Golf Course Update

This has been a common theme since my last post a little over a month ago.  In fact,  we have recorded measurable rainfall on 22 of the last 37 days since I sat down to update everyone on the happenings of the course.  Records have been set across the region for above average rainfall in June and even the start of July on what has been an extremely wet start to the summer.  In the days leading into the Robert White Invitational, it rained 7 out of the 8 days totaling over 6 inches.  Since then, 13 rain events have prevented the course from drying out and has provided some trying times for the greens staff.

The game-plan or blue print from a maintenance standpoint was completely thrown out the window as applications were altered, mowing practices changed and hours sky rocketed just to stay caught-up with conditions while providing a commodity for events and outings on a weekly basis.  Mowing and Bunkers are the biggest challenges when you go through periods like this and finding the time to complete everything in a manor of respecting play is almost impossible.

 

On a daily basis, the first thought process was to get the golf course playable; which meant repairing bunkers (sometimes twice in one day) and putting a cut on playing surfaces without posing to much mechanical injury to the turf.  We went a week without cutting fairways following the Robert White and on two occasions throughout the past month we expanded on our normal push mowing routine to cut the rough in areas just to make the course somewhat playable (See below) because the big equipment couldn't get out.

 

With saturated conditions comes damage from equipment and golf carts.  For the most part, we used measures to keep equipment off of certain areas and golf cart traffic damage to a minimal.  Despite the countless feet of rope and directional signs, damage still occurred.

 

 

Ruts occurred in areas that were clearly marked throughout the property and on multiple occasions a week, the staff spent time repairing the damage.

 

Plywood and our greens roller were used to smooth out the imperfections made from traffic to allow our fairway mowers to cut without scalping or creating even more ruts.

 

We have done our best to route the traffic, but damage happened both before and after directional signs.



Unfortunately, some damage has left scars and will take some time to heal.  It was a tough decision on a daily basis to allow or prevent carts, a call I never like to make because of the impact on your lives and the fiscal impact of the club; but there were days that it just wasn't possible.  For the record, I'm not pointing the finger completely at cart traffic, some damage was inevitable from equipment simply to repair and maintain over the past month in Bleaksburgh.

Putting Green:

We are very fortunate to have XGD drainage in 17 of our 19 greens on property.  With the events that have transpired over the past month including Member/Guests and Club Championships we were still able to provided respectable putting surfaces despite the impact of weather.  Very minimal damage has occurred on greens despite the traffic (and abuse from me for that matter) under wet conditions.  The putting green has received the brunt of the damage and that could be expected because of the lack of drainage and size of the green to facilitate the amount of traffic on a given day.  Oddly enough, the putting green is the smallest green on the course but receives the most traffic  because of those warming-up prior to a round or those that venture out to work on their putting stroke.  A progression of decline over the past week has lead me to seek approval from the Greens and Golf committee to close the putting green for 7-10 days.

The start of thinning was noticed on the Monday following July 4th.

 

A week later, 2 inches of rain later and a club championship later the areas were spreading despite the changes I made in our practices.

 

Footprints from working on those 5 footers

 

Same footprints, 4 days later.

 

 

I'll leave the putting tips to the pros, but here is a tip from a grass grower.  Mix up your angles when working on those 3-5 footers, draw an imaginary circle around the cup on the distances that you want to work on and constantly move on that circle to reduce the wear that your leaving on the putting surface.  Plus it gives you different reads, uphill/downhill putts and etc.  In return, we are both happy....you will not miss putts and the putting green will be happy, happy!

 

Yesterday,  we vented in multiple directions and topdressed the entire putting surface prior to roping off for some much needed rest.

 





 

I apologize for the short term inconvenience, but with a busy couple of weeks coming up including the State Senior Amateur, this decision had to be made.  The short 9 chipping green located to the right of the main drive has been made available for your putting.  That green will be maintained throughout the 7-10 day stretch exactly like the greens on the course to provide consistency. 

In closing, I have probably received more comments and compliments over the past 3 weeks about the job that myself and staff has done with this property. I can't take full credit, nothing would be possible with out the entire staff.  My hats off to everyone, especially the assistants, we have spent more time with each other during this stretch than our wives and family (I think they are growing pretty tired of me at this point) while trying to provide the conditions that you and your guests deserve despite what curveball Mother Nature throws at us!

 

#5 Green Update

Last night's much needed rain was well received on the golf course and most importantly on #5 in the recovery process from last week's aerification.

 

Last Monday Afternoon (June 1st)

 

This Morning (Tuesday June 9th)

 

 

This morning was the 4th cut on the green since aerifying and with the beneficial rain to knock the sand into the canopy, I can start slowly bringing down the heights to restore #5 to the consistency of the other greens.  With the forecasted higher temperatures leading into the weekend, recovery and ball roll will continue to improve; however speeds will still be effected as I slowly drop heights in preparation for next weekends Robert White.  Thanks for the support and cooperation for allowing us to take on this endeavor in season, it will work wonders towards the remainder of the summer months.

Golf Course Update

May was a perfect recipe for golf to start the season; above average temperatures and below average rainfall provided excellent conditions for a record setting month from a rounds played standpoint.  The end result was a very busy stretch for the staff and the course; I apologize for the lengthy delay in between post. 

To bring everyone up to speed on the course, in my opinion we are well ahead of the game going into the bulk of the season.  The greens have recovered nicely from the minimal winter damage that we  experienced.  The collars/new intermediate cuts around greens are continuing to mature and establish roots.  Most all fairway voids from the ryegrass eradication program have filled with the exception of #11 fairway by the bunker (where I've had roped off for the last couple of weeks).  Although, playability of #5 green has drastically improved following the renovation, the rooting is still lacking and measures will be taken to improve it's integrity throughout the season (see below).

I have been asked a lot of questions concerning the discoloration in the fairways over the last couple of weeks. (See photo)

 



Multiple factors have contributed to the yellowing of the Poa population within our fairways and trust me when I first state that this is solely an cosmetic issue and by no means are we experiencing issues in the fairways from a plant health standpoint outside of the Poa being stressed, which I want.  Let me explain. 

•  You have often heard me refer to the Spring flush, well with the flush comes and increase in the need to mow while maintaining the heights and conditions that we wish to achieve on a daily basis.  Thus, this spring I have bumped up our normal rates of growth regulation to reduce the amount of traffic and stress resulting from mowing.  These higher rates are contributing to the off color on the Poa population.
• Traditionally the Poa begins to discolor during the periods of higher temperatures and limited rainfall during the summer months, we experienced these same type conditions throughout May with stretches of mid to upper 80s and very little rainfall.  Great for golf but not great for keeping Poa happy. 
• Finally, the Poa content in our fairways is something I would like to address.  Let's face it, we will never completely eliminate Poa in Western Pa...but reducing the population will improve playability, disease pressure and water input.  This season we are starting a new growth regulator program to suppress to the Poa while encouraging the bent (darker green color turf in picture above) to move laterally .  With this program, I am going to have to find the proper balance of fertility to offset the discoloration.

June 1st was a great day on the course as the property received a much needed break from the month of May and multiple cultural practices were conducted towards plant health and playability.

As mentioned in my opening paragraph, our main focus of the day was addressing #5 green and the newly sodded areas from the Fall/Winter projects including the collars and newly built tees.  The first week of June is the only week for the remainder of the summer till Aeration in August that we didn't have any events, so we apologize for the short term inconvenience but hope that you understand the long term importance towards survival as the summer months approach.

#5 Green

If you remember, we were unable to pull a core during our Spring aerification back in the first of April because of the lack of rooting caused the sod to pull and heave throughout the putting surface on #5.  Therefore, yesterday we used a smaller tine and pulled a core on the entire putting surface followed by our traditional Aeration regime of amending, topdressing, rolling and ferting.  Pulling a core helped relieve the sod layer that formed from the project and will provide channels to promote root growth.

 

We used a 3/8 inch tine on 1.5 inch spacing

 

Followed by a healthy dose of topdressing

 

A drag mat was then used to work the sand into the holes

 

Finally, we rolled the green to smooth out the imperfections created during the process and applied our soil amendments including fertilizer

 

 

With the weather forecast (if we ever see the sun), I would expect the first cut over the weekend and a full recovery and back to normal speeds within 10-14 days.

 

 

Collars/New Tees:

 

 

The same size tine was used to remove a core on all the remaining collars and the new tees on #3,#5 and #17 to reduce the sod layer and again improve rooting.  I have chosen not to topdress these surfaces, mainly from a time standpoint and with the everyday maintenance/traffic the holes will quickly close.  Below are some pictures of the process.

 

Additional Cultural Practices:

On Monday, we also started our bi-weekly summer ritual of venting the putting surfaces.  Venting helps relieve compaction along with creating channels to promote root growth and water infiltration during the stressful months ahead. 

 

We poked at a 3 inch depth on 2 inch spacing

 

 

A light topdress was then applied to protect the plant from diseases such as anthracnose and improve playability for ball roll and firmness. 

The Finished Product

 

 

In addition to addressing the greens, we groomed and applied our first topdressing application to the approaches.  The approaches have been a major point of emphasis for the Greens Department this year as we trying to improve their playability.  Aggressive grooming along with regular maintenance practices has allowed us to achieve lower mowing heights, improve firmness and tightness of the areas leading into our greens.  These practices will allow you different options around the green from chipping to putting.

 

 



As you can tell, Monday was much like the beginning of the year thus far and busy!  All positives in continuing to improve and provide the best possible experience for you the member and your guest.  I understand that these types of practices causes headaches for the short-term (like #5) but it is all the little things that are helping us take the next step.  Thanks for your support and cooperation.

Till next time, I look forward to seeing you on the course!

Fairways and Dreams,
Josh A. Saunders and The Greens Staff

 

Aerification Day Two Recap

Yet another solid performance by the staff as all greens were completed last night shortly after dinner despite a lengthy frost delay in the morning.  We began topdressing around lunch and all that remains today is holes 6-10 and we can put a stamp on Spring greens aerification.

Topdressing, although a short term inconvenience for play, is a vital role in the success of our putting surfaces.  Over 66 tons of sand (roughly 750 lbs per 1,000 sq ft) is applied to aid in firmness, playability and improving the soil profile.  Once complete, the green is drug in with a pull behind mat to move the sand particles into the holes. 

 

#5 Green
Due to concerns of heaving the sod on the renovated #5 green, we used different means of cultural practices outside of pulling cores like the other greens.

 

We used a 3/8 inch solid tine to poke holes at a inch and half spacing.  This method was far less aggressive on the shallow rooted sod from the project completed late last fall.

 

 

Next, to avoid the weight and traffic of the pull behind topdresser, we applied over 3,000 lbs of sand by hand with a walk behind speader.

 

 

Finally, a roller was used to work any imperfections created during the entire process.

 

Overall, I'm very pleased with the progress of the recovery from the renovation process.  With limited rooting capabilities due to the timing of completion last November, the practices used over the winter and this early Spring have helped expedite the process.  However, there are still some areas that needs to be addressed resulting in the delay of opening the putting surface.  Again (and I know I sound like a broken record), we need prolonged warmer temperatures to help in the establishment and recovery.

 

The false front is still unstable under foot.  Constant foot traffic will delay the process and can pose as safety concern.  From a playability standpoint, the seams created from laying the sod are still lingering in certain spots.  As the putting surface starts to grow, these seams will quickly fill in. 

 

With that being said, the green will now have a new target opening day centered around opening events.  The additional time will allow me to conduct various practices to improving rooting and playability prior to hustle and bustle of the season.  A temporary green will now be created in the approach of the 5th for the next couple of weeks. 

 

I apologize for this short term inconvenience but want to ensure the health and playability of the surface throughout the entire season once the very first putt is holed. 

 

 





Day One Aerification Recap

Safe to say we really lucked out with the weather yesterday, the forecasted 90% of rain only brought sprinkles and allowed us to get started on aerification right out of the gates.  It was a extremely productive day and my hat is off to the staff, even with limited numbers we were able to poke, clean and amend 13 greens.

The purchase of core collectors (the black blade pictured above behind the aerifier) really helped in the efficiency of the process.  If you take a look at the picture below, in the past we would have to push all the plugs to the collars as the first set up the process.  That was time consuming and labor intensive.  With the core collectors, the cores would form into a pile with the blade and move across the green as the 648 was poking.  Once the 648 reached the edge of the green, the mechanics of the machine while lifting would also lift the collector leaving a pile at the edge of the green.  An additional benefit during the process is gained with the amount of sand material that is breaking from the core while moving across the green. 

 

The goal of any aerification is to remove 20% of the total green surface area.  To achieve this, we use our standard regimen of using 5/8 inch tines on a 1.5 inch spacing. 

 



 

Today, once the frost lifts we will finish the remaining greens and begin the process of topdressing and dragging in all putting surfaces.  We will remain on temporaries today with the full hopes of making a enough progress to give the membership a complete setup golf course tee to green for tomorrow.  As always, thank you for your patience and cooperation while conducting such a vital practice towards our success.