I write this post as I sit in my office watching snow falling out of my window. Being able to sit at my desk and take time to reflect is not something that I have had a lot of time to do this past year. As I end the third year of running my own company, I can certainly say that it was my busiest to date. These are the thoughts on the year that was.
Ticks and Lyme Disease: This past year was the year of the Tick. Parts of Nova Scotia are currently infested with ticks at levels that I wished were not possible. In my travels this summer I was saddened to see several crews that had members suffering the effects of tick borne illnesses. One of the most noticeable effects of a tick borne illness is when the infected is suffering from Bell’s palsy.
Bell’s palsy linked to a tick bite usually means a tick‑borne infection (most often Lyme disease) or, more rarely, a direct tick toxin effect has inflamed or damaged the facial nerve, causing sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of the face. This is considered a neurological emergency because prompt antibiotics and eye protection greatly improve outcomes. Having never seen this before, it was quite disturbing to see two employees at different clubs suffering from this condition.
On a personal note, I to was diagnosed with Lyme disease to end the year. After suffering from what I believed was a knee injury for almost half the year, during blood work at the hospital it was revealed that I to had contracted Lyme disease. I’ve spent the last three weeks on antibiotics to hopefully rid myself of the disease. To show how oddly it can affect different people, in the last few days the swelling in my left knee, present for months, has virtually disappeared. However, my right knee, the good knee during this spell, is know filled with fluid and presents the same pain that I suffered from most of the season. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Golf Is On Fire: I am happy to say that golf in the Maritimes is in a really great place. Many of my clients have just enjoyed their largest year to date, with participation numbers in our sport through the roof. Because of a lack of rainfall in the Atlantic provinces in 2025, there were also more golfing days that usual with rain delays rarely a problem. When new golfers get the chance to come out and enjoy great conditions, our chances of capturing a player for life greatly increase.
Disease and Insects: This year was a low disease pressure year for the majority of my clientele. With the lack of rainfall, the environmental conditions necessary for pathogen development just didn’t occur, and it wasn’t until late in the Fall that we started to see any amount of outbreak. This gave many a chance to keep a close eye on their turfgrass and reduce the amount of pesticides it required to keep surfaces playable.
Insects however were still very active, and I was finding white grubs at many untreated locations as we head in the winter. There is some hope that the extremely dry season we experienced may hinder the development of the insect eggs that were laid, but it is my belief that these troublesome pests are here to stay. If you are seeing adults for the first time at your facility, be assured that you will see more next year, and preparing ahead of time to construct an eradication program is a wise idea.
Irrigation Management: With a dry year like this, improving your irrigation management game becomes the area to focus on. Many people either ran out of irrigation water or were dangerously close to doing so, so preserving every drop and using it in a sustainable manner was essential. When irrigation management gets dialed in, you are certain to start to hear complaints from golfers over firmness. Firmness is a sign that you are on the right track, and being able to dial that in to fit your turf and your golfer’s is a fantastic place to be.
Busiest Year To Date: I am so grateful for the season that just was. I was able to be a part of two large irrigation installation projects, diagnose and repair several electrical irrigation situations, help with several sprayer calibrations and improvements, and travel to visit clients and friends all over our region to discuss turf issues. If anything, there wasn’t enough time in the season to get everything accomplished that I would have liked, but having the support of so many still fills me with hope for the future.
In closing, golf course maintenance and management is the passion of my life, and I’m so grateful to get the opportunity to work in this great industry. I look forward to what the future holds, whatever that may be, but know that growing grass is the life for me.
I hope everyone had a wonderful season and are looking forward to enjoying a break over the holidays. I’m always available should you see a need.
