American Bittern sighting at Winnetka Golf Club

Although common to Chicagoland the American Bittern is hard to find due to their ability to blend in with the natural surroundings as seen in the following pictures. They belong to the same family as Herons(Ardeidae). Ardeidae's are wadding birds with long necks and stalk food in shallow water. When alarmed Bittern's freeze with bill pointing up. Apparently he knew he would be posted to this Blog and wanted to give us his 'good side' portrait!





This Bittern was photographed at the Pond in back of #4 Green.

From this angle notice the birds ability to camouflage into the surrounding grasses.

Question & Answer Session #1

Morning picture of the Bald Cypress trees between #4 Fairway and #7 Green.
QUESTION: What are those piles of sand doing near the sand bunkers?
ANSWER: Due to the frequent rains this last week staff was not able to use the utility carts to haul the sand edging spoils to our dumps. Utilizing this procedure staff was able to perform a very important periodic maintenance practice. Weather permitted they will all be gone early next week.


Notice the nice clean edge on the low-side entrance to the bunker.

Sort of a neat picture catching Adolfo tossing the root/turf infested sand into the Clubcar.

QUESTION: What are those lines of soil near #5 & #10 Greens?
ANSWER: During last year's stressful growing season staff detected roots from the Cottonwood and Willow trees near those greens had tree roots all the way into the greens! This competition depleted nutrients and moisture to the greens. Staff dug down 30-inches to clay and vertically installed a herbicide impregnated fabric designed specifically for this type of issue.

QUESTION: And what are they going to do with them?
ANSWER: When the back-filled soil dries staff will prep the areas level and resod.

Winnetka Mens Golf Club Spring Dinner - TONIGHT 6:30pm at the "Happ Inn" in Northfield

The Winnetka Mens Golf Club is having their Spring Opening Dinner tonight at the Happ Inn 6:30pm. The Golf Professional Staff and Golf Course Superintendent will be in attendance and just may be allowed to address the club. Tonight's raffle will have a special keepsake from the maintenance department for the lucky winner! Also there is a special guest who will be speaking on golf ball fitting.


The first of over 10,000 spring bulbs are starting to open at the Winnetka Golf Club.

Yes can you tell we have 'new' camera for 2011? Perhaps now we can get some great pictures of the elusive Wood Ducks migrating through as well as better close up shots as evidenced in the above photo.

Masters opening round today cancelled due to snow (April's Fool)...HUGE GOLF DISCOUNT @ Winnetka 'National' GC-Today ONLY!... Coincidence I think not!

Seriously this picture is of Augusta National, but from last February.

PLEASE check out this link for a very special offer by Winnetka "National" Golf Club, TODAY ONLY!!!

http://www.facebook.com/winnetkagolfclub#!/photo.php?fbid=10150203793629254&set=a.307909039253.181901.291193084253&theater

VIP REVISION ...CARTS ARE RUNNING!!! Winnetka Golf Club to "OPEN" Thursday March 17th 8am!!!

VIP-REVISION TO YESTERDAY'S BLOG !!! CARTS WILL BE RUNNING!!!Yes, the 18-Hole Championship Golf Course scheduled opening has been 'moved up eight days' to St. Patrick's Day. Staff has been able top get out on the course starting today 3/15/2010. Once we can get the greens cleared of debris, rolled, cut and cups installed we shall open the course for play. This will be the second earliest opening in the last twenty plus seasons. Only March (14th) in 2000 was opened earlier. Please call the Clubhouse at 847-501-2050 if you have any questions. Enjoy!

Enjoy some pictures from last season.

Long lost July 22nd Blog recently found...check out these pictures to wet your appetite for the upcoming golf season.

PLEASE NOTE: This blog-post was drafted on the same day as the (7-22-10)WGC National Orchard blog-post. Then, less than two days later the course was inundated with 4.12-inches of rain and changed all plans...Please enjoy the following never-before-seen pictures from last season. Tomorrow is March 1st, just four weeks away from the traditional 'targeted' opening day (weather permitted) of the last Friday in March!!! Enjoy.



Notice the adult Bluebird on nesting box. Please double click to enlarge the picture.

Newborn Bluebird babies, notice in the background an egg starting to hatch. This is yet another successful Bluebird box located at #11 Approach Pond on the #14 side.

Deer browsing near #9 Bridge flower boxes.

Red-Tailed Hawk early morning next to #14 Green along the dike with some breakfast.

Lotus Pond looking from #13 Tee across pond to #12 Green.

An unidentified frog (Spring Peeper?) on Lotus leaf in center of picture. Can anyone help identify frogs please call 847-501-2056. Thank you.

Bee buzzing the Lotus plant looking for nectar.

Back in November, was that a Redd Foxx Sighting at Winnetka Golf Club ?!!!

Seriously the Red Fox has returned to Winnetka Golf Club. Sorry not the Chicago raised comedian/actor who passed away in 1991. I couldn't resist the plug for one of my all time favorite comedian/actors and sitcom shows. Actually Redd Foxx was born John Elroy Sanford hence the name of his six season long sitcom. His mother was half Seminole, his hair was reddish, thus his nickname.

Until last year staff has not seen any Red Fox since 1991 when the Coyotes moved in.

Carts er, 'Fox on Paths Only' at #2 Tee. Notice the golf carts at the tee and #5 Fairway. REMEMBER you can double click on any picture to enlarge.


Not sure if Fox is feeding or drinking water. Notice the golfers on #2 Fairway.


Between Holes #2 & #5. Fox scratching an itch as the ducks swim by.


Red Fox sitting as sentry to the course.


Red Fox on the Driving Range in October.


Now for some fall pictures not previously posted.
#17 Green Sweet Gum tree.


#10 White Ash.


Clubhouse & #1 Tee Flowers.


#2 Bridge & Pond.


Your "2010 Golf Maintenance Team".

ONLY 65 more days until our scheduled opening date of March 25th, weather permitting. Only once since 1996 have we had to delay opening into April!!!

As a Chicago Bear was quoted about playing the Green Bay Packers for the NFC Championship, immediately following the Seattle Seahawks game, "CAN'T WAIT"!!!