A close to Valentine Week
When I first started at Hermitage back in February, both courses were covered under a sheet of ice. Even then, our first goal was simple: get the courses to The Valentine in great shape. We have been planning and preparing for this event for months, and before we knew it, it had come and gone.
This past week gave Ben, Grant, and their incredible teams the opportunity to truly show what they do best. Both courses were in outstanding condition and showcased exactly what Hermitage is all about—top-level golf and top-level experiences.
Heading into Wednesday and Thursday, both courses were set up exactly how we envisioned despite the heat and intense humidity. Our biggest concern was the forecast. We knew that if the weather cooperated, by the weekend both courses would be absolute fire.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans.
Thursday night, a large storm cell rolled through with high winds, lightning, and torrential rain. After inspecting the courses that evening, we determined we had received approximately 1.5 inches of rain along with scattered debris. Thankfully, nothing our team couldn't overcome with some ridiculously early start times Friday morning through the weekend. The crews did an unbelievable job cleaning everything up, mowing the courses, and having them ready for play.
Then Friday night brought another unwelcome surprise—an additional 0.5 inches of rain. Again, the crews answered the bell, getting everything mowed and prepared before golfers arrived.
Saturday night, however, was the knockout punch.
Another 1.5 inches of rain saturated both properties, leaving standing water throughout the fairways. Mowing fairways simply wasn't possible, but we were still able to mow tees and approaches while giving the greens a double cut and roll to maintain excellent playing conditions.
While the weather certainly didn't cooperate, we're incredibly proud of how our entire staff responded. Their hard work and dedication ensured the event was a success despite challenging conditions. It was an amazing week, and we're already looking forward to next year—hopefully with a little more sunshine and a lot less rain.
It was also great to see the membership rally behind such a fantastic event that truly showcases everything Hermitage has to offer. If you haven't already, be sure to check out The Valentine Invitational on Instagram. There is some awesome content from throughout the week that really captures the atmosphere and excitement of the event.
Before all of the Valentine preparations, we were also able to knock out a few improvement projects around the club, including removing several fans near #1 and #9 on Manakin and completing asphalt repairs on Sabot.
As always, there's no rest for the wicked.
Aeration Underway
Just one day after the final round of The Valentine, we transitioned directly into Sabot green aeration.
This process included pulling 1/4-inch cores, followed by a medium topdressing, light dragging, and applications of fungicide and nutrients.
In Ben's hand this week, you'll notice two very different plugs. One is healthy, while the other is anaerobic and showing signs of black layer. The unhealthy plug came from the front of #9 green, while the healthy plug was taken from the back of the same green near the fan.
It's a great visual reminder of just how important proper air movement, drainage, and moisture management are to maintaining healthy turf. Aeration allows us to introduce fresh oxygen into the soil profile after an extended stretch of hot, humid, and wet weather, creating a much healthier environment for new root development.
New Equipment Arrives
Finally, one of the most exciting deliveries of the season arrived this week—our new sprayers!
We're still waiting on one additional unit, but we're thrilled to have these machines on property. Our previous sprayers had certainly earned their retirement, and keeping them running had become a challenge. These new additions will improve efficiency, application accuracy, and reliability for years to come.
Looking Ahead
The forecast for this week looks absolutely mint.
Cooler nights, lower humidity, and beautiful daytime conditions mean we're heading into what many consider the best golf season of the year. After everything our staff accomplished over the past several months—and especially over the past week—we're excited to enjoy some outstanding playing conditions and continue building on the momentum from a memorable Valentine Invitational.
We look forward to seeing everyone out on the course.