3-27-2022

Good Morning,

The rainfall last week was exactly what the golf course needed.  The temperatures were in the range of opening the golf course but the dry turf was so susceptible to damage prior to the rain.  The golf course looks great right now and once the temperatures rise we will be ready to start the 2022 golf season.

The driving range has been very busy with the warmer temperatures.  Last Sunday we ran out of range balls at 3:00 PM.  Staff picked the range in a timely manner and golfers were able to continue hitting golf balls into the evening hours.  It’s been great to see so many people out practicing.  I hope to have the golf course open by the end of the week, weather permitting.

Our rental carts were ordered in March of 2021.  This past week they finally arrived.  It was a crazy long wait but it was definitely worth it.  The ten new rental carts are absolutely beautiful.  Current wait time for a new golf cart is May 2023.  The price has also increased by $1100 since the time we ordered our new carts.  

Early in the week we finished hauling sand to the traps on the south end of the golf course.  Unfortunately we had to complete this project for a second time.  The traps were filled with new sand in December of 2021.  The high winter winds and lack of snowfall resulted in all the sand being blown from the traps.  We were able to add some more sand to these traps and hopefully provide better playing conditions for 2022.

This evening as well as Monday evening we will be hosting K-9 police officers from across the state.  Spencer is fortunate enough to host this training event bringing all of these officers to our community.  The clubhouse will be closed for their meeting and dinner.  We look forward to hosting this great event.

The golf course will be monitored on a daily basis and we will start preparing the grounds for the 2022 opening.  Several of our greens will be expanded to increase the playing surface.  We will also be mowing the tees and several fairways out farther.   Hopefully our golf season will start by the end of the week.

Please contact me with any questions or comments.  Enjoy the remainder of the weekend!

Brian C Mohr

Director of Golf Operations

City of Spencer

101 W 5th Street

Spencer Municipal Golf Course

Spencer, Iowa 51301

712-260-5370

www.spencermunigolf.com

3-20-2022

Good Morning,

The weather has been beautiful and the golf course is close to ready for golf but definitely dry and in need of some rain.  I toured the golf course on Saturday afternoon and checked the greens for condition and frost depth.  There was a fair amount of moisture at the base of the turf plant which is very beneficial.  The frost level was between 4″ to 7″ on every green.  The frost level has to be below 12″ in order to cut a cup on the green.  

The forecast looks pretty favorable for some precipitation on Tuesday which should lower the frost level and give the course a much needed dose from Mother Nature’s irrigation source.  The rainfall is absolutely necessary in order to open the golf course.  Otherwise we will need to start hauling water at some point.  

I’m pleased with the current condition of the golf course, all things considered with the dry weather.  I think we are in better shape than most golf courses in this region of the country.  Playing golf on dry turf with high frost levels can lead to damaged turf or even turf loss.  I am sure the golfers are ready to go but please be patient until the course is ready.  

The driving range opened on Wednesday which has allowed players to come out and get some practice.  We also had a lot of people stop in and pay their 2022 fees.  We have our 2022 Virtual Membership Drive going on through April 9.  Anyone paying their season passes or punch card fees are eligible for the drawing.  

We were able to add more sand to some of the traps around the golf course.  Early this coming week we will add more sand to the traps on the south end of the golf course.  Almost all of the sand was blown out of these traps during the high winter winds and no snow cover.  Below are a few pictures showing the effects of the blowing sand:

 4 green 3-19-22.jpg

 15 green 3-19-22.jpg

Staff continued to paint our amenity items before they are placed on the course for the season.  Removing sticks and small branches from the golf course has been a priority as well.  We have more to pick up but have gained a lot of ground.  Other outdoor work includes cleaning up sand off the greens along with goose fertilizer.

On Wednesday I spoke with Bryan Herrig from Speed’s.  Our rental carts are scheduled to arrive at his facility on March 22.  They will add the toppers to the carts and plan to deliver them by the end of the week.

The clubhouse will be open seven days a week.  The hours of operation will be based on the weather in the evenings.  Please contact me if you have any questions or need more information.  Enjoy the remainder of the weekend.   

Brian C Mohr

Director of Golf Operations

City of Spencer

101 W 5th Street

Spencer Municipal Golf Course

Spencer, Iowa 51301

712-260-5370

www.spencermunigolf.com

3-13-2022

Good Morning,

Today we will start seeing the warm temperatures begin.  The entire week is forecasted to be in the 50’s and we will all be getting excited for the golf season.  There is a lot of frost in the ground and we will not be able to play golf until it is gone.  A nice warm rain would be the best thing for the golf course right now.  

I hope to get the driving range open sometime this coming week.  The clubhouse and cart sheds will be open beginning on Monday.  Any golfers that pay their 2022 fees will be eligible for our virtual membership drive gift certificate drawing.

The past week staff has been putting the mowers back together and painting amenity items from the golf course.  Tee markers, flagsticks, OB stakes, and hazard stakes have all been painted for the start of the season.

This upcoming week we will start cleaning up the golf course.  Lots of small branches and sticks have been spread around the course from all the high winds during the winter.  We will get these picked up and hauled to the tree site.

Please be patient as we wait for the golf course conditions to become ready for the start of the season.  We will be open as soon as the course conditions are ready for play.

Brian C Mohr

Director of Golf Operations

City of Spencer

101 W 5th Street

Spencer Municipal Golf Course

Spencer, Iowa 51301

712-260-5370

www.spencermunigolf.com

3-6-2022

Good Morning,

Our golf course is currently in pretty nice shape as we prepare to transition from winter to the start of the golf season.  Our precipitation levels have been below normal but timely rainfall and snow has provided necessary moisture to our greens.  I have toured the golf course multiple times the past few weeks to monitor turf conditions and make preparations for hauling water if necessary.  I’m happy with conditions starting the month of March.

We experienced a lot of warm days recently and that gives everyone an itch to get out onto the golf course.  Monday, February 28 I took a golf cart out to look at course conditions.  The fairways and roughs were so wet the cart was sliding across the surface.  Standing water was present on quite a few greens.  Most of the greens were leaving wet footprints but a few had some moisture at the surface and a drier turf plant above ground.  By Friday the standing water was gone throughout the golf course.  The rainfall on Saturday was a big help as well.

Traffic on greens in the off season can really cause a lot of damage which can lead to turf loss.  Even though it looks like you can play golf, it’s not generally the best idea to go play golf.  One person is not going to cause much damage, but when 100 people see one person golfing then they all want to golf.  I’ve chased a few people off the golf course this winter and I hope everyone understands why?

Off season equipment repairs have been completed at the golf course.  At the point of the off season when reel sharpening and repairs are finished, a thorough cleaning of the shop is conducted.  I use a shop vacuum to go over all the shelves, benches, and corners of the building.  It’s basically a shop makeover to clean it up and make it look nice before we start painting our amenity items such as tee markers etc.  It’s nice to have this dirty  job completed.  

The City of Spencer completed the new phone system transition late this past week.  The old phone system had become obsolete.  I was also unable to have a phone in the shop and run the irrigation software at the same time.  With the new system this has changed and allowed us to have a phone back in the maintenance department.  We also have two hardwired lines in the clubhouse along with two new cordless phones.  Our customers will notice no difference but operations will go much smoother answering phone calls. Phones were up and running with voicemail activated early afternoon on Friday.

I am in the process of working with Human Resources to start bringing back the part time staff for 2022.  Everyone on the grounds will be returning and the majority of the clubhouse staff will be back.  I am still looking for a couple of part time employees in the clubhouse.  One employee started this week and I will bring a couple more back the following week.  This will allow us to complete outdoor course preparation and operate the clubhouse for people to pay fees.  

Some of our outside work to be completed in the next couple of weeks includes:

1. Picking up small branches, sticks, and debris off the course
2. Cleaning off the greens with a blower to remove debris
3. Grading the parking lots, clubhouse cart path, and path to the maintenance shed
4. Start hauling additional sand to the traps  

Please reach out to me through email, text, or phone call if you have any questions or topics you would like to discuss.  

Brian C Mohr

Director of Golf Operations

City of Spencer

101 W 5th Street

Spencer Municipal Golf Course

Spencer, Iowa 51301

712-260-5370

www.spencermunigolf.com