News and Notes from the Course

As many of our Members travel during the Holiday season, we tend to have a reduction in the amount of rounds played during the month of December.  With record rounds being recorded throughout the Summer and continuing through November, we can certainly use a breather.  The unusually warm weather that we are experiencing this December is both a blessing and a curse.  The Tees, Fairways and Roughs are actively growing and providing an excellent playing surface.  The mowing and detail schedules mirror the programs that we have in place during the Summer months.  A typical December sees a reduction in the mowing frequency due to the slower rate of growth.  The most noticeable attribute to the abnormal conditions is the repeated scalping of the turf due to rapid growth.  Although unsightly, this off color appearance is not detrimental to the turf.  Our focus continues to be on the putting surfaces.  This is the first time in my 20 years of maintaining golf courses that I have had to verti-cut greens in December.  The environmental conditions dictates the cultural practices.  This Summer time weather produces Summer time reactions.  We will continue to combat the thatch and grain through the next few weeks.  The alterations to our normal programs will provide excellent playing conditions throughout the Season.  We are looking forward to the start of a new year and producing a course that our Members can be proud play and present to their Guests.

Below is a picture of someone's practice session at the Chipping Green.  If we are practicing full shots that leave divots on the green please do not hesitate to call me, I will gladly clean the area for the health of the green and the members that follow. 

Divots on the Chipping Green

New Divot Mix Boxes

New re-conditioned ballwashers

Scatter Signs (Road less traveled)

New Flags and Flagsticks

Golf Course Report

November 2015

November brings the official start to Season.  The transition seems to be a little more subtle this year, our summertime numbers felt a little like “Season”.   All cultural practices were accomplished and the course is responding well.  Our team worked extremely hard this summer to provide great playing conditions for all of our members and guests.  As November begins, we want to put our best foot forward.  This includes new Flags, Flagsticks, re-conditioned Ball Washers, Winter Annuals, fresh pine straw, and new Divot Mix boxes for the Par 3s.  My team always seems to get re-energized during this time of year.

The fate of a golf course lies in the hands of the weather.  Even the best Agronomist cannot grow grass without sunlight, or air movement.  I am happy to report that after a dreadful August and September, October delivered excellent grass growing conditions and November continues to follow suit.  Nobody likes 90 degrees in November, except a Golf Course Superintendent in Florida.  We continue to push the root growth which will sustain a quality playing surface throughout the season.  As we look forward, El Nino is the talk of the industry.  They are calling for a cooler, wetter winter for our region, which provides its own unique challenges.  We will keep a close eye on the forecast and adjust accordingly.

We like to always look forward in my department, always striving to be better.  Recently, I sat down with a long time Member to recall where we have been and where we are going, it was quite an education.  We are putting the programs in place to sustain a superior community experience for our entire membership. 

On a personal note, I would like to ask our membership to give a “thumbs up” to our team.  My staff is always on the course or Common Grounds and they always receive a pat on the back from me, but a “thumbs up” from a member goes a long way.  These are the guys that do all the work, from mowing the grass to raking the tennis courts and everything in between.  No words are necessary, just a “thumbs up” as you drive by.  Thank you for all of your support as we strive to improve the course conditions.

Golf Course Report

October 2015

The October Report is always a favorite of mine.  The summer is behind us and we are ramping up our preparations for Season.  When I sit down to write these reports, I tend to take a look at last year’s synopsis.  Last year I reported on 28 days of no sun in September.  This year we had 26 days of no sun in September preceded by 25 days of cloudy weather in August.  The good news is, we are in better shape heading into Season than our previous years.  We have adapted a program to enhance the sustainability of our poorly constructed greens, #15 and #17.  As the sun shifts to a more Southern rise, #13 and #11 will improve rapidly.  The bad news is, we have a few wet areas around the course that have exposed themselves in the recent weeks.  These are ear-marked for drainage improvements next summer. 

The 11 day September closure was action packed; a full aerification on greens and tees, a light slicing of fairways and roughs and our final Dry-Ject on the greens.  We had 8 days of rain during our 11 day closure and I am unbelievably proud of my staff as they completed these tasks in the worst of conditions.  The record number of rounds this summer has kept everyone on their toes.  Our goal is to constantly provide a visually pleasant experience coupled with excellent playing conditions.

October is also a good time to look ahead.  The overall presentation is reflected in the details.  We will spend 7 to 10 days without ball washers as they will be removed, re-conditioned and painted for the season ahead.  New flagsticks and Flags are on order for Opening Day.  Other activities that are planned for this month include a fresh coat of Pine Straw, winter annuals and palm tree trimming.  We are confident in our progress and we are looking forward to a great winter season at Stonebridge.

On a side note, when I came to Stonebridge, my goal was to change the perception of our club.  To make it something that our members could be proud of.  This past week, we hosted the SW Florida Chapter of the PGA.  These are Erik’s peers, the best of the best played Stonebridge and they had a great time.  Our members should take great pride in their property and the team that makes it happens.  We are moving in the right direction, identifying issues, correcting problems and striving for perfection. 

Summer Home

I haven't added too many photos this summer, so I thought I would throw in this picture of a squirrel occupying a Screech Owl box.  As our migratory birds head to parts unknown, our "year round" residents enjoy the Penthouse!

Golf Course Report

August 2015

The August Report is typically a recap of the summer projects and a preview of our last closure in early September.  This year is a bit different; the record amount of play has been the story of the summer.  Whether it is the golf course, the Pro Shop staff or the unbelievable lunch special; the entire team should be proud of their presentation.  We have no scheduled closures for August, so I expect that our numbers will continue to set the bar for years to come.

Our July closure was very successful in the fact that we completed every task on the schedule.  Unfortunately, the skies opened up on the eve that we were to open.  Seven inches of rain kept us close for 4 more days.  Those four days of rain was followed by 10 days of overcast days, effectively eliminating any chance of proper recovery.  The July closure is always our most aggressive, this coupled with the untimely weather, lead to less than ideal conditions upon opening on July 29^th.   Thin Fairways due to heavy verti-cutting, greens that were double aerified and Roughs that could not be mowed because of the heavy rains.  I was embarrassed to open the course on that Wednesday.  There is a silver lining; we have positioned the course to have a superb season.  As we look forward to our last closure, the schedule is full with greens aerification, Dry Ject application and Fairway topdressing.  Through the remainder of summer we will focus on improving the entire property.  We have some minor drainage work to attend to, the coquina paths need attention and the bunkers will receive some much needed TLC. 

This is an exciting time of year for the maintenance staff.  We can see the “light at the end of the tunnel”.  The Long, Hot and Wet Summer, that was full of demanding cultural practices will slowly turn into daily precision maintenance for our members to enjoy.   We are all counting the days until our first cold front.

What Have WE Been Up To!

This is our second closure of the Summer.  We kind of eased into the process during the first closure, this time we really got after it.  The greens were aerified in two direction with 5/8 inch tines.  Close to 100 tons of sand was applied to the greens to fill the holes.  Removing this amount of material will result in a more consistent playing surface for years to come.  Through our first two closure, I am confident in saying "we have removed more Thatch and Organic Matter, then any year previous".  This statement is true for the entire course but the greens will be the biggest benefactor of our improved program.  

The greens were completed on schedule, last Tuesday and Wednesday, despite the rain.  The weather did play a role in delaying the Tee, Fairway and Collar program.  An aggressive verti-cutting of the fairways was scheduled during this closure and was accomplished during very wet conditions.  The end result will be a longer recovery time for the wetter areas.  We have experimented this year with some extra topdressing on a few fairways; #1,#2,#3,#18.  All the fairways receive one topdressing per Summer, these 4 will be topdressed 3 times.  I am interested in seeing the improvement in these fairways.  

In the chaos of an aerification closure, we also find time to complete many other minor projects.  The list for this closure includes: drainage improvements on #3 and #14, play-ability  upgrade for #7 back tee, sod touch ups for wear areas and a multitude of detail work to prepare for opening.

We are blessed to have the cooperation and understanding of our great Membership.  They allow us the time and resources to complete the necessary agronomic programs to ensure a successful Summer.  The dividends will be reaped this Fall and Winter.  It is our goal to improve the golfing experience on a year to year basis.  

My entire staff has bought into the idea of being the best.  They prove it every day when they seek approval or suggest a better way to accomplishing a task.   We will continue to work diligently towards our goal, solving one issue at a time and adding to the enjoyment of your course. 

Golf Course Report

July 2015

The “Dogs Days of Summer” are upon us.  Heat, Humidity and the continuous likelihood of afternoon thunderstorms are more than enough to keep us on our toes.  The aggressive cultural practices and tight schedule make for a planning nightmare.  Our team has bought into the goal of completing all the necessary work and presenting a playable course on a day to day basis.  With the increased demand for our course this reciprocal season, we have treated every day like opening day.  Details are what define a golf course and typically during the summer months a private club will allow some concessions, this is not true at Stonebridge.  We take pride in hosting outside events and golfers that are new to SBCC; this requires a keen eye for detail and a proper plan.  Jeff Ratthe our Golf Course Superintendent, has been instrumental in forging this culture throughout our staff. 

The golf course continues to improve from an agronomic standpoint.  Last month we received two new Fairway mowers equipped with Groomers.  The ability to groom the fairways will promote a stronger more dense turf.  During the summer the Height of Cut (HOC) is lowered to reduce grain, shorten internodes and assist the Celebration to out compete the “off-type” grasses.  As we raise the HOC for Season, the groomers will allow us to stand the turf up for a better quality of cut and a finer playing surface. 

An aggressive herbicide program is being employed to clean up the golf course.  Some of our most noxious weeds (Crabgrass, Signal grass, Goose grass, Torpedo grass) are being spot treated.  This tends to discolor the surrounding turf as the target weed is eliminated.  We will push the recovery to ensure no re-germination of the weeds.

July and August is usually high season for Lake Algae.  An algae bloom tends to follow a stretch of weather that includes high heat and humidity and little to no rainfall.  Most of the surface algae that we see are the result of dead or dying submersed Niad.  Rest assured that it is all being treated on a weekly basis and will dissipate shortly.

Summer time is project time.  Sod work was completed on all the effected cart path wear areas.  We have experimented with an erosion type matting under the sod that is designed to reduce compaction and extend the life of wear areas.  We are also in the midst a few landscape projects.  The hedge along the III tee on #15 was removed and will be replaced with a less obtrusive planting.  This will improve the turf on the tee and provide better sight lines.  We are also planning to re-landscape the area behind #16 green to enhance the backdrop with consistent color. 

We do stay busy during the “Dog Days”, with our eye on providing a vastly improved golf course for the coming season.  I want to thank all of our members for their patience while we complete some of this disruptive work.

Golf Course Report

June 2015

The golf course is in great shape and is getting plenty of use.  As expected the rounds were up significantly in May and the trend continues through the first part of June.  We are progressing through our cultural practices and the turf is responding well.  With the rapid growth rate of our Celebration Bermuda grass, a divot made on Sunday is gone by Thursday.  That’s the challenge of Florida golf courses; we receive the lowest traffic during our growing season and our highest traffic during our slowest growing months. 

A recap of the first closure includes a big “Thank You” to Mother Nature.  The weather was near perfect during the closure and allowed our staff to accomplish all the tasks in a timely manner and leave room for recovery.  A complete course aerification; verticutting of tees, fairways and greens; topdressing of tees, greens and select fairways; wall to wall fertilization and a few small landscape projects.  These processes that I squeezed into two sentences would take a month to do with a “run of the mill” staff.  Fortunately, we have a team in place that takes great pride in being the best.  We are looking forward to the next closure; we have a few more tricks up our sleeves.  In the meantime we are treating everyday like opening day. 

We are crossing our fingers for good weather the remainder of the summer.  Every little imperfection has a plan of attack.  We are looking for big improvements over last year. 

A side note on the Common Grounds portion of my responsibilities:  the Immokalee Road landscape has received a facelift.  The decaying hedges were replaced, a fresh set of Ligustrums was installed on the West side and new turf was planted this week.  I have focused on presenting Stonebridge as a first class community, we tailor our maintenance around this concept and we purpose our projects with this goal in mind.  There are many more improvements to come.  Thank you for all your support as we work our way to a better Stonebridge!

Update on our Proceedings

The first closing of the year always coincides with the Tuesday after Memorial Day.  This year was particularly difficult to shut down the course after a record amount of play during the month of May.  With our course in high demand, it is important to perform these much needed cultural practices.  The end result will be improved playing conditions with the ability to withstand the traffic.  

We are half-way through our closure and Mother Nature has allowed us to accomplish many tasks.  A quick run down of the processes completed this week; Greens - Verti-cut, Topdressed, Aerified, DryJect, Rolled and Brushed; Fairways - Cricle Cut, Verti-cut, Aerified twice and topdressed as needed; Tees - Circle Cut, Verti-cut, Topdressed and Aerified; Collars - Mowed, Verti-cut, Aerified; Roughs - Aerified and Height of Cut lowered.  We will repeat this process two more times this Summer.  The next few days will consist of cleaning up the course and providing fertility for recovery.  We aim to have the golf course in superb conditions for opening on June 6th. 

The main focus of of all the above mentioned cultural practices is to relieve compaction and provide air to the root zone.  Let's run through a few of the jobs and their objectives.

Verti-cuttting -  this is the mechanical method of vertically rotating blades that severe the stolons and rhizomes for the purpose of reducing thatch, grain and surface compaction.

Aerification - this process reduces compaction, improves infiltration, dilutes Organic Matter(OM), release built up gases and creates healthy roots.

DryJect -  this is a contracted service that injects sand into the soil profile.  The main goal is to provide consistency throughout the soil profile.

Topdressing - "Dilution is the Solution"  - this catch phrase is what drives most golf courses.  Fresh sand creates pore space, a smoother putting surface, and greatly reduces OM.  Most PGA Tournaments work back from their start dates to ensure topdressing is adequate when the tournament begins.  This helps create "firm, fast conditions".

Circle-Cutting - Self explanatory method of operating the mower in "circles" to ensure all blades of grass are completely mowed and grain is eliminated.

Lower Height of Cut(HOC) - this is always a tricky explanation.  The goal with this process is to shorten the internodes and reduce grain.  Internodes are the distance between leaf development on the stem.  The shorter the internodes, the denser the turf.  The Fairways and Tees were moved from .500"to .400" and the Roughs were lowered from 1.5" to 1.25".  Through the Summer, we will continue to lower the HOC until we reach the desired effect.  

With a diligent approach through the Summer months, we can ensure improved conditions.  We are inching our way towards Perfection!  My reward is the enjoyment of our Members on a golf course that is above reproach. 

Golf Course Report

May 2015

The start of May signifies the beginning of a long summer of important maintenance practices that will prepare the course for another great “season”.  My team is excited to have the course closed on Tuesdays to complete their tasks and groom the course for our members and guests.  With an abundant of area courses closed for renovation, we anticipate a busier than normal reciprocal season.  With this in mind, our goal is to provide superb conditions throughout the summer. 

Our Tuesdays will be used for verti-cutting, topdressing and fertilizing greens.  We also have many projects planned throughout the summer to improve drainage, reduce traffic damage, enhance landscape and improve the overall turf quality.  We will focus a lot of our attention on continuing to improve the soil conditions on our putting surface to provide consistency and playability.     A detailed program is being employed to address a few of our more compacted, weaker fairways (#1, #2, #4 & #18).

The first closure begins on May 26^th with an opening date of June 6^th.  During this time the greens will be core aerified and also receive a Dry Ject application.  These two cultural practices will help remove and dilute the organic matter in our upper soil profile.  The fairways and tees are scheduled to be verti-cut and aerified.  The roughs and driving range will also be aerified during this time.   All of this will be followed by a complete fertilization to assist in recovery. 

We are looking forward to a very productive summer.  We will be introducing a few new cultural practices aimed at upgrading the entire golf course.  The successes and shortcomings of the recently completed season have provided a road map to constant improvement.

View from #10

View from #10

View from #10

 Update on Perimeter Wall Refurbishing

Starting last week, the perimeter wall, bridge abutments, Guard Houses and on-course restrooms are in the process of being cleaned, repaired and repainted.  The new colors will match those of the clubhouse.  In order to complete this project my team has to remove all vegetation that comes in contact with the surfaces to be painted.  The first noticeable change came to the trellises at each entrance.  The bougainvillea was pruned to provide access and will regenerate growth through the summer months to attain the proper effect.  The next eye-opening change will occur on Tuesday, May 5th.  The bougainvillea that has engulfed the wall behind #10  green will be cut back to allow our painters to complete their part of the project.  This will effect both the interior and exterior view of this area.  Once the painting is complete we will quickly replant this area to provide the proper buffer and aesthetics that Stonebridge deserves.

The process of determining the re-landscaping plan involved many site visits and discussions with three different Landscape Architects and most importantly member input.  The driving factors were: buffering, aesthetics and property value.  This process saw us returning to the original LA's design for this area.  The combination of robust Ligustroms, bougainvillea and a hedge of green and variegated arboricola will provide a more stately buffer.  The key to this type of design is proper maintenance.  We will employ a strict program to ensure separation of plant species to achieve the desired effect both inside at outside of the perimeter.

Th east side of the entrance will also be receiving a face-lift.  Most of the trees will remain in place.  The dilapidated lower plants will be replaced to provide consistency and improve the overall appearance.  We are looking forward to having a maintainable  landscape that our members will be proud to call home.  

I would like to reinforce the fact that the bougainvillea on #11 will not be removed during this re-landscaping.  Thank you for your patience during this extensive project.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

West of Entrance

West of Entrance 

A Few Sightings Along the Way!

Two Great Horned Owls on #18

House full of Purple Martins

Hawk enjoying a lakeside view

Red-Bellied Woodpecker on #15 courtesy of Mr. Low

Golf Course Report

April 2015

I want to start off by thanking our members and our entire staff for successfully hosting 3 Member/Guests events over the last month.  The Ladies Member/Guest, the 9-Hole Invitational and the Men’s Invitational.  My entire team relishes the challenge of tournament preparation.  Guest events give us all a chance to “show off” the great amenities that Stonebridge has to offer.

On to the golf course, we had a flush of growth during the second week of March which also coincided with a couple of equipment issues.  The longer than normal rough was cut down to size before the Ladies Club Championship.  This took a combination of “Loaner” equipment and some long hours to prevent knee deep rough for the Ladies Club Championship.  I mention this because I did field a few questions regarding the appearance of some of the roughs.  The “scalped” areas will bounce back quickly with a regular mowing schedule. 

The months of March and April tend to be our driest time on the golf course.  Moisture loss in the plant is increased by low humidity, high temperatures, windy conditions and sandy soils.  The cumulative effect of these factors and the strict adherence to available water leads to “Prescription Irrigation”.  This practice involves daily adjustments to our overnight program and a lot of hand watering, with the goal of getting the water where it needs it the most.  As with all of our tasks, we will attempt to accomplish this with little to no disruption in your golf round. 

We have had a productive golf season with many improvements to the course and landscape.  Most importantly, we have identified some issues that can make next season even better.  I am blessed with THE BEST TEAM imaginable.  Their ability to adjust to ever-changing conditions and still exceed my expectations is incredible.  As much as we enjoy the Winter Season, a glimpse of May is all it will take for our team to shift into Summer Maintenance Mode.  

Screech Owl 

After a few busy weeks of "Tournament" golf, I felt it was time to get back to blogging.  I have included a couple of pictures of the abundant wildlife that we find on property.  As we move into nesting season we will see more activity.  We are proud to provide such a healthy and diverse habitat for all of our critters.

We take great pride in hosting guests here at Stonebridge.  Whether it be a clubhouse function, a tennis outing or a golf tournament; our team works extra hard so you can impress your guests.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Soft shell Turtle

 From late February through the first week of March we hosted 3 very big Member/Guest events.  The Ladies Member/Guest was a "day at the Beach".  Behind the scenes our staff worked hard to make this event a success.  This was followed by the Ladies 9 Hole Invitational. The "Tuscany Sun" never looked better.  Finally, to round out our hosting duties, the 3 day Men's Invitational ended in a made for TV finish.  To top off the festivities, they sent a Marching Band down the 18th Fairway for the closing ceremonies.




These are my most cherished moments. To give our Members a facility that they can be proud of, to host their Guests.


As we start to move into the tail end of the golfing season, I will increase the frequency of my postings.  We are looking forward to a busy and productive maintenance program.

Bald Eagle 

Lely Band

Naples version of Winter

  With all the snow being dumped on the Northeast I thought it would be a great time to                      remind  all of our member and guests how lucky we are to at Stonebridge.  The next 5 to                 10 days are expected to give us some cooler weather.  These temperatures will slow the                         growth rate of our Bermuda grass and may effect color retention.  I do not foresee our                        soil temperatures lowering to the point of dormancy.  The amount of stored carbohydrates                     in the plant will keep the turf healthy.  Traffic patterns will be more noticeable during                            this period so please take the "Road less Traveled".  The possibility of Frost is always concerning those that have tee times.  Any delays will be promptly communicated from myself to the Pro Shop staff and onto the effected members.  We do employ a multitude of trade secrets to prevent frost and to hasten the resumption of play.  A timely application of nutrients will help restore any lost color in a short period of time.  

We look forward to improving the course throughout the season and providing an excellent playing surface for all of our members and guests.  The drier, cooler temperatures will produce firmer, faster conditions.   Bundle up and enjoy the Winter at Stonebridge.                   

Wood Duck returns to Stonebridge

Golf Course Report

February 2015

February is a time to take stock in how we are holding up through the first month of heavy play.  The challenge is to maintain a high quality playing surface throughout the course.  Each year we implement new programs that are aimed at providing conditions that are superior for our members and guests.  The cart path extensions, supplemental fertility and member awareness has improved our traffic patterns.  A shift in our tee program helped strengthen the playing surface.  We took some time in January to address a couple of our wet areas around the course.  Drainage was added to #12, #13 and #14.  We have identified a couple more areas that we will conquer in the next few weeks.  These projects will be marked as “Ground Under Repair” until they are completely playable. 

The remainder of this month will be focused on fine-tuning the course for the upcoming member events.  We are scheduled to apply fertilizer to the entire property in the coming weeks.  This fertilizer will provide the nutrients required to maintain a healthy stand of turf as well as prevent weed germination through the Spring Season.  The timing of this application should give us excellent presentation for our member/guest events in late February and early March. 

We continue to work hard on the areas that need attention, from tee to green.  Our staff takes great pride in improving the course each and every day.  When you measure your success on a daily basis, sometimes it is prudent to realize how far you have come in a year.  Our team works every day to be better than yesterday, this results in a course that is 365 times better than last year.  And it fuels the fire for next year.

Brian Beckner

Brenda Brooks

 "Birds Of a Feather..."

The Stonebridge "wildlife" is not confined to the new clubhouse on Friday and Saturday nights, you can find many examples throughout the property of a healthy and happy ecosystem that provides a wonderful habitat for many of our critter companions.  On Tuesday, January 27th we hosted our first presentation that focused on our efforts to educated the membership with regards to Environmental Stewardship.  With an audience of more than 100 members, Brian Beckner(Native Bird Boxes) and Brenda Brooks(CREW Land & Water Trust) entertained and informed us all on our involvement with Audubon International and our responsibilities to the environment.  Below, you will find many examples of the sights we see on our Tours through the property.  As nesting season approaches we expect more activity in a newly installed Bird Boxes.  I am thrilled with the support and enthusiasm of our members for their interest and participation in this program.  

Golf Course Report

January 2015

As the New Year starts, the golf rounds will increase.  Over the last couple of weeks we have experienced warmer than normal temperatures.  This stretch of weather has produced a healthy stand of turf which has us prepared for the next few months of season.  We took this opportunity to fertilize all the turf in an effort to build up the “stored” carbohydrates in the plant for use in the slower growing months.  This process will allow the golf course to be more resilient through the heavy play months.

This is also the time of year that I like to remind all of our members and guests to be diligent in the repair of ball marks and the filling of divots.  An un-repaired ball mark can take weeks to heal and an unattended divot will leave behind an inconsistent playing surface.  We will continue our topdressing program throughout the season to promote a proper playing surface on all our greens.  A supplemental fertility program will be employed to aid in the recovery of divots and traffic areas. 

We are looking forward to a very productive and successful golfing season.  The lessons we learned in 2014 will be the stepping stones to improvement in 2015.