Managing For Playability

Here is a link to a great short video that explains the move toward managing the golf course for playability rather than purely for looks.

http://www.gcsaa.tv/view.php?id=321

Winter Has Arrived

It looks like winter is here in full force. We've seen rain totals of almost 3" over the past five days, and we are well ahead of our normal rainfall amounts so far for the year. Along with the rain, record low temperatures are being forecasted over the next several days. As usual, our staff will be doing everything that they can to keep the golf course conditioned at the highest level possible; however, certain operations will be limited due to the inclement weather.

Hey, Where'd You Goat...

With unusually warm fall temperatures, we apologize to those of you who have been anxiously awaiting an update on the goat project.  We have been very busy keeping course conditions optimal despite the late season growth surge.  The herd of brush goats is still on property, still munching through years of overgrowth.  As has been mentioned before, it is truly amazing what they have accomplished and pictures cannot due the project full justice.  Over the past several weeks, the goats have been busy working on the canyons parallel to the 13th, 14th, and 16th fairways.  It is interesting to note that many of our members did not realize that a significant canyon separated the 13th and 14th fairways.  It was so overgrown that most people thought it was a grove of trees.  Likewise, most people did not realize the depth of the canyon that can now be seen from the 16th tee.  Many projects in the golf industry require patience, this one has been one of the few that offers instant gratification, and a dramatic change to the appearance of the course.  Just as important, there is more air movement and more sunlight reaching these areas that during previous winter periods were shady and wet.

View from the 13th Tee looking into overgrown canyon

Current view from the 13th Tee with the 16th Fairway now in view

View from the 16th Tee prior to the arrival of goats

Current view from the 16th tee.  Amazing change to this area of the golf course in which air and sun moving through have created a much more dramatic landscape!

Thanks to Our Excellent Staff for a Great Season!

I just wanted to take some time to acknowledge our outstanding maintenance staff. This has been a long year that has been full of challenges and transitions. Most of our staff has been here for over fifteen years, and they are all professionals at what they do. They take a lot of pride in doing their best to provide our players with outstanding playing conditions on a daily basis. If you see them on the golf course please take time to acknowledge them, and thank them for their many years of service and hard work at Pasatiempo.

Way to Goat!

As our maintenance crew aerified fairways, tees, and approaches over the past two weeks, our other "crew" has been diligently working on restoring the rugged look to the canyon below the 10th tee.  Although pictures document the work being done, it is hard to describe just how much overgrowth the goats cleared out in less than two weeks.  Amazing!

View from the 10th Tee on Friday - October - 8th

View from the 10th Tee on Thursday - October - 21st

View from the front of the 10th fairway looking back toward the tee

The Brush is Greener on the Other Side of the Fence

The goats were excited to work in the 18th canyon and the difference it has made is stunning.  Now the real work begins as the remaining canyon sites are loaded with years of lush green overgrowth.  We have been pushing these guys to eat as much as possible on 18, but they knew was was lurking on the other side of the fence and so to the 10th they go...

Very excited herd of goats ready to tackle the 10th Tee canyon

Just in Case You Missed it...

18th Canyon prior to the arrival of the brush goats

Last Friday our new workforce finished their work on the canyon near the 17th green and 18th tee.  It is quite a sight to see the progress on a daily basis and probably even more impressive to see the before and after.

18th canyon as it looks now