Golf Course Report
January 2017
Details, Details, Details.
This is our mantra as we prepare for a record breaking golfing
season. Our major cultural practices
have been completed and our small projects are out of the way. It is time to focus on the finer points of
golf course maintenance that tend to lead to proper presentation. The little things go a long way in defining
the golfing experience.
Playability and presentation have always resided at the top
of the list when it comes to preparing a golf course. Healthy turf and proper growing conditions
allow us the flexibility to alter these factors. A minor shift from plant health to soil
health has paid dividends. Two major
products were added to our regime this year after careful consideration and
multiple turf industry lead education seminars.
Worm Power and Holganix are both products that focus on enhancing
microbial activity in the soil. Proper
soil health results in lower Organic Matter, increased nutrient uptake, firmer
greens due to less thatch, improved moisture retention, healthier roots, a
decrease in fungal activity, and a consistent more predictable growth pattern
for our greens. These products will be
added to the Tees and Fairways in the coming season. The new products are a contributing factor in
the success of the new sod on some of our historically weak areas of the
greens. With the right soil biology the
turf has a better chance to thrive.
As we move forward our focus will be on tournament
preparations and DETAILS; fresh pine straw, freshly painted yardage markers and
hazard stakes, properly placed flowers, proper edging of hard surfaces and
everything in between. We continue to
look for ways to make the course more playable and research every possibility
to open up the surrounding areas.
We are positioned to have our best Season ever and I want to
remind everyone that is the responsibility of all of us to make Stonebridge the
best it can be. Fixing ball marks,
repairing divots, avoiding wear areas and practicing proper golf etiquette can
make the round a lot more enjoyable for those that follow.
