Nebraska Cancel The title field is required!

1. William Bieck

   

   0 posts
   
   11/15/2016 10:11 AM

   Thanks for the update, Tom! We're are on a similar schedule but probably 7-10 days behind you. What a fall of beautiful golfing weather. We're mowing greens again today. Haven't had any rain since Sept 18th........very dry.
   
   The course looks and plays great right now as we have not had but the one hard frost last week. Weather looks pretty good 10 days out........right now looking to drain system sometime after Thanksgiving. You know me.......I'll keep it on till the very end. I am concerned with minimal moisture in the soil profile in those transitional areas on the course.
   
   We just finished our cart path program. The last two years we've added over 3/4 mile of concrete paths after the renovation we did a couple years back. All done in house we have a great staff and a couple of volunteer members.
   
   Have fun in SD!!!! Keep your updates coming.
   
   Bill Bieck
   Heritage Hills
   McCook, NE

   
   
   
   
2. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   12/7/2016 6:12 AM

   Cold is the word today.
   
   First real cold of the year.
   2 inches of snow on Saturday - 16 or so on the tee sheet for Sunday most calling are you going to be open today?! - not - snow all gone Monday late 55F - Monday 40 calls or so wanting to know if we would be open.
   
   We are starting on equipment maintenance - golf carts will be serviced at Eagle right after the 1st of the year.
   
   Working on next seasons spray schedule and what to use - give the clubhouse our schedule early so they can cross check against outings and such we can usually change our schedule a few days one way or the other if need be.
   
   Will start looking at the 2017-2018 budget pretty soon - needs to be submitted by about May 15th or so.
   Good start to this years budget - 100,000+ over the three year average which has been pretty good - that can change pretty quickly with a few weekend rainouts during the season.
   
   Seasonal workers all gone now until mid March or so.
   
   Home owner call - you have a dead possum on the course you need to get picked up. will do today.
   
   Take care everyone and have a great Christmas and New Year - All's I want for Christmas is ? You tell us.
   Take it easy!

   
   
   
   
3. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   12/29/2016 7:12 AM

   Hey! Anyone out there.
   
   Yes - Got my proverbial lump of coal again this year - I need to be a nicer person.
   
   Yes - we have been open - ugh! 45 and windy yesterday(Dec 28th) about 50 played between the 2 golf courses - and not all of them were season pass holders.
   Cart path only was the rule - ya right - but why? - water standing everywhere from the inch of rain late last week - freeze and thaw - not much drying weather this time of year.
   
   Turfgrass conference in a week or so - Casey and I need to renew our pesticide applicator licenses.
   
   Changing up a bit here for the next season - going to use vinyl guard on the old sticks with new ferrules - have any of you used the vinyl guard products - our first time using - yellow vinyl guard over the old white sticks. The boys are finishing up on new tee wooden tee markers - they look nice.
   
   Anyone using the 6 or 8 inch cups for events? We have one 6 inch cup but very rarely use it. Was just wondering if anyone has used them and what you opinion on them is.
   
   Fox family living on hole #11 - 2 adults and 2 kits. We have come to the conclusion that they have been gnawing on cart directional ropes most of the season - we could not figure out why every morning our rope had been "CUT" in the area the foxes are living.
   
   Equipment repair moving along - Mechanic(Wendal) is about finished up over at Eagle Hills. I don't know when he will move over here to Tara Hills.
   
   Everyone have a great start to the new year

   
   
   
   
4. Brian Woster

   

   0 posts
   
   12/29/2016 12:12 PM

   Hey Tom been a long time...I was just back home for 11 days or so just before Christmas and ice fished 7 days out at Wannahoo with my brothers and had a good old time. Bummer still being open we're under a couple feet of snow here in N. Idaho so I don't have to worry about cutting a cup until April. Anyway, I saw your post and wanted to say Hi...take care.
   
   Brian

   
   
   
   
5. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   12/30/2016 8:12 AM

   Hey Brian.
   
   Good to hear from you.
   Guys here have gotten out on the ice for a bit but the warm temps as of late might make them think twice about doing it for a while/
   
   I've only been out on the ice once fishing - flaming gorge in Wyoming.
   Today might be the last day of golf for a while 50 today then going to be cold for a spell here.
   We've only had about 5 inches total this winter so far - it has been gone for weeks too. We did get an inch or so of rain last week.
   
   Have a good start to the new year.
   
   If some of this is incoherent I forgot my glasses today and can't see? old age?!?!

   
   
   
   
6. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   1/30/2017 6:01 AM

   Snow gone. 50-something today. Will be open - didn't start taking tees times this time though.
   
   Equipment almost back together.
   
   Golf cart service to take place this week or next.
   
   Lots of stuff going around - everybody is getting sick.
   
   Spring not far off.
   
   Everyone have a great rest of the winter.

   
   
   
   
7. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   2/9/2017 6:02 AM

   Reels back together and hung on machines - ready to mow - get out of shop.
   Mechanic still working on a few things - but close to done. Carts serviced and ready to go.
   Looking over price quotes for fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides and seed. what we have not ordered yet we will soon.
   
   About 2 inches of snow on the ground today - 60 of Friday - are we going to be open? Not likely - maybe not even Saturday if it does not dry up some.
   
   Interviewing for possibly 3 seasonal positions. 2 at Tara and 1 at Eagle. 7 apps so far. No apps for summer seasonal which is pretty strange - usually get lots of young people applying.
   Spray schedule redone for the 2nd time - will give to the clubhouse early next week.
   Using vinyl guard of old flag sticks this year - changing to an all yellow flag and stick at Tara- have been using red(front), white(middle), and blue(back) flags in the past - we will see how many complain about not having that anymore. Eagle will be using black and white vinyl guard sticks with a black and white flag.
   
   Adam(Eagle assistant) will be applying to the state for permits to addle goose eggs at the golf courses again this year. We've been addling eggs for a number of years now - the state came out the first two years and did the addling but since then they have issued permits in an attempt to keep the local goose flock down. The geese are already pairing up - we historically have had 6-7 pairs each season. Eagle has had 12-15 pair. We have had about 200 geese flying in at Tara daily when we are not playing golf.
   
   Season almost here. Sounds like it may be in the 50's all next week.
   take care

   
   
   
   
8. Thomas James

   

   0 posts
   
   3/9/2017 7:03 AM

   Warm - cold - hot - sunny - cloudy - windy - rainy - snowy - We've seen quite the hodge podge of weather so far this season and is only early March. 78 for the high on Monday - projected 33 for the high on Saturday.
   
   Both golf courses surpassed the 1000 player number for the season already. Play has been crazy on the nice days. Changing pin placements and tees about every 200 rounds. Lots of rope and signs up - doesn't seem to matter though.
   
   Initial pesticide and fertilizer orders placed for the first part of the year.
   
   Looks like prograss did a pretty good job on the poa this time around. We are aerating and starting to seed this week.
   
   Looking at the weather to try to decide when to apply primo/proxy to greens. GDD at 200 already - we have mowed 1 time. The greens look good at this time.
   
   Looking at hiring 5 new employees. Paper work - ugh!
   
   We have a family of foxes(4) living on the course at Tara Hills - The little varmints have been chewing on the rope the we have up on holes 1,10, 12,17, and 18 right where the stakes are (crazy). Casey(assistant supt.) suggested using a mixture of vegetable oil and cayenne pepper to coat the ropes near the stakes - no longer chewing on the rope.
   
   Ryan, Adam, and the crew conducted some major tree work on holes 11-14 this winter. The removal of trees around the tees on 11, 12, and 14 and the 11th green should improve air flow and allow more sun light to reach the green and tees. The work has also improved the aesthetics of these areas.
   
   We have decide to take a wait and see approach to the emerald ash borer this season. Of the 120 ash trees on property we have removed 15 so far. We have identified 30 or so that we will eventually treat.
   
   All for now.
   
   Take care

   
   
   
   
9. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   3/9/2017 10:03 PM

   I remember visiting family friends in Lincoln when I was a kid. Late August, I think it was. First time I ever saw a firefly. Lots of fireflies.

   
   
   
   
10. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    3/13/2017 6:03 AM

    Hey Pete. Good to hear from you. The grandkids are always trying to catch fireflies in the summer.
    
    Did you see lots of rain a few weeks ago where you are there in California? That was something wasn't it. Our kids are down in San Diego and they had lots or rain too.
    
    We've had almost no snow this winter which is uncommon with mild temps too.
    
    Take care.

    
    
    
    
11. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    3/22/2017 8:03 AM

    Irrigation system on. Nothing major leak wise - yet! 1 Dead box?
    
    Seeding complete - fairways and tees
    
    New tee and green supplies out.
    
    greens mowed for the 3rd time - greening up pretty good - 1st app of primo/proxy down 3-20 GDD 250. Lots of ballmarks from playing all winter. Greens aeration dates set with clubhouse - Apr 11th Eagle - Apr 17th Tara.
    
    Early season application needs being delivered next week.
    
    Seasonal workers starting week of March 27th.

    
    
    
    
12. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    11/29/2017 1:11 PM

    It's been a while. Record season revenue wise. Actually put a little money into the golf reserve fund(have been for the last 6 years now or so). Only 29+ inches of rain this year with lots of it coming at night. Only .2 inches since October 22nd. System blown out Nov. 20th - Last irrigation cycle Nov. 17th. Last mow on anything was Nov.10th. 1 more outing - Dec 3rd. Starting to see colder night time temps. Prograss applications completed. Almost no leave left to chop or blow. What a headache. All the rope and stakes taken in - all the rope and stakes going back out - cart traffic on turf that is going dormant - ugh!!!!! Seasonal crew done November 30th. Nebraska Turfgrass Conference January 9-11 2018 in LaVista - short drive for us.

    
    
    
    
13. Scott Schurman

    

    0 posts
    
    12/19/2017 9:12 AM

    Tom,
    
    We pressured back up last week at Kearney Country Club and watered as much as possible. Today we are draining the system and will blow out tomorrow. This has been one of the driest Fall's in my nine years back in Nebraska.
    
    The greens look much better going into the deep freeze by weeks end. Praying for some much needed snow cover. See you at The NTA next month.
    
    Scott Schurman
    Kearney CC
    Kearney, NE

    
    
    
    
14. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    12/22/2017 10:12 AM

    Hey Scott.
    
    I don't remember December being this dry ever either - but then I am old and tend to not remember much these days. Still golfing and it is starting to show(mainly cart traffic). ugh! Going cart path only from here on out We even had a couple players over at Eagle yesterday(Thurs - Dec 21) early, but just one call at Tara and they didn't show.
    
    Ryan over at Eagle did turn his system back on and watered some and he blow it out again Wednesday also. We didn't turn it back on here at Tara but did put some water on greens. Last day we watered with the system was Nov. 17th. We blew them both out the first time the week of November 20th.

    
    
    
    
15. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    4/17/2018 6:04 AM

    All I have to say is CRAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZY spring weather.

    
    
    
    
16. Thomas James

    

    0 posts
    
    1/16/2019 6:01 AM

    Last post - only 2 days left to retirement.
    
    Happy and sad at the same time.
    
    Leaving everything in good hands. New era about to begin.
    
    Thanks to the boys for making it a pleasurable experience all these years.
    
    Everyone keep it green.
    
    Thanks it's been fun. Time to play more golf.

    
    
    
    
17. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    1/16/2019 7:01 AM

    Thomas,
    
    Congratulations on your retirement. I'm hoping to get to Nebraska for some golf this year. I have a brother who moved from Berkeley, CA to McCook, NE a few months ago. He's loving it so far. Not to worry, he's pretty conservative, so it's not like he's bringing Berkeley politics with him.

    
    
    
    
18. William Bieck

    

    0 posts
    
    1/16/2019 10:01 AM

    Hey Pete. California to McCook can be a culture shock. I recently retired after 37 years at Heritage Hills Golf Course in McCook. You will love this course and it will be a surprise to find this gem in southwest Nebraska. McCook is not an easy place to get too....enjoy the scenery. And, Tom James. Enjoy your retirement after all your hard work and dedication. Missed you at the NE Turf Conference last week.
    
    Bill Bieck

    
    
    
    
19. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    1/16/2019 2:01 PM

    Hi Bill. Congratulations on your retirement. I hope I'm only a couple years away.
    
    Yes, culture shock for sure, although he said he should've done it a long time ago. I did look up your course on the Internet after he said he was moving there. Looks pretty nice, and I would love to play there someday. For a guy who might only have a few days to visit and play golf what's the best time of year?