Frost as seen in the eyes of the Superintendent

Frost is essentially frozen dew. Ice crystals visible on the outside of the plant can also form on the inside of grass blades. The grass plant, normally resilient to footsteps or cart traffic, becomes brittle and fragile when ice crystals form. Under the pressure of traffic, ice crystals puncture living plant tissues and rupture plant cells. Damage will not appear right away, but it will show up in footsteps and tire tracks the following days as the plant is unable to repair itself and begins to die. Frost damage can occur on any turfgrass mowed at any height but it is amplified when the plant is mowed low, as on a putting green. In a best-case scenario, damage will be limited to leaf blades only, which will eventually disappear once active turf growth resumes. However, if the plant crown, or growing point of the plant, is compromised, damage will be more severe and recovery could take months.     

Keep in mind, a foursome typically takes several hundred footsteps on each green, so even allowing just a few groups to play when frost is present can be very damaging to the greens, and the rest of the golf course for that matter. It is not completely understood when frost will cause damage, so the decision to keep traffic off the golf course must be made conservatively to protect the condition of the course. For this reason, golf facilities are wise to close the course to play or delay starting times until frost has completely melted.

Super Wet!

We are super wet and will be cart path only at least to the weekend!  Look back here or call the pro shop for CPO information.  Kevin

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!

Do to the generosity of Joe Sanders (member) who has loaned us some equipment we have started and going to finish the remodel of the bunker on hole ten fairway.  We have been pecking away at this project for over 2 yeasr but having Joe supply the big equipment we need we have done more in the last four days than the last two years!  We hope to have the bunker finished in the next 10 days or so.  Kevin

Collars

Just a note,  The Collars are going to be fuzzy and a little tall over the next couple weeks as the over seed grows in!  Kevin

Busting Out Work

We made it through a tough dry summer here at RNK.  We seen some of the most dry conditions we have in a few years in the months of August and September.  We went 31 days without a drop of rain.  The New Kent rain bubble was in full effect even during last weekends rain with only 1.6 inches of rain over the 4 days.  With the rain staying away and turf not growing we have a chance to knock out a few items on the to-do list.  The stack sod bunker face has turned out awesome and we are looking forward to do more of that in the near future on hole 11.  When the pond level gets low, I have hated the look of 18 green with the bottom of the pond showing.  One of the first things I did two years ago when I got here was find the things that wasted time and effort that need to be eliminated.  One of those was to remove all the Rock Edging on the entire course.  We reused all those rocks and placed them in front of the green in the water making the island appearance even when the water levels are low.  We started the process of aerating and overseeding the collars this week as well.  I hope you you had a great summer at all of the Traditional Golf Properties! Kevin

It's Over!!

Aerfication is over and the greens are healing quickly and should be back to normal by the weekend!  Kevin

Aerification

Greens Aerification is coming soon!!!

Brickshire: August 17th & 18th

Royal New Kent:  August 19th& 20th

Stonehouse: August 24th &25th

These days are subject to change do to weather!!!

We also have been out this week at RNK Aerating and topdressing tees.  We are tring to firm up the feel of the tee boxes and remove the thatch layer to help with a faster green up in the spring.  Keep coming back her to get more info about upcoming Aerification Information, Kevin