September Newsletter

GENERAL MANAGER & HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL
The September newsletter is here and is the one newsletter I definitely don’t like writing each year.  It marks the final stretch of our golf season and means snow is not that far away.  With the pandemic still on our doorstep, golf has been a great way for folks to get outside, have some fun, hang out with family and friends, while still being safe.  Don’t stress yet, there is still some time left to get out on course and enjoy the great fall colors!  Fall golf, for me, is the best time to play!

Thanks to all that visited us over Labor Day weekend and supported the Folds of Honor Foundation and PGA HOPE with a donation entry into our daily drawing for rounds of golf.  All money raised, along with a $1 donation from each green fee from The Wilderness, raised $900 for the foundation. 
 
There are still a couple events scheduled before our season ends on Oct. 11th.  Check out these events if still looking to get out and have some fun one last time!
Ladies Golf Day – Monday, September 28th
Grand Finale – Sunday, October 11th
For more information or to sign up, call the golf shop at 218-753-8917.
 
Happy Golfing! (hopefully a couple more times before snow sets in)

Ryan Peterson
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GOLF ​COURSE SUPERINTENDENT

To paraphrase the great Minnesota band Semisonic, “it’s closing time...one last round, so call up your friends and get here!”  

August may have seen the end of summer, but it went out in style.  The Indian Summer Classic was great, the crew had the course in great shape...a little rain in the morning didn’t even slow them down.  

September can be an amazing time to play golf, with the fall colors and the crisp cool temps, perfect khakis and a long sleeve.   It’s also a huge time for fall cleanup, or as they say in golf maintenance, aerification.

  <I’ll duck, while you throw things> 

I could bore you with the details, but know this...1) it is an absolute necessity for the immediate and long term health and quality of the course, and 2) we work too hard to provide a great playing surface and wouldn’t mess it up, if it wasn’t important.  For those of you who would like some more information about aerification, here is a link to a great article by the USGA...click here.

Fall means here comes the cooler temperatures, and as we’ve seen already, it can get pretty chilly in the morning.  Brings about another one on the top 5 golfer dislikes...the dreaded “frost delay” <dun ta dun>.  Let’s cover some of the common questions, I hear…
Why is there a frost delay?...”I don't see frost on the first tee or putting green, there wasn't frost at my house, and what possible damage could it do?”  So, let’s get down to the nitty gritty and answer some of these questions?  

“What is frost?”… I think most of us know what frost is, it's the freezing of dew on the leaf blade.
 
“Why is this bad?”...since the leaf blade is made up of 88% water it also freezes and any contact by man or machine will cause it to break and rupture the cell walls.  Thus breaking the cell membrane and causing the plant to discolor and die.“

But there is no frost on the putting green?”…That very well may be true, but the golf course is a large piece of property with elevation changes, shade, and micro climates all being important factors in determining temperature and frost.  

 “The first tee time is after the sunrise; doesn’t that mean the frost is gone?”…little known fact, the coldest part of the day is just before sunrise, once the sun rises the frost sets in and we are able to determine the length of the delay.  

“Why is there a delay at all?”…the reason for the delay is, when there is frost we don’t want anyone on the grass, golfers or maintenance staff, thus delaying the start of maintenance operations.  Since we strive for the best golf course conditions (mowed greens, tees, and fairways, and raked bunkers) this puts us behind and we have to briefly delay the first tee to allow for maintenance to stay ahead of the anxious golfers. 

“The first hole is clear, can’t we go?”...unfortunately, no.  While the 1st hole might be ready to go, if holes after it are still frost, then that stops us from doing what we need to do.  The major delay here is that the 3rd hole is low lying and in the shade, one of the holes that stays frosted the longest.  

Frost sucks, there is no if, ands, or butts about it...we have to wait, the golfer has to wait, and it’s cold!!...but at the end of the day, we have to do what’s best for the course.  

This month we recognize one of my favorites (is that because she makes an amazing strawberry, rhubarb cheesecake bar, maybe) or is it her constant smile and positive attitude, definitely, Billie Jean Monson…

While she may not have been here the longest, started in 2017...she comes with 15 years of prior golf course experience.  When a friend recommended working at a golf course, Billie Jean jumped at the chance to work outside.  Billie Jean fell in love with numerous different pieces of equipment and is always looking to try new things when new stuff arrives.  Billie Jean said one of her fondest moments was getting to work alongside her youngest daughter for 8 seasons, but while the working was fun, the drives to work could be a little sketchy.  When it comes to lessons learned, Billie Jean will never forget to use her parking breaks, while getting off her mower to put the tee markers back, her triplex creeped off into the woods without her!!  When you see Billie Jean, you won’t be able to hold back your smile...thank her, as we thank her for the job she does.  

The days are getting shorter and colder, get those final rounds in while you can...As always, we look forward to seeing you on the 1st tee and keep it between the trees.  

Red 

Give us a follow on the Wilderness Golf Maintenance Twitter Page @WildernessGCM

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DINING ROOM MANAGER
It feels like just yesterday I had started here at the Wilderness and now here we are with only one month left until our season is over. Everyone said how fast the season goes, but I just cannot believe it. With that said, we hope to have you dine here at the Wilderness Grill again before that day comes. So, be sure to give us a call to make your reservations as seating is still limited. It is going to be a long winter without those Prime Time or Walleye Po Boy sandwiches available nearby. ?

The feeling of fall is in the air, which is exciting for the restaurant. The hot toddy and hot buttered rum drinks or even just some Bailey’s in your coffee are upon us. Chef Bryan is also making seasonal changes to the menu. How exciting! Some of the corn and green bean items are dropping off and being replaced with things like butternut squash and brussel sprouts.

If you have stopped by within the last month, you may have noticed the flowers on the inside tables. These are grown by chef Bryan himself. Aren’t they gorgeous?! 

Kendra Swanson

The Wilderness Grill Facebook & Instagram Page

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WILDERNESS CHEF

Fall flavors are the best, duck, cabbage, brussel sprouts, squash and wild rice are some of the fall ingredients I have incorporated into the menu.

I went ricing recently, there is nothing better than sitting on your knees for 6 hours with worms and spiders crawling on you while the wild rice dances into the canoe. However, it is all worth it!

I just wanted to take this time to thank all the people that came and ate this year and if you haven't been now is your chance.

ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL

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DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING
The Annual Indian Summer Classic Golf Tournament was held on August 20th. This is a fundraiser for the Lake Vermilion and Nett Lake Bois Forte Boys & Girls Club. Over $16,000 was raised! Thank you to all the sponsors and participants in the event! This would not be possible without you. 

Rickey Young and Tommy Kramer with Tribal Chair Cathy Chavers

Participants from Miner's Bank, 1st National Bank and Northern State Bank taking a chance at SNAG golf.

Participants from Twin Metals on the tee box of Hole #1

The winners with 15 under par - Barrett Group

HOLE-IN-ONE WINNERS:
Congratulations to the 3 hole-in-ones for August! 
8/20/2020 - Larry Kidd from Merrifield, MN | Hole #7 with a 9 iron from 115 yards
8/27/2020 - Brian Bennett from West Des Moines, IA | Hole #3 with a Ping 9 iron from 150 yards
8/29/2020 - Jason Bernard from Lakeville, MN | Hole #3 with a Taylor Made 7 Iron from 193 yards

*Hole-in-one photos in order as listed above.