Grizzly on #18 Green

One of my goals has been to take pictures of wildlife while they are on the golf course.  I like to capturing a picture of the animal while highlighting the golf course.  I have always wanted to take a picture of a bear on one of our greens at Greywolf.  I have seen plenty of bears on the golf course, but never had the DSLR with me or the bear has never crossed one of our greens.

Tuesday July 17^th I was able to check the “bear on a green picture” goal off my goals list.  The best part is the bear was a Grizzly on our 18^th Green.   The Grizzly that we captured was first seen on the 6^th green by a staff member about to mow the green.   The Grizzly then moved across the 8^th green, through our parking lot, and onto the eighteenth hole.  The Grizzly was a mid-size bear and we estimated it to be about two years old.  The pictures in the slide show below are not great as it is challenging to get the camera settings correct, while you are hold bear bangers, diving a Gator, and trying to ensure guests and staff are safe.  To show you how fast a Grizzly can move I calculated it traveled an estimate .8 Km in about eight minutes through some challenging terrain.   From there the Grizzly moved across the eighteenth green where we used bear bangers to keep it moving and scare it off the golf course.  I wish everyone kept his pace of play.  

Grizzly on #18 Green at Greywolf

Bear Print in topdressing sand

Something you do not see on tee sheet every morning

Its A Guy Thing

One of the unique experiences about working at Greywolf and Panorama is that I get to run a Snow Cat in the winter.  I must admit it is not for the extra pay cheque.  The reason I do it could be chalked up to what I call a “guy thing.”  I get to crank the radio up while I drive a unique and large piece of equipment in a setting that is majestic.  It is peaceful when you are 15km from civilization surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery.  It is an experience that I would not have at most other golf courses.

 

Occasionally we even use the Snow Cat to assist us with snow removal on the golf course (click the link to see us clearing a green with the Snow Cat).

Removing Snow off of Nursery - April 20, 2012

On Friday we returned the Snow Cat to Mountain Operations after clearing our sod nursery of snow.  The following video was shot during the 2011/12 Nordic grooming season.  Hope it highlights why I do the job! 

Eight Weeks of Snow Removal

There has been one mission for the past eight and half weeks - snow removal.   It has been a long, slow frustrating process.  The snow removal process has involved the use of a skid steer, tractor, Snow Cat, and Toro Polar Trac snow blower.

Snow #9 Greens Surrounds April 2, 2012

There has been three goals with our snow removal program.  The first goal was to gain access to all of our greens by clearing paths to them.  This allows us to clear snow on the greens, gain access to our Green Jacket tarps system, as well as vent under the tarping system.

This year clearing paths was accomplished using a skid steer as well as our John Deere tractor.  These two pieces of equipment required snow chains on all four wheels. The skid steer is the primary vehicle for snow removal.  Because the cart paths are hard packed from Nordic skiing and venting operations, a bucket rather than a snow blower was used.  Our 55 HP John Deere tractor is used to clear paths on steep hills as the skid steer has problems with traction in these areas.  The process is slow and frustrating.  This is because chains break, machinery gets stuck regularly, and the large volume of snow impedes progress.  At times we have been digging through over four feet of snow and therefore, only able to clear 400 to 500 yards of path in one day.

Challenges with Traction #18 Cart Path April 2, 2012

Clearing Path to 13 Green March 26, 2012

Challenges with Tire Chains - March 26, 2012

Clearing the snow off the eight greens not protected by our Green Jacket Tarp system, was the second goal of our snow removal program.  The concern with these greens was the ice layer that formed in December and January.  We have been monitoring these greens throughout the winter and in late February some of our sample plugs caused us some concern.  Therefore we started clearing greens the first week in March.  Clearing snow on our greens has been accomplished through the use of Honda snow blowers and a Toro Polar Trac Snow Blower.  Some greens have been cleared four times since the process started in early March.  The following video link to Youtube highlights snow removal on Cliffhanger (#6) and Mooseback (#16) (sorry cannot embed clip due to music copyrights).

Initial Clearing of #9 Green with Toro Polar Trac - March 22, 2012 

Large amounts and continued snowfall in March necessitated the use of our Snow Cat on the fourth green (see video below).   First the Snow Cat was used to remove all but 6” to 12” of snow.  Then the Polar Trac was then used complete the clearing operations on four.

Clearing snow with Snow Cat - #4 Green - March 22, 2012

 The final goal of our snow removal program was to clear snow off slopes where large volumes of runoff form on green surfaces.  Greens such as number two and three are two examples of this scenario.  For these large areas our Snow Cat has been used to remove snow.  This is because it can move large volumes of snow over long distances in a short period of time.

Clearing snow around #3 Green - April 5, 2012

Yesterday was the final day of major snow clearing operations (I hope).  There are still tees and small areas of cart paths to clear but the majority of work is done.  There is still plenty of snow on the golf course, but Mother Nature will have to assist us in these areas.

 

I would like to thank Oakcreek Golf and Turf and Ryan Schultz for loaning us a Polar Trac snow blower.   They recognized our struggles with snow this year and stepped into help – Thanks.   

C Math Has Left the Building

On Friday I had to say farewell, good luck, and good bye to a colleague and good friend.  It was a sad day for me because it was Assistant Superintendent Colin Matheson’s last day at Greywolf. 

I have had the pleasure of working with Colin for nine years.  Colin and I started working together at the Golden Golf and Country Club in 2003.  At that time Colin was not in the turfgrass profession.  He was studying engineering at the University of Calgary.  Like myself and many others, Colin soon found that working outside and on a golf course was a passion.

Sprayer Calibration with Luzzane

One of my fondest memories about Colin was when he discussed dropping out of university and enrolling in Fairview Colleges Turfgrass program.  When he discussed changing the direction of his post secondary education with his parents, his mother phoned me to discuss what the career of a turfgrass professional entailed.  She wanted to know if there was work in the winter, if there were opportunities for a long term career, and wanted to ensure this was not some short term endeavor so Colin could play more golf.  I thought it showed great family support that Colin’s parents would inquire and follow up on a change in careers.   Colin went on to attend Fairview College and graduated at the top of his class with Distinction.

When I left Golden in 2007, I quickly approached Colin about working at Greywolf.  He started at Greywolf that spring as irrigation foreman.  In 2008, Colin earned the position of Assistant Superintendent because of his education, professionalism, and passion for the business.

Modelling Ladies Visors During Frost Delay

During the last five years at Greywolf, Colin has supported myself and worked tirelessly for Greywolf.   In the spring of 2009 and 2010 when Greywolf suffered devastating loses due to ice damage, Colin worked  relentlessly to get the course back into condition for our guests.   He could always be counted on to work the long (and cold) hours prepping the course for winter.  Colin understands that turf and weather do not know the calendar or a clock.  He is dedicated to his profession.

The time has come for change and Colin has moved onto the Olympic View Golf Course in Victoria BC as Assistant Superintendent.

Greywolf will miss Colin.  I will miss Colin.  I will miss him as a colleague and as friend.  I wish him all the  best.

Thanks and Respect

Clearing Greens of Slush

“Respect is earned not given" is one of the oldest management sayings.

After nine years with the Greywolf Golf Course, Chad Thomlinson has decided to leave for another opportunity.  He will be taking over as General Manger and Director of Golf at the Highwood Golf Club, in High River Alberta.  Chad spent nine years at Greywolf, one as Associate Professional and five as Head Professional.  In 2009, Chad earned the position of Director of Golf.

Delivering Sod to #8

Chad’s met the challenges that Greywolf presents head on.  He did this while supporting his team of managers, supervisors, and staff.  He fostered an environment where staff shared ideas, celebrated success, and resolved problems as a team.  There was no job that Chad would not do, whether it was working on the grease trap or constructing a float for a parade.  He worked with and alongside the staff.   I personally will not forget the support Chad gave me when there were challenges with our greens in 2009.  He earned my respect then and continued to earn it every day we worked together.

Managers Winter Meeting & Product Testing

I wish Chad, Lori, Ruby and Mable all the best in their new endeavor.

Thanks Chad. 

My Year in Social Media

It has been a little over a year since I started this blog.  In that year I have become a social media convert.   I was thinking of this fact as I was sending tweets from a social media seminar at the 2012 Canadian International Turfgrass Conference in Calgary.

I first started this blog after seeing a colleague’s blog (Tim Foley at the Kimberly Golf Club).  I thought starting a blog would be a good way to begin a conversation about what goes on behind the scenes in our turfcare department.  It would inform members and guests about our maintenance practices.   I could clearly see the utility of writing a blog.

After one year the end results are favourable (In my opinion, and blogs are usually about opinions).  This blog is cheap and easy way to communicate with Greywolf’s guests.   I would encourage all superintendents to start a blog, especially if you are at a club with a membership.  You can incorporate pictures, video, web links, and voice clips into your blog.  It is instantaneous, timely, and free depending on your blogging platform.  If you are writing a newsletter you are essentially blogging anyway, so why not go digital. 

An Experiment in Ice Removal

Sorry for the length and delay of this post.  It has been a busy time at the golf course.  Yes, we do get busy in winter!  There are only three of us on staff through the winter and there is a lot to do.  While writing this I also discovered there is need for a few other blog posts relating to why we aerate late in the season, why ice build up on greens is worrisome, and what keeps the Turfcare Department busy in the winter.  But in order to shorten an already long blog post, I will try to get around to these topics in the New Year.

Ice formation on the surface of greens is never good and my collective experience with ice at Greywolf has not been positive.  As I reported previously, we have a thin layer of ice that has formed on our untarped greens (8 of our 19 greens).  The ice layer formed as the result of two rain events in late November and early December.  The ice varies between 3mm and 6mm in thickness.  Although not very thick, I believed ice covers most of the surfaces on our untarped greens.  I believed this because after each rain event we went out and dug snow pits on the greens in order to examine the turf.  We also pulled out a few turf samples to measure the thickness of the ice (See my last two posts).

On December 7^th we undertook an experiment to see if we could clear the ice from the surface of the 10^th green. The goal was to clear the ice and not cause any damage to the turf.  Another goal was to see if our sampling program was correct in predicting the amount of ice coverage on the untarped greens.    

Assistant Superintendent Colin Matheson starting snow removal

Snow Removal on 10

More Rain = More Ice

More rain equals more ice.  Not the most earth shattering statement.

More rain fell on the golf course on Sunday and Monday.  The rain resulted in an ice layer covering the surface of all eight untarped greens.   When I wrote my last post a week ago there were only three greens with an ice layer. 

The ice on the greens varies in thickness from 3mm (.11”) to 5mm (.19”).  The grass crowns are completely covered on all eight greens and only 20% of the leaf tips are protruding through the ice.  The ice on the greens is clear and very difficult to visually detect.   When the snow is removed, we can still see the aeration holes on the greens and the surface appears to have very little ice accumulation.  It is not until you place your hand on the surface of the greens or take a sample out of the greens, that the ice layer can be detected.  We took samples out of three greens so we could measure ice thickness at the shop.  I have included a video update and a few pictures.

3 mm Ice Thickness #4 Green

Ice Sample from #15 Green

The question is -- how should we deal with the ice?  There are two choices - remove the ice now or monitor turf health and ice levels and remove the ice in early spring.  None of the choices are good. 

Light Up Parade

Saturday was Invermere’s annual Light Up Parade.  The Greywolf crew were in charge of constructing this year’s float.  We went with a village-in-mountain theme.   The float managed to capture third in the float judging competition.   Best part about the small town parades is all the ribbons say first.  So we are telling everyone we finished first in the village in the mountain category!

There were a lot of people who helped.  Thanks to all and a special thanks to Chad, Colin, Shevonne, and Talia as well as the rest of the staff who participated in the parade. 

The Christmas and ski season is upon us.


Enjoy!

The Things That Keep Me Up At Night

There are two things I worry about in the winter --- snow mold and the formation of ice on our turf.  Ice is never good for a golf course.  

On Monday Greywolf was blanketed by another deep snow fall, the second heavy snowfall of the winter.  By Monday evening there was 41 cm (16") of settled snow on the golf course.  But on Monday night the warm weather caused rain instead of snow.  I estimate that from Monday night through until Tuesday night over 3 cm (1”) of rain fell on the golf course.  By Wednesday morning the rain and warmer temperatures caused the snow to settle to the 27 cm (11”) mark at the shop. 

35 cm (14") of Snow on #4 Green

Thursday and Friday we began to inspect all eight of our untarped greens.  We inspected these greens for ice and snow depth.  The snow depth on the greens ranges from 27 cm (11”) on the lower holes to 35 cm (14”) on the upper holes.  The forth and tenth greens had a thin layer of sheet ice which is a concern.  The sixth green had some ice formation.  The remaining untarped greens showed little to no ice build up.  This was surprising.  The following video was shot while I inspected the sixth green, Cliffhanger.  Apologies for the rough quality of the video and audio.  There was a lot of wind as a storm moved in. 

Tarp Time Lapse and Explanation

I have been a little late in adding this post to the blog. The tarp crew, consisting of seven to ten staff this fall, installed all 11 Green Jacket tarps from October 24 to October 30.  If weather conditions are right, the tarps can be installed in three days.  But frost and poor weather prolonged the installation this year.

The following video shows the tarp installation process. It is a time lapse of the tarp installation on #2 and #12 greens this year. The second video, put together in 2010, details the tarp installation process and was put together for our ownership group, members, and guests.

The 2011 Tarp Crew

Golf Course Superintendent Delivers His Own Son

The forces of nature define the job of golf course superintendents and the ability to improvise, adapt, and react is what makes a successful superintendent.  Tom Altmann, superintendent at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and former superintendent at Greywolf, knows these facts apply not only to our jobs but more importantly to life. 

On October 8^th Tom and his wife Melissa had to adapt to the forces of nature, when they delivered their son, Logan, in the cab of their pickup truck.

 The story is best told by Tom and Melissa and has been highlighted in the local paper (The Columbia Valley Pioneer) and CBC radio (Hit the link to CBC radio to hear Tom and Melissa tell the story). 

The story starts with Melissa expecting to deliver on November 11^th.   But five weeks before their due date, Tom and Melissa were camping.  It was October 8^th and the couple’s wedding anniversary.  Melissa started to feel some mild contractions but thought it was false labour.  To be safe the couple decided to go to the local hospital in Invermere. 
 

Greywolf’s Own Video Auteur

Dan Kytic is Greywolf’s and Panorama’s own amateur cinematographer.  His work continues to improve with each new video.  One of his most recent works can be seen in the YouTube video that is attached.  This video has over 77 separate shots taken during the fall of 2011.  I am particularly fond of the shots of the greens mowers and rollers at the start of the video, but I am somewhat biased.

A New Addition to the Crew - Mulligan

Usually at this time of year golf course across Canada are reducing the size of their crews.  This is no different for the Greywolf Turfcare Department.  The seasonal staff are now gone, remaining senior staff are finishing up last minute outdoor jobs, and the snow is now falling (these facts also mean I can get back to regular blog posts!).

But there has been a recent addition to the Greywolf Turfcare crew.  A couple of weeks ago I adopted a new dog from a rescue organization called Global Animal Lovers (GAL’s for short).  After much debate amongst my nieces and nephews as well as the crew, the name Mulligan or Mulli for short was settled upon.  I personally wanted to name her Fore – just so I could yell it out on the golf course and watch the reaction of golfers!  Common sense prevailed.

Mulli on Cliffhanger

Dead or Alive

Tabled, prorogued, “dead on paper” – these are terms I have been trying to understand over the last few weeks.  All of these terms have been used to describe Bill M-203 – the “Cosmetic Pesticide” bill before the BC Legislature.  No matter which term is used, they all mean the same thing.  Bill M-203 will very shortly die as a point of procedure in the B.C. legislature.

So is the issue of pesticide legislation in BC dead or alive?  The issue of pesticides in B.C. will not end with the bill “dying on paper.”  The special committee that was struck to study pesticides usage in B.C., as a result of the introduction of Bill M-203, will move forward.  The committee will resume meetings in the next few weeks.  The committee could simply re-introduce Bill M-203.  All indications are they will study the issue, hold public consultations, and look at other legislation from across Canada.  Then, a new pesticide bill will be introduced.   This could happen as early as this falls sitting of the legislator.  Most likely it will occur during the spring 2012 session of the legislature.   

54 Days Without A Frost Delay - New Record

Yesterday we had the first frost delay of late summer, a 1.5 hour delay that caught everyone but Greywolf staff off guard.  August 16th is late for our first frost of the summer.

I was just discussing with a few members and staff that the summer of 2011 has seen a period of 54 days without a frost delay (The last delay was on June 24th).  That is the longest period without a frost delay in the last five years.  There has been frost during these 54 days, but the turfcare team has been able to move around the frost without delaying tee times.  In fact, July was the first calendar month, in my five seasons, at Greywolf where there was not a frost delay.   (I fondly remember the nearly two hour delay on Canada Day in 2009!)

Frost on Turf

A couple of other weather and frost notes:

• Last night the temperature was 1.3 ^oC.  Above freezing with the humidity and other weather factors, frost set up on the turf canopy.

• As a general rule, the turfcare crew scouts the golf course for frost whenever the temperature gets lower than 4 ^oC at night.

• This summer, the high temperature has not broken 30 ^oC at Greywolf. Our highest recorded temperature has been 28.3 ^oC on July 7th.  Although there is still lots of summer left!

I will try to write another post soon about why it is essential to stay off frost and the damaged caused by walking on turf that is covered with frost.

Until then, lets hope we see another 54 days without frost!

Moose on #14 and #15

Yesterday we had a moose on the golf course.  It was first sighted in the pond on #11, moved over to the pond on #15 and then crossed the green on #14. The irrigation was off the night before, and the green was firm when the cow walked across.   Luckily there was no damage.

Approaching 14 Green

Injured Coyote???

Over the past few months I have had a few calls about a coyote with an injured paw on the golf course.  The coyote’s front left leg seems to have sustained an injury or there was some kind of abnormality at birth.  The coyote was first noticed in the spring when we were removing the tarp off of thirteen green and has been seen around the golf course several times since the spring.  Yesterday he was seen on the seventh fairway.

The following is some blurry and choppy video shot of him around the golf course.  He runs with a limp.  You may also be able to notice his paw is permanently bent at a 90 degree angle.  Besides being a little braver and a little slower than a normal coyote there is no need for concern.  He is very healthy, has good mobility, and has never had an encounter with a golfer.  The video clip shows the coyote’s ability to climb up a rock and cross creeks.  I am encouraging him to stay and hunt as many gophers as he wants!

Politics and Golf

A little over a week ago I met with my local Member of the Legislature Assembly (MLA), Norm MacDonald, at Greywolf.  I invited Mr. MacDonald to Greywolf to discuss the implications of Bill M 203 in British Columbia.  The bill is currently before a special committee of the legislature.  The bill will ban all pesticides in the turf industry including those used on golf courses.   Putting greens on golf courses would be exempt for five years.  After five years no pesticides will be allowed on any areas on golf courses. 

During Mr. MacDonald’s visit I took the opportunity to discuss the benefits of the game of golf.  The fact that:

·         golf is played by 15% more people than the game of hockey in Canada

·         over 800,000 Canadians from outside B.C. come to B.C. to play golf (2009)

·         over one million visitors from the U.S. play the game of golf in B.C. (2009)

·         golf brings in 82 million dollars into the economy in the Kootenay region.

·         golf makes up 6% of all travel and tourism spending in the Kootenay region

·         60% of all visitors in the Kootenay region come from Alberta

I also discussed the need for plant protectants at Greywolf and in the turf industry in B.C.  If Bill M 203 becomes law, it will devastate the golf industry.  The first winter after this bill becomes law, the fairways and tees at Greywolf and many other clubs will be killed due to snow mould.  This means golf courses in B.C. will not be able to survive or compete with golf course in Alberta, Montana, Idaho and Washington. 

Results of No Fungicides in Control Plot at Greywolf

100% Mortality on turf not sprayed by fungicides

Mr. MacDonald, Assistant Superintendent Colin Matheson, and I toured Greywolf and discussed the fact that there are eight full time jobs and 60 season jobs that would be at risk if Bill M 203 were passed.  Also millions of dollars in direct and indirect spending and taxation would be gone from the community and government coffers.  Business taxes, property taxes, HST revenues, personnel taxes and revenues from “spin off” spending from golf courses would be eliminated.  Also money raised for charities by Greywolf would also be eliminated.

Mr. MacDonald’s visit also showed how well organized and well funded the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has become.  It is a professional political lobby group that excels at fundraising and crafting a political message.  Unfortunately it does not have the scientific research or studies to prove that pesticides cause cancer.  It does however have an emotional argument.  We discussed this and the fact that the majority of products used in the golf industry were developed for the agriculture industry and that they are stringently tested by over 300 scientists at Health Canada.  Golf courses use pesticides that are essential and not “cosmetic.”  The exclusion of the agricultural industry from this bill is a sign that those opposed to pesticides cannot prove their argument through the use of scientific fact.  If pesticides cause cancer would it not be prudent for the CCS to lobby the government to eliminate pesticides in agriculture crops before eliminating them on turfgrass? 

The golf industry must have a voice in the pesticide debate.  The emotional argument that has been used by the other side of the debate must be countered with scientific fact and the economic impacts of this bill. 

Being at the forefront of political debates is not what most superintendents enjoy.  Most superintendents would prefer to avoid the political arena.  But it is time for superintendents to take a more active role in local and provincial politics in British Columbia.  I encourage all superintendents in B.C. to invite their local politicians and MLA’s to tour their golf course facilities.  Use the opportunity to discuss the implications of Bill M 203 and demonstrate the environmental and economic benefits of their golf courses.    

Movie in the Mountains

Last night Greywolf hosted our first ever "Movie in the Mountains."  A unique experience for guests, members, and staff.  Rango was the feature presentation.   The movie was put on by Fresh Air Cinema.  The only cost for those who participated was a donation to Panorama Fire Department’s charity - Muscular Dystrophy Canada.   An estimated 400 guests took part.  Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and twenty minutes into the show a thunder storm blew in causing the cancellation of the event.  With the great turn out we will definitely be trying another movie night in the not too distant future.

Movie Screen next to first tee.

Movie screen being inflated