Stanley Mouse or Donald Judd?

The other day I was visiting, what I think is the best golf course maintenance blog in California, when I ran across this posting from Golf Course Superintendent/ crazed lunatic, Doug Ayres. It shows a Timothy Leary inspired painting of the Corral De Tierra Country Club logo that Doug painted on his first tee.

Not to be outdone, I pulled out my trusty can of white spray paint and drew this lasso (see below) for the Women's 18-hole, Western themed, Invitational.

Example of the Mimimalism Movement style of Golf Course Art 

New Signs at the Driving Range

New signs have been installed on all driving range stalls warning golfers not to hit golf balls over driving range netting.
 

 

Algae Attack II

Once again the call went out for volunteers to help remove algae from the golf course lakes prior to the Women's 18-Hole Invitational. Six hearty souls answered the call, impliments of destruction in hand. It's this spirit of volunteerism that make The Villages a special place!

 

 

Dying Trees

Why are the trees dying? We actually have two problems affecting two different types of trees here at the Villages. The first problem is beetles attacking the Monterey Pine trees. We have been slowly losing Monterey Pine trees to beetles at the Villages for the past 23 years.
The second problem is with Redwood trees. We have been losing Redwood trees since we switched to recycled water 12 years ago. Recycled water has higher salt levels than potable water and Redwood trees are very sensitive to salt.



Monterey Pine with beetle damage

Redwood tree affected by high salt levels in the recycled water

Crop Circles

The photo below is a good example of a turf disease known as Fairy Ring. Although Fairy Rign can be a problem on new greens, here at the Villages the disease is limited to the fairways and rough.

 

I'll Have a BBQ Chicken Sandwich and an Ice Cold Beer!

The Phone at the 8th tee is now working. Call down to the Bar-B-Q by the proshop and have your lunch waiting for you when you make the turn.
 

 

 

 

Second Annual Birdhouse Tour

More than 45 Villagers participated in the Second Annual Birdhouse Tour on Monday, May 21st. We were very lucky again this year to be led by Mary and Dave Fullerton. Many interesting birds were seen along the way, including a Red Shouldered Hawk, a White-Tailed Kite and a Green Heron.

Mary Fullerton leads tour of the birdhouses at The Villages.

Tour gatheres around birdhouse at the first tee

Perfect weather greeted Villages birders