Want to know more about your landscape and how to prune it?

Florida Golf Day...Spreading the word

Today is Florida Golf Day. As the President of the Florida Golf Course Superintendent's Association I am in Tallahassee meeting with legislators and governmental agency heads to lobby on golf's behalf. Have you ever wondered how big golf is in Florida?  Golf's economic engine generates $8.3 billion dollars directly, and over $11 billion indirectly, while providing 132,000 jobs across the state. 

The group of people I'm with today includes representatives from the World Golf Foundation, the PGA tour, the LPGA tour, the Florida Club Manager's Association, the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Florida State Golf Assiciation, the PGA  of America, and the Golf Course Superintendent's Association of America. Collectively we have formed a group called the Capital Golf Alliance to unify our voice and message. 

Here is a pic of myself and the VP of my Association, David Dore-Smith, from Copperleaf with our state Senator, Senator Richter. 

It has been a good day spreading the word about golf's positive role in the economy, as well as the environment. 

What's up with the 4th & 5th greens

Somewhere between the time my staff left on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, a disease called Fairy Ring popped up on a couple putting surfaces. My staff caught it early Saturday morning and treated it immediately.  The disease is not going to kill the grass. The disease creates a layer of water repellency in the soil.  What you are seeing is the result of a plant dehydration....the soil is too dry. 

Since today had the low temperature for this cool front and the next few days are projected to be warm, the putting surface blemishes should go away quickly. 

Low water table

The fountains on holes 15 & 16 have been shut down due to low water levels in the ponds. The lower water levels are causing pump cavitation and sediment from the bottom to be sucked through the pumps, both of which can cause damage to the expensive units. 

The pump float on 16 is partly out of the water. 

New England, with a little Florida Perspective

This morning I am freezing. It's 22 degrees and headed for a high of 25 today just outside of Boston. I'm at Wellesley Country Club as a guest speaker at a New England Club Manager's Association meeting. I was asked to come speak on a panel about "How to Budget and Fund Clubhouse and Golf Course Improvements."

Home of the Monarch

Did you know that The Country Club of Naples is home to royalty? That's right, the Monarch Butterfly can usually be found in abundance in the Pollinator Garden by 10 tee. 

Butterflies love the nectar of beautiful flowers in the Pollinator Garden, but there's a more specific reason you'll find the Monarchs on 10. The Monarch larvae's sole food source is called milkweed, which can be found in abundance amongst the plants. These are the tall orange, yellow and red flowered plants in the Pollinator Garden. 

Monarchs are known for their distinctive orange and black markings, but also for their yearly, seemingly grueling, migrations. The butterflies fly thousands of miles from Canada, through the U.S., and down to Mexico, each year.

Due to harsh over-wintering weather in Mexico and foraging landscape loss, the King of the Butterflies has had a severe population decline in the past few years. We are fortunate to have these beautiful creatures, whimsically dancing through our back yard. We should all be very proud that we are helping to protect and preserve the Monarchs with our "Monarch Waystation."  

Taken this morning...

It's a beautiful start to a new yr

Lots of haze this morning with heavy pre-dawn fog. Don't think it will last though. 

The tee sheet is packed and it looks like it full throttle from now until May!