Traver Creek Survey

As part of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program certification process, we are required to do water quality sampling and testing.  We have our samples tested by AnaLync.  They test for such things as calcium, sodium, nitrate, phosphate, chloride as well as other nutrients.  We do this for a number of reasons.  One of the biggest is that the stream that runs through the golf golf course, Traver Creek, is part of the Huron River watershed and as such, anything that gets into the water at the golf course will, eventually make it's way into the Huron and from there, into the Great Lakes.

Our water tests are taken from the pond on #17, where Traver Creek enters the property and from the pond on #12, where the creek leaves the golf course. These tests, which we have done since 2009, show that the golf course does not add to the nutrients in the creek. In fact, most of the tests show a decrease of the elements that are sampled. This is a very good sign that the fertilizer and chemicals that we use on the golf course are used in a responsible way.  We avoid applying fertilizers near water and have buffer strips near the creek that will filter runoff that may occur.

In 2007 the Huron River Watershed Council recommended that phosphorous fertilizers not be used within the watershed. This was in order to cut down on the amount of phosphorous, a major factor in algae blooms, in the Huron River. The City of Ann Arbor adopted this as a city regulation and as such, Leslie Park has not used any phosphorous fertilizers since.  In December 2010, Michigan lawmakers passed legislation (HB-5368) that extend this regulation state-wide. The new regulations and limitations will go into effect on January 1, 2012.

We also have the good fortune of working with Dr. Hannah-Maria Jacques and the Peter G. Meier Water Quality Survey. This is a self-funded study that documents the benthic diversity of Traver Creek and has sampled for macroinvertabrates since 2003. According to Dr. Jacques, the amount of insects and other aquatic animals is greater than previously reported by the Huron River Watershed Council.

Great Lakes Trade Exposition

I just returned from two days in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I attended the Great Lakes Trade Exposition (GLTE). Despite the very non-descriptive name (really, that name could refer to anything) the conference was very educational. The GLTE is colaboration between the Michigan Turf Foundation and the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association and involves three days of educational seminars and a trade show at Devos Place.  While there, I listened to speakers from the USGA, Michigan State University, the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and various golf courses and businesses from around the midwest. I also talked with many suppliers, vendors and former classmates of mine from MSU.

Golf's Economic Impact

Interesting numbers from We Are Golf.org (an organization founded by The Golf Course Superintendent's Association of America, The PGA and The National Golf Course Owners Association)

Michigan has 265 golf courses, with a direct economic output (defined as the size of the golf industry within the state economy in terms of revenues) of $2.2 billion. Total number of employees of Michigan golf courses is 56,977. Compare that to North Carolina, which has 558 courses with an output of $2.6 billion or Massachusetts with 375 courses and $1.6 billion in output.

Winter at Leslie Park

Here are some photos of Leslie in the winter.  More snow on the way!

Weather Station

Sucess!  We have the weather station back up and running. To be truthful, the weather station was working, we just could not relay the information to Weather Underground for people to see over the internet.  That is all fixed, now, so the box to the right and at the bottom of the page is now real-time weather at the golf Course

Frost delays and why we have them

 Frost delays can be an annoyance. But they are also a very important tool for helping turf to survive the tough winter months. In this video, Dr. Larry Stowell of PACE Turf explains to golfers how frost can damage turf, and why a frost delay of even only two hours can make a big difference in turf's ability to survive.

Closed for Winter

Leslie Park is closed for the winter. If you would like to play golf, our sister course, Huron Hills, is still open.