Course Notes, 4/30/2017

We continue to have great golfing weather for early Spring.  Drier conditions have lead to some nice firm conditions on greens and fairways.  Our staff continue to build in numbers and we have been able to knock out many of our task list for the Spring.   Aerification has come and gone with quick healing and deeper rooting that will benefit the turf when the dog days of summer hit later this year.

Work continues on the Fiesta Hut area.  The staff and I have created the rough grades for the base material that the wall stone will sit on.  Over the course of the next week we will be laying and compacting a 4" layer of gravel as a stone base, and beginning the transformation from empty area to a wall matching the look of the Terrace.  Stay tuned for more updates!

Finally, as part of our Audubon community outreach program, Elcona hosted 120 7th graders from Northridge Middle School for an afternoon of learning on the course, and about the game of golf. This field trip was under the umbrella of The First Green program, which incorporates STEM (science, engineering, math, and technology) learning modules out on the course.  

Each student experienced 6 learning stations:  A geo-caching activity on our trail system (think scavenger hunt with coordinates), an obstacle course meant to simulate the obstacles salmon experience when making their run to spawn, 2 golf stations at the practice facility, a station learning about soils and our rain garden, and a station at 17 green learning how to measure its area.

For many of the staff and students, it was their first time ever setting foot on a golf course, which is what I like so much about this program.  The exposure to a fantastic golf facility and to learn real-life applications to what they are learning about in school are hopefully great memories that will stay with them for life and spark an interest in taking up the game of golf.  The faculty and students were quite impressed with Elcona and its facilities, so much so that we have dates for another visit this coming fall.

If you would like more information on The First Green program, visit www.thefirstgreen.org.  If you have any questions, email me at ryan@elconacc.com.  Have a great week and I'll see you out on the course!

Tis the Season!

Golf shop entrance tulips

Spring finally sprung here in the last month, so apologies for the delay between blog posts.  The staff and I have been quite busy preparing beds, bunkers, and turf into the in-season shape that they are accustomed to.  Seeding and sodding of areas left from our winter tree work should be wrapped up next week.  One large item we accomplished is Elcona's renewal application to be one of 6 Certified Golf Course Sanctuaries in the state of Indiana.  I am quite proud of the club's accomplishments within the last two years, from helping care for the Seed to Feed garden, to planting wildflower areas for increased pollinator habitat, to being smarter users of water and inputs to maintain the golf course.  We should hear in July if Audubon International agrees with my sentiments, and I will keep you posted.

Harold Marner on 16 aerifying

Steve Ott in the snow on 16

 Our staff completed aerification earlier this month, in less than ideal Spring Break weather.  I tell people time and time again how lucky I have to have such dedicated staff members.  A special thank you to Steve Ott and Harold Marner for sitting on the tractors for a couple of quite testy days outside.

Check plot on #13

Close up of seed heads

 Finally, I am sure you have noticed that the "Seeding Season" is here for the Poa that composes the majority of turf on the greens. As great as Poa annua is as a putting surface, one drawback is its annual seedhead production.  Poa annua is a winter annual, meaning it germinates in the fall, overwinters, and produces seeds in the spring for its next generation.  Think of Poa as a backwards annual flower you would plant in your landscape. 

Poa seedhead production

Plywood used to create check plot on #1

Using a temperature based schedule, we have applied three applications of growth regulator to suppress, not eliminate, these seedheads from impacting ball roll.  As the first picture to the left shows, I left 5 areas on the course untreated, as a check plot, to assess the success of this year's applications.  All of the checkplots show we have had a reasonable amount of success in limiting the amount of seeds impacting play.  SInce the process is not perfect, we try to further reduce their impact with topdressing applications and additional rolling.

If you are interested, the check plots on located on the large practice green, #1, #10, and #13 green.  If you have any questions, please contact me at ryan@elconacc.com.  Thanks, and have a great week!

Ryan

2015 Audubon Review

October is the time of year where I start to take stock in all of our programs, review my notes from throughout the year, and begin forming plans for 2016.  One area that is always on my thoughts is Elcona's Audubon program.  This year our goal was to complete 4 main projects, two of them were centered around increasing pollinator populations.

Nesting evidence on #14 

This past winter, my assistant Kyle and I built 3 wood duck homes and placed them along ponds on #'s 3 and 14, as well as deep in the woods north of 13.  Both houses had evidence of bird activity this year, as the picture on the left shows, but this nest building was from other birds.  One observation from a member was that #3's house was located too close to golf traffic and made it unattractive for wood ducks, which I agree with.  We will be moving it farther south away from #4 tee.  My hope is that someday ducks will utilize these as safe havens to produce their offspring.

Seed to Feed Garden, June 15

Yellow squash

The Seed to Feed garden that I have mentioned multiple times over the past year was a dual achieving project.  One obvious achievement was that, thanks to all members who volunteered their time to maintain it, 6,129 pounds of cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, and Dickinson pumpkins were harvested and given to our local food pantries.  That is an awesome amount of produce for our first year.  Also, the garden also served to increase the area for pollinating insects.  One third of our world's food supply is dependent on the help of pollinating insects.  Their populations have decreased some 30% over the last few years, due to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses.  By planting many areas of flowering plants, Elcona can help sustain the local bee population and continue to be a good steward of our community's ecosystem.

Milkweed stand left right of 17

Monarch caterpillar on Milkweed

There were spots in our native areas that we left unmown all year that contained significant milkweed populations.  Milkweed is the main food source for Monarch butterfly caterpillars.  This provided some nice habitat areas for these butterflies to flourish and complete their transformation to butterflies.

Rain garden, July 25th

Bee on a Purple coneflower

We have also multiple areas of wildflower plantings that are in various stages of maturity.  The rain garden that was built in 2012 thrived again this year, with some plants (swamp milkweed) reaching 10 feet in height! There were days that over 100 bees and other pollinators could be seen flying flower to flower, a neat sight for sure.

Area for 2015 plug plantings

Butterfly weed plugs

Wildflower plugs, consisting of cone flower, butterfly weed, and foxglove beardstongue species, were planted west of 12 green.  These plus will, over time, spread via their seed and also provide some great color for that area of the golf course.

Designated OP area on #16

We also seeded additional wildflowers to the left of 16 in our designated "Operation Pollinator" area, as a test of establishment in this fashion.  While this area does not look like much is going on except for fox tail and thistle populations going wild, we are seeing 8 species of different wildflowers taking shape, as the pictures below indicate.  The areas that I planted plugs in last year produced some flowers this year, and began to spread in area, albeit very slowly.

Greg Stump pointing out Coreopsis plants

Black eyed Susan

Gallardia species 

Bachelor Button species

My plan of attack in this area for next year is to renovate the areas that have weeds and grasses in them, and reseed with a wildflower/bluestem seed mixture.  This will decrease the thick grassy weeds and thistle and hopefully provide a more uniform stand of grasses and flowers.  Also, we will be much more proactive in removing any weeds in this area that do germinate.  Finally, we will widen the area of play to create a little more space between the native area and the fairway for any wayward lay up shots, as currently there is only 12 yards between the two.

Our final project was to invite a local birding group for a nature walk along the club's nature trails.  In late May I hosted two individuals from the South Bend/Elkhart Audubon Society, and while they were impressed with Elcona's property and efforts, we were not able to get on their calendar for this year.  Tentatively, we are on their 2016 calendar for a group visit.

Speaking of 2016, Elcona's Audubon committee is meeting this month and will consider many ideas that I will share as the year draws closer to an end.  You can be sure that all will further emphasize Elcona's commitment to both its local ecosystem and the well being of our community. I appreciate your continued support and participation in Elcona's Audubon program, and for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow as a steward of this great property.  If you have any questions, please contact me at ryan@elconacc.com.

Ryan

Winter Projects

A snowy view of the Terrace

 

As tame and mild as December was, winter has definitely made its presence known for the last six weeks.  Winter 2015 has quickly become known as the Winter of Clipper Systems this year, at least we have not heard much from the "Polar Vortex"!  Indoor projects and annual equipment maintenance is going strong currently. 

 

Outdoor projects have been temporarily put on hold until the weather improves.  The retaining walls along #1 green tee and #8 tees are on schedule for completion before the course opens.  Phase 2 of the Terrace Project, which involves continuing stamped concrete along the clubhouse's perimeter, new paver stones and construction of a fire pit outside of the Fireside room, has some work that will be started later this month.  Removal of the old pavers and demo of the existing concrete is work that can be done, but until the frost is gone from the soil below, new materials cannot be constructed structurally sound. 

 

Kyle attaching box ends

One project that we completed last week was construction of new wood duck boxes to be placed along the pond shores on #3 and #14.  These boxes were constructed from cedar boards, which naturally resist weathering and rotting. 

 

Tools used and the final look of the "ladder"

Inside view of the completed box

 

One feature that is necessary for any new ducklings that nest in this box is a "ladder" that we had to plunge cut with a circular saw.  These notches serve as places that the ducklings can grab onto to climb out.  The entry/exit hole is another feature that is important to machine correctly.  The hole has to be near 4.5" x 3.5" at its widest/highest points.  This size prevents any predators, such as raccoons, from entering the nest and having a snack.  The post that the box will be mounted to will have a predator guard made from sheet metal attached to serve as a secondary protectant. 

The finished product

 

 The boxes will look similar to the picture below, will hopefully attract these ducks to the property, and serve as a safe habitat for their well being. 

 

 

 



If anyone is interested in the biology of wood ducks, constructing a wood duck box for their property, the plans and more, information can be found here. 

Ryan

Recognition for our Stewardship Efforts

I received some great news yesterday that Elcona has been recertified as a Certified Golf Course Sanctuary.  This recertification is a result of the great efforts of both the membership and staff in demonstrating Elcona's commitment towards sound environmental management practices and being a great steward for our community.  Below is the press release Audubon sent out on our behalf:

               

Elcona's Resource Advisory Group, made of members, staff, and outside community experts, met yesterday afternoon to discuss additional programs and projects that can further our environmental efforts and engage the membership and community.  I am excited to what is in store for the future of Elcona's program. 

 

If you would like more information on Audubon and their Golf Course Sanctuary Program, please visit http://www.auduboninternational.org/acspgolf. 

 

Ryan

Audubon Press and Hiking Trails



      One of the many aspects of being at Elcona CC that I truly take pride in is the club's active participation in the Audubon Cooperative Golf Course Sanctuary Program.  Beginning with Tom Zimmerman's vision and efforts in the 1990's, through all the hard work that Greg Shaffer, volunteer members of the club, and the Grounds staff performed to achieve Certified Sanctuary status in 2012, it demonstrates our commitment to environmentally friendly maintenance practices and protection of our native wildlife. 

Ryan explaining how the raingarden filters sediment

We recently had our Recertification Visit, which went quite well.  A special thanks to Todd Sullivan, Emma Wynn, Greg Shaffer, and Greg Stump for their participation and discussion during our visit.  Eric Kurtz, Stormwater Coordinator for the Elkhart Co. Soil and Water Conservation District, was our guest and he was quite impressed with Elcona's efforts, as his article in their monthly newsletter states below:






Article from: Grass Roots for Conservation – Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District June 2014

“The Elcona Country Club became a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 2012. This education and certification program promotes environmentally-sensitive golf course management, including wildlife conservation, water conservation, water quality protection, and chemical use reduction and safety.

Every two years, the club is required to be recertified, which includes a visit by an independent third party. Elcona asked the SWCD to perform the visit on May 27. Our inspector (a non-golfer) sure got an education, and was very impressed with the ways the club is protecting resources. They started working toward certification in the early 1990s, which shows a long-term commitment.

Among other efforts, the club has greatly reduced areas that they mow, increased wildlife corridors, installed bird and bat houses, left “wild” areas next to ponds, educated their members, and increased the precision of chemical applications. They also rely on a weather station and the latest smartphone technology to make sure they are watering just the right amount for their needs. These efforts have helped their environmental impact as well as their bottom line, as they have reduced overhead for mowing, watering, and other practices. Our relationship with Elcona started when the club reached out to the SWCD in 2012 to help with a rain garden. They had a unique situation – they wanted the rain garden to take runoff from an area where they regularly wash off their mower decks. The SWCD, along with Indiana Master Naturalist volunteers, helped the club install a rain garden that met their needs. This visit demonstrated to us that their commitment to stewardship is more than skin-deep, but has permeated their practices and the way they do business. They welcome contact from anyone who wants to learn more.”

 

     Also, The Goshen News recently took a tour of the property and wrote a nice article as well, which you can read here.  We hope to hear very soon on achieving our Recertification, and continue to finding projects to further extend our stewardship. 

 

    

Audubon trail map on the back 40

One such area that is a large piece of our Audubon efforts are our hiking trails to the east of the clubhouse.  Greg wrote a tremendous blog on these trails in 2013, but for our new members I wanted to make sure you knew of their availability for family hiking, biking, and cross country skiing in the winter.  There are 10k of trails to explore, which the picture to the right shows.  This is yet another option for your recreation that Elcona offers you as a member.  Come on out on a nice afternoon for a nice walk! 

Ryan

Trail Running and Golf Courses: What's the Connection to Elcona CC?

Enjoying a run in Arizona

As I have mentioned before, I love to run. Not just running for 20 minutes, but the kind of running that can take up a good part of an afternoon. Crazy? Maybe, but it's something that helps me stay grounded when I'm not working. It is one of the few things I've found I can do that actually shuts my brain "off" allowing me to enjoy nature and put any stresses temporarily behind me. No thinking, no talking, no e-mailing, just running, looking and listening to the sounds of nature. What does this have to do with golf courses, more specifically Elcona CC? Bear with me.

Trail at T. K. Lawless Park

I recently took a much needed day off last Sunday to spend time with my family and to take a break from work.  One of the things we did was to make the 25 minute drive up to T. K. Lawless Park in Michigan. While there, I was able to sneak in a quick trail run. During the run, I began to notice several trees that had been marked with paint. Upon closer inspection, all of the trees that were marked were Ash trees. I actually stopped a couple of times just to look at them.  For the remainder of the run, I kept noticing dozens of Ash trees that were showing significant signs of damage from the Emerald Ash Borer.  If you are a regular reader of this blog, you probably remember a previous post that I did referencing the Emerald Ash Borer. If you need a refresher, it can be found here.

Immediately my brain switched back into "work mode" (so much for not thinking when running) and I began to think about how the forest would be impacted by the loss of Ash trees just as Elcona has been impacted by the loss of most of our Ash trees. No matter what we do or don't do, these trees are destined to die, regardless of what setting they are in. Many of the forested areas throughout the Midwest have already lost or will lose thousands and thousands of trees because of this insect and there really isn't anything we can do about it. Much like the Dutch Elm Disease that all but eliminated Elm trees beginning 60-70 years ago, the Ash trees will slowly be decimated by the Emerald Ash Borer. The irony in all of this is that cities and towns encouraged the planting of Ash trees as a replacement for Elm trees because of their hardiness and ability to grow well in street settings just as the Elms did.

Unfortunately, there are only a few remaining Ash trees on the golf course itself.  We continue to monitor their health and will keep you updated as they begin to decline.  The most notable Ash tree showing signs of damage is the one located directly behind #1 green.  When it comes time for this tree to be removed, it will not go unnoticed.

Large Ash tree behind #1 green 

As this blog post was essentially writing itself as the miles ticked by on my run, I came upon this sign (please read) in the middle of a forested area that appeared to have been there for hundreds of years.

Cue the thinking once again. Most of you are aware of Elcona's past and how it was built on what used to be a farm. Since the club was established in 1956, it has transformed into an environmental habitat on so many levels. Far too many to discuss in what is already a lengthy blog post. The first thought that came to my mind is the wooded areas that Tom Zimmerman began establishing in several areas within the golf course.  Over the course of 57 years, these areas have been transformed from farmland to woodland that has become a home for several species of native trees and wildlife.  This is one of several reasons that we have become a fully certified golf course with the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Please click on the photos below to get a better idea of how much Elcona has changed over the years.

Elcona CC 1961

Elcona CC 2011 (50 yrs later)

Wooded area that was once farmland between
 holes #16 and #17 and has been allowed to flourish.

This is a slightly different post that normal, but I thought you might enjoy a little change of pace.  Look forward to a Course Update to be posted shortly. In the meantime, I'm going for a run to see what other crazy connections I can come up with. Stay tuned. 

Audubon Trails: A Great Benefit to your Membership

Winter isn't exactly the time when most of you think about the benefits of your membership here at Elcona CC. Typically snow is on the ground, some of you have hunkered down for a few months and many of you have traveled to warmer destinations.  For those of you that are local during the winter, I would encourage you to continue to think about Elcona.

Sure, the clubhouse is closed for its annual shutdown in January and February but there are still activities that you can do to take advantage of your membership. Tom and Kayla continue to offer indoor lessons that are held in the warmth of the Cart Storage building. This is a great opportunity to keep your golfing muscles active and improve your game ensuring you will be ready to go when the weather breaks.

Grassland section looking south

Another benefit to your membership that I wish more of you would take advantage of is the availability of the Audubon Trail System. Regardless of the weather, these trails are open for hiking, mountain biking, trail running, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

Grassland / Farmland looking west toward clubhouse

For those of you that know me well, you are aware that I am an avid runner. After the recent stretch of warm weather, a majority of our snow cover melted and gave me the opportunity to get back out on the trails and enjoy the winter scenery. The trail system consists of over 5 miles of trails that can be utilized in any way you would like.  Below is an example of the route that I like to run on a regular basis. I used my Garmin GPS watch to map the run as I went to give you an idea of what a 3 mile loop looks like.

3 mile loop

These trails are maintained on a regular basis and are always available for use. We recently completed a project with a local Eagle Scout to increase the Bluebird populations throughout Elcona's property. Several nesting boxes were added along the trail system with the hope that many Bluebirds will be visible in the near future.

Grassland looking north

Every time I am out on these trails, I am amazed at the elevation changes and land types that cover our property. Over the course of this three mile loop, you are exposed to wooded areas, grassland, farmland and a little bit of the golf course. The elevation changes provide a great change of pace, but aren't too difficult for the casual hiker/walker to enjoy.

Wooded section near campsite

If you are suffering from cabin fever, this is a great reason for you to get out. After all, it's your club, so why not take advantage of it?  Have a great rest of the winter and I hope to see you out on the trails. I know I'll be out there with regularity. Trail maps are available at the Main Office if you are interested.

Grassland / Farmland looking south