Sodding Greens

Part of the recovery process included sodding a few spots on greens. Number five South was repaired using sod from our nursery.



April 2014

May 1, 2014

The Correct Record

A lot of information has been communicated about winter damage, snow removal and lost turf at Oakland Hills. How much turf was lost? How many dead greens? Was the North damaged? How much does it cost to remove snow?

 

Much of the information regarding Oakland Hills in the public domain is incorrect. Here are the facts about this past winter, snow removal and our current status.

SOUTH COURSE

• We remove snow from the South greens every winter when we see a potential rise in temperature above 30 degrees. Some of the South greens are covered, some are not. We removed snow this winter after the early January snowstorm and before the meltdown of January 8-10. This action saved the South greens from more severe damage.

 

• Every green on the South sustained some damage, most of it minor. Greens 6, 8 and 12 suffered "serious" (10-15%) damage and only number eight is questionable. We are not playing to any temporary greens as of today, April 29th. Number eight may require a temporary green depending on the level of play. All of the South greens will recover in the next 2-4 weeks. 

 

• The labor cost to remove snow on the South this winter was approx. $5,000.

 

• The extra equipment required to remove snow from the South greens adds approx. $20,000 to our equipment inventory.

• Each cover we use is approx. $3,000, depending on size.

•  It takes 4 - 7 people to remove snow on the South Course.
 
• All of the South fairways incurred some ice damage and most of this will heal on its own.

 

NORTH COURSE

 

• We do not currently remove snow on the North greens. All of the North greens sustained damage. Some of it severe with the most severe #15 green, approx. 30% turf loss.

 

• We will be playing to all of the North greens when we open on May 9th. There are currently no temporary greens on the North Course. The PG did not suffer any winter damage.

 

• There are no "dead" greens on either course.

 

 

 

 

Course Update

The date may be early April, the turf thinks it's mid-March. The golf course is slowly waking up. We have mowed greens only one time, unusual for this time of year.

As you know the greens suffered this winter. The South course, while damaged, came through in pretty good shape. The exceptions are #8 and #12 green which are struggling, but will survive. The North course greens were damaged to a greater degree, but they too will recover. Overall, we came through the winter in pretty good shape.

The golf course needs some time to recover.

Removing cover 15 green North

Why we use covers for recovery.

#7 South - weak areas due to tree shade

 

9 fairway North in March 2014