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1. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   3/26/2015 7:03 AM

   Municipal course in Nebraska just south of Omaha.
   
   Slowly greening up - have mowed greens twice - but nothing else.
   
   Seasonal crew started this week.
   
   Seeding and aerating tees and fairways.
   
   1st Nebraska Supt meeting this week in Lincoln.
   
   What is going on elsewhere.

   
   
   
   
2. Brent Venenga

   

   0 posts
   
   3/26/2015 11:03 AM

   Sioux Falls, SD
   Opened March 12
   Have not mowed yet, thinking about greens next week
   18 hole public
   Have 1 employee working probably a few more next week.

   
   
   
   
3. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   3/27/2015 6:03 AM

   Hey Brent.
   We don't actually close here. ave high ave low
   March 2013 43 26 9"snow 1.1"rn
   2014 49 24 1.5snow .3
   2015 58 35 .5 .65
   
   Revenue good? bad? that would always be debatable.

   
   
   
   
4. Brent Venenga

   

   0 posts
   
   3/27/2015 8:03 AM

   We don't close either. Just kind of say we do when highs are only -10 and have 2 feet of snow on the green. We had 180 golfers on March 13 that was good.

   
   
   
   
5. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   3/30/2015 6:03 AM

   Fairway and tee seeding will be completed this week.
   Fairway and rough area aeration will be completed this week as well.
   
   Gearing up for greens aeration on April 13th.
   
   First leagues starting next week.
   Been pretty busy golf wise since March 1st.
   
   Trying to wrap up summer seasonal hires at this time for May start.
   
   Nothing going on at all other than that.
   
   lol

   
   
   
   
6. Keith Pegg

   

   0 posts
   
   3/30/2015 4:03 PM

   Keith Pegg Zama, Japan
   Zoysia just starting to green up, bent greens growing and green, last frost 10 days ago. hi 30's and almost 70 day time. Greens cored, tees done and fairways this week. I keep full staff (18 + 2 mec) year round, lots of forest work in winter. Play 45-50,000 per year 18 holes. Going into my last season of work (age 12 to 66 is enough) and will retire in Oct this year. Could be a great position if you are interested send me a private message. Job notice will go out in the fall and hire fall of this year.
   
   Keith

   
   
   
   
7. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   4/9/2015 6:04 AM

   Greens aeration this coming Monday April 13th weather permitting. Solid 5/8 times. Procore 648 - great machine. All hands on deck - close until leagues start - 1 day to get job done. Turfco mounted topdresser and pull behind toro topdresser. Weather forecast no rain.
   
   Greens aeration at 2nd golf course next Tuesday April 21st weather permitting.
   
   Pre-emerge down last 3 days - ground temp 50 - rain .25 over night.
   
   Leagues starting next week also. 3-4 each side each night Mon - Thurs( start times 4:00), only 1 on Friday. Tues morning 8:00 am league(24-32 players), Wed morning (12 players)

   
   
   
   
8. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   4/18/2015 5:04 AM

   1st outings this weekend.
   
   Holes from aeration almost healed already.
   
   6 inch mainline leak fixed( cracked bell?)

   
   
   
   
9. Matthew Noble

   

   0 posts
   
   4/24/2015 5:04 PM

   Hey Guys,
   
   Thought I'd chime in! Muni in southeast NE also. Got greens aerated April 13-14. Pulled 3/8" cores at a 2x2 spacing and topdressed with #10 sand. Greens are about completely healed up. Cold temps this week sort of slowed everything down. Plan on lowering height on greens next week when we are healed up good. Had hopes for aerating our tees, but just dont have the man power to do it.
   
   We have most of our pre E's out last week. Had a recall on generic dimension, so hopefully we will be able to spray the rest next week. Always something..
   
   Got the seasonal crew back at it, Just trying to keep up with all the mowing! Feels good to be back in the swing of things. Looking forward to this year.

   
   
   
   
10. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    4/27/2015 5:04 AM

    Hey Mattew - sounds like you are hard at it.
    
    Where in SE Nebraska might you be?
    
    Papillion here.
    
    From Nebraska City myself.
    
    Two muni's here in Papillion - second one aerated and everything went pretty well - frosty morning of - so got a little later start than they wanted to, but they got done well before leagues started last Tuesday.
    
    Just given the seasonal outing schedule and it looks like 69 outings so far - 38 of those are weekday events at the location I am at and this course is not the main outing course that we have.
    
    Leagues are in full swing now with most going off back and front starting about 4:00 each day.
    
    Keeping up with the grass so far -as the guys get more into the swing of mowing again it should get better too.
    
    2 new assistants( 1 at each course) working out great.
    
    "Irritation" system still not running auto - service guy should be here 1st week in May hopefully. We can water in manual which is a pain but we can water - have not needed to yet.

    
    
    
    
11. Matthew Noble

    

    0 posts
    
    4/27/2015 9:04 PM

    James, Pioneers Golf Course in Lincoln. We are still awaiting our service guy also. We were charged up March 12. Our system is over 30 years old now. Just doing everything we can to keep it cobbled together. Had some galanized pipe rust out, some gaskets fail, and a few cracked tees to swing joints so far. We have no isolation valves so repairs are a real headache. Keeps us busy though!

    
    
    
    
12. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    5/6/2015 5:05 AM

    Irrigation service person here today. dimension and acelepryn down on the front fairways and tees Monday. grass growing faster than the weeds now. more rain on the way.

    
    
    
    
13. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    5/15/2015 12:05 PM

    Yes more rain

    
    
    
    
14. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    6/2/2015 6:06 AM

    Crew getting back in the swing of mowing and getting more done each week.
    Topdressing greens this week - medium - light
    Fairway fungicide application this week.
    Fertilize greens this week.
    Rain in forecast Wednesday - Saturday with chance through next Wednesday.

    
    
    
    
15. Matthew Noble

    

    0 posts
    
    6/9/2015 5:06 PM

    It's been so hard to get into any kind of a routine so far this year.. 13" of rain at our place May thru 1st week of June. I think we've had enough for a while!

    
    
    
    
16. Matthew Noble

    

    0 posts
    
    8/19/2015 6:08 PM

    How's things going for everyone this year?
    
    Been a tough season. We had decline on several greens and labs confirmed take all patch on several. Working on recovery now. Put the ego in check and raised height a bit and have been off regulators and babying them to get ready to aerify Sept. 1.
    
    Aerifying our fairways now and will get started seeding next week.
    
    Hoping this break in the weather hangs around!
    
    Have a good one everyone!

    
    
    
    
17. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    8/20/2015 6:08 AM

    Hey Matthew and other central plains people.
    
    It has been a tough season with all of the rain. Green grass(most places) all season long and the mowers are getting tired(mechanic has used a lot of baling wire and duct tape - just kidding). Getting ready to gear up for aeration here too. September 14th for greens here. Greens looking a little tired - venting them this week with needle tines on the pro core(really like that machine).
    
    College and high school workers leaving now or have already. Lots of grass to mow.
    Outing schedule for late August and September is just crazy at both golf courses.
    Less day light each day. Probably switch to 6:30 start time here pretty soon. 6:00 right now still.
    
    Both of the new assistant hired in the spring are working out great. Rotating them back and forth between both golf courses so they learn the little quirks of each. A little difficult for them maybe but they seem to be adjusting to the schedule.
    
    Ryan Shea is doing a great job at Eagle Hills.
    
    Well they area starting to clock in so better go for now.

    
    
    
    
18. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    9/21/2015 10:09 AM

    All Aeration complete at Tara Hills. Greens done Sept 14th and filling in nicely.
    Will aerate greens at Eagle Hills of Tuesday the 22nd.
    
    Yes we have grubs - yes the raccoons and skunks are working a bit. Not too bad though. Used a little more Acelepryn this year.
    
    Trying to get rid of a few broadleaf weeds also. Outer edges of golf course being sprayed when the weather allows.
    
    Outing schedule slowing done a bit but still pretty busy. TH Sept 21st, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th - Oct 1st, 3rd. EH Sept 21st, 25th - Oct 2nd(2x), 7th. No more 7:00am shotguns though.

    
    
    
    
19. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    10/13/2015 6:10 AM

    Only 1 more outing this season at this time. Hosted by our pro on Nov 8th - the turkey trot - fun time.
    
    Maybe 1st frost of season this coming Saturday morning.
    
    Chopping leaves - everyday now. Really starting to fall.
    
    Pound of liver found in a cup Monday - What!!!!!!!! What people will do for fun on a golf course. At least is wasn't the other thing we sometimes find in the cup. What is some of the things you have encountered drops in the hole?
    
    6 year old EZ-Go RXV's giving the mechanic fits and have been all year. clutches, starter-gen, steering, brake pedal not releasing. Replacing after next season.

    
    
    
    
20. John Borcher

    

    0 posts
    
    10/13/2015 7:10 AM

    At the last course I was at in Lincoln we had a regular person leaving #2 in the cup and using the white flag as TP. Also had someone drop an artillery shell in a cup and blow it out of the green.

    
    
    
    
21. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    10/13/2015 2:10 PM

    That was the other thing I was talking about.
    We didn't find it until this morning but they put some of that liver in the ball washer(par aide) on the next hole too. I did delegate the job of cleaning that out to Adam the assistant. What a bum I am!
    
    Around here the 4th of July is crazy.
    
    Vomit or at least it looked like it in the hole during a tournament.
    Poo in a standard ball washer - would like to have had a video of that occurrence.
    Egg in a standard ball washer in July.
    
    We mow greens a lot under lights - the ole poo in the hole with a golf ball so the flag will not go back in. Got to get the ball out.
    
    Lots of fun things happen at the golf course.

    
    
    
    
22. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    10/13/2015 2:10 PM

    Hey John.
    
    Where in Lincoln - Still at HiMark?
    
    Huskers 27 Minnesota 16
    
    I've only been wrong 3 times this year so far.

    
    
    
    
23. John Borcher

    

    0 posts
    
    10/13/2015 3:10 PM

    I was at HiMark now I am at ArborLinks.

    
    
    
    
24. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    10/14/2015 3:10 PM

    Thomas James said: That was the other thing I was talking about.
    We didn't find it until this morning but they put some of that liver in the ball washer(par aide) on the next hole too. I did delegate the job of cleaning that out to Adam the assistant. What a bum I am!
    
    Lots of fun things happen at the golf course.

    
    
    Had a clogged toilet and delegated it to the Irrigation Tech. He asked why him? My response: "It's got water in it, so that falls under irrigation."

    
    
    
    
25. John Borcher

    

    0 posts
    
    11/10/2015 8:11 AM

    Finally getting cold around here when are you guys thinking about blowing out the irrigation system?

    
    
    
    
26. Matthew Noble

    

    0 posts
    
    11/10/2015 6:11 PM

    I'm considering next week but not positive yet. Weather sites show very different forecasts, so I think I'll decide at the end of this week.

    
    
    
    
27. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    11/12/2015 7:11 AM

    Hey John.
    
    We are scheduled to do it the Monday and Tuesday of thanksgiving week. We reserve a 750cfm compressor to do it so we try to stick to the scheduled date. Last year we did it about a week after that cold weather came in.
    
    Attended the annual business meeting of the Nebraska Chapter on Tuesday - not very well attended. Chava McKeel talked about WOTUS and the clean water act and how it may affect golf courses and when if might go into effect if it does.
    
    I was only able to make it to the early meeting in Lincoln and this one here in Omaha. The assistants attended the assistants meeting at Indian Creek.
    
    NGCSA doesn't know what to do to get members more involved.
    
    Really winding down here - I think we have mowed the grass for the last time. Starting to tear mowers down already.
    
    Second progass app going down on fairways when the wind will allow.
    
    We haven't in the past topdressed going into winter but are considering it - we are open all winter weather permitting and have at times had considerable play in the winter.
    
    snow mold protection already applied - maybe a little early but it is down.

    
    
    
    
28. Scott Schurman

    

    0 posts
    
    11/16/2015 6:11 AM

    Thomas,
    
    Thanks for attending the NGCSA Annual meeting last week at Champions Run. I saw that you mentioned that we as a Chapter do not know how to get more members or attendance at the meetings. We've asked the membership for suggestions, but no one wants to say anything. Do you have any ideas on how we can grow our Chapter? I'd be happy to forward on any ideas to the board and to Katy. Thanks!!
    
    I hope your fall is going great. We plan to winterize our system next week. It's been a crazy fall here in Kearney.
    
    Scott Schurman
    NGCSA President
    Kearney CC
    Kearney, NE

    
    
    
    
29. Melvin Waldron

    

    44 posts
    
    11/17/2015 7:11 AM

    Scott Schurman said: Thomas,
    
    Thanks for attending the NGCSA Annual meeting last week at Champions Run. I saw that you mentioned that we as a Chapter do not know how to get more members or attendance at the meetings. We've asked the membership for suggestions, but no one wants to say anything. Do you have any ideas on how we can grow our Chapter? I'd be happy to forward on any ideas to the board and to Katy. Thanks!!
    
    I hope your fall is going great. We plan to winterize our system next week. It's been a crazy fall here in Kearney.
    
    Scott Schurman
    NGCSA President
    Kearney CC
    Kearney, NE

    
    
    We have similar results at our chapter, but we are fairly small, we end up averaging about 20% attendance at most meetings.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
30. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    11/19/2015 2:11 PM

    Hey Scott.
    
    Fall is going pretty well so far - still quite a few golfers out there for the weather we have been having lately(37 today - windy - about 20 played today - most were paying players too) Have no one on the tee sheet for Sat but 4 or 5 tee times on Sunday this coming weekend(over night 19 and 40 for the high and windy) - first one is 9:30 too.
    
    We blew the systems out the last 2 days(Wed and Thurs). We did Tara Hills first then Eagle Hills. Used a 900cfm compressor - gets the job done.
    
    Trimming trees until the snow flies. Going to let the crew go next Wednesday - will have them work a few hours this winter helping service golf carts and other odds and ends jobs.
    
    Bought Jac greens mowers with 15 blade reels this spring at both golf courses. Was wondering then if we would be able to grind them this winter with our old Foley grinder. Took 1 apart to see yesterday - set it up today - I think we can. Might just do the one and see how it turns out.
    
    I think Ryan is going to put a heavy topdressing on the greens over at Eagle the winter - quite a big of winter kill 2 seasons ago and even a little last season on the part of the golf course that is exposed to the wind - it is wide open on 4 holes on the back side. I am not thinking I will topdress at Tara. Only had just a little bit of winter kill 2 seasons ago and none last year - pretty protected at Tara. We are open all winter weather permitting too(no snow on the ground and above 32 degrees).
    
    I don't know what to say about attendance at meetings. We try to go as a group but can not always do it. We attended the meeting in Lincoln and then the annual business meeting. We were planning on one of the assistants going to Kearney but as you know that one was cancelled. Both of the assistants went to the assistants meeting at Indian Creek. This issue is something we will talk about this winter here - don't have an answer at the moment. There was a time when somewhere between 50 to as many 125 might attend meetings depending on where the meetings were held and whether golf was involved or not.
    
    Chava's talk on WOTUS and government affairs was very interesting at this meeting. We did download the WOTUS webinar from the GSCAA site but have not listened to it yet.
    
    We have signed up for the turfgrass conference. One employee needs to re-certify for pesticide applicator.
    
    Hey John - did you get your system blown out yet? How goes your fall.
    Who else if reading this stuff? I know Bill B is - he said something to me at the meeting - he came all the way tot he meeting from McCook.