Member pictures

A VCC member e-mailed me these photos yesterday.  Great view of a storm rolling in on Saturday afternoon.

EDIT: These were actually from a storm that crossed over the club in June 2009.  I misread the email when I initially posted these.  I did go back and look to see if I could pinpoint the date. June 12, 13, & 14th were the ONLY rain events we had that month/year.  Those were also the dates for the Member-Guest tournament that year.

Removing dead trees

We recently had our tree contractor out to start removing several dead trees around the property.  While we have lost many trees over the years due to tornadoes, lightning, tropical storms, drought, and even a few that spontaneously combusted, our replanting efforts have ensured us that we wouldn't become a barren wasteland.  Currently, we are working towards a master plan for the golf course and other areas of the golf course so our tree planting work has been put on pause.  When our master planning is completed we will know exactly where we can plant additional trees that will suit the current golf course as well as any changes that may occur well into the future.

Here are a few from the work that was done this week.  They still have a lot more to cut next week too.


This tree near the fairway bunker on #16 was removed this week.




This tree removed itself a few months ago.




Very large dead tree was dangerous especially with the cart path underneath.  You can see the climber about to start taking it down limb by limb to minimize the damage to the turf.




Another view of that same tree on #16




One of the 3 trees that have caught on fire on a nice bright summer day.  We're still not positive how these fires start.



Here are some from storms over the past few years.




#1 Fairway looking across #10 fairway towards the back of #16 green (Hurricane Katrina)





About 1 month before tornado outbreak that tore through Alabama in 2011.  This tree fell behind #2 green and missed the green by just a few feet.



#2 fairway looking towards irrigation lake (Hurricane Katrina)




#2 fairway-small tornado that came though a few weeks before big outbreak that went through Tuscaloosa




Looking from #8 green towards #9 tee (Hurricane Katrina)




One of my favorites.  It ripped the turf up like one of those wraps you put under the Christmas tree (Katrina again)




#12 fairway




#13 teebox










#17/#18 - looking from I and II tee on #18 towards #17 fairway bunkers





#17 inside dogleg



#13 left of cartpath

 





Pinestraw crew

Over the last few years we have contracted out our pinestraw spreading to Southeastern Spreading.  They have many clients up and down the East Coast and down all throughout Florida.  We were their first golf course client in Alabama a few years ago and now that list of golf course has grown in large part due to the final product they can deliver at an unbeatable price.  Pinestraw spreading was something that our normal crew did every afternoon each day and would take at least 1 week (usually more) to complete the entire property and we did it about 3 times every year.  Because this was "extra" work after all other tasks were completed; it usually was overtime labor as well.  Southeast Spreading comes in and spreads our entire golf course in 1 day.  The best part of the process though is that when they leave everything is very clean and every edge is neatly cut into place.





You can see the bale string tied around their waist.



Right side of #2 rough has no irrigation so pinestraw will look a lot better than bare ground here.


 

Hey Owen, can I ask you a question?

I noticed some weird white spots near a tee and some more in a fairway on the Par 3 course.  They are white/yellow and have a green area in the center.  What are those?  I spotted some of those areas too.  You will usually see these more during the spring and summer than you do in the winter.  Are these what you are talking about:

 

This may shed some light on it

And this one

These spots are where someone stood while they applied sunscreen and/or bug spray to their legs. These areas should fill back in quickly enough but it it would be better to apply on the cart path or in the parking lot.


All of the equipment looks new.  Did we just buy all new equipment?  The majority of the golf course equipment is leased rather than purchased.  We have all of the leased equipment on a 3-year lease because of the wear and tear we put on the equipment by using basically EVERY day of the year.  After the third year the repairs become very costly and more importantly cause the equipment to be under repair and unusable most of the time.  We turned in all of the Toro equipment last week and we are now mowing with John Deere equipment.

The 3 rough mowers out mowing for the first time.

  

Old Aerial Photos of Vestavia CC

 This past winter, while we were organizing rolls and rolls of plans, drawings, ideas, and other stuff we came across a few old items that were cool to see.  A lot of you that have been here for decades proably remember this but to newer members it may be a first glance to what the club and golf course looked like decades ago.


You can see left of the entrance road that the Par 3 course has not yet been built. 
This picture was taken somewhere between 1948 and 1951 I believe.







This one was taken years later after the range and Par 3 course were built.





Notice the two bunkers in the middle of #9 fairway and look at all those bunkers surrounding #18 green.



Verticutting and Aerification

Last week we were able to get out and verticut and aerify the tees and on Monday we undertook the large task of verticutting the fairways.  We were able to get most of the front nine fairways verticut and cleaned up today and we will finish up the back nine later this week and next Monday.  Verticutting promotes lateral growth and results in a tighter growth habit.  Below are some pictures of both processes.

First we aerify the tees

Aerification complete



Then we verticut the tee tops



Next we blow the debris off of the tee



Sand topdressing with the old bunker sand we pulled out of the bunkers this past winter (we then spent most of the day picking up rocks by hand out of the old bunker sand but it was a great re-use of the old material--AND IT WAS FREE)




Verticutting the fairways then mowing with fairway mower to clean up (fairway mower in background)




Half of #2 fairway verticut




 

The nwe came back and mowed for a second time and went side to side.  Then started blowing remaining material




Mowing back and forth across fairway





Large pile of debris blown off of fairway





Tree in #11 fairway

The bluegrass that was growing under the tree in #11 fairway looked great most of the time but really needed to be grown taller and made it hard to find and/or play your ball from.  We took the opportunity to use a newer bermuda variety named “Celebration” which is more shade tolerant as well as drought tolerant.  It should do great so we’ll judge at the end of the summer to see how it holds up.  We have some other areas that we could possibly plant with this turf as well.

In 2007 we renovated the area to a heat tolerant bluegrass.



The summer of 2011 really took its toil on this area.




Tilling the area before sodding.




After tilling, hand raking, and adding pre-plant fertilizer.




Laying Celebration bermuda sod on the prepped area.  We plan to mow this at the same height as the other rough on the course.






Sod complete