A five foot gopher snake seen on Hole #1 at the Stanford Golf Course.  Gopher snakes are good for the course as they eat small rodents such as gophers, moles, voles, rats, and mice.  They are not venomous, but often shake their tail similar to a rattlesnake if provoked.

Driving Range Work for New Blue Tower

Power is being taken from the Driving Range Building to install a new Blue Tower along Campus Drive West at the range entrance.  The Blue Towers are used for 911/Emergencies.  Please excuse any inconvenience.

Earth Moving for New Practice Green

Here's a short video of the equipment taking soil from our stockpile near the water tank to the new practice green area on #1. This paddle-wheel scraper hauls approximately 10 cu. yds. per trip.

Renovation of the Nursery Green on #1 Has Started!

A new practice green and chipping area is being installed to the right of #1 green. Here are some of the preliminary photos of the site stripping. The new green will be elevated with two bunkers -- see the preliminary plan below (click to enlarge the plan). Expected opening will be mid-August.

New Sign Near 1st Tee

(Click to Enlarge)
A new sign has been posted along the path down from the first tee. Recent changes to the label of a commonly used rodenticide have now required the posting of treated areas. The product mentioned consists of small tablets that are placed deep inside active rodent burrows to help control burrowing animals. We utilize the Pest Control Operator Sports Turf Management to apply the product on a bi-weekly basis. This product is a key part of programs to reduce damage from rodent burrows on the course. We have successfully used it for over 20 years and is very safe when used professionally in the golf course environment.

DRY DRY DRY Winter!

Recent data from the National Weather Service.........

CLIMATE...HERE IS A LOOK AT PRECIPITATION TOTALS FOR VARIOUSLOCATIONS IN OUR AREA. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NORMAL SEASON REFLECTS JULY 1ST THROUGH JUNE 30TH TOTALS..

STATION.......... ...DEC '11.....NORMAL DEC....SEASON TO DATE...NORMAL SEASON
SANTA ROSA..... ..0.09...............5.50...........................4.24...................30.11... KENTFIELD...........0.12........ 9.69...........................6.17...................47.52...
SAN FRANCISCO..0.14...............4.08...........................3.37...................21.21...
SAN JOSE...............0.08...............2.63...........................1.55...................15.83...
SALINAS................0.05...............2.47............................3.63...................14.56...

Compromised Tree Behind #2 Green

(Click photos to enlarge)

Here are some photos of a Coast Live Oak located behind #2 green. In two separate incidents this year, this tree lost major sections of limbs from similar attachment sites. Now the tree's structure has been severely compromised, making it a hazard to both people and our irrigation controllers. Reluctantly, it has been scheduled to be removed next week........