Lawn/Garden/golf thread

[Quakertown needs snow]

things seems alive and kicking

[NaoPos]

Temps were cool enough, but frost wasn't produced bc of the extreme drought.....

[Quakertown needs snow]

is it really extreme? i haven't tracked and our drought person has not posted.

no sign of drought IMBY. 

many soggy areas, like walking on wet sponge under high grass, water sitting from rain last couple of weeks, top soil on clay and rock takes forever to dryout.

[famartin]

Temps were cool enough, but frost wasn't produced bc of the extreme drought.....

I think the drought ended thanks to the sarcasm dripping off your post.

[Lady Di]

So how did we all fare with the frost of doom?

 

As the old folks say, "Never heard tell of frost this late!"  That statement came true for us.  We were watching closely for Sunday night and the forecast was well north of us, then Monday the western part of our county was highlighted, so we took a gamble and lost.  Not that we  would have been able to cover a 100+ft garden, or had enough buckets to cover the plants.  Green beans, gone.  Ten  tomatoe plants out of 50 made it.  Grateful we do this for hobby and not a living, a mere 30 or 40 bucks should cover replanting.

[Pellice]

I covered my tomatoes and peppers here in eastern Somerset County with a sheet, they came through fine.  There was a bit of frost further out in the yard, but not for very long.

 

World Series of Birding on Sat. May 11 was not too good. Low species totals, and my group cut it short early, around 5 pm, because of storms. You don't want to be out in the sand dunes in a thunderstorm!  Friday, May 10 had been a banner day for birds following the southerly winds overnight. Whole state reporting good variety and totals.  Migration is still mysterious.  There were showers overnight on Friday May 10 into Saturday May 11 that we were hoping would keep the birds from lifting off Friday evening to travel further north to their breeding grounds, but apparently they weren't enough. Still - even when there are storms, and you know the birds aren't flying that night, they can be hard to find the next day. Where do they go?

 

Today was a good bird migration day in the northern half of the state, lots of new arrivals last night, even though there were rains south of here.  The two species of cuckoos were reported all around here in Somerset county - they can sometimes be hard to find (like last year), and then this year they were pretty easy.  They are late migrants.  I have my fingers crossed for a flight tonight. It's late for migration, but everything's delayed this year.  I took tomorrow off and will be birding at Sandy Hook. The winds there are supposed to turn to the NW after midnight, unlike the rest of the state.  I hope that doesn't make the birds stay inland.  Today was a good day there, so I a;sp hope that doesn't mean that all the stragglers to the south moved last night and will be out of there tonight. 

 

Will be looking at the radar as soon as it gets dark.  That nighttime "bloom" you see - that's bird migration.  You just do a loop starting around sunset, and you can see the radar showing the birds on the move.  Interpretation is still elusive - there are many websites working on this issue (using weather radar for bird migration estimates), such as birdcast.info

[NJHurricane]

Hoping for this line of showers to stay comfortably south so I can put down some turfbuilder

[Pellice]

Well, ground-truthing last night's excellent birding radar paid off today -  Sandy Hook was packed with migrant birds.  Good numbers, good variety, some rarities.  I was watching them early this morning as they arrived across the bay from Highlands, they kept on going until they hit the Atlantic, then bounced back to take refuge in the wooded areas.  They were hungry and actively foraging, which I take to mean they had flown quite a ways on last night's south winds.

[NaoPos]

played cobbs -old course today. 40 on the front, 45 on the back..(grr).. can't complain, im happy with mid 80's, especially from the back tees.

830 tee time, we had some lightning and thunder in the area, so that slowed us a bit. Golf courses all seem to be in great shape, loving it!

[hazwoper]

Once again the dreaded red thread is beginning to rear its ugly head throughout my entire yard.  Never fails every season since about 3-4 seasons ago.  Shows up around the same time and I am powerless to do anything about it.  In a matter of a week or so my grass will look awful.  I just dont understand it. 

[tombo82685]

Once again the dreaded red thread is beginning to rear its ugly head throughout my entire yard.  Never fails every season since about 3-4 seasons ago.  Shows up around the same time and I am powerless to do anything about it.  In a matter of a week or so my grass will look awful.  I just dont understand it. 

 

do you fertilize it...how big is your yard.

[Harbourton]

played cobbs -old course today. 40 on the front, 45 on the back..(grr).. can't complain, im happy with mid 80's, especially from the back tees.

830 tee time, we had some lightning and thunder in the area, so that slowed us a bit. Golf courses all seem to be in great shape, loving it!

Great old Philadelphia course like Melrose, Huntington Valley, and dare I say Merion Cricket Club. Huge event for Philly area golfers. Some background-

 

PHILADELPHIA -- Hogan, Jones, Nicklaus and Trevino are part of Merion Golf Club history. Now, a new generation of golfers will get a chance to leave their mark at the venerable club in the 2013 U.S. Open.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Golf Association officially selected the historic club as the site of the 2013 national championship. It is the fifth Open for the course in suburban Philadelphia that has held 17 USGA events, the most of any club.

"The membership of Merion Golf Club is very excited and proud to have been chosen by the USGA as the host site of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship," Merion's championship committee chairman Bill Iredale said in a statement.

The 120-acre layout was, for years, believed to be too small -- in length and size -- to accommodate the trappings of the U.S. Open. But the USGA is confident the 6,800-yard Hugh Wilson-designed East Course can hold its own against golf's best. Winged Foot's West Course, site of this year's Open, will play more than 7,200 yards to a par of 70.

"We feel that our East Course is a very special venue, a classic golf course which, while lengthened some 400 yards to accommodate modern players and equipment, still retains the same shot angles, bunkering and greens that challenged Bob Jones in 1930, Ben Hogan in 1950, Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus in 1971 and David Graham in 1981," Iredale said.

Merion's tiny greens, thick rough and lengthened layout proved to be a formidable test for some of the best long-hitting nonprofessionals at the 2005 U.S. Amateur.

"They've always had great holes, a number of great layup holes where you weren't using driver off the tee," said David Fay, executive director of the USGA. "But they've been able to make their long, stout holes -- the ones that have been known throughout history -- they've made them really long. So I think they have adapted so well to the changing nature of the game."

The club instituted a 10-year plan to prepare for the Amateur, and always had an eye on a possible Open. Leading up to the Amateur, hundreds of trees were removed, the East course was closed for a year to re-grass the greens, all bunkers were restored, 14 holes were lengthened and fairways were realigned to bring hazards into play.

The result: Only six players scored in the 60s on the par-70 layout during the stroke-play portion of the Amateur.

The USGA is also confident Merion can handle the logistics of an Open. While it might mean limiting daily crowds, officials will find space for a corporate village, merchandise tent, trophy room and media.

The USGA said the exact number of spectator tickets has not been determined for the 2013 event, but the total should exceed the 18,000 daily tickets sold for the 1981 Open.

"While Merion is not a huge physical facility, we are confident that we'll be able to conduct a complete U.S. Open operation outside the ropes," said Jim Hyler, chairman of the USGA championship committee. "The cooperation, enthusiasm and resources of the surrounding community remain the major reasons why we are able to do so."

Merion hosted its last Open in 1981, which was won by David Graham. The Amateur has been played at the club six times, and the Women's Amateur has been held there four times. The club is also scheduled to host the Walker Cup in 2009.

The course renowned for red wicker baskets atop its flagsticks and sand hazards known as the "white faces of Merion" has been the site of some of golf's most memorable moments.

Bobby Jones played his first U.S. Amateur at Merion as a 14-year-old and returned 10 years later to claim his first Amateur title. Seventy-six years ago at Merion, he completed the "Grand Slam" by winning the 1930 Amateur to go along with the U.S. Open, British Open and British Amateur.

There's a plaque commemorating Jones' final competitive hole at Merion's 11th tee. It was on that hole he closed out Eugene Homans 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final.

Ben Hogan also left his mark at Merion.

A little more than a year after surviving a horrible car crash, Hogan came to the 72nd hole of the 1950 U.S. Open needing a par to force a playoff. In one of golf's most enduring photos, Hogan is pictured, from behind, hitting a 1-iron from the 18th fairway to a green ringed by spectators. He went on to two-putt for par and won a three-way playoff the next day.

Before the start of a playoff for the 1971 Open, Lee Trevino pulled a prank on Jack Nicklaus, tossing a rubber snake at his feet while on the first tee.

 

 

PHILADELPHIA -- Hogan, Jones, Nicklaus and Trevino are part of Merion Golf Club history. Now, a new generation of golfers will get a chance to leave their mark at the venerable club in the 2013 U.S. Open.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Golf Association officially selected the historic club as the site of the 2013 national championship. It is the fifth Open for the course in suburban Philadelphia that has held 17 USGA events, the most of any club.

"The membership of Merion Golf Club is very excited and proud to have been chosen by the USGA as the host site of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship," Merion's championship committee chairman Bill Iredale said in a statement.

The 120-acre layout was, for years, believed to be too small -- in length and size -- to accommodate the trappings of the U.S. Open. But the USGA is confident the 6,800-yard Hugh Wilson-designed East Course can hold its own against golf's best. Winged Foot's West Course, site of this year's Open, will play more than 7,200 yards to a par of 70.

"We feel that our East Course is a very special venue, a classic golf course which, while lengthened some 400 yards to accommodate modern players and equipment, still retains the same shot angles, bunkering and greens that challenged Bob Jones in 1930, Ben Hogan in 1950, Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus in 1971 and David Graham in 1981," Iredale said.

Merion's tiny greens, thick rough and lengthened layout proved to be a formidable test for some of the best long-hitting nonprofessionals at the 2005 U.S. Amateur.

"They've always had great holes, a number of great layup holes where you weren't using driver off the tee," said David Fay, executive director of the USGA. "But they've been able to make their long, stout holes -- the ones that have been known throughout history -- they've made them really long. So I think they have adapted so well to the changing nature of the game."

The club instituted a 10-year plan to prepare for the Amateur, and always had an eye on a possible Open. Leading up to the Amateur, hundreds of trees were removed, the East course was closed for a year to re-grass the greens, all bunkers were restored, 14 holes were lengthened and fairways were realigned to bring hazards into play.

The result: Only six players scored in the 60s on the par-70 layout during the stroke-play portion of the Amateur.

The USGA is also confident Merion can handle the logistics of an Open. While it might mean limiting daily crowds, officials will find space for a corporate village, merchandise tent, trophy room and media.

The USGA said the exact number of spectator tickets has not been determined for the 2013 event, but the total should exceed the 18,000 daily tickets sold for the 1981 Open.

"While Merion is not a huge physical facility, we are confident that we'll be able to conduct a complete U.S. Open operation outside the ropes," said Jim Hyler, chairman of the USGA championship committee. "The cooperation, enthusiasm and resources of the surrounding community remain the major reasons why we are able to do so."

Merion hosted its last Open in 1981, which was won by David Graham. The Amateur has been played at the club six times, and the Women's Amateur has been held there four times. The club is also scheduled to host the Walker Cup in 2009.

The course renowned for red wicker baskets atop its flagsticks and sand hazards known as the "white faces of Merion" has been the site of some of golf's most memorable moments.

Bobby Jones played his first U.S. Amateur at Merion as a 14-year-old and returned 10 years later to claim his first Amateur title. Seventy-six years ago at Merion, he completed the "Grand Slam" by winning the 1930 Amateur to go along with the U.S. Open, British Open and British Amateur.

There's a plaque commemorating Jones' final competitive hole at Merion's 11th tee. It was on that hole he closed out Eugene Homans 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final.

Ben Hogan also left his mark at Merion.

A little more than a year after surviving a horrible car crash, Hogan came to the 72nd hole of the 1950 U.S. Open needing a par to force a playoff. In one of golf's most enduring photos, Hogan is pictured, from behind, hitting a 1-iron from the 18th fairway to a green ringed by spectators. He went on to two-putt for par and won a three-way playoff the next day.

Before the start of a playoff for the 1971 Open, Lee Trevino pulled a prank on Jack Nicklaus, tossing a rubber snake at his feet while on the first tee.

 

 

PHILADELPHIA -- Hogan, Jones, Nicklaus and Trevino are part of Merion Golf Club history. Now, a new generation of golfers will get a chance to leave their mark at the venerable club in the 2013 U.S. Open.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Golf Association officially selected the historic club as the site of the 2013 national championship. It is the fifth Open for the course in suburban Philadelphia that has held 17 USGA events, the most of any club.

"The membership of Merion Golf Club is very excited and proud to have been chosen by the USGA as the host site of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship," Merion's championship committee chairman Bill Iredale said in a statement.

The 120-acre layout was, for years, believed to be too small -- in length and size -- to accommodate the trappings of the U.S. Open. But the USGA is confident the 6,800-yard Hugh Wilson-designed East Course can hold its own against golf's best. Winged Foot's West Course, site of this year's Open, will play more than 7,200 yards to a par of 70.

"We feel that our East Course is a very special venue, a classic golf course which, while lengthened some 400 yards to accommodate modern players and equipment, still retains the same shot angles, bunkering and greens that challenged Bob Jones in 1930, Ben Hogan in 1950, Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus in 1971 and David Graham in 1981," Iredale said.

Merion's tiny greens, thick rough and lengthened layout proved to be a formidable test for some of the best long-hitting nonprofessionals at the 2005 U.S. Amateur.

"They've always had great holes, a number of great layup holes where you weren't using driver off the tee," said David Fay, executive director of the USGA. "But they've been able to make their long, stout holes -- the ones that have been known throughout history -- they've made them really long. So I think they have adapted so well to the changing nature of the game."

The club instituted a 10-year plan to prepare for the Amateur, and always had an eye on a possible Open. Leading up to the Amateur, hundreds of trees were removed, the East course was closed for a year to re-grass the greens, all bunkers were restored, 14 holes were lengthened and fairways were realigned to bring hazards into play.

The result: Only six players scored in the 60s on the par-70 layout during the stroke-play portion of the Amateur.

The USGA is also confident Merion can handle the logistics of an Open. While it might mean limiting daily crowds, officials will find space for a corporate village, merchandise tent, trophy room and media.

The USGA said the exact number of spectator tickets has not been determined for the 2013 event, but the total should exceed the 18,000 daily tickets sold for the 1981 Open.

"While Merion is not a huge physical facility, we are confident that we'll be able to conduct a complete U.S. Open operation outside the ropes," said Jim Hyler, chairman of the USGA championship committee. "The cooperation, enthusiasm and resources of the surrounding community remain the major reasons why we are able to do so."

Merion hosted its last Open in 1981, which was won by David Graham. The Amateur has been played at the club six times, and the Women's Amateur has been held there four times. The club is also scheduled to host the Walker Cup in 2009.

The course renowned for red wicker baskets atop its flagsticks and sand hazards known as the "white faces of Merion" has been the site of some of golf's most memorable moments.

Bobby Jones played his first U.S. Amateur at Merion as a 14-year-old and returned 10 years later to claim his first Amateur title. Seventy-six years ago at Merion, he completed the "Grand Slam" by winning the 1930 Amateur to go along with the U.S. Open, British Open and British Amateur.

There's a plaque commemorating Jones' final competitive hole at Merion's 11th tee. It was on that hole he closed out Eugene Homans 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final.

Ben Hogan also left his mark at Merion.

A little more than a year after surviving a horrible car crash, Hogan came to the 72nd hole of the 1950 U.S. Open needing a par to force a playoff. In one of golf's most enduring photos, Hogan is pictured, from behind, hitting a 1-iron from the 18th fairway to a green ringed by spectators. He went on to two-putt for par and won a three-way playoff the next day.

Before the start of a playoff for the 1971 Open, Lee Trevino pulled a prank on Jack Nicklaus, tossing a rubber snake at his feet while on the first tee.

 

 

PHILADELPHIA -- Hogan, Jones, Nicklaus and Trevino are part of Merion Golf Club history. Now, a new generation of golfers will get a chance to leave their mark at the venerable club in the 2013 U.S. Open.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Golf Association officially selected the historic club as the site of the 2013 national championship. It is the fifth Open for the course in suburban Philadelphia that has held 17 USGA events, the most of any club.

"The membership of Merion Golf Club is very excited and proud to have been chosen by the USGA as the host site of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship," Merion's championship committee chairman Bill Iredale said in a statement.

The 120-acre layout was, for years, believed to be too small -- in length and size -- to accommodate the trappings of the U.S. Open. But the USGA is confident the 6,800-yard Hugh Wilson-designed East Course can hold its own against golf's best. Winged Foot's West Course, site of this year's Open, will play more than 7,200 yards to a par of 70.

"We feel that our East Course is a very special venue, a classic golf course which, while lengthened some 400 yards to accommodate modern players and equipment, still retains the same shot angles, bunkering and greens that challenged Bob Jones in 1930, Ben Hogan in 1950, Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus in 1971 and David Graham in 1981," Iredale said.

Merion's tiny greens, thick rough and lengthened layout proved to be a formidable test for some of the best long-hitting nonprofessionals at the 2005 U.S. Amateur.

"They've always had great holes, a number of great layup holes where you weren't using driver off the tee," said David Fay, executive director of the USGA. "But they've been able to make their long, stout holes -- the ones that have been known throughout history -- they've made them really long. So I think they have adapted so well to the changing nature of the game."

The club instituted a 10-year plan to prepare for the Amateur, and always had an eye on a possible Open. Leading up to the Amateur, hundreds of trees were removed, the East course was closed for a year to re-grass the greens, all bunkers were restored, 14 holes were lengthened and fairways were realigned to bring hazards into play.

The result: Only six players scored in the 60s on the par-70 layout during the stroke-play portion of the Amateur.

The USGA is also confident Merion can handle the logistics of an Open. While it might mean limiting daily crowds, officials will find space for a corporate village, merchandise tent, trophy room and media.

The USGA said the exact number of spectator tickets has not been determined for the 2013 event, but the total should exceed the 18,000 daily tickets sold for the 1981 Open.

"While Merion is not a huge physical facility, we are confident that we'll be able to conduct a complete U.S. Open operation outside the ropes," said Jim Hyler, chairman of the USGA championship committee. "The cooperation, enthusiasm and resources of the surrounding community remain the major reasons why we are able to do so."

Merion hosted its last Open in 1981, which was won by David Graham. The Amateur has been played at the club six times, and the Women's Amateur has been held there four times. The club is also scheduled to host the Walker Cup in 2009.

The course renowned for red wicker baskets atop its flagsticks and sand hazards known as the "white faces of Merion" has been the site of some of golf's most memorable moments.

Bobby Jones played his first U.S. Amateur at Merion as a 14-year-old and returned 10 years later to claim his first Amateur title. Seventy-six years ago at Merion, he completed the "Grand Slam" by winning the 1930 Amateur to go along with the U.S. Open, British Open and British Amateur.

There's a plaque commemorating Jones' final competitive hole at Merion's 11th tee. It was on that hole he closed out Eugene Homans 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final.

Ben Hogan also left his mark at Merion.

A little more than a year after surviving a horrible car crash, Hogan came to the 72nd hole of the 1950 U.S. Open needing a par to force a playoff. In one of golf's most enduring photos, Hogan is pictured, from behind, hitting a 1-iron from the 18th fairway to a green ringed by spectators. He went on to two-putt for par and won a three-way playoff the next day.

Before the start of a playoff for the 1971 Open, Lee Trevino pulled a prank on Jack Nicklaus, tossing a rubber snake at his feet while on the first tee.

 

Hope the weather is great!

[hazwoper]

Tom, yes I do. It is 1.47 acres so kinda tough to bag all my clippings. I used a lawn service for frets the past two years and started doing it myself again this year. I know it has to do somewhat with low nitrogen, I just don't know why it happens every year.

[tombo82685]

Tom, yes I do. It is 1.47 acres so kinda tough to bag all my clippings. I used a lawn service for frets the past two years and started doing it myself again this year. I know it has to do somewhat with low nitrogen, I just don't know why it happens every year.

Don't bag your clippings. When you return your clippings it will help return nitrogen back to your yard.

[hazwoper]

Yeah, I haven't bagged my clippings, ever. It is a very young lawn (new construction 5 years ago) and gets thicker every year, it just gets tons of red thread every year. I hate it as the lawn looks terrible from this point till fall.

[tombo82685]

Yeah, I haven't bagged my clippings, ever. It is a very young lawn (new construction 5 years ago) and gets thicker every year, it just gets tons of red thread every year. I hate it as the lawn looks terrible from this point till fall.

that is odd, usually red thread is just a spring and fall issue. Caused by cool wet weather and low fertilization. 

[hazwoper]

I just mean the red thread at this point spreads like mad, then when it gets hot and dry it browns up due to typical summer issues. I just have a very short period of really nice green thick grass (early spring and late fall)

[Quakertown needs snow]

some red in yard

 

[Lady Di]

Hi all-had to look back in the thread for the frost date.  I know I should know how to do this more easily but I'm old and not as acclaimated to all the internet information.  I like to write things down.  Husband has his own business and I still do his books on paper and I use an adding machine.  I even read tax documents and fill them out by hand.  Nothing like what I do in my own job.  I may have over 400K on my desk but the system (COMPUTER) never seems to work fast enough for me.  I am a real mix between both worlds!

 

Anyway, sorry to carry on but as a hobby the Mr, me and all the neighbors have planted many gardens.  For the last 3 or 4 years I have canned what we've grown after what we've given out.  I've always thought I should record what's going on since we're old and no one can remember one year from the next.  Thanks for listening, the heat wave sprouted the tomatoes and beans back!! No one thought this was poosible after the frost of doom!!   Everything is weeded, and tilled tonight, so let's see what the water coming this weekend will do.

 

Perhaps I will learn how to do pics.  Right now this garden looks good.  Over 100 feet long and not a groundhog to be found in the last week or so........wish us luck.

[iceman56]

Great- 40 tomatoes & 40 peppers flooded out a second time.   They were already wilting yesterday from too much water, and now this.

Getting too late in the season to find decent replacements.    Reminds me of the June a few years ago when we got a foot of rain in June which started the blight cycle every year.

[Quakertown needs snow]

Turned out to be a nice day at Butter Valley Golf Port.

 

Par 5 15th 600 yard, view from tee. 

No green in sight.

 

 

[FUCK JOE BIDEN]

did you use tarmac assist on that hole?

[Quakertown needs snow]

did you use tarmac assist on that hole?

yes and plane was landing so got more roll via wind drag

[Rainshadow]

yes and plane was landing so got more roll via wind drag

 

That 5th green at Merion was obscene, could have used plane engines to keep the balls from rolling off toward the creek.

[FUCK JOE BIDEN]

perfect disease weather out there

[tombo82685]

perfect disease weather out there

yup, leaf wetness greater than 10hrs combined with low temps upper 60s to 70s and high humidity.

[Voyager]

That 5th green at Merion was obscene, could have used plane engines to keep the balls from rolling off toward the creek.

 

Fresh out of high school I worked golf course maintenance at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem. One very early spring day, many golfers were itching to get out and play. It was still rather cold and any green that had decent shade was still frozen. The Par 3 fourth hole was likely as hard as the parking lot, and while I was doing some clean up in the rough behind the green, a foursome came up, and, either not knowing any better, or forgetting that it was not summer, proceeded to bring out their high loft irons and tee off. When each ball hit the green, they took off like rockets into the woods. Of course when the group got up to the green, the comments were predictable. "Where is my ball?" "I don't understand...I hit it perfectly." etc, and so forth.

 

It was hard to try and keep a straight face and not laugh out loud at their predicament...

[Rainshadow]

Tombo,

 

Ramblewood was a swamp yesterday and the 1.4" isnt going to help. They were applying whatever that stuff is that looks like mounds of soap bubbles and on some of the fairways I could see some of that fungus that looks like dandelion seeds.  A tough summer for golf courses.

 

Have a happy fourth everyone!

[Quakertown needs snow]

macoby run tomorrow, a day at the golf course is a better day then at work

[tombo82685]

Tombo,

 

Ramblewood was a swamp yesterday and the 1.4" isnt going to help. They were applying whatever that stuff is that looks like mounds of soap bubbles and on some of the fairways I could see some of that fungus that looks like dandelion seeds.  A tough summer for golf courses.

 

Have a happy fourth everyone!

Yea this kind of weather saves on watering but not chemical usage. We are spraying our greens every week. What you probably saw was dollar spot, but i would have to see it to be sure, cause other fungus's have mycellium to.