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.