Finally a break in the weather

This past week has been productive. We were actually able to get out onto the golf course to do some work. Some of the scheduled projects are still on hold waiting for drier conditions.


The sand keeps piling up in the maintenance yard. We have been stockpiling sand in our yard waiting to get out on the golf course fairways to topdress with a heavy application of sand. The weather has not been very cooperative in our efforts. Finally, the golf course is clear of snow but we had a lot of rain last week which has heavily saturated the soil. We still are not able to get out due to the softness of the fairways. If we were to start topdressing now, the affects of the heavy machinery and wet sand would create a lot of ruts in the fairways. So we need to wait for either the fairways to dry or a good freeze without the snow.

Meanwhile we wait as the sand pile gets bigger and bigger.

The fairways are showing some Pink Snow Mold in areas. The light brown patches in the picture are spots of Pink Snow Mold. Even though we treated the fairways with a combination of fungicides to help with the Pink Snow Mold this past fall, we still see the affects of the disease. We have had many days of snow cover and many days of warm wet weather both are optimal for promoting the disease.

No need to worry, the fescue with grow back once the spring returns. I guess we will wait until February 2nd to see if we will expect an early spring or a longer winter. I am hoping for an early spring.

Construction or renovation continues despite the weather. The past few weeks, we have been able to continue with our renovation efforts. Below are pictures of #9 and #2 respectively.

The above picture is of #2 showing the area where we eliminated the spilloff. We took this spilloff out due to the extension of the green. Now with the spilloff gone, a player will be able to putt or use a rescue to reach the hole from either side of the green.

Just adding some more soil or fill to make the green surround fit in better due to the addition of the new green extension.

Good News

Tetherow Golf Course has been named the Chapter Winner in the Resort Category by the GCSAA/Golf Digest's Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards program, presented in partnership with Syngenta and Rain Bird - Golf Division.

This award recognizes the environmental stewardship that is very important to Tetherow. An extensive application was submitted in October. Water management, Resource Conservation, Integrated Pest Management, Wildlife/Habitat and Education/Outreach were the categories that the application was based on. We were able to exhibit examples within each category that explained our efforts.

It is truly an honor to represent Tetherow Golf Course and the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association in receiving this award. We are going to continue our environmental efforts and submit an application this fall in the pursuit of winning an award in the National Category.

In other good news, a new addition to our golf course maintenance team has arrived. Coulee Prince has joined Tetherow Golf Course as the Assistant Golf Course Superintendent. We are looking forward to the knowledge and experience that Coulee will bring to our team.

My name is Coulee Prince and I am the new Assistant Golf Course Superintendent. It is with great excitement that I am joining Team Tetherow. I am a fourth generation Central Oregonian. Growing up here, I was bitten by the golf bug. As a kid there was nothing I would rather do than be on the golf course. When it became time to venture out in the working world, my first thoughts were of the golf course. I got my start as the was then "North Course" in Sunriver raking bunkers and performing many other entry level duties. Over the next few years I would move on to other courses and other duties, gradually moving up the ladder. Eventually this led to enrolling in the Turfgrass Management program at COCC. I completed the program in 2003 with an Associate of Science degree. The next move was to Western Pennsylvania to work as a chemical technician at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. The resort had two golf courses, one of which was designed by Pete Dye and hosted a PGA Tour event. After a year I was promoted to Assistant Superintendent. I spent four years in that role were I was exposed to the standards of a five star resort. By 2008, it was time to come home to Oregon. I took the Assistant Superintendents job at Rivers Edge in Bend during the winter of 2008-09 and spent the last two seasons there. The move to Tetherow is one I am excited about and am proud to be affiliated with such a unique facility. I love living here in Bend, and hope to do so for a long time. Fishing, hiking, golfing and spending time on our lakes and rivers are some of my hobbies. I am married to my lovely wife of eight years Megan and we have three dogs.

Coulee Prince.