Notes from the General Manager’s Desk...

 

I hope this finds all of you recovering from another holiday season and looking forward to a new year and decade.   The club was very busy in the month of December hosting holiday parties and traditional club events.   It was great to see the membership using the club during a busy holiday season.

With a new year brings new goals and challenges.   The new Board of Directors is establishing their committee rosters.   If anyone is interested in joining a committee, please contact me.   The more members we get involved on the committee level will allow more feedback and understanding of the memberships needs.

Please remember that the club will remain open the entire month of January.   The club has extended its winter shutdown and will be closed the entire month of February.   The club will reopen on Tuesday, March 2nd.   Champaign Country Club and Urbana Country Club will extend reciprocal dining privileges during the shutdown.   Please contact the business office with any questions or concerns.

My letter this month will be short.   Over the past year the club has faced its share of challenges.   I feel we have weathered the storm in 2009.   While many private clubs across the country have gone semi-private or have closed the doors, LFCC remains a private club which is dedicated to the needs of our membership.   Membership has declined this past year and we made some tough cuts to accommodate this reduction.   We, as a club, are moving forward and 2010 will bring a new start.     We are not going to reinvent ourselves but remember why this club and clubs around the country exist: To enjoy yourself with friends and family in a comfortable environment.

Go Fighting Illini!!!

Sincerely, Chris Reis General Manager

Notes from the Course Superintendent

I hope everyone got a chance to enjoy the very nice weather in early November. The golf course finally

dried out and allowed for a couple weeks of more normal playing conditions. Unfortunately, the wet

weather has returned during the past few weeks making it difficult again to enjoy the golf course.

 

Following are few updates from the Grounds Department:

 

Course Status: Playing conditions were very good during the dry period at the beginning of the month

but have recently returned to slow and wet. The course will remain open for play as long as weather

conditions allow, but at this point in the season, with winter weather soon to arrive, we have closed the

back nine restroom for the year, and brought in most of the course accessories. Tee markers, rakes, and

ball-washers have been collected so as to avoid any damage from freezing temperatures.

 

Course Projects: The grounds staff was able to make some progress on projects during the recent dry weather. Grade work was performed and sod was installed on the perimeters/slopes of the new championship tees on the back nine. The new championship tees on hole #6, and #9, as well as the alternate tee on hole #16, and the drop area on hole #7 remain to be graded and sodded. This work will continue into the fall/early winter as weather conditions allow.

 

Sod was also installed on several bare areas on fairway edges. These areas had previously received poor irrigation coverage and were impossible to maintain, however, the irrigation extension project that was completed this spring has made it possible to maintain healthy turf in these areas in the future.   Leaf cleanup was also completed throughout the golf course during November. Fallen leaves have been blown into rough areas and mulched with rotary mowers.   Final winterization projects, including the course irrigation system will be completed in the next few weeks.

 

Tree Work: The “limbing up” or pruning of the lower limbs of approximately 500 trees around the golf course is continuing slowly between rain events. This project is now moving to the back nine, with the front nine work recently completed. Several dead tree removals will also be performed during the off-season.

 

Early Morning Frost: Please continue to be aware of the possibility of early morning frost on the turf

areas of the golf course. Foot or vehicular traffic on the frost-covered turf will cause severe damage that is

very slow to recover. Please utilize the cart path system for any traffic to and from the course/clubhouse

during these periods of frost, so as to prevent damage to the turfgrass.

 

Finally, as we approach the winter season, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays! It is very

important at this time of year to enjoy your families and friends. Be careful and safe as you travel and

appreciate all of the blessings in your lives!

Sincerely, Scott Werner, CGCS

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