Wayne's World Jan/Feb 2023
Dear La Cumbre Members,
After some terrific golfing weather during the holidays, we are into a new year, and it seems into a much-needed wet pattern. So I thought I would go over some maintenance items that come up this time of year and answer some questions about how we manage course play.
Carts or no carts after the rain? We look and think about how much mud tracking we'll get from the carts and if there will be any physical damage to the turf areas in play. We then look at the forecasted weather, and if there's a rain front coming through in the next day or two, we'll be a little more aggressive in getting carts out as the mud tracks will get washed away with the new rain.
If there's no rain forecasted, we usually hold off longer, so we don't have a lot of unsightly mud tracking. Our goal is to have the property looking and playing as well as it can for all members.
We will close the course if the greens have standing water because of excessive foot tracking and ball marks. Additionally, if the bunkers have a lot of washouts and standing water, that's another reason to close the golf course for playing.
We really do want to get all members out to play golf as much as possible, but by restricting play at certain times, it makes the playing conditions better for all members. So it's a balance we consider every day.
Here are a few websites I use to monitor the weather:
Some notes on rainfall and the lake:
- As of 1/13/23, we have had 17.55 inches for the season.
- From 1/1/23 to 1/10/23, we had 8.67 inches out of one storm.
- The lake has 55 inches of water in it.
- We will have a lake all season with about 24 inches left in it by October.
- Lake Cachuma will spill over, and the entire state water delivery system will be improved, securing water for the next few years and hopefully stabilizing the availability and pricing of this resource.
A 2023 Forecast of the Greens Department work:
- Complete a capital maintenance plan for all areas on the course (this will be done by Todd Eckenrode and Origins Golf).
- Complete a new irrigation system design and plan for the property.
- Fly the property with drones to make a Topo map to be used for the work above.
- Level and install new sod on teeing grounds.
- Remove the sand dam on the front of some greens and lower the sod for drainage.
- Purchase a new boat for algae and aquatic weed removal in the lake.
I am sure more items will arise as the year progresses, but this is the base plan for 2023. Our team is looking forward to a solid season with great conditions for golf and enhanced visuals from the lake and native areas.
See you on the course,
Wayne Mills
Note from the Green Committee
Your Green Committee is off to a good start and as Wayne detailed in his report we are pleased that we will have water in our lake this year. After a significant amount of course improvements last year, 2023 will be centered around planning so enjoy a year of golf with few course interruptions. A topic that was widely discussed at our January Green Committee meeting was course maintenance by our members. We experiencing far too many unrepaired ball marks, unfilled divots and poorly raked sand traps. We realize that the large majority of our members are conscientious and care for our course properly, but these issues seem to be occurring more than ever. Please remind your fellow players to repair their divots and ball marks and rake the sand traps properly so the group following has a good experience. We are privileged to have such a wonderful golf course to play so lets help Wayne’s team maintain it to the level it deserves.
Fairways and Greens,
John Blair and your Green Committee
