When will the rain stop?

The rain has continued pretty consistently for the last month.  We surpassed 3" for the month yesterday and it's still piling up.  It's hard to get frustrated knowing how desperately we need the moisture for the coming months, but it has made our spring ramp up a challenge.  The course is in great shape and healing up..a little slowly.  We are excited nonetheless about what June will bring!  Warmer temperatures and lots of golfing opportunities.  We are working hard to stay in front of all the dandelions which are definitely benefitting from wet conditions.  The greens are rolling really well and we have finally reached respectable speeds..9-10 on the stimp meter.  They will only get better.  Thanks to everyone that has braved the nasty weather to enjoy the course.  Have a great week.

Andy
 

Pair of geese and goslings on #11

May showers bring...June flowers?!?

Good morning everyone.  The early summer like weather has taken a brief break for the last several days.  May is typically one of our wettest months of the year, we average about 1-3/4" of rain/snow for the month.  As of this morning we have had 1-1/2" over the last 3 days, with last nights total being the 3 day winner of .66".  It will definitely be soppy out there today, especially this morning.  We will allow carts after noon today as long as it doesn't rain any more.  Temps are forecasted to stay in the 40's today with 15-20 mph winds all day so it will be chilly for sure.  If you are brave enough to get out today please utilize cart paths where available and observe a 90 degree rule, keep carts away from green surrounds and tee complexes, avoid puddles and have fun!  Our tee times move up to 9AM starting tomorrow as well.

We have been all the way around and gotten the bunkers worked into shape for play, they still require some detail work but are coming along nicely.  The mouse damage continues to heal and we should be in great shape by Memorial Day, which is always our goal. 

The North Grille opens this weekend with a Mother's Day brunch on Sunday and regular food service starting on Monday so come out enjoy the full JH Golf & Tennis experience.

I can't say for certain, but we believe the yearling/juvenile moose in the picture from the previous post is the same one from this picture last spring.

Mom and calf near #1 green last spring (May 2014)

 

Spring golf

Our stretch of amazing above average temperatures and plentiful sunshine continues.  I can't recall a spring that we have been this far along with turf recovery and the quality of the greens.  It's certainly been a treat..that being said the weather looks get back to more typical May conditions with some rain and cooler temperatures slated for the end of the week.

As I mentioned, the greens are really working into shape as we continue to lower our mowing heights and roll them on a consistent basis.  The little damage we had from ice and animals is healing nicely and the greens will only continue to get better.  The mouse damage in the other areas is healing nicely as well and these warm temps and periodic rain is all we need to get those areas back in shape.  We are focusing our efforts in the bunkers repairing the elk, moose and buffalo damage, cleaning out debris and re-distributing sand from the spring melt.  We are making great progress and are so excited for a great season.

There continues to be numerous elk and moose around the property.  The buffalo have finally arrived as well so enjoy the scenery and give the animals plenty of space.  Remember, wildlife has the right of way at JHGTC.  We have a pair of osprey in the east nest on #11 and a goose has poached the one to the west.  Additionally, we had Lower Valley Energy put up another nest on the far west end of the property last year near #13 tee box and it has another osprey calling that one home.  We also recently discovered a pair of red tailed hawks nesting just east of #8 in Grand Teton National Park that have been hunting frequently on east end of the property.  They are really fun to watch!

We look forward to seeing everyone out on the course.  Have a great week!

Tip of the day:  Remembering when fixing ball marks on the greens to push in towards the mark with your tool and not lift up which can tear the roots.  Pushing the ball mark in from the edges and then flattening with the bottom of your putter will increase healing time versus lifting up.  Study's from Kansas State University shows that improperly repaired ball marks (lifting up) take twice as long to heal vs. those repaired correctly (pushing in).

Buffalo near #8 tee box over the weekend

Juvenile moose last week

OPENING DAY TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!

We've finally made it to opening day.  What an early spring it has been.  Our staff and I have been busy, busy trying to get the course in shape for an early start.  This will be 2nd earliest opening we've had in the last 7-8 years, certainly nothing like 2011 when we opened around May 15th and still had snow on the course this time of year.

The course is still a work in progress.  The bunkers will be treated as ground under repair until we have a chance to get in and really clean them.  The mouse/vole damage clean up has gone really well, there is just a tremendous amount of it this year. 

We are so excited to get the season started and can't wait to see everyone out there.  Just a friendly reminder from our department to stay on cart paths where available and do not drive in approaches or green surrounds.  Keep an eye out for wildlife as there are moose, elk and deer moving around the course.  No bison yet, we will update the sight if they make it to the course this spring.  Have a great weekend.

Tip of the week:  When you are filling divots on tee boxes and fairways, be sure and fill the divot completely with sand and flatten the sand with your foot.  This will keep tees and fairways as level as possible and improve the healing process.

Andy and staff

Late summer visit from Mr. bull moose last year!~

What happened to February??

It's been an entire month since the blog has been updated.  February was extremely busy for us as the roller coaster of temperatures and lack of moisture caused us to start blowing greens and preparing for, perhaps, an earlier than normal season. 

Typically we would begin blowing off greens right around March 1st, this year we started on February 10th.  There were some ice concerns under the snow, and the warm temperatures we had early in February helped make the decision for us with respect to blowing them off early.  Turns out the ice was not as wide spread as originally anticipated and blowing them off certainly  helped with any areas that were of concern.  As of yesterday we had an average snow depth of about 8-10" on the course, a foot or so short of what we typically expect this time of year.  We did receive 2-3" last night.  That will help with cross country track, which has been in less than desirable shape with the lack of fresh snow.  Based on the depths of snow and the coming forecast we anticipate closing the track by the 20th or so of March, unless of course winter decides to make a ferocious comeback.  Get out and enjoy now as the course will be off limits once the track is closed.  Have a great week.

Been a while....

It's been a while since we checked in here at JHGTC.  The snow stopped early in January and we've been catching up on administrative tasks, starting our seasonal hiring process and getting organized for another great golf season.  We've had a couple of very successful dinner events for our members and I'd like to thank everyone that has been participating.  Our next function will be a 3 course Valentine's Day Dinner on Saturday February 14th.  Seating will start at 5:30 and reservations are required.  Please RSVP or contact Gabrielle Cruz with questions about the menu at 733-7786 or gcruz@gtlc.com.

The lack of fresh snow has taken it's toll on the cross country track as of late, however, it's still very skiable.  I'd like to thank everyone that is utilizing the track for your adherence to our policies/signage, keeping an adequate distance from the wildlife and staying on the designated track.  There are anywhere from 4-8 moose on the golf course right now.  The yearling that was born last year has separated herself from her mom and is "getting to know" the golf course.  She is a little more passive than the older moose on the property and is constantly crossing Spring Gulch Rd. and spending a lot of time around the clubhouse and shop area.  Unfortunately, we had an incident last week when a pair of skiers left the designated track on the east side of the property and spooked a pair of moose, sending them running through deep snow and causing them to expend an unnecessary amount of energy.  We are doing our best to educate track users and homeowners around the property about how detrimental "negative" wildlife interactions can be to local wildlife and their winter survival and we will continue to try and protect certain parts of the property as wildlife habitat.  Keep a sharp eye out while utilizing the track.

Snow depths on the course right now range anywhere from 6" in some southern, wind blown areas to 30" in the more protected loaded areas.  We've spent the last week digging snow pits around the golf course and on greens.  I'm pretty pleased at what we've found.  There is definitely a good deal of moisture in the 1-3"layer right at ground surface from the late December rain event and the warm up we had last week, however, we haven't found any ice concerns so far...knock on wood!

Stay tuned for more frequent updates as we head into spring.

Double eagle.....

 

Here comes winter...maybe!?

Well, after an incredible start to our winter season we have seen it come to a screeching halt.  Just prior to the "warm up" and rain we got around Thanksgiving there was nearly 2 feet of snow on the golf course. As of yesterday there is 4-6" and a lot of turf showing out there.

We groomed the cross country track prior to losing all the snow and it looked like we were on our way for the winter.  As is stands today we need another foot of snow or so to continue our grooming efforts.  The property is still getting a fair amount of usage, however, it is incredibly "thin" out there and we are asking everyone to tread lightly and be sure to stay on or just adjacent to the marked track.  Unfortunately, it seems that since the melting has occurred we are having issues with users not staying on or near the track.  There are numerous tracks in areas not on or around the designated trail in areas that are closed for the winter (everywhere except the track itself).  If we are unable to get this under control through our signage and individual communication we will have to suspend access to the property until we get more snow..so please stay on the track when accessing the course and remember that all dogs must be physically leashed while on the property.  We allow dogs, in the winter only, on the track as an exception to club documents that prohibit dogs on property, unless they are assisting in your travels.  Please be respectful of our policy and don't abuse the privilege.

The wildlife around the course is definitely taking advantage of the thin conditions and loading up on exposed vegetation.  We have a lone random bison that has set up residence on the course so be watchful for him as not to surprise while on the cross country track.

There has been several bull and cow moose on and around the property, as well as, our local deer population that calls the area home.  I got the picture below just outside my back door on the south side of Spring Gulch Rd...one of the biggest bucks I've encountered this year.

With respect to the golf course itself, the rapid melt off we've had has not been detrimental to the greens, or course in general, thus far.  The snow came so quickly this year that the ground hasn't frozen solid yet so the course has drained pretty well and we haven't seen any ice build up.  Let's just hope for snow from here on out and no more rain until spring!








We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and blessed Christmas to come!   Keep an eye out for updates on the cross country track and again...please tread lightly out there.

Andy