Friday

We finally got a good dump last couple of days.  We ended up with about 8" here at the golf course.  Took most of the day yesterday to get the track in shape.  It set up really nicely, however it is a little soft with all the new snow.  If we can ask the walkers and snowshoers to stay just adjacent to the track it will stay in good shape for a while.  Another reminder to everyone that the south side of Spring Gulch Rd., holes #9-10 and 11 is designated NRO (natural resource overlay) by Teton County and it is closed to all travel from November 1st to April 1st to protect the critical moose winter habitat.  Enjoy the cross country track this weekend and please refrain from setting your own track or creating a boot pack anywhere other than where the track is set.  Thanks and have a great weekend.

Mondy January 27

Good morning.  We were treated to an inch of snow or so this morning so we are currently grooming the track.  Should be just enough snow to get it back into good shape. 

We had 13 mule deer come through the shop area this morning headed west towards the cabins.  I was shocked to see 4 really small ones in the group.  If the snow gets deeper this year I would think they may have issues.  So please be wildlife aware and give them space.  The two male moose are still hanging around the area and one of them has lost a paddle.  Hard to see in the picture below, but he showed up at my place over the weekend a little bloody.  I watched the two of them spar earlier in the weekend and they were pretty aggressive with each other!

We are having some issues with folks setting their own tracks and creating boot packs across tee complexes, fairways, approaches, etc. and accessing the course through homeowner lots and across native areas.  Please remember that access to the property is restricted to the cross country track only and we ask that users access the track at designated road crossings and/or the clubhouse parking areas.  Accessing the track from residences or through undeveloped lots is prohibited.  Thanks for your understanding and allowing us to continue to provide this ammenity to our membership and the community free of charge.

Thursday update.

Good morning everyone..we got surprised with a little snow yesterday.  Emphasis on little, maybe 1/2".  Just enough to see if we can get the dog prints and footprints filled in on the cross country track.  We are grooming it today, but no gaurantee on how it will fill in.  It is still in adequate shape for recreating.  We are definitely seeing an increase in usage this year so enjoy.  We got down to -9 here at the course last night so the track is still very hard and compacted.

We had a couple of visitors yesterday.  They moved from the river bottom, through the shop area and were headed towards the golf course in the late afternoon.  If you are out on the track be vigilant, make sure dogs are leashed and please give them room.  It's easy to see how hard the winters can be on them here when they enjoy licking the "minerals" off the cars.  The sand the county puts out is packed with calcium, sodium (salt), silica and other micronutirients that they clearly need/enjoy?!?

Getting a car wash...

Impressive...

 

Mule Deer Study

The last couple of winters we allowed the Teton Science School research staff come on property and tag female mule deer for a three year research project.  They were studying the migration habits and impacts on road crossings, to identify areas of densely populated habitat and areas of concern for vehicle collisions.  It is a very interesting study and identifies many areas of concern with respect to raod crossings and collision potential for mule deer.  A few key points I was able to gleen from the report is that we have a fairly dense population of mule deer that use the golf course and adjacent areas for habitat.  In addition, our population of ungulates are "non-migratory" for the most part and call this home for generations.  There has been very little incident of collision/casualties around the golf course, in fact only one reported incident in 3 years of a mule deer being killed by car collision in our area.  My personal opinion on this is that even though there is a large population around the golf course, residents are perhaps more conscious of the volume of wildlife in our area and the speed limit on Spring Gulch and adjacent raods is kept in check.

If you would like more information you can view the attached link which has the study on the right side of the web page.

Have a great week.

http://www.tetonscience.org/index.cfm?id=crc_home

Weekend update

Due to the lack of snow this week and variable temperatures we will not be grooming the track for the weekend.  It is in decent shape currently, a little beat up from the dog tracks and walkers.  We are limited in what we can do to the track with our equipment and packing it repeatedly without fresh snow does nothing more than leave snowmobile tracks and increase the possibility of turf injury underneath the track.  Thanks for your understanding and join us in a snow dance..we desperately need the moisture for the coming summer and little better insulation on some of our greens. 

There are now 4 moose hanging out on the east side of Spring Gulch Rd if you haven't already seen them, keep an eye out as you drive Spring Gulch and Sage Brush.

Have a great weekend.

Mid week update

Good morning everyone.  We got out yesterday afternoon after it warmed up and were able to pack the track one last time this week.  We got down to 8 degrees last night so the track will be "bullet proof" this morning.  If temps stay cool, and we have an inversion the track will stay hard and we won't be able to groom until it warms up again.  We will keep you posted.

This is one of two moose that has been hanging around #9/10 and the condos at the end of #9.  This is the area that has been designated Natural Resource Overlay due to it being critical moose winter range/habitat.

Outside of condos at the end of #9

Have a great day.

Monday update

The big storm they predicted hit the mountains but not the valley.  We may have gotten 3" here over the weekend.  Saturday was really warm and we even had some rain mix with the snow so we've added to our water content in the snow pack on the course.  All the more important now to stick to the track and not create "boot pack" or ski tracks of your own.  We are grooming the course this morning so the track should be in good shape for the week. 

I encountered a resident from the Bar B Bar over the weekend walking four dogs on the course, none of them leashed.  The owners were very understanding, although disappointed, when I informed them of our policy with respect to dogs on the course and being leashed at all times.  I appreciate everyone's efforts this winter, it truly is making a difference.  If you encounter guests using the trail and are concerned about them adhereing to our signage, don't hesitate to let us know. 

Last year we participated with the Teton Science School in their study with regards to mule deer traffic, habitat use, migration and road collisions.  They are presenting their findings on Wednesday January 16th at 6:00 PM at the Teton County Library.

Read it online

Mule deer being collared adjacent to #10 and Gros Ventre River



Looks like a little wind and snow toady, then a beautiful week ahead. 

Have a great week.

Cross Country Track

We received 3-5 inches of snow yesterday and last night here at the course.  We were able to get out during the mid-afternoon lull in snowfall and pack the track.  That being said, with the additional snowfall in the afternoon and the amount of snow the track is in "fair" condition this morning.  We will be going back out around 9 AM to groom it again and this should help with the condition for today.

We are under a Winter Storm Watch for the weekend starting late tonight and lasting through Sunday.  The National Weather Service is calling for warming temperatures, strong winds and anywhere from 6-12" of snow during the period here in the valley.  If the storm turns out to be as expected the conditions will be extremely variable and the track most likely won't be in suitable condition until Monday due to our limited grooming capabilities.  If you do venture out over the weekend and visibility is poor please be careful to stay on the track.  That being said, bring on the snow..we need the moisture!

Have a great weekend!

Andy Erskine

Brrrrr.......

Woke up to -14 degrees this morning..should get up into the teens today with abundant sunshine.  Bundle up!!  Coldest reading I found in Wyoming this morning was just outside Riverton at -31..ouch! 

January 4th

Got a couple of inches yesterday afternoon/evening so we have a fresh groom on the track..enjoy.

Andy

Happy New Year

Hope everyone had safe New Year.  We groomed the track yesterday after 3-4" fell on New Year's Eve.  The track is holding up pretty well and we are approaching a foot of snow on the course.

We are having some issues with residents around the course setting their own ski tracks and creating boot pack trails from their homes across the golf course.  It is difficult to know where our "short grass" is..fairways, tee complexes, approaches, etc.  These areas can be more easily damaged by creating ski tracks and boot pack trails as we start seeing freeze/thaw cycles and they get hard and icey.  Our ski track follows the edge of the rough and native so as to minimize the impact on the underlying turf.  We have been putting up signage on the course reminding folks that travel is restricted the track and access to the track is limited to our road crossings and the clubhouse.  Please be responsible while utilizing the track.  The quality of the golf course is our main priority and the cross country track/winter access is secondary.  I would like to thank everyone for leashing their pets, it has made a huge difference this year.  We have seen much less negative wildlife interaction during this stressful time of the year..Thank You!

Have a great day!

Andy