Good Morning,
The Muni is currently under a severe thunderstorm warning producing heavy rainfall. This will delay golf until the storm passes and we complete our maintenance practices. The sand traps will be unplayable today due to standing water. Golfers, please be courteous with golf cart traffic.
This past week the maintenance staff used the new aerifier to make some passes across our greens. We used needle nose tines, approximately the size of a pencil, that penetrate about four inches into the soil profile. The aerification process helps us manage soil compaction and rectify some of our isolated dry areas on the golf greens.
Practice Green Aerification 6-23-26.jpeg
The aerification process is minimally disruptive to the playing conditions on the golf greens. Once aeration is complete, we roll the greens to eliminate any tufting around the aerification holes, followed by the greens mower. The finished product is playable in less than 20 minutes per green. We completed this process over three days last week.
#17 Green Aerification 6-23-26.jpeg
Staff has continued to work on the landscaping areas around the golf course. The new plant materials are watered, at least every other day. New mulch has been added to the waterfall area and we started on the clubhouse surrounds. We will order additional mulch and continue the work next week.
#10 Waterfall Landscaping 6-27-26.jpegCrystal O’Clair is currently working on a landscape design for the waterfall and the gazebo. We will add these plant materials on another date. The clubhouse landscaping will also be addressed this golf season.
#5 Landscaping 6-27-26.jpegOur daily maintenance practices consume the majority of our work week. The dry conditions are starting to take some effect on the golf course. The non-irrigated areas are starting to turn brown. Dry conditions require more extensive irrigation monitoring. Staff has been adjusting nozzles and spray patterns to compensate for some of the problem areas.
#13 on 2-27-26.jpegOver the next couple of weeks I will complete the insecticide treatments to control the Emerald Ash Borer in our ash trees on the golf course and some other city properties. This is completed every two years.
Staff will also start removing some of the cattails around the irrigation pond. The cattails affecting the line of sight from tee to green will be removed. These will be along the #11 fairway side of the pond, the #12 fairway, and part of the area by the #5 green.
Cattails are beneficial plants in an aquatic landscape. They provide great filtration, absorb nitrogen and phosphorus in the water, help control erosion, and provide habitat for aquatic fish and wildlife.
There is still a lot of sand to haul to the remaining traps across the golf course. Completing this project during the busy golf season is difficult. We will work on this project weekly, as time permits. Most of the greenside sand traps have been addressed. Several fairway bunkers still require significant sand additions to meet acceptable playing conditions.
#5 on 6-27-26.jpegWe are very close to the end of the 2025-26 fiscal period at the golf course. It has been a great start to the golf season and we thank each and every person who chooses to spend their recreational time with us at The Muni! This sunset picture is courtesy of Blake Goss from last Wednesday evening after golf league:
The Muni Sunset 6-24-26.jpegA special thank you to Randy Riecks for volunteering to paint the golf course shelter on hole #16. We appreciate all the volunteers and look forward to more helping us keep The Muni looking great!
Course Sign Landscaping 6-24-26.jpeg
Please reach out with any questions or for additional information on a topic at The Muni. Enjoy the remainder of the weekend. Please remember to hydrate in the upcoming days. High temperatures can be overwhelming in a short period. Hopefully the storm passes quickly this morning.
Brian C Mohr
Director of Golf Operations
City of SpencerG
101 W 5th Street
Spencer Municipal Golf Course
Spencer, Iowa 51301
712-260-5370