We finally got some needed rain . . . Just shy of 2 inches in a day and a half. Came down real easy and I figgered it would soak in easily. It didn't. Lots of water layin everywhere on the course. The boss didn't open the back 9 because there was so much water everywhere.
Since I had not been able to mow since Wed. AM, there was no way I was gonna get everything mowed this week. I set out to mow a couple or three swaths around the fairways, then look for long grass that might be in play. Had no trouble doin that. Greg set out to mow fairways, but gave up due to too much standin water. The boss & Matt set out to drag the fairways. We drag a long hose tween two work carts over the fairways to knock water drops off the grass . . . helps cut down on disease.
Anyway, while draggin the short #7 fairway, the boss apparently hydroplaned over a puddle of water. He found himself unable to steer away from the creek and the brakes were doin anything either. Said he was makin a quick decision whether to tuck and roll when he jumped or to just jump out. He ended up jumpin out, landin on his feet, but spun himself 180 degrees before endin up slidin on his knees. The cart went straight into the creek. The creek is on the narrow side there and the cart was firmly wedged front to back from bank to bank. They brought out the little tractor to pull it out, but it only spun its tires . . . not a good thing to do on fairway grass. I came upon the scene when I was cutting a swath around the big #7 fairway. By that time they had brought out the big tractor and hooked a nylon strap to it and the little tractor. The big tractor was across the fairway. The big #7 fairway really didn't need a second swath cut around it but I mowed a couple more just to see what was gonna happen. I stay away in times like this. By my third time around it was out. The boss had wet, grass stained pantsand the work cart will be repaired when parts arrive next week for the broken steering assembly.
Everyone in the clubhouse knew about it, even the kitchen people by lunchtime. Even Joe, who is the engineer on the sewer project that is goin down a couple roads in the area, heard about it and got there in time to watch em pull the cart out of the creek. News travels really fast on a golf course!!
No one has been in the water since me & my rough mower slid down hill a couple or three years ago a bit downstream of today's happenin. If I had another 10 ft., I probably would have avoided goin in. My mower was sideways on the bank with one of the mower decks in the water. My plan if something like that ever happened to me was to ride it downhill and at the last second jump. I almost made it to the other bank. I was wet only about halfway up my shins. I was thinkin, 'that went pretty well.' then I saw my camera bag floatin downstream. Had to wade in up to my waist to rescue my camera. I always double bag it and it wasn't a bit wet. Since the rough mower is so heavy and big, we ended up borrowin a big tractor from the horse farm next door. Didn't take pics of that fiasco either . . . I thought about it, but I was too disgusted with myself to do it.
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