#13 bunkers

Melbourne Method

 What's New on the Course!

Just a short note to point out a few changes that are happening at Stonebridge.  November brought some cooler temperatures, the golf course was extremely busy and some of our feathered friends are returning, just in time for our Audubon tours.   

We had a couple of rain events during November, followed by unusually cold temperatures.  This tends to increase this disease pressure on our turfgrass.  Thanks to our strict preventative measures, we avoided most fungal activity.  The greens continue to improve and we are looking forward to a successful season.  

After some concerns regarding plugged lies in our bunkers faces, we have adopted a new raking regimen.   This "Melbourne Method" is directly pulled from Melbourne Country Club in Australia, the host of the Australian Masters.  This club is widely known as one of the most well conditioned courses in the world.  The goal of this method is to firm up the bunker faces and hand rake the playable center.  We have started to train our staff this week and we hope to provide improved bunker play ability this season. 

Below you will find a picture of a "Common Gallinue" just in time for our first Audubon Tour.  We are excited to have Brian Beckner lead a series of tours throughout the course over the next few weeks.  The wildlife is beginning to return and it should be an entertaining and informative session.  

Common Gallinule