I hope everyone had a great Christmas with lots of presents and especially good cheer.  All the best to everyone for a successful 2015 and this summer be a happy one with great conditions and above all, lots of golfers.

The 2014 Fall WindUp and AGM is now in he history books.  The new format was a success in terms of added attendance and improved education value.  I had very good comments about the two day event.  At our February Board meeting everything will be reviewed and any changes will be incorporated in the 2015 event.  For those who attended, your ideas and comments are welcome.  Email me at soupyd@sasktel.net, or use the comment area below.

The 2014 Fall Wind Up and AGM is fast approaching.  Everything, including the Wednesday night social, will be at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club.  Dates are November 12th and 13th.  To date, I’ve received 20 registrations.  These are from the southeast and southwest areas of our province.  Oddly, I haven’t received any from Saskatoon or Regina.

Fall is here, which means the end of the season is near.  Work at this time of year is very important.  Your fungicide program is in full gear. The irrigation blowout is an important task.  These two projects are important for an easy start up in the spring.

The 2014 STA Research Tournament is now history.  The turnout was a disappointment, but everyone who made the effort to attend had fun.  All players were in awe over the condition of Ken Lintott’s golf course.  It was in excellent condition from tee through the green.  I heard many good comments about the quality of all aspects of the course.  The STA thanks Evergreen Golf Course and Ken Lintott for the hospitality.  It was a great day!

Playing in the Research Tournament and Skins game gives each of you an opportunity to play the two first rate golf courses in the northern part of the province.  Superintendents are urged to bring their green chairman, president, and their manager to this event.  You won’t regret participating in this tourney as the Nipawin Evergreen golf course wants to make this Research Tournament one you’ll remember.

The most recent news is the flooding in the south of our province.  Golf courses took a huge hit as did a multitude of residents.  This comes at an awful time and to go along with a wet spring, revenues are almost non existent.  This affects a lot more than just golf courses.  Our commercial friends will suffer simply because there won’t be any money in the bank to purchase new equipment.  The suppliers will suffer also.  One superintendent told me Mother Nature is the supreme boss and there is no way you can alter her plans.  Things hopefully will get better and we will salvage a little bit in what’s remaining of 2014.

My sources tell me most golf courses in our Province are in pretty good condition.  There are however, some trouble  spots in the north and in the south.  It was a severe winter and spring was slow to come, so some of the turf suffered.  Northern damage was due, for the most part, to an inadequate fungicide program.

I read more and more that visual aids have no reason to be on a golf course.  One is 150 yard markers, whether it is a tree or a post.  The other is using multi coloured flags to indicate hold locations.  These two are the most mentioned.  Speed of play is usually used as the general reason why the flags and 150 yard indicators are used.  There are some negatives.  Without going into detail, I’ll mention a few:

Finally some warmer weather.  February was brutal with not only cold temperatures but wind almost every day.  This was particularly tough on me because I’m not allowed to travel anymore.  This is the first winter in over 25 years that I toughed out the complete winter.