April has been a month so far of cooler temperatures and an abundance of rain.  The grass has been slow to green up and the trees are trying to bud out but are not quite there.  Yesterday afternoon's warm temperatures finally provided the right conditions for some green up.  The increased temperatures were followed by a rapid drop in temperature and a substantial wind and rain storm with it.  Due to these conditions we lost 2 trees in the Pine grove between 11/12.  One tree was an existing dead Pine that the Red Tailed Hawks perched on, as well as another White Pine.  Both of these trees had health and structural problems.

White Pines between 11 and 12

The last several years the Red Tailed Hawks have nested in the White Pines in this area of the course.  As some of the White Pines have been removed, we are fortunate that the hawks have created nests in other neighboring trees.  This year there are 2 Red Tailed Hawks that are still living on the golf course in the pine groves between 11/12.  So during your golf round look up in the sky and there is a good chance you will see the hawks soaring around.

Red Tail Hawk by #7 Green

The rainfall that we have been receiving is causing an increase in the water level in Forest Lake and the lakes that feed into it.  This could cause a flooding problem on the golf course, in the low lying areas of #2, #6 and the driving range.  The weir system that helps sustain Forest Lake at a suitable level has been opened to relieve water.  This water travels through the waterway on the right of the 2nd Tee box under hole #2 to the creek on #6.  When our network of underground drainage cannot handle the surplus of water it will start backing up and flooding into the driving range area.  This process of lowering the lake levels will be done over the next week.  At the moment we have been able handle the increase in volume of water and move it underground across the golf course. Below are a few pictures from today.

"Lake in the Woods"  bottom right is the culvert just under water

#5 foot bridge with the water level 1"inch from the bottom