Lightning Safety on the Golf Course

Recently I read an article in one of my trade magazines that dealt with lightning on the course.  It highlighted several cases from last year of golf course staff and golfers that were hit by lightning.  Some didn't survive.  With the season for rain and thunderstorms upon us, I feel it is a good time to reflect on some simple safety guidelines concerning lightning.

Lightning strike in the mountains

Every year more people are killed or injured by lightning than by tornados, floods, or hurricanes.  In fact, it is estimated that in the United States, as many as 300 people are killed by lightning each year.

 

Because golf courses are generally open areas with scattered individual trees, they can be a dangerous place to be during a thunderstorm.  A lightning bolt will take the shortest route between the cloud and the ground, which means that a golfer standing in the middle of the fairway or huddled under a tree is a prime target for a strike. 

Tree strike

However, there are several safety measures we can take to avoid being hit by lightning:

Ø  Use common sense

Ø  Seek shelter at the first sign of a thunderstorm

Ø  If possible, get off the course

Ø  Do not stand under a tree.  This is where most people are injured or killed

Ø  Stay away from water

Ø  Stay away from your golf clubs, these can act as lightning rods

Ø  If stranded in the open, go to a low place such as a ravine or valley

Ø  Listen for the safety alarm

Ø  Don’t take chances (you can play after the storm)

These are just a few safety measures we can all take during a thunderstorm.  The storms here in the mountains can appear quickly, and many times do not show on the radar.  Because of this, we must act quickly and use our common sense. We all want to see our friends and neighbors on the course the following day.  Also, please remember that all members are responsible for using their own judgment in seeking safe refuge during a storm.

Practice Tee Etiquette

Late July is usually the time when there is a lack of turf coverage on the practice range tee, since heavy play removes divots faster than the turf can recover.  While we have an efficient and effective tee rotation seeding plan, the small tee makes it very difficult to have thick turf during times of heavy play. However, there are a few things that you the player can do to help us have the best practice tee possible.

 

Please be efficient with your practice by keeping your divots as close together as possible. Take each shot from the back edge of the previous divot. Move back in a line until you have reached the back of your tee station. Repeat this process by making a new line of divots near the first. This will save the turf on the tee and leave more room for the next player(s).

New Hazard Markers

There will be a slightly different look around the course this year.  After about 12 years of the same plastic hazard markers, we have decided it was time to replace the markers with new ones that would better reflect the image of HFCC. 

New hazard marker.

Hazard markers after painting.

The new markers are made from mountain laurel branches cut from throughout the golf course.  The new markers fit in with natural surroundings while also being simple and elegant.  Best of all, they are unique to HFCC!  We are also making extra markers that will be painted green and used for traffic control.  My staff is making the markers during the times that we cannot work outside.

Hand painting a marker.

Mountain laurel hazard marker.

Course Projects Update 3/7/14

With this being one of the most cold and difficult winters in recent memory, we have had to make many changes to our winter project schedule.  While drainage projects were our #1 project, it is clear now that only hole #2 will be completed.  The ground has been frozen for the past 2 months leaving the trencher unable to dig.  Because of this we have refocused our efforts on other projects throughout the course.


Chestnut Cove before dredging

Chestnut Cove during dredging

Chestnut Cove after dredging

One of the most notable projects has been the dredging of all the lakes throughout the course.  We were fortunate enough to be able to rent a long arm excavator specifically designed for lake dredging.  Our staff spent three weeks digging out the lakes and moving the machine from one hole to another.  All of the dredge material was deposited next to the lakes so that it could "de-water" and then be relocated with our utility vehicles to other areas of the course.  This has been a much bigger project than originally envisioned because the lakes were much worse than anticipated.

Removal of dredge "trash"

Dredging the front of #10 green complex

 

#10 green complex ready for sod

We are nearly finished moving all of the dredge material to areas throughout the course where it is needed for tee enhancements.  The G&G committee approved adding a new red tee to hole #4, enlarging the white tee on #5, lengthening the gold tee on #11, and constructing a new gold tee on #17.  These projects are about 60% complete at this time. 

Construction of new red tee #4

Construction of new red tee #4

 Another major project that we have been working on is replacing the cross-tie wall at the gazebo on #15.  This has been a difficult project since we have to construct a new boulder wall around the gazebo without damaging it.  In addition to the wall, we will be constructing a new parking area and improving the landscaping.

Rock wall construction #15 gazebo

Rock wall construction #15 gazebo

In addition to the aforementioned projects, we have been busy on many smaller projects such as refurbishing course accessories, tree removal, landscaping and agronomic practices. 



Removal of tree stumps at #1 tee

  

 

 

 

Cushman Truckster Update

As I have stated in the past, part of what we do in the winter is repair and refurbish equipment.  With the cost of golf course equipment regularly exceeding that of a luxury car, making our equipment last as long as possible is very crucial.  I feel that you as members should know what the equipment costs and what we do to protect that investment.

Cushman being stripped down for refurbishment.

Three finished Cushman Trucksters

Our third Cushman truckster is now finished (we are currently working on a 4th one).  All have received engine and transmission servicing, new cables and hoses, new HEAVY DUTY dump beds, seats, bushings, custom front bumpers, in addition to new paint jobs.  As I have stated in the past, a new Cushman truckster costs around $20,000.  The cost to refurbish this equipment was about $4000 each, including labor.  Because of this project, I am happy to report that we have been able to save the club approximately $70,000 in new equipment costs!

Finished Cushman Truckster with custom front bumper.

So long as parts remain available, these refurbished vehicles will continue to serve the club for many more years.

Custom "Heavy Duty" dump bed

"Live" Video From The Croquet Facility

Over the past few years, I have received several requests to add a webcam to the golf course so that you could see HFCC while away during the winter.  I am happy to announce that we have installed a camera at the croquet facility for your enjoyment.

Site selection for the camera was challenging due to the fact that it was necessary to balance need, cost, and availability of utilities.  Any potential location had to have power AND an unobstructed view to the maintenance facility where there is access to web service and a computer.  While hole #9 would have been ideal, we could not get a strong enough signal from the camera for it to be reliable enough.  The croquet facility proved to be the only location that was cost effective, provided an unobstructed view, and had the necessary utilities.

The live feed is currently available only on my blog   However, Lynn is working to add the feed to the club's website.

2014 Golf Industry Show and Conference

Each year I am fortunate enough to attend the Golf Industry Show (GIS) which this year was held in Orlando.  The GIS is an annual conference that brings together golf course superintendents, owners, architects, and suppliers from all over the world. The conference features several days of educational seminars followed by the annual trade show.  I was able to take advantage of both the trade show and the educational opportunities.   The following is a brief synopsis of my week at the conference.

Seminar - Irrigation Components, Concepts and Controllers
While I have an extensive knowledge of irrigation systems I found this seminar to be a good refresher course.  We discussed basic aspects of installation, running, repairing and maintaining an irrigation system.  Additionally, we examined proper irrigation scheduling, precipitation rates and sprinkler uniformity, along with central control operation.

Seminar - Progressive Annual Bluegrass and Creeping Bentgrass Population Management
This was my favorite seminar of the week.  Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) is a major weed on greens and through this seminar I learned several ways to reduce Poa annua populations without using pesticides.  One method that was particularly interesting was by changing the set-up on our mowers.  This set-up weakens the Poa annua plant thus giving a competitive advantage to the bentgrass.

Irrigation seminar

Seminar - Practical and Professional Etiquette to Enhance Your Image
We discussed what factors are involved in making a great first impression and how it affects the way we network within the industry.  Additionally, we learned techniques in dealing with difficult people in various situations and how to deal with people that may not have the best professional etiquette.

Professional etiquette seminar

While walking the trade show floor, I met with the representatives of both Jacobsen and John Deere.  Since we are in the market for new equipment this year, these meetings proved to be very beneficial for HFCC.  While we have no deal yet, I am confident that both companies will work hard for the club's business.

Jacobsen booth at the GIS trade show.

Finally the best part of the show was the interaction with my peers.  The amount of knowledge that I gather from simply “talking turf” with the guys is immeasurable. I would like to thank everyone at HFCC for providing me the opportunity to participate in the GIS and for understanding the value in it. By attending the trade show and participating in the educational seminars, I have consistently been able to bring back useful information that has benefited the Club both in savings and efficiencies, not to mention the agronomic information that improves the course.

Hunter Irrigation ad featuring HFCC in the picture.