Red Tail Talks: Bryan, Bob and our Greens

Hey everyone! Emma Novak here, officially checking in from the gorgeous—and currently very buzzing—Red Tail Golf Club.

As the resident golf rookie around here, I’ve spent my first few weeks on the property asking a lot of questions. I have a natural, somewhat dangerous level of curiosity that lately, I’ve been focusing on the grass right under our feet. Coming out of this brutal New England winter, our greens looked like they had been through a major battle.

#7 Green starting point

I wanted to know exactly why, so I sat down with the two men who have been living through the last two months: Alliance Golf VP Bryan Barrington, and our own Golf Course Superintendent, Bob Landers.

Here is the inside scoop on what happened, how we fought back, and the incredible news we’ve all been waiting for.

The Perfect Winter Storm

"Emma, it all comes down to a harsh, extended winter and nowhere for the water to go," Bryan explained to me as we looked out over the course.

I learned that what Red Tail experienced is a common seasonal headache known as "winter kill." It turns out that golf turf has a vital heart called a "crown" right at its base where all new growth starts. When we got those heavy, wet New England snows, followed by slow melts over completely frozen ground, the water became trapped.

Bob chimed in to break down the two main ways this hurt our greens:

• The Freeze-Thaw Trap: During brief winter warm-ups, the thirsty turf drank up the melted snow. But when the temperature plummeted right after, that water froze inside the plant cells, shattering them like a soda can left in the freezer.

• The Ice Blanket: Thick layers of ice formed over the turf, cutting off the oxygen and essentially suffocating the grass over an extended period.

It was a tough hand to be dealt, but watching Bryan and Bob spring into action was like watching a finely tuned game strategy unfold.

The Red Tail Recovery Playbook

The second the snow cleared, the team launched an aggressive, multi-step recovery program. Because I love details, I made them walk me through it step-by-step:

1. Opening Up the Soil: They immediately punched tiny holes through the dead crust to get oxygen back into the soil and create a perfect, cozy bed for new seeds.
   

2. The Ultimate Seed Mix: They planted a premium blend of bentgrass specifically chosen for our New England climate. It’s naturally tougher and stands up much better to winter ice.
   

3. Vitamins and Protection: They put together a customized fertilizer and plant protection plan to feed the fragile new seedlings and keep spring diseases at bay.
   

4. The Secret Weapon (Solar Covers): If you saw big blankets covering the greens recently, those weren't just for show. They acted like mini-greenhouses, trapping daytime heat to warm up the soil overnight. Because grass roots need warm soil to wake up and grow, these covers essentially tricked Mother Nature into starting spring a few weeks early.
   

#7 Green recovery process

And the team didn't stop at the greens. While they were at it, they used the time to lay down fresh, healthy sod on high-traffic areas around several tee boxes and fairways so the whole course looks sharp.

Looking Ahead: Winterproofing the Course

Because curiosity means always asking "What's next?", I asked Bryan how we keep this from happening when the snow returns next year.

"We're shifting from defense to offense," Bryan told me.

The team is already mapping out plans to remove specific trees surrounding the greens to let in vital morning sunlight and improve air circulation. Even better, they’ll be subtly reshaping the ground around the greens so that future melted snow flows safely away from the putting surfaces instead of pooling and freezing.

The Big News: Ditch the Temporaries!

All of this brings me to the absolute best part of my job today. Thanks to the tireless, around-the-clock work of Bob, Bryan, and their crew, the progress has been nothing short of spectacular. The seed has sprouted, the roots are digging deep, and the grass is officially winning the comeback story of the season. So, drumroll please...

Starting today, Red Tail is fully open for play with NO temporary greens!

You can finally experience the course the way it was meant to be played. The greens are rounding into shape, the weather is turning, and the team’s hard work has officially paid off. Come out this weekend, enjoy the fresh air, and see the recovery for yourself.

#7 Green reopened

And if you see Bob or Bryan out on the course, give them a massive high-five. (As for me, I’ll be the one tracking golf balls with scientific precision—and celebrating a great opening weekend with a very large slice of chocolate cake). See you on the first tee!