2 Steps Forward - 1 Step Back

 Last week had us feeling like we were taking two big steps forward across the property. Bermudagrass on both courses was showing encouraging signs of green-up, the Sabot greens were recovering nicely from aeration, and the Range Tee grow-in continued to progress right on schedule. Over on Manakin, greens had fully rebounded from their spring aeration and were delivering the firm, fast conditions we all look forward to this time of year. It was the kind of stretch that reminds us prime golf season is right around the corner.

This week, however, served as a bit of a reality check—more of a one step back moment. Early in the week, we experienced unseasonably cold temperatures, including a significant frost. The Bermudagrass that had just started to wake up and push color unfortunately took a hit. Much of that early green-up has been knocked back, and overall growth has slowed as a result.

Before

After

While the turf is certainly off-color in areas, this is not unexpected for this time of year when we get late cold snaps. Bermudagrass is resilient, and with consistent warmth, it will rebound. We are optimistic that this was our last frost event of the season and that we can now turn the page toward more stable spring weather.

In addition to the cooler temperatures, dry conditions have continued to linger. A lack of natural rainfall hasn’t done us any favors in encouraging growth, so our team is staying proactive with nightly irrigation cycles to maintain adequate soil moisture levels. That said, there is no substitute for a good, steady rain, and we’re hopeful to see some measurable precipitation in the near future.

We have also continued working on sodding winter-damaged areas on both courses. Thankfully, the overall impact was minimal, but there are a handful of smaller spots we want to address before we get into the heart of the season. We have one final sod delivery scheduled for this Monday to tie up those loose ends as we make our push toward summer conditions.

Beyond that, the team has been busy with several improvement projects around the property. Tree removal work has been ongoing to improve turf health and playability, while nutrient applications are being dialed in to support steady growth as temperatures rise. The Sabot crew has also been hard at work installing a new paver walkway leading into the clubhouse—another step in getting everything ready as the club fully comes to life for the season.

On the agronomy side, both courses are in the process of upgrading irrigation heads on the greens. These improvements will give us better control and accuracy with our watering practices, allowing us to fine-tune conditions and continue delivering the consistency our membership expects.

All in all, despite the setback from the cold weather, it has been a productive week. Now we just need a little help from above—some warmer temperatures and a good shot of “liquid gold” rain—to really get things moving in the right direction.