Golf Course Report

December 2014

Some of us at Stonebridge like to refer to this time of year as the “Pre-Season”.  This is especially true this year.  With record rounds in October and a very busy November we have a glimpse of what lies ahead for the remainder of the season.  December usually gives us a chance to catch our breath before the onslaught of the New Year.  Typically, during the Holiday Season, the golf course sees a little less traffic and a few more open tee times.  The golf course maintenance staff will take full advantage of any opportunity to improve the playing conditions.

During this month we will employ a strict protocol to push the growth of our improving weak areas.  The greens will receive multiple “needle tine” aerifications to infuse oxygen into the root zone.  This will be followed by supplemental fertility to enhance growing conditions and light topdressing to maintain surface playability.  The entire course will be treated with liquid fertigation and the tees and fairways are scheduled to receive an application of foliar spray before the end of the month.  The entire course will be scouted and monitored for any remaining pest issues.  We are looking forward to a very productive December. 

From all accounts, we had a great November. I would like to thank the entire Stonebridge team for an excellent representation during the Stonebridge Cup.  We always take a lot of pride in hosting guests at our course.  It is nice to see “The Cup” stay in Naples for another year.  We will take this drive and determination and put it towards our upcoming member events.  Thank you for a great 2014 and we are looking forward to a better than ever 2015. 

#13 bunkers

Melbourne Method

 What's New on the Course!

Just a short note to point out a few changes that are happening at Stonebridge.  November brought some cooler temperatures, the golf course was extremely busy and some of our feathered friends are returning, just in time for our Audubon tours.   

We had a couple of rain events during November, followed by unusually cold temperatures.  This tends to increase this disease pressure on our turfgrass.  Thanks to our strict preventative measures, we avoided most fungal activity.  The greens continue to improve and we are looking forward to a successful season.  

After some concerns regarding plugged lies in our bunkers faces, we have adopted a new raking regimen.   This "Melbourne Method" is directly pulled from Melbourne Country Club in Australia, the host of the Australian Masters.  This club is widely known as one of the most well conditioned courses in the world.  The goal of this method is to firm up the bunker faces and hand rake the playable center.  We have started to train our staff this week and we hope to provide improved bunker play ability this season. 

Below you will find a picture of a "Common Gallinue" just in time for our first Audubon Tour.  We are excited to have Brian Beckner lead a series of tours throughout the course over the next few weeks.  The wildlife is beginning to return and it should be an entertaining and informative session.  

Common Gallinule

Golf Course Report

November 2014

November brings the change of season.  Our main focus turns to playability and member satisfaction.  Every summer we tend to make progress with our cultural practices.  This year is no different.  The aerification, verti-cutting and topdressing that were accomplished this summer will help provide an enhanced playing surface for all our members and guests throughout the winter season. 

We continue to work diligently on our most challenging playing surfaces.  The greens on #15 and #17 are responding well to the programs put in place.  The fairways are equipped to withstand the rigors of the traffic that is anticipated and the tees are being pushed every week to allow a great starting point to every hole. 

As we look forward, our focus will be on liquid fertilization and non-intrusive maintenance practices.  This includes fertigation, supplemental tee and fairway applications and focusing on perimeter areas that will improve playability.  As our traffic increases, we will start to encourage a “Road Less Traveled” by posting signs and stakes to reduce the damage of incessant traffic.  Our goal is to keep these at a minimum to allow the course an unfettered appearance. 

I do not like to “Wax Poetic”, but it is hard to put into print the heart and soul that I feel for Stonebridge.  Not just the golf course but the entire property.  I believe we can be the Standard Bearer for all of Southwest Florida.  I am blessed with an incredible staff that has bought into our goal of achieving perfection.  We have identified our challenges and we have a clear plan to correct our deficiencies.   The playing surfaces remain in excellent condition and will continue to improve.   We are looking forward to presenting an outstanding challenge for the Stonebridge Cup and for the member events that follow.  

Winter Annuals

Blooming Muhly Grass

Signs of Season!

The last two weeks of October are always a busy time for the Grounds staff as we make the final preparations for the upcoming Winter Season.  A fresh coat of Pine Straw was installed last week, the winter annuals are being planted this week and the Muhly Grasses throughout the course are in full bloom.  We are looking forward to a great season with a new Clubhouse and a  golf course and grounds to make you proud to be at Stonebridge.  

We have completed a Wall to Wall fertilization that was coated with a pre-emergent herbicide.  This application will prevent the germination of our winter annual weeds.  This program is followed closely by a liquid fertility regimen that will provide superior color and playability.  Our most troublesome areas are enjoying the increased sunlight from the southern sunrise that is prevalent during the Fall and Winter.  We have recognized and began to correct some of our deficiencies.  This is an ongoing program that will lead to consistency throughout the year.   The poor weather in September may have put a damper on our summer progress, but we are not discouraged.  A  fine playing surface will be presented for our deserving members and guests.  Our staff takes a lot of pride in the work that they do and they go above and beyond that of what I ask.  

My entire department values our Tuesdays during the Summer and with only one remaining we plan to use it to its fullest.  This past Tuesday we improved the transition from the 18th green to the clubhouse by replacing the asphalt path with concrete.  In the future we anticipate the new concrete extending to Winding Oaks Way.  

I am excited about the future of Stonebridge.  We have a great Membership, great leadership(Tim Jones) and a dedicated staff.  In short time; YOUR PLACE will be recognized as the BEST PLACE.  That's our goal and that's what drives us.

New Concrete Cart Path

Golf Course Report

October 2014

The October Report tends to be a re-cap of the summer maintenance.  This one is a tale of two summers.  June, July and August were kind to the golf course.  They provided plenty of sun and an adequate amount of rain.  This allowed us to perform all of our cultural practices and provided normal growing conditions.  Great progress was made during this time.  September was a totally different animal, 20 days of rain and an addition 8 days with no sun.  The effects of a month without seeing the sun include longer internodes, shorter roots and little to no lateral movement.  This results in slower green speeds, less stress resistance and turf that is ripe for disease.  There is some good that came from September, we completed our final greens aerification and squeezed in the first ever DryJect application at Stonebridge.  The DryJect machine works like an aerifier except it injects dry sand into the green as opposed to removing a core.  This process allowed us to insert a Profile soil amendment that will help provide consistency throughout our putting surfaces.  Over time this material will dilute our heavy soils and provide moisture retention in our sandy soils.

The October Report usually has a glimpse of the future included.  I am confident the work completed this summer will benefit the long term health of the golf course.  A few tasks were delayed by the September washout, including our final weed control application and our nematicide for the greens.  Both of these tasks will be completed in early October to allow for proper recovery.  The rising sun has shifted to the south and is providing more exposure to our weaker areas on the course.  This will speed recovery and enhance the growing conditions.  As the turf rebounds from the cloudy conditions we will increase our grooming and the greens speeds will improve.  A fresh coat of Pine Straw will be applied this month and our winter annuals should be in place before the Fall Classic on the 24^th.  I am looking forward to a great season at Stonebridge.

I would like to thank the entire golf maintenance staff for taking PRIDE in their work and going above and beyond to make Stonebridge a special place.

DryJect on Chipping Green

Bin and Hoses to fill holes

 Final Closing of the Summer Season

On September 9th we began the process of our final greens aerification for our annual summer maintenance.  The step by step program began with double verti-cutting, removing the access thatch, an application of organic slow release fertilizer, topdressing and finally the core aerification.  The 3/8 inch tines used during this week are barely noticeable.  I want to thank Jeff Ratthe, our Golf Course Superintendent, for completing this process during a very wet Tuesday and Wednesday.  I felt very comfortable taking two days to enjoy the golf course at Black Diamond Ranch with our Pro Shop Staff and 18 of our members.  I am sure the stories from that trip will last until next year's trip.  

Following the standard aerification a series of rolling and brushing took place to ensure the surface was consistent for the DryJect application.  This contracted service takes dry sand and soil amendments and injects them into the soil profile.  A high powered water jet opens a hole in the turf and creates a vacuum type suction that pulls the material into the hole.  The pictures included show the machine in operation and the results of the injection.  The bin is hand filled with bagged material and the hose is hooked to our irrigation supply.  Close to 20 tons of dry material was injected into our putting surfaces.  I am excited about the long term benefits of this operation and the overall health of our putting surfaces.  

I have had a lot of questions regarding the status of #15 and #17.  We are on the right track and the soil abnormalities are beginning to show signs of improvement.  Our goal is to always provide a course that is playable, presentable and pleasurable.  With that in mind we will do everything in our power to make this season the best on record.   

Cross section of DryJect

2 days following DryJect

Letter From Audubon International

Dear Mark,

Thank you for your continuing efforts to enhance wildlife habitat and protect environmental quality through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program! Your commitment and positive attitude places you at the forefront of golf management.  Your experience is a valuable asset to others, and we hope you will share it as your schedule allows. 

Matt Taylor, Director of Golf Course Operations at Royal Poinciana Golf Club and Audubon Steward, was impressed with your golf course and facilities during his site visit this past June. He thought the course was an excellent example of how a golf course can provide wildlife habitat, and was especially impressed by native areas on the course. As a result of his helpful comments and observations during his site visit, we are pleased to recertify Stonebridge Country Club as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

Mr. Taylor was impressed with your continuing efforts to create naturalized areas on the golf course, which provide valuable water, food and habitat for local and migratory wildlife in the area. In particular, he noted that you supply plenty of native plant material in habitat areas and around water features. We were also pleased to hear that you plan to resurrect your nest box program with help from a local expert. You will find tips for nest box placement and construction in A Guide to Environmental Stewardship on the Golf Course, 2nd edition, which can access by logging on to your profile at www.auduboninternational.org. Let us know if you need additional assistance with this project.

Adding colorful wildflowers to natural areas is a great way to make these areas more aesthetically pleasing while also adding wildlife value to the course. We recommend visiting the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (http://www.wildflower.org/explore.php) and searching the Native Plant Database by “Florida” and then by the particular habits (i.e., shrub, tree, vine, etc.): http://www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?all=true. From there, you can learn about each native plant’s bloom information, growing conditions, and wildlife benefit. You can also find local seed or plant nurseries using this site.

You have done a good job of providing wide (25’) no-spray zones around water features. Creating vegetative buffers around water features is a critical habitat component, especially for aquatic wildlife which use these areas for food, nesting, and cover from predation. Vegetative buffers are also valuable from a water quality perspective as they reduce erosion and filter runoff, minimizing impacts from golf course management practices. Where shorelines are directly in play, research has shown that 25’ bands of dense turf mowed to at least three inches high will help slow runoff, trap particles, and utilize excess fertilizer before it reaches the water. These filter strips should be maintained as no-spray zones, meaning no pesticides are sprayed and fertilizers are spoon-fed. Obviously, if a green lies within 25’ of a water feature, these guidelines will not be able to be followed. Every property is unique and we want to work with you to enhance your environmental program given your constraints.

Your pest management methods are good, and we applaud your use of scouting and setting thresholds for turf diseases and pests. This is a critical component of integrated pest management and contributes heavily to enhanced water quality and the beauty of the course. Mr. Taylor noted that you use cultural practices as part of your regular golf course maintenance, including reducing compaction and turf stress and adjusting mowing heights as needed. The reviewer also noted that you are working toward installing a new recycled wash water system, which we were very pleased to hear! Mr. Taylor reported that you have also budgeted for additional aerators for your water features, which create oxygen and reduce algae growth. Keep up the great work!

Mr. Taylor noted that your efforts to use water more efficiently are enhanced by your careful attention to weather patterns, targeted irrigation heads, and routine irrigation system maintenance. Water consumption may be further reduced or eliminated through the use of moisture meters that indicate the specific areas where additional irrigation is needed.

We applaud your efforts to engage club members, employees, and the community through your ACSP display and signs in the clubhouse and on the property. Mr. Taylor reported that you have a number of projects planned, including creating a new display after the clubhouse’s renovations are finished and providing wildlife walks in conjunction with members. We were also thrilled to hear that employees are trained on Best Management Practices for golf courses.  You may be interested in purchasing one of our brand-new official Audubon International Certified Property signs, available for a low introductory price at our online store: https://www.auduboninternational.org/promotions-products. 

Other ideas for increasing your outreach and education efforts include installing educational signage around natural areas. These signs can simply say that the area is an environmentally sensitive zone, or it can detail a particular native species found in the naturalized area. Other members have had success with providing displays about ACSP activities, brochures of their involvement with the program, and newsletter articles to membership that describe projects. We have also seen members provide binders of ACSP recommended golf course management practices, such as the benefits of tall grass naturalization, the importance of protecting water quality, and more. These recommendations can all be found in fact sheets in our online resource library at: www.auduboninternational.org/factsheets. You can find additional ideas on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AudubonInternational. You can also draw inspiration from our quarterly online publication of Stewardship News, and from our Success Stories section on our website: https://www.auduboninternational.org/success-stories. 

Information on a variety of topics, including how to implement environmental projects and species information is provided in the Resources section of the member-only website and in A Guide to Environmental Stewardship on the Golf Course, 2nd edition, which was sent to you previously. Log in to the member-only website from our website at www.auduboninternational.org using your email address. You can also upload digital documents and photos, saving both paper and postage.

There are now over 2,200 golf courses enrolled in the program and 906 are currently designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.  Thanks for setting such a fine example for others to follow! We look forward to another successful year and are glad to know that Stonebridge Country Club will continue to be part of that success.

Sincerely,

Laura

Laura K. Karosic

Audubon International 

http://www.auduboninternational.org