Llanerch Golf Course and External Activities

The fourth largest snow storm in Philadelphia history left us with an unofficial 22 inches. This upcoming weather might turn the snow into water very quickly. We are going to concentrate on servicing the seasonal fleet of equipment until we can get back on the course.

After months of unseasonably warm weather, we finally had some snow! We only measured 1/2 an inch but with it being so cold, it is sticking around so far. We will concentrate on salting the lots and refurbishing the equipment. We are also keeping an eye on a potential snow storm late this week. It is too early to tell but worth watching for.

The Llanerch Grounds Maintenance Staff would like to wish you and your family a Happy New Years! Oh, Zeus the dog too!

It is normal for poa annual to seed in late April and in late September but NOT late December. This observation is another first for me. The abnormally warm temperatures continue to confuse plant life (and greenkeepers too). We are out mowing fairways and the intermediate cut today because the grass has grown so much in the past week. We are hoping the temperatures go back to normal later this week after what looks like some heavy rain tonight into tomorrow.  

  So as we prepare for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Mother Nature has given us another unseasonable warm day. It is going up to 72 degrees! Unfortunately, we also received 1.2 inches of rain yesterday. The course is very wet and can not accommodate carts. If the course conditions improve, we will inform the Golf Shop staff on any cart status changes. The Staff of Grounds Maintenance and I would like to wish you and your families a safe and happy Christmas!  

As we enter the week of Christmas, the weather keeps making it feel like it is spring! In close to the 30 years of green keeping, I have never needed to mow greens, tees and fairways this late in the season. The next 10 days looks warn and wet. This will keep the grass from going dormant. Hopefully, winter will return in January!

Last week, the staff removed a section of 15 fairway and replaced the grass with bentgrass sod. Over the 11 years since the renovation, the grass had become contaminated with some rye grass and poa annua. To improve the play-ability, the sod was added. It is probably the highest trafficked area on the course and was starting to show some real signs of wear and tear. We are keeping golf cart off it until the spring of 2016.