If it is not Rain, it is Wind

For a second consecutive day, Mother Nature is not cooperating with your desire as members to play golf.  Last evening's gusts and today's sustained high winds have not made for favorable golfing conditions.  The course is littered with tree debris and several trees have fallen victim to the recent rains and wrath of the current wind.

Back right of #3 green

Back left of #1 green

Left side #16 fairway tee shot

Shade and our Putting Green

The images below depict the volume of shade that our southern most Practice Putting Green receives throughout the day.

7:45 am

10:45 am

11:45 am

12:45 pm

1:45 pm

2:45 pm

Reducing Expenses

USGA- A Guide for Green Committee Members

An informative guide to being a member of a Green Committee, courtesy of the USGA:

To open or download a PDF copy, either click here or on the image above

Open for play

After 13.68" of total precipitation over the past seven days, we opened for play today at 9 a.m. for walkers and 12:00 noon for carts.  The course drained remarkably well given the volume of moisture that had fallen on the region.  We spent a majority of the day cleaning up fallen tree debris, pumping out bunkers, and cutting greens and fairways.  My hat is off to the crew for their hard work today.

Rain... rain... go away

The course is closed today due to heavy rains (.80" by noon).  The course received 5.3" of rain in the past twenty-four hours, which brings the moisture total to 8.48" for the past week.  (Wednesday- .38", Friday thru Sunday- 3.6")   

Let there be Light

The east side tennis court lighting is finally operational again for those of you that enjoy hitting the "yellow ball" back and forth as much as you enjoy striking the "white ball".

"Black Friday"

The photos below depict the physical evidence of damage resulting from foot and golf cart traffic on previously frosted turf.  The "black markings" are the signs of damaged plant cells within the leaf tissue.  When the temperatures are low enough to freeze the intercellular liquids within the plant, the plant is vulnerable to piercing damage when traffic is present.  Please respect your golf course and remain off of turgrass when frost is present.   

The First Cut & Opening Preparation

Freshening up the Hardware

The second week of closure has allowed us the opportunity to clean, repaint, varnish, and "freshen" up the course supplies in preparation for the upcoming "winter season".  The tee markers look brand new after a light sanding and quick coat of fresh paint.  The sand trap rakes and divot boxes are next on the agenda with tree pruning continuing as usual. 

Overseeding Day 12

Day 12-


Seedling growth and fertilization application to promote more:

Overseeding Day 10

Day 10-


The weekend of sustained higher than average temperatures and wind has passed and we are starting to see germination in multiple areas.


The frequent irrigation cycles provide moisture to soften the seed coating/shell which begins the first stage of germination.  This volume of water in turn activates an enzyme within the seed, respiration increases, and plant cells duplicate.  When the embryo reaches a certain size the seed coat splits open allowing for the immature plant to emerge.  The root tip is the first thing to emerge, allowing the embryo to absorb water and nutrients from the surrounding soil or medium.

Tidying up the Skeet Range

For those of you that may not be aware, Arrowhead Country Club is one of the few private facilities in the country that maintains a Skeet/Target Shooting Range.  The facility is located off of 40th Street, just Northeast of the Club.  From Valencia, travel north to 40th, then east.  The entrance will be the first left turn that you can make just prior to the wash.  The facility offers a Skeet field and two trap fields and is open on Sundays from 9:00 am to noon or later, depending on volume and activity.


During the closure for overseeding the course, we spent a few man hours catching up on pruning the trees and tidying the area up for the fall season.