Project week update

Update:

Laying the sod behind 3 green from our sod nursery.  

#3 completed:  starter fertilizer and water is all that we have left!

# 6 green finished and resodded.  Now waiting for our tif grand sod to arrive Thursday to finish the collar and surrounds.

Keep coming back!  There is much more ahead.

Project week

You will notice some new changes to the golf course this week.  We have begun the projects I mentioned in an earlier post.  Check back daily to see the progress! 

#13 ladies and senior tee expansion.  Ready for sand/level and the sod!

#3 green sod stripped and removing the "sink hole" on the green!

More to come very soon!

Greens Aerification

Go ahead and mark down on your calendars July 15 and 16 we will be aerifying our greens.  I know there have been a few question marks as to why we would be doing them--as some have indicated that the Diamond Zoysia didn't have to be core aerified.  This is a myth and a misconception.  Any living plant needs air to breath--thus our greens need to allow oxygen and other gas exchanges to take place when we core aerify.  This will also alleviate some of the compacted areas that we have, remove excessive thatch build up, and allow better water penetration and efficiency of uptake.  We will close 9 holes on the 15 and open the aerified 9 on the 16 and close the other 9.  All and all I am projecting that it should take 2 weeks for us to really begin healing with full recovery in a month.  This is all weather dependent as well as how fast the zoysia really wants to move!  This is our first aerification on the zoysia, so I am sure their will be some kinks to iron out in the future, but we will do all that we can to minimize the damage to the greens and have you golfing on smooth healthy greens quickly!  Thanks for your understanding, and do not hesitate to ask me questions as you see me on the course throughout the weeks ahead.  I will provide more information in the coming days/weeks.  Thanks!

Greens update

Today was a day where I felt a since of "success" I guess you would say. After many comments of the diamond zoysia that it is a slow putting surface in the summer and it is just plain SLOW--today I exceeded my expectations. It has been my goal in June July and August to be around 10 feet on the stimp meter. With all of the rain and heat we had I worried they would be slow--boy was I wrong. After our primo maxx application (growth regulator), mowing and aggressive groomers and a roll this morning (and other ongoing practices) I'm happy to say I had an average speed of 11 on the stimp meter on the greens. Our surface is true and smooth and has an awesome color along with a great speed for all golfers! Enjoy!

Big Announcement Coming Soon!

Very soon we will be unveiling some new changes that we have in store for the course.  With a few more plans to be reviewed and the overall details still being ironed out, I will hold this info for a few more days/week.  Be on the look out though for the post that will unveil what's in store for River Falls!  Until then--enjoy a few pictures from the course. 

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.