Patterson Grounds Maintenance Blog

What's up with #5 Green?

2011-07-31T09:09:00.006-04:00

#5 green was doing great until two weeks ago when the temperature was at or near 100 degrees for three straight days. Over the past several years, we have made huge improvements to the condition of most of the historically problematic greens. In the past, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, and 15 have been subject to winter-kill, anthracnose, summer patch and annual decline from heat stress. These greens used to struggled due to thier high populations of poa annua, poor drainage, inadequete sunlight/airflow, and all of the secondary problems associated with those issues.

The fifth green continues to struggle, and many are asking: "what we can do to improve the situation"? USGA green section reports dating all the back to the 1970's identify that green as being a difficult one to manage. This green is located in the poorest growing environment of any green on the course. Sunlight and airflow are limited, and the green had previously been rebuilt (we think in the late 60's), with a very poor sand material. Grass mowed at or below 1/8" requires a minimum of 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Morning sulight is vital to the plant's ability to photosynthesis and create it's own food. The most efficient time for this process to take place is between 7AM-12PM, prior to the hottest part of the day. When it gets hot, the grass plants shift thier energy from making food to transpiration in an attempt to cool itself (like people sweating). The below picture was taken at 11AM about two weeks ago:

When grass does not have an ample food supply, it simply cannot survive the onset of other environmental stresses such as: drought, heat, insects, diseases, and traffic.

So many are asking........why haven't we cut down the trees !?!

Unfortunately, they are not ours to cut down!! The trees that are causing the problem are located on the properties of our two neighbors (behind 5 green, and behind 6 tee). We are looking into options for working with them to do some selective removals and/or pruning, and are also considering the use of fans in the future to improve air movement in this part of the golf course.

In the mean time, we have again slice/seeded the green with the most shade tolerant variety of creeping bentgrass available, and will "nurse" the green along throughout the rest of the summer. This will mean: additional light waterings, light and frequent applications of fertilizers, and fewer mowings and rollings than the rest of the greens.

Hopefully, we can quickly finalize and implement an agreeable plan to permantly improve the growing environment and make meaningful improvements to the health of that green in the near future. For more information on the importance of sunlight and airflow, please veiw the following animation produced by the USGA Green Section:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/USGA-Green-Section-Record--July-29--2011.html?soid=1103157499740&aid=v-n5rt_b3wM

2011-07-29T15:02:00.000-04:00

Please see the weekly Update of the USGA Green Section. Be sure to scroll down and follow the link to the Northeast Update. Anyone interested can sign up for these weekly communications.
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/USGA-Green-Section-Record--July-29--2011.html?soid=1103157499740&aid=v-n5rt_b3wM

The HEAT is on!!!

2011-07-21T10:04:00.005-04:00

The forecast for the next several days is for oppressive heat and humidity. The EPA has issued air quality alerts, and children and the elderly should limit their time outdoors. The forecast is for heat indexes above 100 degrees through Saturday with a possible break on Sunday or Monday................We knew that summer had to arrive sooner or later!

So, what does this mean for the golf course? The good news is that the modifications to our spring maintenance programs have us in good position to get through this blast of heat in very good shape. We still have 5-7 inches of roots (vs. 2-3 last year at this time), and saw very little stressing of the greens during last week's Invitational Tournament. On Monday, we shifted into a very conservative management mentality, and have raised mowing heights. In addition, we will alternate days of mowing and rolling (a less damaging alternative), until the heat breaks. You can expect slower green speeds until we have some relief.

Two of the main concerns during these conditions are fungal diseases (fungi thrive in hot, humid climates), and water management. Too much water leads to an increase in disease, and too little leads to turf death due to drought stress. We are walking the tightrope for the next few days. You will notice over the next several days, and increase in hand-watering (hoses), and an increase in sprinkler heads running during the day.

Hand-watering allows us to put water precisely where it is needed, at the optimum time that is required by the plant. Note the misting in the picture above. This minimal amount of water can cool the putting surfaces by 15-20 degrees, giving the grass much needed, temporary relief. The same cooling effect can be accomplished on tees and fairways by running the sprinkler heads for very short amounts of time (6-8 minutes per head) during the afternoon hours. When possible, we start these short cycles when there is no one on that particular fairway. However, should you encounter sprinklers running, the following is important to note:

Please note, that when the fairway programs are initiated (as in the below picture), we typically run 4-6 heads at a time. The heads automatically cycle from the green towards the tee. So, if you see 4 heads on on the approach, be aware that when they turn off the next set towards the tee are about to turn on. Although this is a minor inconvenience, it is vital to the survival of our golf course. And now that we municipal water for irrigation purposes, you might enjoy the misting cool-off as well!

We do our best to protect our staff during this weather, often starting the work days a bit earlier, and completing the majority of the more strenuous tasks prior to the onset of the afternoon heat. We also be sure to push hydration and sunscreen every chance we get....we hope that you all do the same for yourselves, and stay healthy!

What's Ailing Our Greens?

2011-07-09T15:52:00.011-04:00

This time it's not drought, insects, or fungal diseases. It's also not nematodes, bacterial wilt, or mechanical damage. In fact the greens are quite healthy......for now. Unfortunately, they continue to be damaged on a daily basis by unrepaired and/or improperly repaired ball marks. When a ball strikes a green, it typically leaves a deep depression, and severes the roots below. If unrepaired, or improperly repaired, the grass around the mark dies, leaving behind a pock-marked, damaged surface, which is an avenue for other pests, and most importantly a perfect void for poa annua to germinate, and begin taking over our putting surfaces.

The picture below was taken this past Thursday on our 14th green. We purchased 200 white marking flags to mark the damaged spots......we ran out, and had to utilize othe blue and yellow flags from inventory. We flagged 468 marks on the green!

Although the grounds crew repairs all unrepaired ballmarks each morning, it is often too late. A mark fixed properly within the first hour of it's creation heals up to 10 times faster than one fixed outside of the one hour window. Make no mistake, it is the golfers responsibility and duty to fix their ball marks, to ensure the course be left in the best condition possible for their fellow members, as well as for their own future rounds. The USGA feels so strongly about this issue that it is addressed in Section 1 of the "Rules of Golf".

Please view the following video depicting the incorrect and the correct way to make these repairs, and feel free to ask a member of the grounds or golf staff if you would like a personal demonstration. Also be sure to point out and assist your fellow members in their responsibility, and the proper technique. Thank you for your help on this very important issue!

Gravel Cart Path Install #6 Green

2011-06-21T21:42:00.007-04:00

On Monday, we continued our cartpath improvement plan, concentrating on the gravel path behind the 6th green. In previous weeks, we installed a path exiting #18 tee, and continuing up the right side of the fairways on #10, and #13. These paths will allow us to stagger cart traffic, and reduce the compaction to these areas, while drastically improving the aesthetics of the hole from the tees. The path on #6 will allow us to reduce the traffic pressure on the approach and the front of the green. Due to the placement of the cartpath, and the bunkering, entering the green from the front, forces 100% of the traffic over a 10 ft wide area on the approach. By moving cart, and thus foot traffic to the rear of the green, we disperse the same foot traffic over approximately 120 ft of green area (no bunkers to walk around). Below is the before picture, a bumpy and ugly ride due to roots, rocks, and hardpan.

Our staff removes the sod (3 inches), rocks, and roots. We then address and alter any drainage issues, install and compact 2-4" of fresh road base material. The finished product is a neater, cleaner look, and a much smoother ride.

Similar work is planned for #8 tee, and #9 tee, and will be completed over the next several weeks as the weather and labor allows. These paths are being installed in such a way that decorative gravel or blacktop could eventually be installed on top, should we decide to make these paths more permanent.

The rough, rough, rough!

2011-05-30T20:38:00.003-04:00

Please see the below reprint from this weeks' USGA Green Section Record. We are not alone in our struggles of keeping up with mowning the rough. Our "main roughs" are typically mowed 2 times per week at 2-1/4". The green surrounds are also typically mowed two times per week (three times this past week!). The surrounds are mowed at 2.5".

The USGA provides an email subscription service to anyone interested. These updates provide a view of what's happening on golf course by region throughout the country. You can join the subscriprion list by sending an email to:

usgagreensectionrecord@usga.org

A "Rough" May
By Adam Moeller, agronomist, Northeast Region
May 26, 2011

Annual bluegrass weevil larvae were observed in the past two weeks in New Jersey. Frequent scouting for this insect is necessary to prevent significant damage.
A few days of dry weather has been a welcomed respite from the deluge of rain throughout the Northeast in April and May. With luck, drier weather will continue as we head towards Memorial Day, a prime golfing weekend throughout the country. Due to the frequent rain, golf courses have battled a multitude of weather-related and agronomic problems over the past few weeks.

Penal, thick rough has been a constant source of discussion on golf course visits recently. The growth rate of the rough turf, combined with saturated soils that are prone to tire rutting, has been next to impossible to keep up without damaging the soil structure or producing excessive clipping piles. The abundance of heavy rain also has been frustrating to many golfers who want to play, even though the course is nearly underwater. Playing on puddled and saturated greens is never good for the turf, and particularly damaging to soil structure. Golf cart restrictions have been necessary at most facilities. It is difficult to predict the damage potential from a few golfers playing on saturated greens, but everyone should agree that nothing good comes from golfer traffic in these conditions. Thankfully, these frustrations diminish as the soils dry.

Annual bluegrass weevil larvae (and slight damage) were observed at several New Jersey golf courses in the past two weeks. These larvae are likely to be active throughout most of the Northeast. Keep a close eye on areas with a history of annual bluegrass weevil damage. Discolored annual bluegrass (Poa annua) could be mis-diagnosed as drought stress when soils begin to dry. Scouting early and often is necessary to maximize control programs and prevent significant injury. Visual inspection of the soils in areas of past damage, soap drenches (lemon scented soap is ideal), and submerging turf plugs in a salt solution are excellent ways to identify insect numbers and life stages as you consider initial control and future action.

Golf courses that experienced putting green winter damage are still in recovery mode. Whether seeding or sodding was used, inconsistent temperatures and saturated soils have slowed recovery to some extent, especially when the greens were opened for play before the young turf was adequately rooted and healthy. Healing from winter injury is never easy, but golfer patience and conservative management practices will allow the injured areas to recover and survive through the stressful summer weather. Many winter-damaged greens may look bad, but they play fine after a few topdressing applications. It is important for golfers to focus on playability rather than aesthetics as much as possible, especially if winter damage has occurred.

USGA agronomists can provide insightful and invaluable information that involves all areas of golf course maintenance, which will help maximize turf health, playability, and efficiency. Contact Dave Oatis, Director doatis@usga.org; Adam Moeller, Agronomist amoeller@usga.org; or Jim Skorulski, Senior Agronomist jskorulski@usga.org for a Turf Advisory Service visit this season.

Approach aeration......Round 2

2011-05-28T05:35:00.002-04:00

There seems to be a fair bit of concern over the timing and purpose of our approach aeration this past Monday. We understand the frustration, but would like to take a moment to highlight the reasons for the second aeration this spring:

- All of our approaches were re-sodded as part of the Rees Jones renovation. Sod inherently comes with a thick thatch layer and a small layer of soil from the sod farm. As outlined thorugh our experience, industry standard, and an indepenent consultant last summer, this layering, impeded water percolation, and was the reason for the sudden decline of the approaches last year. We strongly urged the membership to expedite the thatch removal/remediation program to ensure that we do not have a repeat of the problems from last year. Please see the link to a previous blog post further describing the scenario http://pattersonturfman.blogspot.com/search/label/Approaches

- This past fall, we worked closely with the consultants, the BOD, and the Golf Committee to develop a schedule this spring to allow for two aerations on the greens and approaches. The first was completed in mid-April, and the second, this past Monday. The approaches will not be aerated again until late fall, and we will then be "caught up" on thatch removal, and be able to go back to a normal early spring/late fall program beginning next spring. - There was a bit of damage done on holes 1, 2, 3 and 8 due to the machine being used, and the soft ground conditions caused by the heavy rain. We quickly changed equipment and processes as to not have the damage be widespread throughout the course. The damaged areas will be plugged out/sodded over the next several days. - Thanks to the rain, and the warmer temperatures, the rest of the approaches are already "healing in" at a very good rate, and should be 100% within a week. Again, we apologize for the temporary inconvenience, but it was imperative to perform these processes to avoid the troubles we saw last summer. Please be sure to check the daily update page on the Patterson Website, as well as the blog for regular updates on course conditions, and upcoming projects. Enjoy the Holiday Weekend!

The Farms Country Club's Golf Course Superintendent, Paul Sabino: Re-print of CTGolfer.com Blog Entry 5-21-11

2011-05-21T21:30:00.000-04:00

My friend Paul Sabino just did a great post on the factors effecting green speed....please follow the link below. Great job Paul!

The Farms Country Club's Golf Course Superintendent, Paul Sabino: Re-print of CTGolfer.com Blog Entry 5-21-11

Spring Greens Aeration

2011-05-17T09:01:00.008-04:00

Many members are asking why we are aerating again when the greens have just finished recovering from the Deep Linear Verticut. The troubles of 2010 were mostly due to the greens "sealing off". This happens when excess organic material (thatch) is compressed and dries out. It becomes nearly in-penetrateable for water, fertilizer, plant protectants, and most importantly air exchange. The only way to correct this issue is through the removal of organic material. This past fall, we worked with three independent consultants who all told us the same thing.....we must remove a minimum of 20% surface area of our greens annually to keep up with the organic matter accumulation. Additionally, because we did not achieve that number in 2010, we need to play "catch up", and would be required to remove more than that for a period of 1-2 years. Below is a chart depicting surface area disruption based on various tine sizes and spacing. I have circled and highlighted our program for 2011. We have now completed the two spring events.

Yesterday's aeration utilized very small tines (3/8"), and will allow us to "heal in" and make the greens playable very quickly. Please see the link to a short video shot yesterday on the first green. It's easy to see that these holes are not much bigger than the diameter of a pencil. Aeration is not fun for anyone, but these processes are vital to ensuring the health of our greens throughout the rest of the season. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation, and please let us know if we can answer any additional questions on aeration, or the details of our program and goals.

Are our fairways dying?

2011-05-15T08:51:00.005-04:00

NO! We actually have them exactly where we want them! Our fairways are a combination of many different grass species, including: Poa annua, ryegrass, bentgrass, and small amounts of bluegrass and fescue. Five years ago we began a conversion program to slowly convert the fairways to a predominately bentgrass stand. Bentgrass is a superior species for fairways in New England as it requires less fertilizer, chemicals, and water, and provides a superior playing surface. Many clubs have done a one-time conversion of burning out the fairways and growing in new bentgrass from seed. This is an immediate re-grass, but a very disrupting program. Patterson elected to go with a gradual conversion program, which would take many years, but have very little effect on playability. The gradual program includes a combination of cultural, and chemical practices including: topdressing, over-seeding, growth regulation of existing species, and adjustments to mowing heights, watering practices, and fertility programs to favor bentgrass.
The current color of the fairways is due to two issues: 1) the greyish haze is due to the seasonal "flush" of growth of the ryegrass. Ryegrass has extremely hard cell walls, which makes it the most dificult grass to cleanly cut in the spring. Due to this physiological phenomenon, every spring we deal with the shredding tips of ryegrass, regardless of how sharp or well adjusted the mowers are. From a distance this looks like a greyish, white hue is on the entire fairway. Please follow the link to the Ohio State Universities' research on this topic: http://hcs.osu.edu/sk/notes/detail.lasso?id=776

The second color "issue" on the fairways is the extreme yellowing of the poa annua. This is by design of our growth regulation program. The spring and fall are the ideal times to severely inhibit the growth of poa, allowing the bentgrass the opportunity to creep over these areas. We are utilizing a powerful growth regulator that "shuts down" the functioning of the poa annua, and shifts the competitive advantage to the more desirable species. Our program is on pace, and has been very successful in our first few years. Please follow this link to SeaPro's tech page on the growth regulator and additional information on conversion programs. SePRO Turf Solutions

The discoloration will disappear in a few weeks when the seasonal growth rate of the ryegrass is reduced, and the effects of the heavy spring rates of regulation wears off. The good news is that the desirable bentgrass in the fairways is very green, and most are extremely happy with the current playability of the fairways!

So no, there is nothing "wrong" with the fairways, we actually have them right where we want them!

Help your course................divot repair

2011-05-05T20:20:00.006-04:00

Below is a brief over-view on proper divot repair etiquette. The divot repair mix has now been put back onto the golf course. We typically wait until late-spring when warmer temperatures can help the seed to grow prior to supplying the mix. The divot mix is a combination of sand, compost, an organic fertilizer, and both bentgrass and fescue seed. This mix is appropriate to be used on tees and fairways, but NOT in the rough!!!! Bentgrass is not a desirable species for rough or lawns in the northeast. Divots in the rough should be replaced, or simply left alone to re-grow on their own.

So, should you replace or fill? This is the most common question when people inquire about divot repair. Although the correct answer varies by region and grass species, the answer for The Patterson Club is......it depends. The goal to divot repair is to have the void "healed in" as quickly as possible. So, as a general rule if you take a thick divot that comes out in one or two pieces and has some soil attached to the bottom of it, please replace it. Do your best to fit it back into the void in the same pattern that it came out, and step on it to re-establish root/soil contact. This will allow the grass to re-establish quickly.

If however, the divot "explodes", or cannot be recovered, simply fill the void with the supplied mix and lightly tamp/smooth it with your foot. Be very careful not to overfill the divot, and mounds of sand are very abraisive to the surrounding grass, and are damaging to the mowers. Inadvertent over-filling often result in mowers needed to travel back to the shop for re-sharpening which slows our progress and can damage the other grass on the course.

Please view the following video from the USGA on proper divot filling:

Divot Repair Etiquette United States Golf Association

Staff Profiles....Tyler Mario

2011-04-28T14:30:00.005-04:00

James “Tyler” Mario, Equipment/Shop Manager

Tyler has been the Equipment/Shop Manager at Patterson since July of 2006. He is responsible for the 175 mowers and/or machines that help to maintain and groom the club golf course and grounds.
He previously served in the same position at The Stanwich Club, in Greenwich, and at The Redding Country Club. He also has the unique experience of having served for 3 years as an Assistant Superintendent at Redding, which gives him a complete understanding for the use and need of all machines used in golf course maintenance. Tyler got his start in the automotive industry and has a degree in Automotive Technology. He also attended the University of Massachusetts acclaimed Certificate program in Turfgrass Management. Tyler is a great team player, and always eager to help in any way that he can benefit the club. He currently lives in Southbury with wife Laura, and daughters Camden (4), and Isabel (18 months).

Deep Linear Verti-Cutting begins next week

2011-04-14T08:01:00.009-04:00

OK, so what does that fancy term mean?!?!?!

In response to the brutal summer of 2010, and the concensus of several of the industries brightest consultants urging us to aggresively remove thatch to avoid a repeat, we have completely re-vamped our greens cultivation program for 2011. The concensus from comprehensive soil tests (ISTRC) http://www.istrc.org/, and the aformentioned consultants is that we did not aerate, verti-cut, and topdress enough to effectively reduce the organic matter accumulation in the upper rootzone profile in 2010. This caused the greens to "seal-off" and rapidly decline when the weather conditions became extremely hot. Our plan for 2011 has been carefully developed to strike a balance between member and event disruption, and removing the approprate amount of thatch in our julenile greens. Our goal.......remove at least 20% of the surface area organic matter (thatch) of the putting greens within the growing season, and replace it with sand. This process begins on Monday with a specialized peice of equipment called the Sand Inject Graden. This machine cuts deep grooves into the greens, ripping out the thatch, and drops kiln-dried sand directly into the open trenches.

We had completed this process once before, in the spring of 2009, and we found that although labor intensive, and expensive in sand costs, it was well worth the effort. In a traditional core aeration we are able to install 22 tons of sand in our 3+ acres of greens, with the sand inject process that amount is more than doubled (approximately 55 tons). The result is a much healthier root-zone, as water, air, fetilizer, and pesticides are able to make it to the roots much easier through sand than through thatch. Additionally, the "grooves" heal-in much faster than traditional aeration, and make the greens smoother and playable in a relatively short amount of time. We are pleased to have purchased this machine, and look forward to the smoother, firmer, healthier greens that will result from it's future use.

We will aggresively "push" growth and recovery on our putting surfaces with a combination of organic based fertilizers, growth regulators, and careful monitoring of mowing and rolling practices. With a little luck, and some cooperation from Mother Nature, they'll be playing great in no time.

2011-04-08T08:43:00.001-04:00

What Makes Augusta National The Best? This is truly a fantastic article by Ron Furlong on "Bleacher Report" http://bleacherreport.com/articles/620859-augusta-national-what-makes-it-americas-best-golf-course

2011-04-08T08:07:00.001-04:00

NEW FEATURE!!!!! Click the email button on the right side of the page to get email updates everytime there is a new blog post!

2011-04-08T07:57:00.007-04:00

Staff Profiles......Benjamin Goossen

Over the next several weeks, will will be profiling grounds staff members, giving you an inside look at their experience and personalities, and how they help to make Patterson a great golfing experience. They are happy to serve you, and we encourage you to say hello and ask questions when you see them on the course. Next up is Assistant Superintendent, Benjamin Goossen

Ben earned his Bachelors’ Degree in Turfgrass and Soil Science from the University of Connecticut in 2008. He is a native of upstate New York, but has lived in Fairfield since 1996. He spent four years on the grounds crew at the Country Club of Fairfield, prior to being promoted to 2nd Assistant Superintendent in 2005. He also did his internship training for two years at the historic Ekwanok Country Club, in Manchester, Vermont. Prior to enrolling in UCONN’s program, Ben studied Journalism at St John Fisher, and served as the editor of the School’s Newspaper. Ben heads up crew training and continues to develop his conversational Spanish which helps greatly with our staff. When not working, Ben enjoys golf and skiing, and is a rabid fan of both the Yankees, and the New York Giants

NEW FEATURE!!!!!

2011-04-02T06:20:00.000-04:00

Click the email button on the right side of the page to get email updates everytime there is a new blog post!

2011-04-02T06:13:00.003-04:00

Staff Profiles......Rich Duggan

Next is Assistant Superintendent, Richard Duggan

Rich joined The Patterson Club in 2004, as part of our Internship Program. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Horticulture and Turfgrass Management from the University of Rhode Island, in 2005. Upon graduation, Rich returned to Patterson as an Assistant Golf Course Superintendent. He spent five summers on Fishers Island, working on the grounds staff at the Hay Harbor Club (where his father is the General Manager), and later the Fishers Island Club. He also worked part time at Point Judith Country Club in Narragansett, RI, while attending URI. Rich spent the last two seasons working very closely with the contractor and Rees Jones on overseeing the day to day construction process during the renovation. Rich recently completed the extensive requirements through the State of Connecticut’s DEP and has received his Supervisory License for Pesticide Certification. Rich currently lives in Fairfield, and completes our staff’s baseball cheering split with his lifelong love of the Boston Red Sox.

Staff Profiles......Phil Matts

2011-03-29T19:55:00.009-04:00

First up is Assistant Superintendent, Phil Matts

Phil served as the Crew Foreman at Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange from 1993-2000. He attended the University of Massachusetts Certificate Program in Turfgrass Management in 2003. He then spent five years as the Assistant Superintendent/Mechanic at Oronoque Country Club in Stratford, prior to joining the Patterson team in 2006. Phil also brings the unique experiences of his military background (Marines from 1983-1987), and his accomplished amateur golfing career (currently a +2 handicap) to the job. He is the consummate “utility player” on the staff, able to help with equipment repairs, woodworking projects, irrigation and drainage repairs, golf course setup, fertilizer and pesticide applications, and crew training/supervision. He somehow made it through our extensive screening process, despite the fact that he is a Red Sox and Dallas Cowboys fan. Phil currently lives in West Haven with wife Joan, and dogs Putter (Mastiff), and Tulula (pug).

Our Newest "hire" for Goose Control

2011-01-21T08:19:00.006-05:00

There's nothing worse than walking out onto the course first thing in the A.M., only to find thousands of goose droppings scattered throughout the tees, fairways, and greens. Each Canada goose is typically responsible for a pound and a half of droppings per day!!! Historically, The Patterson Club has been an attractive spot for geese, with the lush grass, and series of streams and ponds throughout the property. Once strictly a migratory bird, Canada Geese have properly adapted and the year round "resident" populations have exploded. What's more, geese will almost always return to where they were born to lay their eggs and raise their young.

For the past 8 years, our fairways have been patrolled by two Border Collies, Bjorn came to Patterson with me in 2003, and passed at the age of 13 back in 2009. We than rescued Jake, who was tragically lost this past spring when he bolted in front of a car after being scared by lightning. So, it was time for a new recruit, for the families' enjoyment, and for the continued cleanliness of your golf course! Last week, we picked up our new addition, Chase. He is a nine week old pup, and already adjusting to his new role quite well. He's coming to work a few times a week to get to know the staff and the sounds in our maintenance facility, and as soon as the snow is less deep that he is tall, we'll get him introduced to the golf courses as well!

WHY BORDER COLLIES?

Simply put, Border Collies have been specially bred for their herding ability, and their intelligence for hundreds of years. Unlike many breeds, border collies do not need to "catch" their prey to feel satisfied, they are happy simply in herding them and chasing them away. This makes goose removal with Borders one of the few environmentally friendly and humane ways of dealing with the nuisance birds. My mentor and friend, Richie Marcks, was among the first to introduce these dogs to geese, and his family still owns and operates "Geese Police, Inc", headquartered in New Jersey. See their website for more information, or for some video clips on the dogs at work. http://www.geesepoliceinc.com/

I look forward to seeing you in the spring, and introducing you all to our new goose boss, Chase!

Deep Tine Aeration set for Monday

2010-11-28T09:19:00.002-05:00

The final winterization of the greens will take place Monday and Tuesday (29th and
30th). This will include:

- Deep tine aeration- 1/2" holes 8" deep. This allows water to move freely to the subsurface drainage system, thus reducing the chance of damaging ice accumulation on the surface.

- Application of snow mold fungicides- Snow mold is a fungal pathogen that thrives in cold weather, under snow cover, and can damage the turfgrass over the winter months. Preventative fungicide applications reduce the instances and severity of these pathogens.

- Application of an anti-dessicant material- Following the fungicide application, we spray a thin, wax-like material over the surface of the greens. This coating helps protect the grass from the fridgid winter winds when there is little or no snow cover. It helps to keep water inside the plant so that it does not dry out.

- Heavy sand topdressing- The final step is to coat the greens with a blanket of sand. The sand further acts to protect the crowns of the plant from ice and dessication damage, and slowly works its way into the turfgrass canopy, aiding in dilution of the thatch layer.

Once these processes are completed, we will be shifting the holes to temporary greens for play throughout the winter. Stay tuned for pictures and videos of thes processes over the next week!

Fairway Topdressing/Aeration in Action

2010-11-18T18:31:00.005-05:00

First frost of the season

2010-10-10T07:56:00.003-04:00

In the spring and fall, there are many times when we must protect the golf course by delaying morning play due to frost formation. The ice crystals that form on and in the grass plants can actually rupter and destroy the cell walls of the grass, thus killing the plant under foot traffic.
It is important to note that once frost has melted, the grounds crew still needs to complete leaf blowing, mowing, and sand trap maintenance prior to allowing play to begin. We make every attempt to provide an accurate estimate of the time that we can allow play to begin, however, there are many factors that effect this decision including: density of frost, temperature, humidity, cloud cover, and sun angle.
Please be patient, and understand that we are only trying to protect the greens and your golf course!

Please view the attached video on frost damage

Greens Aeration at PC

2010-09-24T09:16:00.014-04:00

Following is a detailed look at the process of aeration to greens:

Definition: The aeration (or aerification) of greens (and sometimes fairways) occurs once or twice a year at most golf courses. To aerify, a piece of machinery built for the task cores the ground (punches holes and removes the dirt) in a certain pattern. This is done to loosen soil that has been compacted by golfers walking over it, opening up growing room for the roots and increasing oxygen to the roots. It usually takes a couple weeks for the holes to fill in and grow over.

The process:

1.Greens are typically mowed or veti-cut prior to aeration. This provides a tight, dry surface to work off of. Size of aeration tines, depth of holes, and the spacing of the holes are carefully considered and experimented with on the sod nursery. These items are adjusted depending upon the goals of the operation, the health of the greens at aeration, the weather at the time of the aeration, and the upcoming play schedule. In this case, we selected 3/8" tines at 1.5" X 1.5" spacing, and a depth of about 3". With this configuration, we remove and replace approximately 10% of the surface area (and thatch) of the greens.

Aerator in action

Close-up of completed green

2. Cleanup process: The cores are cleaned up by pushing all of the debris to the edges of the green where they can be scooped up with snow shovels, and carted away. This is typically the most labor intensive part of the process:

Once all of the plugs are removed, the greens are blown off with backpack blowers to remove the remaining clippings and thatch.
The fully cleaned green

Following cleanup, the greens are rolled to firm the surface and smooth any "turfting" that may have occurred during the process. This keeps the greens from being rutted by the topdresser and bushing process.

3. Topdressing: Topdressing is the filling of aeration holes with sand. This helps to dilute and maintain drainage through the thatch layer, improve surface stability, and improve overall playability of the surfaces. Properly calibrating the amount of sand is critical, as too little sand will inhibit the heal-in process, and too much sand will make the surfaces unmowable and unplayable for an extended period of time. We utilize a kiln-dried USGA approved sand for topdressing. The same sand has been used at Patterson since 1994. This eliminates the risk of "bridging" caused by incompatible sand sources. The kiln-dried sand is much easier to move into the holes, wet sand makes it very hard to fill the holes. We incorporated approximately 55 tons of sand into our greens this past week!!!!

Once the sand is calibrated and applied, brushing begins. This is a three step process. First, and stiff bristled brush is dragged across the greens to move the majority of the sand down into the holes. This is followed up by a Coco-fiber mat which "fine-tunes" the spreading of residual sand over the surface. Finally, an army of men with push brooms touch up the edges along the collars and hand fill any un-filled holes, carefully working in the sand in small sections.

Stiff-bristled brush works sand into holes

Coco fiber mat working sand in

Properly filled aeration holes!

4. Healing-In: Once the brushing process is completed, we pray for rain. Water helps to settle the sand in, wash it through the turfgrass canopy, and finishes the cleaning process of the greens. It also helps to encourage re-growth and speedy recovery. When there is no rain in the forecast, we make it rain! Regular, heavy irrigation cycles are applied for about a week following aeration. This is done in conjunction with fertilization ensures that the sand works its way down while the grass grown up and laterally to fill the holes and smooth the surfaces.

Irrigation cycle running on #7 green

At this point, the greens are then monitored very closely. Mowing and rolling resume as soon as it can be safely done without further "bruising" of the surfaces, our first mowing was Thursday afternoon. We like to do the first few mowings in the afternoon. This is so that the sand is dry and does not clump up and stick to the rollers and mowers.

Mowing heights are slowly brought back down with each mowing, and typically the greens are very playable within one week.

Although no one likes playing on an aerated putting green, it is a necessary practice to promote turf vigor, rooting, long term health and sustainability of the golf course, and ultimately playability for the rest of the season.

Water Diverson Regs to Effect Golf Courses Statewide

2010-09-17T20:05:00.002-04:00

In 2005, the Connecticut General Assembly passed Legislation Requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to draft a new set of water diversion regulations. These regulations are intended to protect the rivers and streams throughout the state. DEP was instructed to "strike a balance" between public consumption, industry and agriculture needs, and improving the overall health of the rivers and streams of the state. The proposal is set to go to vote in mid-October, and the Connecticut Golf Alliance has partnered with CBIA, Connecticut Waterworks Association, and many other industry partners in asking the Regulatory Review Committee to reject the Proposal as scripted since it fails to provide the balance seeked by the General Assembly.

This bill will cost Water Companies hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades, all cost that will be passed along to the end users.

Golf Courses, will see dramatic reductions in availability of water supply, city water rates increase, and/or the requirements for increased costs for well drilling, consulting and legal fees, retention pond and damn construction, ect. The turf quality and financial burden will certainly doom some of the states clubs that are already teetering on the verge of existance. This is bad news for golfers across the state. Please join us by contacting the members of the Legislative Review Committee, and telling them that you oppose this Legislation. The following links contain contact info for the legislators as well as position papers by CAGCS and CWWA that contain bullet points that can be used in scripting letters, phone calls, and emails.

cagcs.com/files/Coalition%20Letter%20Stream%20Flow%20Regulations%205B1%205D%209-14-10.pdf
cagcs.com/files/Regulation%20Review%20Committee%20Members%202010.pdf
cagcs.com/files/CAGCS%20Stream%20Flow%20Position%20Paper%209-13-10.pdf

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
Pursuant to Section 4-168(d) of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Department of Environmental Protection hereby gives notice that Sections 26-141b-1 to 26-141b-10, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA) will be submitted for consideration and approval to the Legislative Regulation Review Committee. A Notice of Intent to Adopt Regulations and hold a Public Hearing was published in the Connecticut Law Journal on October 13, 2009. The public hearing was held on January 21, 2010 and the comment period was open until February 4, 2010. Revisions have been made to the originally proposed regulations in response to public comment.
The proposed rules establish flow standards and other regulatory requirements for all river and stream systems in the state. These proposed rules expand the coverage of and eventually phase out the existing Minimum Stream Flow Standards and Regulations of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, RCSA sections 26-141a-1 to 26-141a-8, inclusive.
Copies of the final wording of the proposed regulations and the hearing report, which includes a statement of the principal reasons in support of the Department’s action and the principal considerations in opposition to the Department’s intended action as urged in written or oral comments on the proposed regulation and its reasons for rejecting such considerations, are available on the DEP web page at: www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2719&q=434018&depNav_GID=1654

Paper copies are also available from:
Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse
Planning and Standards Division
79 Elm Street, 2nd Floor
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
Phone: 860-424-3020

USGA Northeast Video

2010-09-05T06:00:00.004-04:00

The following video is from the USGA Northeast Green Section. The green section sends out bi-monthly emails specific to each region throughout the country. These updates are timely resources for golf course superintendents and golfers alike. You can subscribe to these updates by following this link: http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001OSVZXasZuMpjCAmRbFrJTg%3D%3D

Why does Turf Die in the Summer?

2010-08-14T10:32:00.007-04:00

Below is the temperature data from June and July of this year......the hottest since record keeping began in Connecticut 110 years ago. Our data is taken by a data-logger thermometer as part of a multi-year study with The University of Massachusetts, and the DUPONT Company. We have been working with those organizations for several years to find environmentally friendly insecticide options for golf courses.

These readings are actually taken in the shade, and the temperature on a green surface in the afternoon sun can actually be 20-25 degrees higher! Please view the video clip from PACE University to see what that means for putting greens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg_CYn2YMvQ

Wall Street Journal Article

2010-08-08T12:35:00.004-04:00

Please view the following article by John Paul Newport from Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704017904575409411501359450-lMyQjAxMTAwMDAwNjEwNDYyWj.html#printMode

Troubled Approaches

2010-08-08T09:25:00.010-04:00

As you know, we have experienced significant damage to many of our approaches. Most bent grass sod comes with a thatch layer from production, and a thin layer of soil. These two components are needed to hold the grass together during harvesting. Typically, the thin soil layer is different than the native soil on the site is is being layed on, and as a result, it can cause some issues in the first few years after installation. In many cases, the interface layer becomes compacted and serves as a barrier, preventing air exchange, and keeps water, nutrients, and chemicals from reachin the roots below. This layer must be modified through regular aeration and sand topdressing. The aeration tines pull out sections of silt, and when the holes are "backfilled" with sand provide permanent channels for air, water, fertilizer, and chemicals. Note in the picture below, the silt layer as described.

It typically takes 3-4 years of normal aeration to effectively remove and/or modify this silt/thatch interface to a point where the turfgrass is no longer effected by the issues it presents. Since our sod is less than two years old, we have not yet completed the needed modifications. Under normal weather conditions, these issues would go reletively unnoticed. Our turf failure occured when several irrigation cycles were followed up by heavy rains, and a spike in temperatures/humidity. The water was unable to penetrate the silt layer, and in effect sat in the thathc and "boiled" the grass plants. We have since aerated, topdressed with sand, and slice/seeded all of the approaches.

Through core sampling, we have found white, fiberous, healthy roots down to the bottom of the aeration holes, and are already beginning to see new seedlings emerge in the slice/seed lines.

These seedlings will continue to be nursed along through constant irrigation, light frequent fertility applications, and by keeping foot and mower traffic off for several weeks. Continue to check back for frequent updates on our progress.

USGA Bentgrass Survival Video

2010-07-30T18:45:00.002-04:00

Once fully matured, creeping bentgrass is far more heat/drought tolerant than poa annua, however it is still a cool season grass species. Our temperatures have broken all records for June and July, which has adversly effected several of our greens. Today, the USGA released a video outlining 7 steps for protecting and aiding in the recovery of bentgrass greens. We have already implemented all of these reccomendations (many of them several weeks ago). Temperatures are beginning to moderate, and we can expect recovery to begin soon.

The agronomists of the Mid-Atlantic Region believe it is necessary and appropriate to send special letters to USGA member courses on “defensive maintenance and management programs” as long as these weather extremes continue. Obviously, extra care must be taken to pamper the grass through this difficult weather. Equally, extra understanding from golfers can help achieve that goal. It is a common problem for everyone. If we all work together and do what is best for the grass, the summer of 2010 will one day be nothing more than just a bad memory.
This letter also will be sent to golf associations and regional golf course superintendent organizations. In this way, information can be made available to all golf courses, whether or not they are USGA members (and we hope most are).

The letter follows:
WEATHER ALERT & TURF LOSS ADVISORY
Periodically, the agronomists of the Mid-Atlantic region send letters to USGA member courses pertaining to extraordinary weather conditions and turf-loss-related matters. The weather experienced during the summer of 2010 has prompted this letter.
Our goal is to alert golfers and turf managers alike that this extended period of heat and drought -- followed by heat, humidity and thunderstorms -- has caused and probably will continue to cause turf stress and turf loss problems throughout the region. No two golf courses are alike, having different grasses, soils, course features and golfer expectations. It is important that golf course superintendents use “defensive golf course maintenance and management programs.” That is, be conservative. Pamper the grass. The turfgrass is under intense weather stress, which is compounded by an increase in disease pressure. Be more concerned about plant health than green speed!!! There is an old adage in our industry -- “slow grass is better than no grass.” This is not a joke. It needs to be taken seriously.
Suggested “defensive” management programs include:
Compress spray programs. With heat, humidity and thunderstorms, fungicides do not last as long and disease pressure is greater. There is no better money spent than to protect the grass from disease.
Raise mowing heights and use sharp mowers. This can help the grass survive.
Mow less…roll more. The goal is to reduce mechanical stress to the grass plant.
Switch from grooved rollers to solid rollers, and protect collars from the turning of mowers.
Spoonfeed the grass. Spray weekly with light rates of nutrients, iron (to keep the grass green), and growth regulators. Excessive grass growth depletes carbohydrates (plant food).
Air drainage. On shaded or pocketed greens, prune limbs, use fans and generally keep the air moving. When you are hot, you stand in front of a fan to cool yourself. When the grass is stressed, it needs good air movement as well. Drier turf is also less prone to disease.
DO NOT OVER-WATER. Hand water if possible. Lightly syringe the turf with the nozzle -- never going past horizontal. Any mid-day watering should be focused on cooling the canopy. If you are wetting the soil, it’s too much! Remember, you can always add more water, but wet, saturated soil can damage roots, increase disease and contribute to turf loss via the Wet Wilt Syndrome. If corrective watering needs to be done for dry spots, the extra water should be applied in the early morning or late in the evening. Do not over-water the grass in mid-day heat.
Surface aerate the greens. This allows the soil to breath, excess moisture to escape, and roots to regrow, thereby helping the grass to survive.

In summary, be careful. This may be one of our hottest summers in decades. We all share the responsibility of keeping the turf on our golf courses as healthy as possible during this period of extreme weather. Again, be careful and have realistic expectations for golf course playability.

GCSAA Issues Press Release on the Weather

2010-07-25T08:24:00.005-04:00

07/22/2010
Superintendents, facilities pulling out all stops to address the challenge
Heat wreaking havoc on golf courses nationwide

Prolonged periods of high temperatures, and in some cases, excessive rainfall, and high humidity have made life uncomfortable for golfers and golf courses alike, with Mother Nature holding all the cards for true relief.
"The simple fact is the cool-season turfgrasses such as bentgrass, fescue, bluegrass, annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and others are stressed when temperatures climb and humidity is high," Clark Throssell, Ph.D., director of research for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, said. "Golf courses in many parts of the country experience this every year, however what makes the situation so dire this year are the high levels of extended heat and humidity, and the sizeable part of the country affected (Midwest, Mideast, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic)."
According to Throssell, golf facilities and those entrusted with managing the golf course – golf course superintendents – are not alone in this battle with the elements. However, the nature of their product makes their challenge greater.
"We are certainly seeing homeowners, athletic fields and businesses suffer turfgrass damage brought on by the conditions," Throssell said. "What makes it more difficult for golf facilities are the mowing heights are much lower and traffic is much heavier. That just adds to the stress on the turfgrass."
Throssell indicates that golf course superintendents are addressing the issue with a variety of management practices to make sure turfgrass survives. While there may be some short-term impact on playability of the course, the alternative is the loss of grass, the closure of the course and the additional costs of re-establishing playing surfaces (primarily putting greens).
He also cautioned golfers from thinking that water, whether from rain or irrigation, is the answer to the ills. There is a difference between heat stress and drought stress. Adequate irrigation will alleviate drought stress. Adequate irrigation will not alleviate heat stress. It is not only possible, but likely, for a turfgrass plant to be adequately watered and still suffer from heat stress under extended periods of high temperatures.
Among the practices that superintendents are implementing to manage golf courses include:

-Raising the mowing heights of playing areas, most notably putting greens.

-Alternating daily practices of mowing and rolling putting greens, with consideration to skipping a day if the schedule of play allows.

-Forgoing double mowing, topdressing, verticutting or grooming greens.

-Watering to provide adequate soil moisture, but not over watering as saturated soil will cause the turfgrass to decline rapidly.

-Hand watering as much as feasible. If a green has a dry spot or two, superintendents will hand water the dry spots only and will not water the entire green. When the entire green shows stress from a lack of water, superintendents use the overhead sprinklers and water the entire green.

-Avoid aerifying using large diameter tines that penetrate deeply into soil and remove a core of soil. If a superintendent feels the putting surface is sealed, venting using small diameter solid tines or other similar technique is employed.

-If fertilizer is required, small amounts of fertilizer are applied via a sprayer and observation of the response occurs before fertilizing again.

-Monitoring and adjusting golf car traffic patterns to minimize stress to turf.

Throssell indicated that during periods such as this, it becomes easy to compare golf course conditions and pressure decision makers into actions that might prove detrimental to the long term health of the playing surface.
"Communication is vital," Throssell said. "Superintendents, golf professionals, owners, managers and others must be in constant contact with golfers to educate them on what is happening at the facility. But golfers must also understand that golf courses are like snowflakes – no two are alike. Some courses may be able to withstand the challenges of Mother Nature better than others because of better drainage and soil conditions, better air flow due to the placement of trees, less traffic or the presence of greater financial resources.
"We know the weather conditions will become more agreeable. What is important right now is to manage the golf course in a manner so that turf can be kept alive until that point."
GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 20,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. The association's philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Visit GCSAA at http://www.gcsaa.org/.
For more information contact:Clark Throssell, Ph.D., GCSAA director of research, 800-472-7878

Condition of the Greens

2010-07-16T09:23:00.003-04:00

note the healthy circles of grass in old aeration holes

The issue:

The majority of greens are really struggling right now due to a "perfect storm" type scenario. The top 1/2-3/4" of thatch on the surface has become extremely compacted and virtually "sealed-off" the rootzone below. As a result, this thatch layer is holding an excessive amount of moisture, and causing a multitude of problems including: anaerobic soil around the crowns of the plant, black algea formation, and a reduction in the downward flow of water to the rootzone. We are literally seeing issues where we are boiling the plants in one spot from too much water, and three feet away, the plants are wilting due to not enough water where the roots can take it up. Additionally, when the thatch layer stays saturated, there is an increase in damage done from foot traffic, and mechanical damage from mowers and rollers.

How did we get here?

There are a lot of factors that have caused this situation:

1)In an attempt to provide the membership with less disruption to the course, we have backed off of our cultural practices significantly in year two on our new greens.

2) In addition to eliminating one spring aeration, we moved our only other spring aeration from late-April into late-March. This was a calculated decision due to the fact that with the clubhouse not being ready to accept golf carts, we knew we would have a dramatic reduction in early-season play, so we decided to aerify earlier when it would effect fewer members. Unfortunately, the positive effects of this aeration have already passed, and we are not due to aerify again until August 16/17.

3)The incredibly high volume of play has further compacted the thatch layer, and the greens/golf course in general. We have now done over 12,000 rounds of golf, the majority in only a period of 12 weeks!

4)The three straight outings in June took away our opportunity to lightly topdress the greens. Regular sand topdressing helps to dilute organic material (thatch) as it forms, and keep positive air/water exchange down through to the root zone. We also were unable to give the greens a break from mowing/rolling. That one day per week of not having a mower run them over really does make a big difference!

5) The weather- despite all of these issues, had we experienced more seasonal temperatures, and more frequent rainfall, we likely would not be seeing the issues that we face today. This has been one of the hottest summers on record.

Where do we go from here? We need to act quickly and aggressively to open channels through the compacted thatch layer to the roots below. This will allow for proper air exchange (CO2 out, and oxygen in) to the rootzone, and it will allow our irrigation water to go where it is needed.....to the rootzone. On Monday the 12th we sipked the greens with 1/4" solid tines, this provided temporary air exchange, and allowed us to get water to the roots. Unfortunately, since we could not fill these channels with sand, these positive effects only lasted a few days, as the small holes quickly closed up when mowing and rolling resumed. This only provided us with 3-4 days of benefit from the process. This is as aggressive as we could be with The Invitational happening this week.

The Solution:

This coming Monday we will complete a process with much longer-lasting benefits for. Given the high heat and humidity still in the forecast, traditional core aeration and topdressing is a risky proposition. In order to fill the holes with sand, it is necessary to drag/brush the greens multiple times. The abrasive nature of this process likely would severely bruise the grass, damaging it even further. For these reasons, we have elected to go with a much less invasive process called "DryJect". This machine uses high pressure water to inject sand directly into the thatch/rootzone profile. It is minimally invasive and will hardly be detected by Friday July 23rd (four days later). This process will provide longer term relief in the way of air and water exchange, and serve as a "stopgap" lasting until mid-August when we can physically remove thatch and replace it with sand through traditional aeration. Please view the link to a video depicting the DryJect process http://www.dryject.com/dryject/howitworks/video.php

We continue to walk the delicate line of reducing member disruption and providing proper agronomic conditions. We are very confident that the measures outlined above will quickly remedy the issues, and provide the best results in the shortest amount of time.

HOT HOT HOT!!! Where's our Rain?

2010-07-08T08:26:00.005-04:00

Many of you are asking, just what happens to the golf course when we reach record temperatures and have severe drought?

The last several weeks have been an interesting combination of no rain, high heat, and extreme humidity. Grass is impacted directly by high temperature stress, and drought stress, and indirectly by fungal diseases that thrive during extended periods of heat and humidity. Every physiological function of turfgrass slows down under these conditions......just like we slow down. Since grass respires, or "breaths" much like we do, this process slows during these environmental conditions, and with it recuperative potential/wear tolerance is drastically compromised. You will begin to see additional wear around high traffic areas like collars, tees, and cart entry/exit points. Collars are a high traffic area more due to maintenance than members. Our green mowers, collar mowers, and rollers all effect these areas during operation.

We are currently working a very delicate balancing act as too much water will cause severe disease issues, and too little water will cause drought stress, or high temperature stress. You will note between 3-7 staff members constantly monitoring soil and surface moisture, and adding water exactly where and when it is needed. Night time watering provides water deep into the root zone, these cycles are adjusted on a daily basis depending upon what we see in the field. A lot of members wonder why we must water during the day, which interrupts play. Daytime irrigation is supplemental and is utilized to cool the leaf blades, aid in respiration, and address localized dry spots throughout the course. For further information, please see this short video clip:

Green Surrounds

2010-06-26T18:07:00.003-04:00

Recently, several members have showed concern over the inconsistent growth rate and density of the green surrounds. This is a typical response of new sod in the second year as fertility levels are reduced from production to maintenance rates. Additionally, in the second year, sod typically expends more energy in producing roots than in growing leaf tissue. Compounding these isssues, is tha fact that the thatch layer importaed with the sod has been compacted excessively by heavy mowing equipment......we are working hard to correct this issue.

This above picture shows the difference in the thatch layer between an area always maintained with hand-mowers, and an area 10 feet away that is maintained with a heavy ride-on mower. Note the thatch layer is about 2" thick, and very airy on the left. This allows for proper respiration, air exchange, and for nutirents and water to get down to the root system.

The plug on the right shows a compressed thatch layer 1/2" thick which has become very anaerobic, and a trap for fertilizers, and a "speed bump" for water causing runoff and an unhealthy rootzone. We will continue in the fall with aggressive maitenance practices (chemical and mechanical) to reduce the thatch, and we have switched to hand mowing only to stop future compaction of the layer.

Note the difference in turf growth, density, and visual quality.

Fairway Topdressing

2010-06-20T09:10:00.001-04:00

We have heard many concerns over the timing of our fairway topdressing this spring. Typically, fairways are topdressed in late April or early May as to limit the disruption caused by this important process. Due to the late nature of Men's and Ladie's opening day tournaments, caused by the clubhouse construction, we felt it was best to push back the fairway topdressing dates. We considered skipping the process altogether this spring, but we felt that the benefits far outweigh the minimal and temporary disruption caused by the process. As a reminder, the main benefits are as follows:

GOLFER BENEFITS:
-Firmer, smoother, more consistent fairways
-Drier fairways
-Fewer traffic resrtictions
-Reduction/elimination of earth worm castings
-Reduction/elimination of core aeration

TURFGRASS BENEFITS:
-Improved drainage
-Improved soil aeration
-Improved turf density
-Improved spring greenup
-Reduced disease incedents

The aesthtic and playability issues caused by the process, and will have the fairways back in prime condition within a few days.