2 wire irrigation upgrade. The new wire for holes 1-4 and 14-18 landed this week along with the new solenoids so we are ready to go. Bunkers will be the focus first but depending on the weather we may start digging irrigation holes as well.

Our final pre-emerge and spring dead spot applications have been applied all throughout both courses and so far Poa control looks pretty good. During our first application of pre-emerge here on 1 Sabot the left boom of the sprayer kicked by accident. Controlling weeds in bermuda right next to bentgrass has always been difficult. Next to the greens we have to use herbicides that are safe for bentgrass but at slightly higher rates. It has been about a month here on 1 so we are hopeful this bent is just stunted and will continue to wake back up. One thing is for sure, there is no poa germinating here!

Bermudagrass growth is essentially finished for the year even though the color is still strong on the golf course. The range tee has received its beating for this season so practice will be on the mats from here on out.

The dry weather has all 36 holes playing beautifully. The greens are firming back up and putting very smooth. Enjoy the sunny days while you can, especially before all these leaves really start to fall down!