A few of our golfers have commented on the "shagginess" of our golf course the past few days. Truthfully, they're right!
However, it's something that's almost completely out of the control of our greenskeeping crew. The kind of cool, wet weather we've had since the first of May is ideal for growing grass. In fact, greens, fairways and roughs will grow fast enough to change from ideal to overly-long in just a few hours under the kind of growing conditions we've been experiencing.
So...why don't we just mow more often to keep up?
That's the other side of the wet-cool coin. The soil is soft because it is holding a high amount of moisture right now. Running mowers over the greens multiple times a day will only lead to ruts and depressions on the green.
This next week looks to be much warmer (by 10-20 degrees), and much drier...with sunshine finally taking over for several days. That will help to sturdy up the soil for mowing...and the higher temps will slow the growth of the grass. The combination should speed up the greens.
It will probably take a couple of weeks to fully catch up on mowing the roughs and fairways back to ideal heights. In the meantime, try to enjoy the new challenge of slightly softer conditions.
We'll be working hard to catch up with the turf!
Friday, May 10, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Aerating
Just letting everyone know that we will be aerating our greens April 24-25. The back 9 will be closed until 3pm on Wednesday, April 24th and the front nine will be closed Thursday, April 25th until 3 pm. The plan is to get the greens healed up and healthy for the beginning of our leagues that start in early May. Ideally I would have liked to aerate a week ago, but as you all know, the weather hasn't been very cooperative this spring. The course will be fully open for the weekend beginning Friday the 26th. Thank you.
Ben Meyer- course superintendent
Ben Meyer- course superintendent
Saturday, April 13, 2013
We Are Open
Just letting everyone know that we are going to be open at 11 today, April, 13th. The course is soft and there is some standing water, so please be careful and use cart paths where possible. Obviously, we will be letting carts go out at 11 as well. Thank you.
Ben Meyer, Course Superintendent
Ben Meyer, Course Superintendent
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
A new year, new pricing.
As you may know, when it comes to the business of the Elks Club, April 1st is when we say "Happy New Year!" Fiscal Year 2012-13 ended on March 31st, and yesterday we moved right into Fiscal Year 2013-14.
In conjunction with the new fiscal year, the Board of Trustees did a review of drink and food pricing. It has been four years since the last time there were any price increases, and our annual audit always criticizes our margins in the food and beverage operation. So, we assumed that some kind of an increase would be likely.
A "wild card" in the process was installing our new Point of Sales (POS) system, which makes it much easier to track and manage prices, and provides a LOT more flexibility. So, here's the long and short of the "new prices for the new year":
1. There is now a two-tiered pricing system. Elks Lodge Members and their spouses will pay less for food and beverages than golfing-only members and the public. Elks Lodge Members receive a 50-cent discount on drinks and at least a 50-cent discount on food (in some instances, it's substantially more than 50-cents.)
2. Prices on drinks for Elks Lodge members were increased by 25-cents. Food increases were not as even across-the-board. Our costs on food items have gone up in four years, of course, but some items increased in cost substantially more than others. On average, the increase for a food menu item is less than 50-cents. In many cases, the price held even.
When we began discussing the two-tiered pricing system, one of the first questions was: How do we apply the Elks Member discount if they are with Non-Members?
In order to make it easier on the bartenders and staff, we made the pretty straightforward decision to base the pricing on WHO IS PAYING. If the Elks Member or spouse is paying, the discount applies. If the Non-Member is paying, the Elks Member discount will NOT apply.
Like every change, this will take some getting used to by our Lodge Members, our Non-Elk golfers and the public, and our staff. There will be some stumbles. We'll stub our toe a couple of times.
However, this could be one of the most important changes we've ever made to our business. It provides an incentive for Non-Elks golfers and guests to join the Lodge. It will help "beef up" our margin (and make our auditor happier.)
Most importantly, it allows us, as a Clubhouse operation, to acknowledge and give a very nice benefit to those who are Elks!
In conjunction with the new fiscal year, the Board of Trustees did a review of drink and food pricing. It has been four years since the last time there were any price increases, and our annual audit always criticizes our margins in the food and beverage operation. So, we assumed that some kind of an increase would be likely.
A "wild card" in the process was installing our new Point of Sales (POS) system, which makes it much easier to track and manage prices, and provides a LOT more flexibility. So, here's the long and short of the "new prices for the new year":
1. There is now a two-tiered pricing system. Elks Lodge Members and their spouses will pay less for food and beverages than golfing-only members and the public. Elks Lodge Members receive a 50-cent discount on drinks and at least a 50-cent discount on food (in some instances, it's substantially more than 50-cents.)
2. Prices on drinks for Elks Lodge members were increased by 25-cents. Food increases were not as even across-the-board. Our costs on food items have gone up in four years, of course, but some items increased in cost substantially more than others. On average, the increase for a food menu item is less than 50-cents. In many cases, the price held even.
When we began discussing the two-tiered pricing system, one of the first questions was: How do we apply the Elks Member discount if they are with Non-Members?
In order to make it easier on the bartenders and staff, we made the pretty straightforward decision to base the pricing on WHO IS PAYING. If the Elks Member or spouse is paying, the discount applies. If the Non-Member is paying, the Elks Member discount will NOT apply.
Like every change, this will take some getting used to by our Lodge Members, our Non-Elk golfers and the public, and our staff. There will be some stumbles. We'll stub our toe a couple of times.
However, this could be one of the most important changes we've ever made to our business. It provides an incentive for Non-Elks golfers and guests to join the Lodge. It will help "beef up" our margin (and make our auditor happier.)
Most importantly, it allows us, as a Clubhouse operation, to acknowledge and give a very nice benefit to those who are Elks!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Finally...SPRING!
On Thursday, we cannot staff the Clubhouse, so the Course will be available only for walkers. It's open golf. Just start off the 1st or 10th tee box, and have fun! Show good etiquette, please...and don't play into the folks ahead of you!
Friday, the Clubhouse will open at noon for full-service golf and cart rentals. That will also be true of Saturday (although rain is in the Saturday forecast.)
Easter Sunday, the Clubhouse will be closed, but again the Course will be open for walkers.
Monday is April 1st -- the official beginning of our Golf Season! Finally! Monday mornings all summer, the Course is closed for turf projects, and that will be the case on the the First of April.
Tuesday morning...the summer golf season is ON! 9am opening...full service golf until the Fall. Enjoy!
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