Rain Soon?

We did get a nice rain over the weekend about 1.7 inches that was well received into the soil but, we are in serious need of a great big ol storm that is going to put water in the pond as well.  We are still watering by hand 80% of the time and still in all out conservation mode.  Greens are rolling a little slower than normal.  Links style golf course greens require more water than normal american style tree lined courses do to the fact there is no help from other natural barriers of heat and wind.  We are using about 50,000 gallons of water per day just on the greens alone.  But good news looks like it is coming next week!  There is rain in the forecast and and lots of it! Keep your fingers cross and sneak out back at night and do a little rain dance!  Kevin

Still More HEAT

We are still facing heat with the little chance of rain this week.  The humidity and temperature are going to drop a little but that does not mean that is good for the turf.  With high humidity the turf can and will pull the moisture out of the air to cool its self down.  So 88 degrees with no humidity is worse on turf than 100 degrees and 70% humidity.  As our pond keeps getting lower we are restricting water to greens only and 95% of that water is coming out of a hose hand watering greens.  on average it is taking around 500,000 gallons of water to keep the greens alive per week.  I hope your staying cool and taking advantage of out fast and hard fairways hitting drives of a lifetime!   Kevin

This week

We have started to aerate tees this week to continue our push for a better playing surface on the tees box tops.  We are going to push hard on getting the Bermuda to close in laterally and heal from the small amount of winter kill and the large amount of spring dead spot we suffered coming out of winter.  We also starting spraying a large about of herbicide on the back nine fairways and rough to get them clean from the mass amount of weeds that have emerged from this moist spring.  You will see a slight discoloration but the turf will bounce back it's not a big deal. It all depends on where your from but some people call Bermuda "Wire Grass."  If it is not your desired turf its a weed.  It's a tough weed to kill!  But if you want it it's called "Bermuda Grass."  In short that's why the herbicide discolored the turf.  We will continue to get out when we can watching the heat, humidity, and rain storms closely. Other than that is has been a normal last couple weeks with mowing and typical golf course maintenance.  Hope you get a chance to get out soon the place is shaping up nicely day by day.  Kevin


Just a little humor on a hot nasty day!

Tackling the Heat

We are out keeping greens wet all day, the hoses are leaving the shop at 6:00 am and returning around 5 pm.  We are watering greens with hoses for the most part (about 90%) for a few reasons. 1. We can get water exactly where the green needs it and fast.  2.  We use a wetting agent tablets that forces the soil to take in and hold water on the mounds that regular water just would roll off. 3. And the most important reason is WATER CONSERVATION!  Throwing water with over head sprinklers puts water in place we don't want or need and turns into wasted water.  Have a great week and stay cool!  Kevin

 

Going As Planned

We are giving you the Full Monte when it comes to this week Aerification.  We have punched all the greens with 24 holes per square foot.  We used pencil size holes removing a lot of thatch and organic material from the top 1.5 inches of the greens.  I little quick math that is 2.6 million holes in 5 acres!  We are going in today and double verti-cutting sanding and mowing greens and will be open first thing Thursday Morning.  Have a great week.  Kevin

17 Green

Most of us have known someone who have died in a battle fighting for our or someones freedom.  For the last 5 years I have put a flag in the 17th green at what ever golf course I have been working at.  It is to honor a young man that I coached football at Rockbridge County High School years ago.  He left High School and played football for four years at Army.  Once he completed his time at West Point he he completed Ranger School and was quickly shipped off to Afghanistan.  There he was killed on his third day by a roadside IED.  His jersey number for his high school and college years was #17.  That's why the flag stands tall on the 17th green this weekend at RNK.

Don't Forget! May 30-31

We Are Punching Greens!

May 30 and 31