Traffic Control on #14 Green

As many of you probably already suspect, March has been very generous with it's contribution to our rainfall totals. The month to-date measurable rainfall total currently stands at 8.39 inches and the jaw-dropper is that we still have 21 days left in what is known as a very rainy month.  I have a feeling that it won't be too long before March one-ups February's 9.16 inches which by the way, put last month in the top 10 wettest Februarys on record.  The good news is that we are in for a treat over the next few days with a forecast of sunny skies and temperatures nearing the high 50's and low 60's.

The effects of last week's warm rain have already had a strong green-up effect on the golf course which means turf is finally growing!  This has allowed us to remove the temporary green on #14 and put the regular green it back into play.  You will notice that we have erected a few traffic control stakes with some rope woven through them to help direct our foot traffic away from the right edge of the green.  Most of our traffic onto and through the green follows the right edge of the green.  

Part of this tatic relates to human psychology.  Most people when given a choice of whether to veer right or left will opt for the right side.  Think about it, when you get on a bus or airplane, most people will subconsciously gravitate to the right side.  Take this concept and put it in the context of typical traffic patterns through our 14th green.  Most players (walking or riding) will approach the 14th green from the fairway, walk right on the right edge of the green above the greenside bunker, place their bag in the rough on the back right, walk back onto the green from the right side, putt then exit the green from the right side.  That's a lot of foot  traffic that the right side of the green has to sustain under low light conditions.  

So, in the meantime, this rope and stake system is here to give all of our golfers a visual of what areas of the green we need to avoid walking through and we ask that you try to find alternate patterns on, off and through the green for the time-being.  If your ball ends up in this area, don't be afraid to play it as it lies and move a stake or two out of the way if necessary, but please put them back the way that you found them before you leave the green.  We plan to leave the rope and stakes up for a week or so then we will revert to a simpler setup once everybody has had a chance to see and learn the areas that we need to re-route our traffic around.

Rope and stakes on #14.