Surprise!

There is a weir structure on the #17 pond at Leslie Park. This allows us to slightly change the level of the pond depending on the time of year. The discharge pipe comes out near the walking bridge that goes from #17 green to #18 tee. This pipe is 24 inches in diameter. While looking around 17 green the other day, I noticed that the discharge pipe was making more noise than usual. I checked the weir and, to my surprise, found a large snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) stuck between the boards and the reinforcement bar. Because the turtle was basically submerged, I feared it was dead and wondered how to remove it from the weir. Grabbing the bar used to change the board level, I began to lever the turtle out of it's position. I was very surprised when the fierce jaws suddenly grabbed the tool forcefully.

I was able to get the creature unstuck and he made his way to the outlet.

Once again, the outlet pipe is 24 inches around. Hours later, he had made his way back into the pond.

Soon to be open for business

The new black tee box on #11 that was constructed last fall will be open for play on Memorial Day weekend.

This is the view from the back tees.

We will need to get a new tee sign for #11. This new tee adds 21 yards to the total length of the hole. This brings the maximum yardage to 503 yards.

Project Updates

Here are some updates on projects that we have been doing in the last 6 months or so.

The area to the left of #11 green is growing in well. 

You can see where the fairway will go in this picture due to the lighter color of the bentgrass.

The same area at the beginning of April.

Fall of 2011. You can see the pea-stone used as a base.

The area before the drain. It was always wet. We could not use a mower without sinking. Golf balls would often plug in this area as well.

The drainage on #16 is fully open.

The drain lines form the shape of an "F."

The same drain last fall.

Laying out the drain tile. (Fall 2011)

The drain across #11 fairway is also complete.

The bentgrass has been mowed at the same height as the rest of the fairway.

The trench before pipe was added. This picture is looking from the other direction, i.e. toward #13. (Fall 2011)

April Weather Summary

April 2012 was decidedly different from last April.

April 2011 had rain. Lots of rain. While at Leslie Park, we only had 4.86 inches of rain, many places in southeast Michigan had over 6 inches. This April we had 2.04 inches. The average amount of rain for the month is 1.85 inches. We would have been below normal except for the 0.52 inches we had on April 30th. In 2011, April had 19 days of rain. This year, there were only 9. The maximum daily rain was 0.78 inches on the 15th.  4 days had over a tenth of an inch.

The maximum temperature was 77.1 degrees. It happened on the 15th. ( In March of 2012, we had three days above 80.) The mean temperature was 48.5 and the low was 26.5 (29th.) Leslie Park had six days were the low dipped below the freezing point.

The average wind speed was 4.5 mph. The highest sustained wind speed was 37 mph. Five days had max wind speeds above 30 mph.