Update for the week of May 28th

The golf course remains very dry as we have missed the majority of the rain this past week.  I typically water heavy twice a week and then just as needed the rest of the week.  The turf responds best to this practise and playing conditions are also improved.   The weather forecast is good until Thursday when a cold front is supposed to move through with a chance of showers. 

Plans for the week include:
1.  Fungicide application to greens and fairways.
2.  Herbicide application for broad leaf control in the rough.
3.  Seeding stump holes.
4.  Seeding and topdressing top driving range tee.
5.  Clean up along path #6 tee.
6.  Detail course.

Please remember to fix your ball marks and replace your divots on the course.  The sand and seed is to be used only if the divot is destroyed. 
  

May 21st Weekly Update

It looks as if we have another dry week ahead of us.  Temperatures will be in the mid 70's early in the week rising to the upper 80's by the weekend.  We only have a slight chance of rain towards the end of the week.  Maintenance to be performed this week:

1.  Topdress greens on Monday
2.  Spray clover on fairways, intermediate rough and Driving Range on Tuesday.
3.  Finish cutting down the bank in front of 8 tee. 
4.  Fix washout in the middle of 2 fairway.
5.  Plant annual beds at pool.
6.  Clean up area behind 2 green.
7.  Detail golf course

We are now fully staffed so we will be paying closer attention to detail.  Get out and enjoy the weather and the course.
   

May 14th Update

This week we will be mini-tining or "venting" the greens.  We are using a 1/4" tine that will punch through the surface of the green to a depth of 5".  The venting allows oxygen and water to move through the profile which is very important to the health of the greens.  It will cause minimal disruption to the surface and the greens will be back in great shape by the middle of the week.

We are applying our second application of wetting agent to the fairways on Monday.  The wetting agent will help move the water through the profile and off the surface.  We will be watering it in immediately following the application.  We are also due to apply a fungicide, growth regulator and ferrous sulfate to the greens.  The plan is to spray the greens on Wednesday. 

All the flowers have been planted around the clubhouse, so now it is time to move to the course.  We have about two weeks of planting.  We plant about 13000 annuals around the clubhouse and on the course.

The weather looks great this week so get out and enjoy the course.       

Update for the week of May 7th

We missed the majority of the rain and storms this past week.  It looks like some lingering showers through Tuesday with seasonal temperatures expected.  Hopefully, we can get the course to dry out.

We plan to work on bunkers this week.  The process includes detailing the bunker surrounds, checking the depth of the sand in the bunker and moving or adding sand where necessary, cutting a crisp edge and raking them.  A couple of things to think about when you are in the bunkers.  First, the rakes are to be put outside of the bunkers.  Secondly, try not to climb out of the bunkers on the steep face.  This causes the sod on the bunker face to erode and leave the face of the bunker unplayable.  Please try to enter and exit the bunkers from the flat side.

Other things on the agenda for the week include getting the flowers planted around the clubhouse, moving the driving range set-up to the bottom tee, slit seeding and topdressing the top tee so it is ready for fall and keeping up with the daily maintenance to the course.

Hope to see you on the course,

Tom       

The week of April 30th Update

It looks like we are finally going to get some favorable temperatures to get some grass growing.  The weather this week looks a little unstable, but temperatures are moving into the 70's.  The warmer temperatures and added precipitation will allow the grass to fill in and thicken up.  This week we will be starting our ferrous sulfate program to the greens.  Ferrous sulfate is basically iron and it allows the plant to green up.  A bigger advantage to applications of ferrous sulfate is that the sulfur will help lower the pH in the soil and promote the bent over the poa.  We also apply ammonium sulfate during the year which also contains sulfur and will benefit the bentgrass. 

On Wednesday we have our first men's stag.  Sunday brings the Spring fling.  These are both fun events and I hope you can get a group and enjoy them.  We will be marking the course on Tuesday.  The new seeded areas will not be marked but should be played as ground under repair.  We will also start planting the flower beds on the course this week.  The club's horticulturist, Jim Pillard, does a great job with the landscaping and flowers on the course and around the clubhouse.  He will be very busy planting over the next three weeks. 

Please remember to repair your ballmarks and replace your divots.  Get out and enjoy the course this week. 

Week of April 23rd Update

It looks like we will have a slight warm up as we start the week with a chance of showers in the middle of the week.  We will be applying our first fungicide application to fairways and tees on Monday as a disease called dollar spot is starting to show up.  Dollar spot becomes active as the soil starts to warm up and moisture increases.  We received about .8" of rain on Friday and Saturday which jump started the fungus.  Monday we also will be verticutting and topdressing the greens.  Tuesday we will be topdressing the lower driving range tees.  We hope to stay on the top driving range tee until the first week of May.  It will then be closed and seeded.  We will be applying our second application of herbicide for weed control, basically going after the dandelions and clover.  Thursday is opening Ladies day.  Friday is scheduled for applying a fungicide and growth regulator to the greens.  Get out and enjoy the course!!    

Golf course updates

Starting in the next couple of weeks I will be giving weekly updates of the golf course.  The update will include current course conditions, weather forecast, projects planned for the week and any disruptions that may affect play.  I will post on these updates on Sunday night or Monday morning.