Golf Course Report

October 2014

The October Report tends to be a re-cap of the summer maintenance.  This one is a tale of two summers.  June, July and August were kind to the golf course.  They provided plenty of sun and an adequate amount of rain.  This allowed us to perform all of our cultural practices and provided normal growing conditions.  Great progress was made during this time.  September was a totally different animal, 20 days of rain and an addition 8 days with no sun.  The effects of a month without seeing the sun include longer internodes, shorter roots and little to no lateral movement.  This results in slower green speeds, less stress resistance and turf that is ripe for disease.  There is some good that came from September, we completed our final greens aerification and squeezed in the first ever DryJect application at Stonebridge.  The DryJect machine works like an aerifier except it injects dry sand into the green as opposed to removing a core.  This process allowed us to insert a Profile soil amendment that will help provide consistency throughout our putting surfaces.  Over time this material will dilute our heavy soils and provide moisture retention in our sandy soils.

The October Report usually has a glimpse of the future included.  I am confident the work completed this summer will benefit the long term health of the golf course.  A few tasks were delayed by the September washout, including our final weed control application and our nematicide for the greens.  Both of these tasks will be completed in early October to allow for proper recovery.  The rising sun has shifted to the south and is providing more exposure to our weaker areas on the course.  This will speed recovery and enhance the growing conditions.  As the turf rebounds from the cloudy conditions we will increase our grooming and the greens speeds will improve.  A fresh coat of Pine Straw will be applied this month and our winter annuals should be in place before the Fall Classic on the 24^th.  I am looking forward to a great season at Stonebridge.

I would like to thank the entire golf maintenance staff for taking PRIDE in their work and going above and beyond to make Stonebridge a special place.