Golf Course Report

May/June 2017

This report is aptly named May/June as it encompasses our first closure that began in May and will conclude this Friday, June 9^th.  That is, if we can get it to stop raining long enough to mow some grass.  As May begins, our team focuses on managing the excessive growth of our turf grasses through a multitude of aggressive cultural practices.  Aerification, verti-cutting and topdressing are all used to reduce and/or dilute Organic Matter and Thatch that accumulate in our turf. 

Our Tuesdays in May were spent verti cutting and topdressing.  Our new verti cut reels that accompanied our equipment package in October are the latest technology equipped with carbide tipped blades.  These vertical blades physically remove horizontal runners and decaying material below the canopy.  The benefits of this practice were reaped by those that played in the Memorial Day Scramble.  We will continue this program throughout the growing season with the goal of have firmer truer greens in the Fall.

On May 28^th we started the first of three 11 day closures.  We had a full slate of activities planned and nearly accomplished them all.  The summer annuals were installed during the first week.  They are typically installed at the beginning of May but we delayed planting due to the severe drought.  Needless to say, they are getting plenty of water now!  Our greens received a full treatment, DryJect application started the week, followed by topdressing, a core aerification, a verti-cutting, a brush/roll and finally a little fertility.  The tees, fairways, collars and approaches were all aerified.  The tees and approaches both received some topdressing and verti-cutting.  All this was wrapped up before Friday afternnon when the skies opened up to the tune of 1.6 inches.  Little did we know, that was just the tip of the Iceberg.  Saturday was somewhat dry which allowed us to get some mowing done and to fertilize the entire golf course.  As the weather turned for the worse at the beginning of this week we have had to adjust our plans.  As Mother Nature allows, we will get the course cleaned up, mowed and playable for our targeted opening. 

On a final note, the cart path project that consists of grassing over a majority of the soft paths and adding short extensions of concrete to existing paths is underway.  We are in the process of hauling fill dirt to the locations to be grassed.  Once this is in place we will install the sod.  I am working with a contractor regarding the concrete portion of the project with the goal of completing this during the July closure. 

Just for reference. I am posting this at 5 pm on Wednesday June 7^th. We have had over 11 inches of rain since Friday.  And it still Raining!