Friday, December 9, 2016
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Monday, November 14, 2016
Late Fall Aerification
We have just completed deep solid tining of the fairways in preparation for the upcoming gypsum application. This will mechanically loosen the soil as well as open channels for the gypsum, water, and oxygen to enter the rootzone.
Tees will be hollow cored starting this week and then heavily top-dressed to help eliminate thatch buildup. We will keep the course open and work around play. The plugs will be removed between tee rocks while we continue clean-up to reduce any disruption of golf. Once we start I will post pictures of the process and update our progress.
In early December we will spiking the greens in order for oxygen and rainfall to enter the profile. This will help to reduce standing water from freezing and causing damage to the surface of the greens. Topdressing will also be applied before winter sets in to help protect the plants and reduce thatch.
Tees will be hollow cored starting this week and then heavily top-dressed to help eliminate thatch buildup. We will keep the course open and work around play. The plugs will be removed between tee rocks while we continue clean-up to reduce any disruption of golf. Once we start I will post pictures of the process and update our progress.
In early December we will spiking the greens in order for oxygen and rainfall to enter the profile. This will help to reduce standing water from freezing and causing damage to the surface of the greens. Topdressing will also be applied before winter sets in to help protect the plants and reduce thatch.
Gypsum Application
This Wednesday we will be applying gypsum to our fairways. We will be spreading 1000lbs an acre with large AG trucks which throw the product up to 60 feet. This amendment is calcium based and will help to flush the high levels of bicarbonates in our soil. When high levels of bicarbonates are introduced into the soil they tend to combine with sodium and begin to seal off the surface. During this past summer when natural rainfall was scarce, continuous irrigation began to cause a lock up of soil particles making it more and more difficult to get needed water into the rootzone. This caused many dry spots throughout the property and the more we watered the worse it became. This problem also contributed to the fairyring which were not effectively watered causing the necrotic ring spots. This application will be done each year to help "loosen" up the soil allowing water and oxygen to reach deeper into the profile.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Range Tee
Due to the unfortunate loss of our irrigation system during 90 degree temps late this summer, weeks of newly germinated seedlings were wiped out on the range tee. Seven days with above average temps and only limited access to water took its toll on the rest of the tee as well. After discussions with numerous members that the tee had very little grass to hit from the tee was closed. We have aggressively seeded and fertilized the tee and the recovery has been exceptional with cooler temps and plentiful rainfall. I recently seed-avated the tee with the highest setting to help fill in any remaining bare spots and reapplied fertilizer.
The range tee is typically closed for the season in mid to later October to take advantage of the few remaining weeks of growth before the cold sets in. The tee will remain closed for the rest of this season so that we can start fully healed next year.
The range tee is typically closed for the season in mid to later October to take advantage of the few remaining weeks of growth before the cold sets in. The tee will remain closed for the rest of this season so that we can start fully healed next year.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
The Summer of 16
This article was written by Steve McDonald. He is one of the foremost consultants in the mid-atlantic region and is highly sought after for presentations at turf conferences around the country.
Relentless July and August Leads to Major Turfgrass Problems
16 August 2016
Turfgrass Disease Solutions, LLC
Over the past three weeks, I have visited more than 65 golf courses in Delaware, Maryland, New
Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania and there is one common theme, stressed turf due to the relentless
weather since mid to late July. The recent high day time temperatures, warm nights, humidity, intense
sunlight, wind and then spotty thunder storms have placed incredible stress to all cool season fine
turfgrass areas. The weather has not discriminated amongst private nor public clubs, high budget nor low
budget courses - every golf course is showing signs of stress in some regard. It has been a brutal season
to try to maintain green speeds, manage moisture and playing conditions. Due to the varying climates,
budgets, ages, and designs throughout the region, golf courses should not be compared to one another.
The growing season of 2016 is bringing chronic issues such as air movement, drainage, shade and weak
species to the fore front.
The most common problem I have encountered, especially in regions that are receiving rainfall, is
severe wet wilt to fairways, tees and greens. Wet wilt is a physical problem in which the soils are
saturated and the grass cannot transpire water to cool itself because of poor air movement and high
humidity levels. This has been most commonly observed in low lying areas of fairways, tees and greens.
Most commonly, it is complete decline or the only live grass is in aeration holes from this spring or last
fall. Wet wilt is very difficult to manage and can take up to 10 days to fully show up, especially on higher
cut tees and fairways. Typically, you will see that golf cart tire tracks wilt quickly and then decline even
when the soil moisture is adequate. If you are experiencing wet wilt, be conservative with mowing
heights and use solid front rollers. Rolling greens is a significant stress to thin turf. On fairways, in the
short term, limit cart traffic and restrict to roughs or paths. Don’t be afraid to preventively syringe turf
that is showing signs of wilt with adequate soil moisture. Long term, explore options to improve drainage
and air movement.
Dry wilt is also a problem for many golf courses not receiving rainfall in some regions. This
places an incredible load on the staff to manage moisture with hoses and overhead irrigation, which is
tough in the heat. If you are in a dry period, be sure to check that irrigation heads are properly
functioning. Far too often an irrigation problem shows up when the stress shows up and with the heat we
have experienced, it’s a slow road to recovery.
Beyond lack of water or too much water, is decline in the poorest growing environments. Air
movement is the most important growing environment consideration during warm, humid periods. Air
movement is needed for fine turf to be able to cool itself following light applications of water (i.e.
syringing). If there is no air movement, the turf in that environment can be 8-12ᵒF or more warmer than
turf receiving air movement naturally or through fans. Fans have completely changed greens
management in areas where trees and underbrush cannot be removed. Air movement is the key for
syringing to work. If the turf does not dry in between syringing, the effects are minimal and the turf will
begin to thin.
Mechanical stress is showing up throughout the region, especially in shaded areas. Mechanical
stress, although self-inflicted, is tough because superintendents are trying to produce a playable golf
course. The two most common mechanical issues I see are roller damage to the collars or mower stress
from turning or to the edges (clean ups) of greens. Be sure to watch staff turn mowers and use rollers to
be sure they are properly completing the task and adjust heights if mowing is skipped. Skipping mowing
may be needed during droughty or wet conditions but if skipping mowing, be sure to assess the height of
cut and not remove too much tissue in a single mow. You will be able to work the height back down in
time, but the initial scalp can cause issues under the current environment.
Disease pressure has been extremely high and every major turfgrass disease has been observed.
Brown patch and Pythium pressure has been high for the past three weeks. For those of you maintaining
perennial ryegrass, I have confirmed gray leaf spot over the past week- this disease can be incredibly
damaging under stress. In some of our trials, we are seeing tighter spray intervals and high rates work
best but nothing will provide 100% control in extreme conditions or saturated, humid conditions.
Preventive fungicides should be applied as needed. If curative control is attempted, be sure to have the
disease properly identified and use the best course of action.
Annual bluegrass weevils have been significantly damaging bentgrass fairways and tees for the
past 3 weeks. We have found early instar white grubs in some of the untreated plots in our research trials
so be sure to scout for them if you are seeing wilt or unthrifty turf. Be sure to scout for insect pest and
treat accordingly.
In a quick outline, these are just a few of the major observations I have had in my recent visits.
Other common themes include: elevated amounts of phytotoxicity (injury from commonly used plant
protection agents), elevated plant parasitic nematode levels, physical injury from aggressive golf shoes
and damage from venting or spiking greens and/or sand topdressing on weak and/or stressed turf. For
those of you considering aerification in the near future, please assess the health of the turf before aeration
or use a less aggressive technique. Aeration should not be looked upon as a tool to renovate weak turf,
but rather a tool to promote long term health. Aerification of weak turf in August can lead to weak turf in
September and October which are two of the most important golf months in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Relentless July and August Leads to Major Turfgrass Problems
16 August 2016
Turfgrass Disease Solutions, LLC
Over the past three weeks, I have visited more than 65 golf courses in Delaware, Maryland, New
Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania and there is one common theme, stressed turf due to the relentless
weather since mid to late July. The recent high day time temperatures, warm nights, humidity, intense
sunlight, wind and then spotty thunder storms have placed incredible stress to all cool season fine
turfgrass areas. The weather has not discriminated amongst private nor public clubs, high budget nor low
budget courses - every golf course is showing signs of stress in some regard. It has been a brutal season
to try to maintain green speeds, manage moisture and playing conditions. Due to the varying climates,
budgets, ages, and designs throughout the region, golf courses should not be compared to one another.
The growing season of 2016 is bringing chronic issues such as air movement, drainage, shade and weak
species to the fore front.
The most common problem I have encountered, especially in regions that are receiving rainfall, is
severe wet wilt to fairways, tees and greens. Wet wilt is a physical problem in which the soils are
saturated and the grass cannot transpire water to cool itself because of poor air movement and high
humidity levels. This has been most commonly observed in low lying areas of fairways, tees and greens.
Most commonly, it is complete decline or the only live grass is in aeration holes from this spring or last
fall. Wet wilt is very difficult to manage and can take up to 10 days to fully show up, especially on higher
cut tees and fairways. Typically, you will see that golf cart tire tracks wilt quickly and then decline even
when the soil moisture is adequate. If you are experiencing wet wilt, be conservative with mowing
heights and use solid front rollers. Rolling greens is a significant stress to thin turf. On fairways, in the
short term, limit cart traffic and restrict to roughs or paths. Don’t be afraid to preventively syringe turf
that is showing signs of wilt with adequate soil moisture. Long term, explore options to improve drainage
and air movement.
Dry wilt is also a problem for many golf courses not receiving rainfall in some regions. This
places an incredible load on the staff to manage moisture with hoses and overhead irrigation, which is
tough in the heat. If you are in a dry period, be sure to check that irrigation heads are properly
functioning. Far too often an irrigation problem shows up when the stress shows up and with the heat we
have experienced, it’s a slow road to recovery.
Beyond lack of water or too much water, is decline in the poorest growing environments. Air
movement is the most important growing environment consideration during warm, humid periods. Air
movement is needed for fine turf to be able to cool itself following light applications of water (i.e.
syringing). If there is no air movement, the turf in that environment can be 8-12ᵒF or more warmer than
turf receiving air movement naturally or through fans. Fans have completely changed greens
management in areas where trees and underbrush cannot be removed. Air movement is the key for
syringing to work. If the turf does not dry in between syringing, the effects are minimal and the turf will
begin to thin.
Mechanical stress is showing up throughout the region, especially in shaded areas. Mechanical
stress, although self-inflicted, is tough because superintendents are trying to produce a playable golf
course. The two most common mechanical issues I see are roller damage to the collars or mower stress
from turning or to the edges (clean ups) of greens. Be sure to watch staff turn mowers and use rollers to
be sure they are properly completing the task and adjust heights if mowing is skipped. Skipping mowing
may be needed during droughty or wet conditions but if skipping mowing, be sure to assess the height of
cut and not remove too much tissue in a single mow. You will be able to work the height back down in
time, but the initial scalp can cause issues under the current environment.
Disease pressure has been extremely high and every major turfgrass disease has been observed.
Brown patch and Pythium pressure has been high for the past three weeks. For those of you maintaining
perennial ryegrass, I have confirmed gray leaf spot over the past week- this disease can be incredibly
damaging under stress. In some of our trials, we are seeing tighter spray intervals and high rates work
best but nothing will provide 100% control in extreme conditions or saturated, humid conditions.
Preventive fungicides should be applied as needed. If curative control is attempted, be sure to have the
disease properly identified and use the best course of action.
Annual bluegrass weevils have been significantly damaging bentgrass fairways and tees for the
past 3 weeks. We have found early instar white grubs in some of the untreated plots in our research trials
so be sure to scout for them if you are seeing wilt or unthrifty turf. Be sure to scout for insect pest and
treat accordingly.
In a quick outline, these are just a few of the major observations I have had in my recent visits.
Other common themes include: elevated amounts of phytotoxicity (injury from commonly used plant
protection agents), elevated plant parasitic nematode levels, physical injury from aggressive golf shoes
and damage from venting or spiking greens and/or sand topdressing on weak and/or stressed turf. For
those of you considering aerification in the near future, please assess the health of the turf before aeration
or use a less aggressive technique. Aeration should not be looked upon as a tool to renovate weak turf,
but rather a tool to promote long term health. Aerification of weak turf in August can lead to weak turf in
September and October which are two of the most important golf months in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Friday, August 19, 2016
S.O.S
On Wednesday, with temps at 90, and just finishing clean-up of aerification. A superintendents worst nightmare graced our course.
I was on the mound between 2 fairway and 17 tee running heads on fairways to cool them down in 90 degree temperatures. My assistants were hand-watering greens and approaches when I saw something with the water pressure I don't ever want to see. The heads on 2 started dropping, I looked over to 14 fairway to see the same thing occurring and then had a sickening feeling come across me. I ran to the pumphouse as fast as I could to see the pressure was at 0 and all the red fault lights on. "No this can't seriously be happening" was the first thing that popped into my head.
After quickly hitting the reset buttons and nothing changing I contacted Atlantic Irrigation. We worked through the many faults on the screen and same result, no pumping. I was instructed to open the cabinet to the main control unit and my heart sank. Smoke and burnt plastic was the first thing that hit my nose.
I met up with my assistants shortly after and instructed them to get back to the shop and fill up our sprayers.
We had no water.
I immediately contacted Brandon to inform him of the situation and asked if he could run to Total rental and get me a 2" trash pump.
As Dave and Jim worked around the course with the sprayers, Brandon showed up with the pump. After a few adapters we were able to attach the pump directly to the outflow line. This would give us enough pressure to run 2 hoses. It was something. It had to be good enough for now.
We wrapped up a little before 8:00 and the greens were doing ok.
I asked for the course to be closed on Thursday so that we could get water anywhere we could without
interruption. When the guys arrived Thursday they were informed of what had happened and were instructed to get all equipment that could carry water. Keep it alive was the last thing mentioned.
We had sprayers, a hydro-seeder, and a few hoses to keep it going.
After a day of no sleep and waiting with little patience left I got the call I was frantically waiting for. They found the parts and they will be overnighted and installed ASAP.
The pump station should be operational by this afternoon and we can begin the catch-up.
I'm very lucky for an outstanding staff who kept it together and worked tirelessly to keep things moving in the right direction. I'm also sorry for the inconvenience but thankful for the membership being very supportive while we worked to get this issue under control.
I was on the mound between 2 fairway and 17 tee running heads on fairways to cool them down in 90 degree temperatures. My assistants were hand-watering greens and approaches when I saw something with the water pressure I don't ever want to see. The heads on 2 started dropping, I looked over to 14 fairway to see the same thing occurring and then had a sickening feeling come across me. I ran to the pumphouse as fast as I could to see the pressure was at 0 and all the red fault lights on. "No this can't seriously be happening" was the first thing that popped into my head.
After quickly hitting the reset buttons and nothing changing I contacted Atlantic Irrigation. We worked through the many faults on the screen and same result, no pumping. I was instructed to open the cabinet to the main control unit and my heart sank. Smoke and burnt plastic was the first thing that hit my nose.
I met up with my assistants shortly after and instructed them to get back to the shop and fill up our sprayers.
We had no water.
 |
| SO FRIED. This module 1 is connected to pump 2 which was damaged as well. |
I immediately contacted Brandon to inform him of the situation and asked if he could run to Total rental and get me a 2" trash pump.
As Dave and Jim worked around the course with the sprayers, Brandon showed up with the pump. After a few adapters we were able to attach the pump directly to the outflow line. This would give us enough pressure to run 2 hoses. It was something. It had to be good enough for now.
We wrapped up a little before 8:00 and the greens were doing ok.
 |
| From 140 hp 1100 gpm to this feeding miles of pipes |
I asked for the course to be closed on Thursday so that we could get water anywhere we could without
interruption. When the guys arrived Thursday they were informed of what had happened and were instructed to get all equipment that could carry water. Keep it alive was the last thing mentioned.
We had sprayers, a hydro-seeder, and a few hoses to keep it going.
 |
| Kevin filling the hydro-seeder to hit tees. |
After a day of no sleep and waiting with little patience left I got the call I was frantically waiting for. They found the parts and they will be overnighted and installed ASAP.
The pump station should be operational by this afternoon and we can begin the catch-up.
I'm very lucky for an outstanding staff who kept it together and worked tirelessly to keep things moving in the right direction. I'm also sorry for the inconvenience but thankful for the membership being very supportive while we worked to get this issue under control.
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Greens Venting
We will be venting greens with small cross tines on Monday and Tuesday. This process will allow vital oxygen to enter the root-zone and reduce the gas build up. The night time temps on Tuesday and Wednesday are very favorable with the lows near 60 and will help cool down the profile just a bit before the next onslaught of searing temps arrives next weekend.
Monday, July 4, 2016
Sodium Induced Wilt
Bring the rain!!
We have received .65" of rain since the third week of May and humidity has been mostly non-existent. This is wonderful for outdoor activities compared to those oppressively humid days but brings challenges to those keepers of the turf. The fairways have developed numerous dry spots and there are a few issues causing this situation I'd like to address.
We have been keeping the golf course on the dry side for the last 7 years to allow for better plant health, play-ability, and and fewer cart path only days. When running on this edge to keep those conditions some browning out will occur. Grass kept on the wet side doesn't allow for any ball roll and diseases can become a serious issue. When constantly watering, rooting also becomes a problem as the plants do not need to dive in search of water. With the severe lack of rainfall on our course this past month coupled with high temps and low humidity, irrigating on a regular basis has become the norm. I have commented on this issue in the past when we are forced to irrigate for long stretches without a decent rainfall.
High temps during summer combined with a lower relative humidity dries out the plants rapidly. ET is known as evapo-transpiration and is a measurement of how much water is lost from the plant and soil during a 24 hour period. ( for example; an acre of corn will lose 3-4000 gallons of water per DAY and a 80ft oak tree will lose 40,000 gallons of water per year.) As the plants transpire or perspire more water is pulled from the roots to cool off the plant. On a 85 degree day with a relative humidity of 30%, a whopping .33" of moisture is lost. To irrigate this amount back to the plant almost 700,000 gallons must taken from the pond. Our irrigation pond on holes 14,17 contains about 2.5 million gallons. One fact to realize is that to water this amount down on greens tees and fairways it would require the pumps to run from 10PM to 1:30 the next afternoon. Obviously this is an impossibility as my crew begins work at 5:00 am and tee times start at 7-7:30. The amount that can be put down before we start work is .18" which is practically a 50% loss.
The other issue when solely relying on pond water is the make up of that water. Our irrigation water contains very high levels of sodium and bicarbonates. When we consume a very salty meal we become dehydrated and must drink copious amounts of clean water to feel good again. If you put a teaspoon of salt in your water you would still remain dehydrated. This is actually what is happening on the fairways and rough. The term is known as sodium induced wilt. The more water we put down to keep up with the ET rates, the more sodium is introduced and the faster the plant dries out. I have installed a wetting agent tank that is connected to the irrigation pumps and will slowly feed this product as we water to help break through the dry compacted soil and allow for some water retention. When we finally get a good soaking rain the sodium will be flushed away and we can start over.
We have received .65" of rain since the third week of May and humidity has been mostly non-existent. This is wonderful for outdoor activities compared to those oppressively humid days but brings challenges to those keepers of the turf. The fairways have developed numerous dry spots and there are a few issues causing this situation I'd like to address.
We have been keeping the golf course on the dry side for the last 7 years to allow for better plant health, play-ability, and and fewer cart path only days. When running on this edge to keep those conditions some browning out will occur. Grass kept on the wet side doesn't allow for any ball roll and diseases can become a serious issue. When constantly watering, rooting also becomes a problem as the plants do not need to dive in search of water. With the severe lack of rainfall on our course this past month coupled with high temps and low humidity, irrigating on a regular basis has become the norm. I have commented on this issue in the past when we are forced to irrigate for long stretches without a decent rainfall.
High temps during summer combined with a lower relative humidity dries out the plants rapidly. ET is known as evapo-transpiration and is a measurement of how much water is lost from the plant and soil during a 24 hour period. ( for example; an acre of corn will lose 3-4000 gallons of water per DAY and a 80ft oak tree will lose 40,000 gallons of water per year.) As the plants transpire or perspire more water is pulled from the roots to cool off the plant. On a 85 degree day with a relative humidity of 30%, a whopping .33" of moisture is lost. To irrigate this amount back to the plant almost 700,000 gallons must taken from the pond. Our irrigation pond on holes 14,17 contains about 2.5 million gallons. One fact to realize is that to water this amount down on greens tees and fairways it would require the pumps to run from 10PM to 1:30 the next afternoon. Obviously this is an impossibility as my crew begins work at 5:00 am and tee times start at 7-7:30. The amount that can be put down before we start work is .18" which is practically a 50% loss.
The other issue when solely relying on pond water is the make up of that water. Our irrigation water contains very high levels of sodium and bicarbonates. When we consume a very salty meal we become dehydrated and must drink copious amounts of clean water to feel good again. If you put a teaspoon of salt in your water you would still remain dehydrated. This is actually what is happening on the fairways and rough. The term is known as sodium induced wilt. The more water we put down to keep up with the ET rates, the more sodium is introduced and the faster the plant dries out. I have installed a wetting agent tank that is connected to the irrigation pumps and will slowly feed this product as we water to help break through the dry compacted soil and allow for some water retention. When we finally get a good soaking rain the sodium will be flushed away and we can start over.
Monday, June 27, 2016
Fairy Ring
This pesky organism can be found over the entire globe and has been frustrating superintendents for centuries. It is one of the largest single organisms and in northern Michigan there is a single fairy ring that has been growing for nearly 1500 years on a 37 acre site. Scientists estimate this 1 fairy ring weighs in excess of 21000 lbs.
Fairy rings are a fungus related to the mushroom group. These wood-decayers eat lignin which aids in cell strength. Lignin is a major component in thatch and why you will see it appear on golf course turf. The fairy ring doesn't attack the grass itself but the byproducts it produces attaches to the sand particles and creates hydrophobic conditions. This layer repels any water we may put down and with the hot dry conditions we've been experiencing will quickly lead to wilting turf. There are a few fungicides that we can spray that will suppress/eliminate the fairy ring. The second option is poking holes around the infection and watering heavily with wetting agents to flush the area and get water back to the bentgrass roots.
Fairy rings are a fungus related to the mushroom group. These wood-decayers eat lignin which aids in cell strength. Lignin is a major component in thatch and why you will see it appear on golf course turf. The fairy ring doesn't attack the grass itself but the byproducts it produces attaches to the sand particles and creates hydrophobic conditions. This layer repels any water we may put down and with the hot dry conditions we've been experiencing will quickly lead to wilting turf. There are a few fungicides that we can spray that will suppress/eliminate the fairy ring. The second option is poking holes around the infection and watering heavily with wetting agents to flush the area and get water back to the bentgrass roots.
 |
| Type II conditions with mushrooms present |
 |
| Type II on golf course fairway |
 |
| Soaking fairy ring spots with wetting agent at Royal St. Georges |
 |
| 18 green. |
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Greens Update
Greens update:
The last two weeks have brought us very favorable weather
and the greens have responded nicely. The vast majority of Graden lines have
been covered due to normal soil temps, moisture, and the weekly fertilizer
spoon-feeding we have been applying.
1 green has been slower to respond due to a couple of
factors. 1 has always been a green that needs extra care to keep pace with the
rest of the course. The trees that surround our maintenance shop block the
typical westerly breezes that would help to dry out the green. This causes the
roots to stay overly wet and will not grow as deeply as a green with full sun
and airflow. Over time, the saturated roots will die back resulting in less
root area to uptake proper nutrition and oxygen thus slowing growth. This was a
serious issue on 4,7,9, and 11 greens in the past but with selective tree
removal, more sun and wind is available and those greens are doing
significantly better. The second factor is wear. The design of the green, which
has steep slopes on the front third, the left third, and two small mounds on
the right greatly limit us in making pin location choices. This concentrates
all the play right through the middle where most of the recovery has been slow.
We have needle tined this green four times in the last month
and a half and will continue to do so to help get vital oxygen to the roots.
This will also provide much needed air 2-3” down to help dry out the green. I
will reduce mowing frequency on this green to help alleviate additional wear on
our part and increase fertilizer applications until the green has healed.
 |
| 18 Green - Full sun and Airflow |
 |
| Almost there- picture taken from 1 green center of traffic |
 |
| Picture taken from 1 green away from high traffic areas |
Sunday, May 8, 2016
You are my sunshine,my only sunshine
Well it looks like the rain will cease for a few days. The good news is the temps will return to normal and get these plants moving. Just like last April we have been very chilly and it has taken longer than expected for the greens to fully heal. Bentgrass needs soil temps of 55-65 degrees to really start moving and the average during April was 52. Considering cool season grasses usually start going dormant around 50 it has been a slow recovery. We definitely needed the moisture after a three week stretch with less than .2" but temperatures are now what is most important. With these upcoming temps we should see a surge of growth this week.
Happy Mother's Day!
To all those moms, who show us love, give us inspiration and support, Thank You! Have a wonderful Mother's Day
Monday, April 18, 2016
Projects
Bridge ends:
The bridge ends on #8 and number nine have settled causing a harsh transition to the cart path. The steep interface on these holes allows rain water to rush down the path and undermine the soil underneath causing severe settling. We will be cutting out the ends and adding a layer concrete which should be immovable. Once cured we will top the concrete with 2-3" of blacktop. This will have to be done on a Tuesday when there is no play as the bridges will have to be closed. For now I have added some gravel to help alleviate the "bump"
Sodding:
I have plans to resurface 1 blue tee and 17 drop area due the large number of divots taken on these tees. Another issue on 1 is the contamination of poa annua that has crept into the voids. This plant is very difficult to eliminate with sprays and takes a considerable time to eradicate. The tee on 17 will be leveled as well due to years of topdressing that has caused a crown. I will post pics of the process and finished product.
The other area that will be addressed is the fescue bunker on the right hand side of 6 fwy. This bank has become very patchy and is in need of a revamp. These projects will completed this week.
The bridge ends on #8 and number nine have settled causing a harsh transition to the cart path. The steep interface on these holes allows rain water to rush down the path and undermine the soil underneath causing severe settling. We will be cutting out the ends and adding a layer concrete which should be immovable. Once cured we will top the concrete with 2-3" of blacktop. This will have to be done on a Tuesday when there is no play as the bridges will have to be closed. For now I have added some gravel to help alleviate the "bump"
Sodding:
I have plans to resurface 1 blue tee and 17 drop area due the large number of divots taken on these tees. Another issue on 1 is the contamination of poa annua that has crept into the voids. This plant is very difficult to eliminate with sprays and takes a considerable time to eradicate. The tee on 17 will be leveled as well due to years of topdressing that has caused a crown. I will post pics of the process and finished product.
The other area that will be addressed is the fescue bunker on the right hand side of 6 fwy. This bank has become very patchy and is in need of a revamp. These projects will completed this week.
Spring time!!
It looks like spring is finally here! After a freak snow storm last week the temps have normalized and the grass is definitely responding. This week we will be fertilizing the course with a healthy dose of nitrogen to take advantage of the warmer weather. This will help the plants to recover from all of the late fall and early season play. With a little shot of precipitation late week the results should be noticeable in a short time.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Aerification
Well, it looks like the groundhog won't be getting his revenge tomorrow. We are scheduled to begin aerification on Monday. We will be using the Graden machine to open channels in the front nine greens. Barring any complications the process will continue through Wednesday in which time the back will be closed. The greens, collars and approaches will be finished and the course will be completely open Thursday.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
2016 Greens
Welcome Golfers to 2016 at Rivercrest!!
We will be opening greens Wednesday March 2nd.
The recent rain has left the course extremely wet and soft. This coming weekend's temps fluctuate drastically so we will move from temporary pins next Wednesday. This will give a chance to clean off and roll the greens a few times before opening.
We will be opening greens Wednesday March 2nd.
The recent rain has left the course extremely wet and soft. This coming weekend's temps fluctuate drastically so we will move from temporary pins next Wednesday. This will give a chance to clean off and roll the greens a few times before opening.
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