Back Nine Comments, Delayed Opening (Tuesday??)

We opened the front nine Friday morning, and many members welcomed back sunshine and golf to begin their holiday weekend. Golfers playing today saw nine holes that still had wet areas throughout. To me, it is remarkable that even half the property is available for golf so soon after 9" of rain. Meterologist and member Mr. Stevens believes this was a 200 to 300 year storm event.

We have heard from some unhappy members today, commenting on the lack of availability of both golf carts and the back nine. These decisions are not made lightly, but were easy ones to make. It is our estimation that golf carts will be available for the front nine before any golf is played on the back nine, as the back nine is soaked. I have not seen conditions this wet at Potowomut since my arrival 1,887 days ago. (5+ years) To detail conditions hole by hole:
#10 Extremely wet by the green. This was a water collection point during the storm, creating a few small lakes here.
#11 Entire fairway and green surrounds are extremely wet. Walking on the fairway today, heels of my shoes were depressing in muddy turf wherever I walked on #11. Golf and walking traffic here would ruin playing surfaces.
#12 The green on 12 was the only turf exposed all day Tuesday and Wednesday. A lake formed here as well, from the fairway and right side bunker to the 13th tee.
#13 From the tee to the hill at 200 yards is extremely wet.
#14 Rough on both sides is still full of water, 2" to 4" in depth. Traffic and golf would damage playing surfaces for remaining 2010.
#15 First fairway has standing water everywhere. Much of this fairway was squeeged and pumped today. The second fairway is still extremely wet from the huge lake that formed here, especially at the green.
#16 Dry except for the right side and back of the green surrounds. Water is percolating out of the soil down the entire sloped right side of the green complex, making this area wet and hazardous. Water is also coming off the 14 tee complex, crossing the road adding to the above situation. All this water is moving, ending up in the second fairway on 15, slowing its ability to dry out.
#17 17 Fairway was the area that took the pumped water from the lake on 15, therefore the landing area is still extremely wet.
#18 Dryest hole on the back side, although very wet from the pond toward the green.

We hope the dry conditions we see Saturday and Sunday will speed recovery and thus, playability. However, history teaches us that when back nine holes are this wet, days are needed as opposed to hours. During October, 2005, we had a six inch rainfall event, forcing us to close the back nine for many days until conditions changed. Because of the extreme wet conditions, we mowed back nine fairways with 22" hand greensmowers in 2005, as we will be prepared to begin this Monday. This will not be easy with our current four man crew, but we will get it done!!

Maybe we didn't accurately portray the storm's affects during previous communications. Nine inches of rain fell on our property from Monday until Wednesday, the most significant amount of precipitation that has fallen on Potowomut in possibly 55 years. Please be patient as mother nature takes care of business. We will allow carts on the front nine and open up the back nine for play and carts as soon as the golf course tells us it is ready. Promise.