Welcome to the B.D.M. Grounds and Greens Blog

Fall Happenings

2011-10-13T13:06:00.000-05:00

The weather this fall has been wonderful. Unfortunately, as I write this rain is coming down and the forecast is looking to be a lot cooler than the previous few weeks. The cart path work is coming along nicely. Half of the paving is complete with the rest to be finished as the weather allows. Along with the path work 3 new bridges where constructed on holes #9, 11, and 16. The next month will be very busy for the grounds staff with winter just around the corner many different tasks need to be done to the course. Enjoy the last few rounds of the season!

Hole #11 looking at the tee. The path on the fairway side was raised 1 ft. to keep it above water after flooding.

# 16 path was raised 10 in. on both sides and some path added to go up the hill.

This is the new bridge on #11 designed and constructed by the staff.

What a Spring!

2011-04-22T10:52:00.003-05:00

Hello to all I hope everyone had a great winter. Warmer temps are coming I can feel it. The course came out of winter in good condition. The spring so far, as all are aware, has been very cold and wet. The past snow storm on the 19th dumped 9.5" of the very wet heavy variety of snow. This caused extensive tree damage on the pine, spruce, and cedar species. Twelve trees were completely destroyed with many others in question once the hanging limbs are taken out.

Cedar on # 17 severely damaged.

Austrian Pine in #11 & #17 landscape area.

Unfortunately the tree issue is not the main problem. The amount of moisture that we have received so far this spring, along with the snow melt has made the soil saturated. The creek level is very high and is starting to back up on #1 and the green side of #4. We are on a day to day basis as to when the course will reopen.

# 4 Sewer Pipe

2011-01-31T10:38:00.000-06:00

Earlier this month the town of Grand Chute in conjunction with Immel excavating and Waas boring removed the sewer pipe that crossed the creek on #4. This project took them just over a week to complete. The new line is made up of a 10" and 6" HDPE pipe that was bore under the creek. It uses the concept of a syphon to make it flow. The project caused some minor damage to the rough areas on both sides of the creek that will need to be tended to in the spring. I can't wait until spring to see the creek without the eye sore of a pipe going across it. Go Pack!!!

Major Melting

2011-01-03T09:53:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! I hope all had a safe and enjoyable time this past weekend. Unfortunately the snow cover did not fair so well. Due to the melting of snow the cross country trail is closed along with the hills for sledding. As soon as we receive substantial snow fall, we will reopen the trail and the hills. Only a few months until the golf season!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T10:34:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season. Just a couple of winter items to pass along. The cross country trail is open. There are two loops that go around the course. One goes around the entire course and the other is a much shorter loop, which heads down the range, then goes behind #17 green on it's way down #10 back towards the club house. Please stay on the trails. Snow shoeing and sledding are a couple of other fun winter actives to take advantage of at you club this winter season. The wildlife on the course is always the most active this time of year. Deer along with fox, hawks, and an occasional bald eagle are very possible to see roaming the property. This beautiful 142 acres of winter beauty are for you to enjoy I hope to see you out there as we do are tree work these next few months.

Fall Happenings

2010-10-19T06:33:00.000-05:00

What a year! I hope you all are enjoying the great fall golf weather. First, a little recap on the year. From June 1 until August 31 we received 26 inches of rain. That caused the property to flood 12 times. We did receive turf damage on #6, 13, and 16 fairways. The damaged areas have been seeded and are coming back on a decent pace. Next spring we may have to sod some of the areas to speed up the recovery. I must give some major kudos to my staff they did an amazing job, with all the clean up on top of keeping the course in a playing state, this was no easy task. Due to all the moisture turf disease was also a huge problem. Spraying became the norm with disease severity resembling the St. Louis area instead of northeastern Wisconsin. That all being said we kept the place alive and now that the weather has been ideal since early September the place is looking great.
Second, the rest of October and into November a couple cultural practices and projects will be completed. The forward tee on #4 has been completed and will open up in the spring. Also on #4 our irrigation will be rerouted due to the town of Grand Chute removing the sewer pipe this winter coming up. Currently the green collars are being core aerified along with # 7 and 14 greens. Also coming up all the greens will be deep tine aerified.
That is about it I hope to see you all out the remainder of the fall.

Not Good!

2010-06-22T06:04:00.000-05:00

The rain will not give up. I looked at the rain gauge this morning and couldn't believe what I was seeing. The course received another 1.25" of rain on saturated ground. The two creeks flooded badly last night. Standing water and debris are all over parts of #4 the bottom of 6, 7 and 12 and 13 along the big creek. Along the small creek #1, parts of 9 and 10,11, and 16 were badly littered with debris and flooded. The pictures really tell the story!

Rain, Rain go away!

2010-06-12T07:01:00.000-05:00

When it rains it pours. That saying has been around forever with good reason it seems to be true. The course is extremely wet today. There will be no carts let out today. On Friday we received 1.25" in 4 hours. In the past week we have received 3.75" and in the last 6 weeks we have received 10.5". Yesterday the course flooded for the 5th time this spring that is not a record but is getting close. We usually flood 3-5 times a year. Due to all the rain the greens will be very soft for the next few days and the green speeds will be slower than usual.

It is not winter anymore !

2010-05-24T21:09:00.000-05:00

I was informed today that the BDM maintenance blog is on the clubs website and ready for viewing. Today being 90 is a far cry from the last post I put up back in February. In the up coming days and weeks when important information arises I will post pictures and messages to keep the membership as informed as possible. What a great golf season we have had so far. The course has come out of winter looking great. We have been mowing the greens at their summer heights for a couple of weeks now. In the next couple of weeks the annual flowers will be added to their usual spots.
The landscaping project was completed around the pool and clubhouse in early May. The addition has been starting to get established. I am looking forward to seeing it mature over the next few years. It will be a great addition to the BDM character.
Till next time hit 'em long and straight!

Sparty's Birthday

2010-02-09T13:54:00.000-06:00

Sparty turned one year old on February 5th. He has been a great addition to the grounds and greens staff. The geese want nothing to do with him. Squirrels and possums run scared. I am looking forward to see him in action this spring.

Winter's hold remains

2010-02-09T09:28:00.000-06:00

# 1 green looking from #2 fairway
The beautiful 5th.

Two monster buck in the velvet.

Hello and welcome to the inaugural post of BDM Maintenance. Communication being at an absolute must, and technology being such a great tool myself and my assistant Tim have decided to give this a try. Our goal is to keep the membership as current as possible on changes to course conditions and turf cultural practices which change on a regular basis throughout the year.
As I look out my window the snow continues to fall here in early February. However, spring is fast approaching. What a great feeling the golf season is just around the corner. The grounds and greens department is itching to get out on the course and start manicuring your course for the 2010 golf season. I hope all of you have had a great winter and here's to a great golf season.