Traffic Control

Today's post is more of a pet peeve than anything. I don't understand why everyone has to drive the same exact worn out place over and over. If that's not enough, when it is roped, the ropes are down 5 minutes after they are put up. I promise I don't want these areas roped, it's just simply not possible for me not to because we will look the way 7 did, or the way 12 does. Turf can't take repeated cart traffic over and over and over and over without consequences. Then, the question is asked, are you going to do anything about the no grass dirt areas. Well the answer is yes, but we have to be more mindful and respectful of the golf course. Maybe it will save you a few strokes on your round. Driving down around tee boxes on 14, 18 and others are not acceptable. On 14 driving right through the fescue and leaving tracks and tearing up the course all for what reason? There are cart paths for a reason. The 90 degree rule isn't hard to follow. What set me off? The fact that we fix number 7, chain it off with 4x4's and yet carts plow through the chain and everyone drives the same path over and over and gets our new sod worn out. I'm trying to give you the best conditions possible, but I need help! Don't drive where you aren't supposed to, don't keep driving the same paths, and don't move/break ropes and chains. Get some exercise and enjoy the fact you are out playing golf!

Pictures are from 7 and 14.

Greens Venting

 

On April 30 and May 1st we vented the greens with Bayonet Tines.  These tines do minimal damage to our greens, but the benefits are huge!  Oxygen availability for our roots is critical--especially with all of the rain that we have had.  With the extreme wetness along with the amount of golfers, and our equipment on the greens each day, they become compacted.  Compaction limits water movement and air (oxygen) movement.  This causes less than optimal growing conditions and playing conditions.  Once the grass is "sliced" or vented, it allows for lateral growth because the rhizomes and stolons have become severed and thus they produce new shoots with fresh roots that make our putting surface much healthier.  I hope you enjoyed the video of the process.  The greens were mowed/groomed, then were vented.  Next, they were rolled, then cut/groomed once more.  This allowed minimal disruption to the putting surface, and all you noticed were the slits.  They were slightly bumpy the first day, but on day two ball roll was almost back to normal.  Each month we will use cross tines, bayonet tines in rotation as needed.  July 15th and 16th we will core aerify the greens with 1/2 inch tines and sand them.  This process will allow us to be more successful in the future.  I will be posting more information in the coming weeks/months on this process.  On a side note, we will begin topdressing our greens in the next few weeks.  This should allow a smoother more consistent putting surface, with improved putting speeds.


 

View from 7

Spring has finally sprung and the golf course is responding great! We are beginning to grow and I couldn't be more excited!

Greens Update

The latest weather patterns really have caused issues for our greens!  They are still rolling excellent, but they came out of dormancy very slowly this year.  They are now growing in full force and have excellent color, but you may have noticed white patches.  These patches haven't caused any yips in the putting surface, nor have they really slowed the green speeds down.  They are merely cosmetic.  What are these patches?  Well if you look close you may see exactly what the problem is:

Our grass is doing the same as these plants:

 

Flowering/seedheading.

 

This weather is causing our grass to "come out" and what do plants do first out of dormancy, they flower.  It is nothing to be alarmed about, but we have sped up the process some by applying a chemical that should stunt the flowering and seeding process.  Along with lowering heights and grooming, a light "starter" fertilization and warmer consistent temperatures, this should go away in no time!

Here is what a green looks like with the seedheads forming:

 

Overall though, there are minimal issues for our greens.  We are working to remove the Poa Annua on the few greens that do have this noxious weed!  We have been studying/planning on how to resolve our issues on the sink hole on number 3 green and the back of 16.  I think we are very close to coming up with some neat new ideas that will help the overall playing conditions and help grow these areas better.  I will update you with plans as soon as we make a decision on these areas.  Keep coming out in full force as you have been lately!  We are improving each day and I'm excited as we continue to green up!  

Spiking Greens

The benefit of spiking the greens is to allow water and nutrients to enter the root system and to allow oxygen exchange to promote healthy turf grass. With the zoysia being so tight knit in the upper layer, it opens the surface and it reaps the benefits. Once the greens have been spiked, a roller smooths the putting surface and you barely know we have even been on the greens! Pruning the rhizomes and stolons allows new shoots to form and thus a healthier putting surface. We will do this each Monday throughout the growing season--some times 2 directions, other times only 1 direction. Check out the process in our photos.

Once we finished, we put out our monthly application of wetting agents and a fungicide to mainly prevent zoysia patch, but it controls a broad spectrum of possible diseases. Notice the picture of #3 green the same day--can't tell we even did a thing to them, even ball roll wasn't affected.

What's the difference?

So why and what is wrong with this picture? Answer is to come later!


Answer: pre-emergent herbicides were applied to the left. This shows just how important they really are!

# 3 walkway update

#3 is finished! I couldn't have asked the guys to do a better job! It was a huge task, but hopefully you seniors and ladies will enjoy it much better than the dirt trail!