The Snow has (mostly) melted

A brief tour of the course today as the snow has melted for the most part yielded some interesting findings.

                            No snow mold (Typhula or Microdocium varieties) as of 2/18/11

                             The same fairway on 3/26/2010 with significant damage

Our treatment for snow mold for the winter 2009/2010 was 4 oz/PCNB (pentachloronitrobenzene - say that 5 times real fast) per thousand square feet.  That rate was low but worth a shot.  I shudder to think what it would've looked like had we skipped the application. 

Our fungicide application for 2010/2011 was 1 oz/Tebuconazole and 2 oz/thiophanate methyl per thousand square feet.  This rate provided 100% control for our fairways.  This is the first time since I've worked at Blackhawk that we haven't experienced moderate to severe snow mold injury.  I am glad we chose to NOT skip this application as well.  It will be nice to not have to grow out snow mold damage for a change. 

                         A parting view of the injury from 2010 up close and personal

Be sure to check the 'weather' tab on your right to get a good idea of the forecast.  Have a great weekend!

The First of Many

Welcome to the first edition of The Blackhawk Times.  This blog begins today and picks up where the former 'Weekly Update' left off in 2009.  The earlier incarnations were at first a mass email that transformed into a Constant Contact format.  I thought a blog would be easier to create, edit and navigate for those who choose to follow.  I would imagine this blog could be updated several times a week by many of our team members who are computer literate enough and have the accompanying desire to share some of the work we do here at Blackhawk Trace Golf Club and at Indian Lakes Resort.

The above pictures are some of the snow drifts we had around the hotel during storm of February 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  22" of snow fell here locally and our staff worked from 5 in the morning of 2/1 through 5 in the afternoon of 2/2.  Rick, John, Dale, Carlos, Angel, Anthony and Jr. were very helpful in keeping the resort open and passable as well as digging out after the snow had passed.  Thank you, one and all.

As I write this the snow outside is melting quickly and I noticed that a flood advisory was issued for the Chicago area.  How quickly things change, huh?  The forecast is calling for a cool down to the tune of high 20's as a high by Monday of next week.  I, for one, am eager to get started on the golf season for 2011 but I predict winter will be here until at least March 21st.