Man these greens are fast...

 Monday started with some sod prep and dead tree removal around the Club and on Sabot #9. We still have a few more trees to take care of over the next several weeks, including Sabot #2 and #3 and Manakin #2, just to name a few. The team hammered out quite a bit of work before the noon shotgun, so it was a productive start to the week.

Fall is definitely in the air! We’ve had a few nights in the 40s this week, and the bermudagrass has noticeably slowed down. In fact, we mowed fairways for the first time this week today as we prepared for the Senior Member-Guest.  Quite a change from the 3-4 mows a week we were on not too long ago. As we transition into fall, we’ve raised the height of cut and reduced mowing frequency to help put the bermudagrass in the best possible position heading into winter.

There isn’t much time left for these warm-season grasses to grow and build the strength they need to withstand the traffic that comes with perfect fall golf weather and a busy tee sheet. Every bit of growth and recovery matters this time of year. Our goal is to do everything we can to help the turf enter dormancy as healthy and strong as possible and minimize the potential for winter injury. Sometimes, doing less is actually doing more!

Speaking of fall… these greens!! This is bentgrass season, and our putting surfaces are loving it. Soil temperatures are still warm enough to keep the bentgrass healthy and actively growing, but we’re finally getting a break from the environmental stresses that a typical Richmond summer throws at us. The greens are absolutely glassy right now!

Getting ready for the Senior Member-Guest, we had Sabot rolling at 13 feet on the Stimpmeter, with Manakin just a touch below that. They’re in really good shape right now — quick, receptive, and healthy. Would a nice windy day help firm things up a little more? Absolutely. But beggars can’t be choosers, and we’ll take these conditions all day long!

The wildlife has been putting on a show around both courses, too. Deer are everywhere, stuffing their faces with the bumper crop of acorns we have this year. The ducks are starting to show up in bigger numbers, and every now and then, you’ll spot an occasional “nope rope” sunning itself on a rock along the Sabot creeks. Just another reminder that we share these beautiful properties with a few other residents!

On the golf industry side of things, The Federal Club is hosting the Korn Ferry Tour Championship this week. We’ve had a few guys over there each morning, with some making evening trips as well. It’s a great opportunity to get our team some tournament-preparation experience while lending a hand to our neighbors and colleagues. We’re fortunate to have so many fantastic golf facilities in the Richmond area, and it’s always good to see everyone working together to showcase what this market has to offer.

Enjoy this stretch of fantastic fall weather, take advantage of those beautiful playing conditions, and keep an eye on the forecast. Hopefully, the tropical system moving through the Gulf stays relatively mild by the time it makes its way toward us on Sunday. We’ll gladly take a little rain if we need it, but we certainly don’t need any more excitement from Mother Nature!

Herm is shining, the Browns are 3-1 and leading the AFC North, VT is looking good, and the Buckeyes are rolling. To top it all off, Graham and Yancey advanced to the VGCSA match play finals at Kinloch with a victory today that went to extra holes at Spring Creek against the Farmington boys! Life is good. See you on the course!