All weather patterns are difficult to predict, but Michigan weather takes the cake. Supposedly one of the colder states, Michigan just endured a very mild winter with below normal snowfall. In fact, the previous 12 months have seen record breaking weather as well.
Rainfall events by month are well over the average, along with temperatures. The winter of 2011-12 was the 6th warmest on record and the 4th out of 111 recorded that did not see consistent frost. We hope that this pattern does not continue, golf course playability and agronomic health suffer when high temperatures, humidity and rain combine. A cool to warm season with average rainfall would be a welcomed relief.
Unpredictable weather is as certain as life, death and taxes. Not as certain, was the general health of the covered greens. The winter covers are designed to protect the turf from extreme cold temperatures, ice and heavy snowfall. The concern being that the mild winter would lead to intensive microbe activity. Decomposition releases toxic gases, that if contained by say...a cover, could lead to turf injury. However, the "bubble wrap" kept air flowing near the green surface and the covers themselves actually insulated the turf and soil from warming up to the point of concern.
Late fall aerification, a cultural practice implemented for the first time last year, seems to be yielding promising results. No spring aerfication will be necessary (we hope the members are as excited about that as we are) and besides a small amount of recovery time and slight bumpiness, the greens are in good shape and health. The crew also installed drain tiles on the 14th green (over 1800 feet of tile) and re-grassed 8 different green complexes. The new grass will benefit both playability and aesthetics.
Out of an odd 125 acres at Meadowbrook, 122.3 of them are not greens. While those 2.7 acres see the most action, other parts of the course sought our attention as well. The pond off the 1st fairway was cleaned and the remaining geo-bag full of pond muck and silt will be shaped and seeded this spring. The extensively damaged Austrian pines between the 12th green and 13th tee were removed and replaced with 25 foot white pines, beautiful specimens.
I walked the entire 18 the other day and was very impressed. From tee to green, I saw little evidence of turf injury, a great way to start the 2012 golf season, I rate the golf course coming out of winter with an A- .
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