Golf Course Report

January 2016

The New Year always brings new resolutions and a hope for a less stressful existence.  The key to a healthy life and a healthy golf course is to reduce stress.  Over the last 6 weeks the ever-changing obstacles have provided some challenges for our team.  There are many different stresses that contribute to the aesthetics and playability of a golf course.  The trick is to manage the ones you CAN control versus the ones from a Higher Power.

Environmental stresses come from Mother Nature.  We can certainly alter some of these stresses by removing trees to improve sunlight and air movement, adding drainage to increase percolation and buying fans and grow lights to simulate proper growing conditions.   The goal is to take what SHE gives and produce proper playing conditions.  How we do this is managing the Mechanical stresses that effect the turf.  This includes; traffic (carts, divots, ball marks etc.), mowing, fertility, disease suppression and moisture management. 

The Hot and Humid weather in December prompted reduced fertility and heavy grooming to provide expected playing conditions.  The Wet and Cool weather to start the New Year led to additional fungicide applications and a raise in the height of cut (HOC) for all of our playing surfaces.  To combat natural stresses we reduce mechanical stresses.  Raising the HOC will provide more leaf blade to absorb the limited amount of sunlight that the turf is receiving during this time.  As we mow at a higher HOC and less frequently, we will roll more often to provide acceptable playability. The lower the HOC the more prevalent the effects are, the greens are our main focus but the remainder of the property has shown signs of the stresses.  The seclusion of Stonebridge, in the Heart of Naples, takes a very dense buffering plan.  The Southern buffer creates the  damp and dank area on the left side of #15 and the rear of #4 green, the Eastern border aides in the same issues with #14 tee and green, #13 green an #11 green.  History shows, that the challenging areas stem from the lack of sunlight and air-movement, as the sunrise shifts throughout the seasons we can track the deficient turf. 

In closing, I want to emphasize that these are educational points not excuses.  We have been punched in the gut by Mother Nature and we are still standing.  No matter how intense the battle with “El Nino” is, we will provide superb playing conditions.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.  We have the tools to combat these issues and our timing will soon fall into place.