The Final Push towards Season

 Our final greens aerification was a success and we typically use this time to push the root growth to enhance the turf health as we head into season.  I must sound like a "broken record" as I point out the horrendous weather we have endured during the entirety of 2016.  I have to thank my team for keeping my spirits up, even in my most frustrated moments they remind me of all the good things we can do in a short period of time.  With that being said we have decided to re-sod the perimeter of #17 green.  With the improvements in the drainage and the active progression of drying the soil profile, we are more confident than ever that this new sod will establish and provide proper play-ability throughout the season.  

Below are a few photos that show the extensive work being done to the effected areas.  Close to 6 inches of soil was removed and replaced with new greens mix.  This will help with drainage and promote a healthier root system. Through October we will consistently topdress this area and gradually reduce the height of cut to match the rest of the course.  Although this project may seem"a little late in the game" we had to ensure that we were past the worst of the weather to increase our probability of success.  

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Golf Course Report

September 2016

A September Report is quite the rarity.  Due to committee meeting schedules and the chaos of final preparations for season, I usually use the October report as a recap of the summer.  Our struggles through this last closure have prompted me to be a little more proactive in communicating the course conditions.  The weather affects every aspect of our operation.  This closure had its fair share of rain.  Each and every day consisted of a stoppage of work due to precipitation.  All of the scheduled cultural practices were completed within the allotted time; the issues arise from the lack of recovery period due to the inclement weather. 

The key elements in recovery are sunlight and fertilization. The lack of sunlight is documented by the daily rains and shorter days.  The inability to fertilize due to saturated conditions will prolong a proper recovery.  The three ways to fertilize are: conventional Granular (needs to be watered), foliar (course is too soft for sprayer) and fertigation (fertilizer injected through the irrigation system).  The solution was to apply a coated slow release fertilizer through a light weight spreader to minimize damage and reduce the need for irrigation.  This was our most challenging closure in my tenure.  We are equipped to push recovery as soon as the conditions improve. 

Our historical averages for the months of July, August and September are anywhere from 8”- 9” per month.  This July and August were each close to 15” and September is closing in on that number.  I have heard the question “Why are we so much wetter than previous years?”  The answer to that question stems from our wet winter.  The torrential amount of rain that we received from late December through mid-February caused our water table to remain at a much higher level.  Typically we can handle 40 inches of rain in the summer; this year is different due to the saturated soils leading into the rainy season.   With a forecasted “Dry Winter” on the horizon, we should have ample time to produce quality conditions throughout the property. 

Thank you for your patience during the next couple of weeks as we push to provide a healthier turf for the season to come.  We will re-open tomorrow and the course is nowhere close to where I would like to see it, but a solid agronomic plan is in place to take advantage of the favorable weather that is just around the corner.