Projects Ongoing

It's a balancing act to get all the normal day to day work done, plus fix and repair immediate repairs, and then tackle projects.  It frustrates me as much as the golfer look at a repair or project not finished.  We are on a full scale of attack to knock out as much as this as weather allows this winter.  The last two winters have been a waste with the terrible weather.  Here are the project we plan on attacking and the status of the projects.

- The bunker on 10 is finished and playable.  We do have a ground under repair spot we need to sod in the spring.

- Irrigation and drainage in 13 fairway.  After an irrigation leak lead to a major drainage problem we are planning on heading to dig a huge hole in 13 fairway.

- 7 white tee was a two for one deal. The tee top suffered major turf loss last year from winter kill.  Our idea was to take the good sod from what was left and use it to build the bunker face for number four.  After cutting the sod out we realized the sod was too sandy and would not stay together to handle for the move to 4.  We did have enough hold together to use the sod on 18 white tee.  Sodding dormant turf is 50/50 it lives or dies.  Sometimes in some places I will risk the effort.  I did not feel like risking the effort and the funds.  We want to make that tee a solid Zoyzia Tee.  The Zoyzia  will take the traffic, the beating, and the risk for future winter kill better rather than putting the 419 Bermuda back.  We plan on sodding the tee as soon as the sod fields turn green in the spring.

- The hole that never stops growing in number six fairway is on the list to get repaired soon.  Once again one of out gracious members is coming to the rescue again and going to allow us to borrow the machines necessary to make the repair.

- Drains are getting worse!  Not sure the plan of attack yet but one we finish the hole on 13 and six We plan on putting all hands on deck to knock out as many drains as we can till the grass turns green again.

*** Disclaimer-   All work is based on weather and Mother Nature.  

Kevin

Bunker is IN PLAY!!!!!!

The fairway bunker on number 10 is back in play after a two year (work on when you can) project.  It is a playable bunker, not a waste bunker!  Please keep your carts out of the bunker. The sod around the bunker edge is Ground Under Repair where marked.   Thanks Kevin

Crazy Weather Causing Problems

The crazy weather we are having is causing problems on the greens.  With the 4.5 inches of rain and the temperatures fluctuating from cool to warm every other day has caused an outbreak of Black Algae  to develop on the greens.  We started the correction process yesterday with an application of fungicide.  We mowed greens today, tomorrow we are going to spike and roll them to allow more water to flow into the greens sand base and keep more expected rain off the surface.  This may take a couple weeks to fix but it looks worse than it really is.  Hope you have had and continue to have a great Holiday Season.  Kevin

#10 Bunker Update

All the new surface drains and drain tile are in.  We have added two landscape areas in the bunker to add some contrast to the bunker.  All there is to do now is add the new sand.  The other major change in the bunker we have made is raise the bottom of the bunker about 12-15 feet.  Not only will the bunker be more maintainable but much more player friendly. You can now see the green from anywhere in the bunker.  We hope to have the sand in and the bunker back in play the first week of the new year.  Kevin

Temporary Cart Path Only Holes

After having a busy year there are a few holes that the turf if just won out.  We need to give them a break until spring when we can have a chance to aerate them and push them back with fertilizer to good health and playing conditions.  These are holes that have poor entrance and exit points causing the turf to be thin and week.  We ask you please help us and keep carts off the marked fairways.  Hope your getting to enjoy this awesome December Weather!  Kevin

Cart Path Only Holes

First part of #5, 8 11,14

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