Eagle Scout Projects (Flora & Fauna Brochures)update. And WGC "Wildlife Inventory" updates...American Wigeon & Snow Goose seen on courses..

Remember to click on any picture to enlarge.

There have been two (2) new additions to the Winnetka Golf Club 'Wildlife Inventory'. If you recall, earlier this year in the  May 7th Blog we posted pictures of the American Bittern (type of rail bird) sighting at #4 Pond. Well, this last fall staff members David Evanshank saw and photographed an American Wigeon feeding on duckweed with numerous Mallard Ducks at #9 Pond.

 And Matt Bukovac photographed a Snow Goose at a few areas on the course. Surely these birds would have likely migrated through the course over the years, but these are the first officially  documented sightings. 

This would be a good time to segue into local Boy Scout Troop-20,  Nick Hedge's "Eagle Scout Project". Over a year ago Nick approached the Winnetka Park District's Director of Parks & Recreation/Dr. Terry Schwartz about an idea he had for his upcoming ESP. This very time consuming project included building from scratch a dozen Eastern Bluebird houses and replacing the most dilapidated of the over 35 Bluebird houses on both golf courses. In addition a huge part is 'leading' other scouts and adults for  hundreds of hours of volunteer work sighting wildlife on the course. Through the cooperation of his volunteers, Nick created a 'Wildlife Brochure' of the Winnetka Golf Club. The brochure's goal is for golfers as well as cross-country skiers, snow-shoers, and dog walkers (who utilize the golf courses in the off-season) to ultimately download and print the brochure through the WPD's website. Follow this Blog, WPD or WGC  Facebook for the soon to be released 'Wildlife Brochure'.

Here is Nick Hedge (holding his brochure) and his parents (far left) with the full Winnetka Park District's Board of Commissioners. Nick was formally recognized at the January 19th board meeting.

Another Eagle Scout Project from the same local Troop-20 is also nearing completion as another brochure thus creating  Flora & Fauna dual brochures. This other project will also be downloadable and has a routing map of the golf course similar to the Morton Arboretum's Map routing (one can follow the outer loop or choose additional inner loops) and provides the locations of specimen trees and groves of trees with interesting factoids. This Eagle Scout  documented, categorized and measured hundreds of trees with the help of his volunteers.  Many may not realize in their own backyard (aka Winnetka Golf Club) are many  non-typical trees that grow and thrive in the muck-peat soils of the golf course. 

Par-3 Golf Course OPEN YEAR ROUND! 18-Hole Golf Course closed for rest & recuperation.

Following are several pictures taken of #14 Fairway (one of the most July flood damaged fairways) shown in a time-lapse type sequence. Feel free to click on any photo to enlarge. Recovery is right on schedule for a mid to late May full restoration, weather provided. Staff has applied plant  protectants (fungicides etc.) to ALL fairways to help control any snow-mold type diseases that typically are cost prohibitive (to 25 acres) at a municipal  golf course. In addition numerous light applications of fertilizer were applied throughout the Fall including a Monday November 21st application to "push" the plants coming out of Winter.

Hole #14 with thousands of Spring bulbs May 2011

#14 Fairway August 4th , one week after flood waters receded.

#14 Fairway August 26th

#14 Fairway August 29th

#14 Fairway September 1st

#14 Fairway September 6th

#14 Fairway September 12th

#14 Fairway September 20th

#14 Fairway October 6th

#14 Fairway October 11th

#14 Fairway October 31st

Uncle Buck returns to Winnetka Golf Club

The sun sets on the golf season at Winnetka Golf Club. Thank you very much for your patronage and support.

Rocky Raccoon watches for a Hummingbird Heartbeat at Winnetka Golf Club

This yearling raccoon was seen climbing a newer cottonwood tree between #8 & #11 Rough.

The following video of a hummingbird feeding was shot at the cement flower planter along the main pathway to the Clubhouse (aka The Superhighway, by staff). It took several attempts over a few weeks to catch a hummingbird feeding. About halfway through the one minute video when the bird had the backdrop of the Par-3 Golf Course trees is when it is most pronounced. All three cement planters in the parking lot as well as by the #18 Green / Starter Shack were planted with the intention of catching these remarkable little birds on video. As you walk up to the Clubhouse for the next several weeks keep your eyes on these planters as the birds spook and flush when you get about 20-50 feet away. The flower of preference for the hummingbirds is the 'Black & Blue Salvia' (Salvia guarantitica) in the late summer. Please enjoy!

Winnetka Golf Club Flood Update: What & Why it happened, general assessment and what to expect moving forward.

From the back of #14 Green - Day 2 of the "Great Flood of 2011".

Hole #14 two weeks post flood.

The Great Flood of 2011

What caused the substandard conditions to the Fairways & Rough at Winnetka GC?

WHAT HAPPENED:

• 7-inches of rain fell on Saturday July 23rd and an additional 2” over the next six days.
• The 18-Hole Course was completely submerged (excluding most greens and tees) for 3 to 4 days.

WHY IT HAPPENED:

• The Winnetka Golf Club’s primary function is flood relief for the community followed by recreation.
• The course takes on twice the watershed (>200 acres) than the 110 acre course.
• Thus, a typical two-inch rainstorm is equal to a four-inch storm.
• The macro-drainage system operates via 12,000 gallons-per-minute of water are pumped into the ponds from the residential area and the course itself. Only 8,000 gallons-per-minute are pumped off the property.
• Due to the extensive pond system and pumping capacity (macro-drainage), and the vast amount of surface drainage (micro-drainage), the course can typically respond similarly with other courses. This storm overwhelmed the entire system. The two supplemental drainage pumps were on line within three hours of the rain storm. These two pumps and the automated drainage pumps were operational throughout. They ran uninterrupted for nearly four days.

WHY ARE THE FAIRWAYS SO BROWN:

• Turfgrass can stay submerged for only brief periods as oxygen is essential to the root system of the plant.
• The fairway turf that was submerged 2-3 days was severely damaged and died back to the crown of the plant. Thus you may see the new shoots of green turf slowly coming back in the brown areas.
• The fairway turf that was submerged for 3-4 days has died and can be identified by the barren or muddy areas. At this point in time it is approximately 20-30% of the total 25 acres of fairway turf or about 5-8 acres has died.
• The fairway turf is cut considerably lower than the rough and subsequently is more sensitive to stress.

WHAT IS STAFF DOING TO RESTORE THE FAIRWAYS:

• Staff has already completed aeration and over seeding on most fairways.
• Fairways have been sprayed preventatively for disease control and a moderate amount of liquid fertilizer.
• As soon as the conditions firm up from last weekend's rain staff will continue the over-seeding program in to the rough. Areas that do not germinate, or are set back by excessive rain or temperatures, will be over seeded repeatedly throughout the fall and next spring as necessary.

WHAT SHOULD THE GOLFER EXPECT:

• The best recovery should take place during the temperate months of September and October.
• The re-establishment program will be ongoing until there is 100% recovery. This may take us into next spring.
• The appearance of the fairways by late October will be a good indicator of what to expect for 2012.
• By late May next year, weather permitted, fairways should be back to normal.

GENERAL ASSESSMENT:

• The best recovery and most critical influence moving forward is cooperative weather. The right climatic conditions will provide for more recovery than any money applied to labor, seed, fertilizer or chemicals.
• Heavy rainfalls, high temperatures and high humidity can set back the recovery process.
• Fortunately we are on the approaching the very best two week window (annually) to encourage successful over seeding in our climate…the end of August.
• Once this work is completed, in the future, we look forward to the fairways being better than ever as Pennlinks II is the newer variety bentgrass being used for reseeding. #10 Approach was sodded to this variety in 2007 and has done better than any other variety after a flood experience.

From #5 Green - Day 2 of the flood.

From #5 Green two weeks post flood.

One of a few new surface drainage projects initiated post flood. This is #18 Fairway where winter ice damage has been reoccurring.

Great opportunity to reseed with newest flood tolerant bentgrass "Pennlinks II". This variety was used as sod on #10 Approach in conjunction with the Rick  Jacobson Renovation work in 2007. This variety has proven to be very flood tolerant after the September 2008 flood as well as last month. It also shows strong characteristics of resisting poa encroachment.

New seedlings emerging 4 days post aerating and seeding.

 Yahoo!!! Click on picture to enlarge.

Par 3 GC OPEN today! 18-Hole GC to open Thursday (weather permitted).

Lake Winnetka NO LONGER EXISTS as of Wednesday July 27th, 2011.
PLEASE remember you can click on any photo to enlarge.

Over 50,000,000 gallons of water were pumped off the Championship course over the last four days. This last weekend's grand total of 8.01-inches of rain left the course with a great deal of clean-up to do before opening. The primary function of the course is flood relief for the community followed by recreation. The water-shed is twice the size of this 110 acre course. Thus after a five week drought and 3.5-inches of rain in the first hour and over 5-inches in the first three hours, most all "ran-off" straight to the course. Staff acknowledges that this was the worst flood in any ones memory. This includes Don Voss who has faithfully served the golf course and park district since 1977.

Following are pictures mostly from Tuesday as the flood waters receded and exposed the huge task of cleaning up flood debris, siltation and getting the 78 sand bunkers on both courses restored. If you follow this blog ...last Sunday there was mention of an unorthodox idea on how to get walking greens mowers and staff out to all the "island greens" such as #'s 8,10,14,15,16 and 17. Staff was extremely concerned as not all of the greens had been cut since last Thursday. Damage can occur when trying to get the greens height back down in this hot & humid weather with soft conditions. The total material cost to 'construct' new boats was $90 thanks to Walmart in Arlington Heights who had the inventory we were looking for.

Following are two very brief movies...enjoy!

USS Michna leaving the 'dry-dock' from #6 Tee in route to #8 Green. The second 'ship' built by staff is the USS Gonzalez II named after a Medal of Honor recipient from the USMC who served with Ast. G.C.Supt. Mark Anderson in Viet Nam 1967-1968. The United States Navy launched the Destroyer USS Gonzalez DDG-66 in 1995. Our boats were built using three sleeved together 5-foot diameter kiddie pools. The base is reinforced by a sheet of plywood to help support the 220 pound walking greens mowers. Kudos go out to staff member's Mario Contreras and Matt Bukovac who had to not only walk in sometimes 3-foot deep water pulling the ship but then take the hip weighters off and walk mow the six greens for an additional six miles of walking AND come back to the shop for coffee and lunch breaks. Not to mention lifting in and out of the ship. Job well done men!

USS Gonzalez II just left dry dock for Lake Winnetka.

Staff Mario Contreras, Mark Anderson (master mind behind the floatilla) and Matt Bukovac.

Here Mario and Matt have just pulled in to "First Port-O-Call" #8 Green, success!!!

Cutting #8 Green as seen from #9 Tee.

#17 Sand Bunker as waters are receding.

#17 Sand bunker contaminated with silt and  organic matter.

#17 Sand bunker close up showing the debris and silt layer. Please notice the clean sand  exposed in front of the ball.

#1 Fairway sand bunker . Notice the high-water line  3/4ths the way up the bunker.

Great photo showing  the 90+ acres of silt. Martin Acosta proudly cutting his green.

Winnetka Golf Club closed due to 7-inch rain storm!!! Course is under water as deep as three feet from bow to stern and port to starboard!

Due to the flooding Winnetka Golf Club will be closed to public play until at least Thursday July 28th. Call the Proshop/Clubhouse at 847-501-2050 for updates. The Winnetka Men's Club Invitational is still under consideration but would not have gas carts out by Wednesday July 27th as scheduled. Saturday morning's 24-hour storm total storm delivered 7.06 of rain at the official Winnetka Golf Club weather station. Chicago received 6.91 Saturday breaking their closest 24- hour records of 6.49 on 8/14/1987 and 6.64 on 9/13/2008. WGC weather station recorded 3.52" in 1-hour at 1am Saturday morning. When adding the rainfall for the next two hours gives a three(3) hour total of 5.27"!!! Absolutely astonishing. Due to the course's primary function as flood relief for the community obviously there was a lot of run off from the water shed of twice the course acreage.

From #5 Green, left to right #8,6,5 and 2

Following are some pictures from Sunday July 24th 24-hours after the major storm. Once the pumps have time to do their job the course should drain down swiftly from the 1,200+ surface drains installed over the last 20 years. Staff is most concerned with getting walking greens mowers out to the furthest greens to cut and spray for disease control this week. Stay tuned as staff has some unorthodox ideas to try and get to the greens greens Monday or Tuesday. And no, canoes would not work lifting a 220 pound machine in and out of a  canoe.

Standing on the front edge of #15 Green. Green has been 25% under water for 30 hours.

Looking down #15 from back of green.

From #15 Green towards #16 Tee.

Rico and Pascual refueling the pump at #14
Tee.

Hole #1.

From #8 Green, #8 on left and #6 on right side of Mertz Mountain.

Hole #10.

Hole #9.

From #10 Green. #9 on left side and #10 on right side.

Hole #11.

Standing on the dike during inspection for breaches. #14 Green and #15 Tee. BTW the yellow pull over boots staff uses no longer function in 36-inch deep water. LOL.

Hole #14 from green.

From #8 Approach looking across holes #10,15 and 16.