View behind 11 green with the Pacific Ocean in the distance

The weather has been great this week, with the exception of Monday. We had multiple days with blue sky and sunshine. Wednesday started off pretty cold, but warmed up quickly. Sunday was one of our busiest days of the year so far, and everyone really seemed to be enjoying the golf course.

Jim mowing the approach and Jerry mowing the green on hole 14

It was another busy week for the maintenance staff. Dolomite (lime with magnesium) was applied to greens.  The greens and approaches were fertilized. The greens, approaches, and tees were mowed. The greens were also spiked and rolled. The tee marker refurbishing was completed. The bunker edge on 16 green side bunker was repaired. Scotch broom was removed. The approach on hole 7 was aerated, and the cores are being used to complete turf repair project behind 5 green. Bunker washouts were repaired on Tuesday, after the hard rain on Monday. A Curlex blanket was installed on the repair area in 7 fairway. This should help promote the grass to establish more quickly by holding heat and moisture.

Curlex blanket on hole 7

The camera that was pictured in last weeks post did not quite meet my expectations, so I am continuing to use my Nikon Coolpix S4000 for now. I do like the fact that it fits in my pocket easily, so it (or something like it) will probably always have its place. I am continuing to research the digital slr's. Meanwhile, the wildlife at Sandpines continues to offer up some excellent opportunities for pictures. There was also a good one of a coyote on hole 6, but the coyote was pretty hard to find in the picture.

Bald Eagle in a snag between holes 9 and 10

Karl Sackrison, one of the annual pass holders at Sandpines, found an ants nest on hole 13. I told him I would include a picture of it on my blog. Here you go Karl, now your ants are famous.

Karl's ant nest