Tuesday, July 27, 2011

The summer heat is definately here in Chattanooga.  As one local meteorologist said "It is air you can wear."  99 degrees with 70% humidity.  Thank God for Champion ultradwarf bermudagrass is all I can say.

For those who follow our blog but are not in the golf course industry I want to introduce you to a great website calledTurfNet.  This website has loads of valuable information for golf course superintendents but can also provide information for people in other turf and landscape related industries.  One of the best parts of TurfNet is the comidic videos which are produce by Mr. Randy Wilson.  Almost all of his videos are poking fun at the golf course industry and some of the things golf course superintendents have to put up with. Mr. Wilson's latest contibution is a video about the upcoming 93rd PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.  I thoroughly enjoyed it but maybe that is because I know exacly where he is coming from. Bent vs. bermudagrass in the south.

Randy Wilson's Latest Video

If you get the time check out some of Randy's other videos.  They are hilarious.

Collection of Randy Wilson Videos

Mr. Casey Neal brought by some of his students from the Chattanooga State Community College Landscape and Turfgrass Management Program today for a field trip.  This has become an annual event and it is nice to see the next batch of turfgrass and landscape professionals coming along.

We have some new additions to The Bear Trace that I wanted to show off to you.

 This family likes to stay out near #13 green.  The little ones stumble alot when the try to run but they sure are nice to look at.

This osprey is building a nest near #4 green overlooking a channel on the river.  Flies over every morning.  Guess he or she wants to get some publicity like the bald eagles have.

I had someone ask about what Ms. Diane and Ms. Angie were looking at in this picture of them monitoring the bluebird nesting box.  They are using a Ridgid hand held inspection camera to look into the nesting box without disturbing the birds or the nest.  The inspection camera has a 3 foot flexible wand and has a lighted tip so that you can see into the box.  Using this tool allows the monitors to look into the box, monitor activity, and never have to open the nesting box which could potentially harm the babies.  The other good thing about using the inspeciton camera is that you don't get surprised by snakes or wasps who are not supposed to be in there but sometimes are.