Mayan Apocalypse...Just in Case!

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"!  Today is Thursday, December 20, 2012 and I have a couple of things to share with you before the Mayan apocalypse tomorrow (more on that later).  Last time I mentioned how the Charlotte area is in moderate drought.  We did receive just over a half-inch rain this past Sunday evening (0.56") which was most helpful and greatly needed but overall it was not near enough as our current drought status was upgraded from moderate to severe as the monitor below indicates:

Mecklenburg County in Severe Drought

Moderate Drought Two Weeks Ago

Ironically, I was researching my blog post from this time last year and discovered quite a different tune with regards to the weather and more specifically, rainfall:

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"! Today is Wednesday, December 21, 2011 ... it seems enough rain has moved into the region to fuel rumors of a Milli Vanilli reunion. A trace of rain fell late yesterday evening and this morning it started raining while I was in route to the club. A quick glance at the radar indicated today was going to be a washout and the forecast for the next several days all show... rain! In fact at the time of this writing over an inch of rain has already fallen. As our good friend Charlie Brown would say..."Good Grief"!

Needless to say that is not the case this year and our drought status may not even matter after tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow morning at precisely 7:11 am marks the arrival of the winter solstice and the beginning of winter.  It will also mark the precise end to the 13th Baktun of the Mayan long count calendar and some experts predict there may be a cataclysmic catastrophe caused by gravitational forces due to the perfect alignment of the earth, sun and the dark rift in our galaxy.  This morning the First Warn Weather Team updated their forecast for tomorrow and Saturday...just in case:

Meteor Showers on Friday!

Now, I have spent some time researching the Mayans, their calendar and these apocalyptic predictions.  Thanks to the History Channel, H2, Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, Nat Geo and the internet I believe everything is going to be ok.  This rare video I discovered and shared below shows a group of scientists explaining how the earth will be spared of these predicted catastrophes:

In the event these scientists fail in their efforts it has been a pleasure knowing and working for each of you on this fabulous Donald Ross golf course!  In the event the world is spared I want to wish everyone at Carolina Golf Club a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanza or Happy Festivus (gratuitous Seinfeld reference)!  Whatever your beliefs and celebrations just know my family and I really wish you and your families a very happy and joyous time this holiday season.  Good Lord willing we are off to see our families for a few days and will be back soon but until then I want to wish each of you again a joyous Happy Holidays!! 

See you on the course...

Fingers crossed!

Matthew Wharton
Golf Course Superintendent