Fall Means Leaves and More Leaves

 

Fall Sunrise on #5 Farm Course

Fall Leaves

While the leaves started falling several weeks ago, going forward there will be days where they will blanket the courses.  For the next 6-8 weeks the staff on both courses will spend the vast majority of their time cleaning leaves from the playing areas in an effort to make the courses playable and to ensure everyone's round is more enjoyable.  There will be times when Mother Nature simply does not cooperate with our efforts, and we simply lose the short-term battle.  This week's cold front, where rain is in the forecast followed by winds blowing10-20 MPH, will be a good example of a time we will likely get well behind. This is a good time of the year for your group to consider a Leaf Rule before teeing off.  Most people utilize a leaf rule when a ball is seen going into an area heavy in leaves, and upon searching the area when the ball cannot be found, they are then allowed to take a free drop in that same area.  

Stately Tree Had to Come Down

#8 Irving Park Willow Oak Split

The large Willow Oak behind #8 green on the Irving Park course recently formed a huge split at the top of the primary trunk all the way to the base of the tree.  This was one of the bigger trees on the property with a canopy that stretched nearly 100 feet across.  Due to the immense canopy and the severity of the crack the tree posed a severe threat to anyone's safety that found themselves in close proximity to the damaged tree.  Once the split was identified the holes on that part of the course were closed and a tree service was called in the next day to remove the tree.  There is a large area beneath the now removed tree that was mulch and will be temporarily seeded for the winter months and will be sodded next spring.  We deferred sodding warm season grasses this time of the year because these types of grasses would be subject to winter damage as they will not have time to establish any type of root system. 

Farm Tough Day November 4 

One doesn't have to search the internet too hard to find some really creative Tough Day setups.  Some might even say hateful.  Our tough day is more focused on pure golf without any of the extra distractions.  Pins are guaranteed to be challenging, but playable.  The weather forecast on Saturday looks to be great, so for those of you who want a really good test of your skills be sure to sign up for this year's Tough Day on the Farm course.