Go Time!!!

The end of last week brought the conclusion of our much-anticipated Member-Guest Tournament. The shootout was truly something to see. Every cart on the property—plus several rentals—was out on the course, creating quite a scene. It was exciting to see such a large number of our members supporting one of the club's premier events.

Following Member-Guest week, we completed a scheduled venting of the greens followed by a light topdressing application. It was a well-deserved spa day for our bentgrass greens. They certainly performed during the tournament, and now it's time to prepare them for the summer battle ahead.

On Monday, the crew began placing all 27 TurfBreeze fans across both courses. The Sabot remained at 10 fans, while the Manakin received seven additional units, bringing its total to 17 fans. Tae, Wil Lannon, and Brent were able to sneak away to Federal Club on Monday for the Virginia GCSA Assistants Forum, where they attended an educational session presented by McDonald & Sons on golf course construction and renovation. The day concluded with a round of golf, during which Brent and his partner Cameron Yancy won their first Virginia State Match Play match, 9 and 7...wink wink.  Beatdown!

While they were away, Sloan Williams and Will Holcombe continued setting fans. By lunchtime Tuesday, all fans had found their new homes for the summer. That left only the daunting task of wiring them. Will Holcombe and Brent took charge of the Sabot fans, while Wil Lannon and Grant handled the Manakin installation. Their hard work paid off, and by Thursday afternoon all fans were operational except for the fan on No. 1 Manakin.

Currently, No. 1 Manakin has no nearby power source. We already have power wire installed underground running toward the back side of the driving range, and we are exploring the possibility of renting a generator to power the fan through July and August until a permanent solution can be implemented. This remains the primary reason why No. 8 Manakin is still fanless.

The timing of the installation could not be better. Forecasts are calling for temperatures in the upper 90s with the potential for thunderstorms in the coming days, bringing increased humidity if they materialize. While those conditions may benefit some of the slower-growing bermudagrass throughout the property, they create less-than-ideal conditions for our bentgrass putting surfaces. That is exactly why these fans are so important. By improving air movement and reducing moisture accumulation, they are truly game changers when it comes to managing cool-season turf in Richmond's challenging summer climate.

The recent heat and humidity have certainly awakened the bermudagrass, and even the bentgrass has responded with increased growth thanks to supplemental fertility and rising soil temperatures. Despite that growth, Manakin-Sabot remains extremely dry. When you ride around the property and see the current conditions, it is a testament to the dedication of our team that continues to keep the golf courses green, healthy, and growing.

As of this writing, we have received only 12.19 inches of rainfall for the year. Historically, we average approximately 20 inches by June 15th. Our primary concern is when Mother Nature decides to catch up. Hopefully, that rainfall arrives gradually and not in combination with prolonged heat and humidity. For the health of our bentgrass greens, that is one more reason why these fans are so vitally important.

While we continue to wait on Mother Nature, the maintenance team has done an outstanding job keeping both golf courses performing at the standards our membership expects. Irrigation has been running frequently and efficiently to provide the turf with every opportunity to succeed, but once deficits reach this level, rainfall becomes the only thing that can truly move conditions forward. In our region, irrigation is designed to be supplemental—not a substitute for natural rainfall.

A perfect example of the crew's dedication is pictured below. Ben Longest can often be found hand-watering some of our hotter, more drought-prone areas throughout the property. Hand-watering allows us to precisely target turf that is showing signs of stress before it becomes a problem, helping us maintain consistency and protect playing conditions during these extended dry periods. These efforts are repeated daily across both courses by a team that takes tremendous pride in the product they present. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence are a major reason the golf courses continue to perform so well despite the challenging weather conditions.

We finished the week with a little sod work on both courses as we continue our pursuit of perfection. We also completed some range repairs, addressing the divots left behind from Member-Guest week.

We are quickly moving into the heart of summer—hard to believe it's already here. It feels like yesterday we were praying for the ice and snow to melt. School is out, summer is here, and the golf courses are thriving.

Let's go. On with the season!