Maintenance Update

What is it?

I have been asked several times, "What are those dead spots on the greens next to the collars?"

These areas are where we sprayed bermudagrass that was encroaching on the greens.  Our greens are mostly a combination of bentgrass and Poa Annua . Some golf courses have bermudagrass greens, but we don't want this grass invading our greens.  Bermudagrass loves the heat and spreads rapidly during the summer months.  We use a selective herbicide specifically designed to kill bermudagrass.  You may notice the bentgrass and poa yellowing or becoming discolored, but it will heal with time. 

Bermudagrass encroachment on greens

Golf Course Update

What a Summer!

This summer was definitely a battle! All across the country, golf course superintendents were challenged by Mother Nature.  I would say most of them probably experienced some sort of climate change. We had record setting temperatures all across the country and many areas experienced drought conditions.  I would say many golf course superintendents had the hardest summer of their careers, and are glad to see fall and winter rapidly approaching. 

We had triple digit temperatures most of the summer, but the killer for me was the unrelenting winds.  They were blowing consistently hard most afternoons and evenings.  It made it hard for us to irrigate efficiently at night.  That is why you would see several of my staff hand and spot watering during the day.  We also had a lot more humidity this year.  High humidity increases the disease pressure on turfgrass.  We struggled keeping the Pythium in check for most of the tail end of the summer. But all in all, even with the drastic climate challenges, we won the battle.  

You may notice the course is alittle on the dry side right now, and I can't blame this one on Mother Nature.  For the second time this summer, we experienced irrigation computer problems.  The basestation that sends the signals out to the field satellites started to overheat.  When it overheats, the signals don't get sent and the sprinklers don't come on.  So as it would cool down, some signals would be sent and some wouldn't.  We found the problem last Saturday morning and weren't able to get the new basestation until Tuesday. The course took a hit from four nights of inconsistent watering.  Again, you will notice my staff trying to catch these areas up by manually watering.  Because of this problem, we have put a hold on the fairway and rough aerification until we can get the course rehydrated and the irrigation problems solved. We are hoping to start aerifying again starting next week.  So far, holes 1,2,3 and 9 have been punched. 

I would like to thank everyone for your comments about how hard my staff works to keep the course beautiful.  They take a lot of pride in the golf course and it shows in their work.

Hole #17- Par 4  Photo from 2002

Audubon Update

Wildlife Sighting

White Crane at #6 green

Hanging out with his duck buddies

Maintenance Schedule Update

Fall Aerification Schedule

Greens - September 4th and 5th

Tees - Week of August 27th

Fairways and Roughs - Starting week of September 10th

Hole # 3 - Par 3,  Photo from 2002

Audubon Update

Wildlife Sighting

We've had quite a few Canadian Geese stopping by the course lately.  Most of them don't stick around too long this time of year.  After a quick bite to eat and some rest, off they go to their next destination. 

Canadian Geese on hole #7

Audubon Update

Wildlife Sighting

We are still working towards our certification with Audubon International. Our goal is to finish the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. To achieve certification we must complete six categories. 

Two categories we are working on are Wildlife and Habitat Management and Outreach and Education. I am using my blog as part of the Outreach and Education category to communicate to members about the Audubon program and other information pertaining to achieving certification. 

One part of Wildlife and Habitat Management is creating a wildlife inventory.  This includes any wildlife we have seen on the course, past and present. With help from Lea Ann Ogden, Audubon Committee leader and a member of the club for many years, we have started creating our wildlife inventory. Lea Ann lives on the golf course and enjoys watching the birds and waterfowl from her back yard.  Also, I would like to thank Jim LaDow for sending me this picture of the owl located on hole 7. 

Photo courtesy of Jim LaDow

If you are interested in helping us with wildlife photos, displays or educational projects, contact myself or Lea Ann Ogden. 

Golf Course Update

It Finally Rained!

The thunder woke me at 3 AM last night! Could it be? Is that the sound of rain I hear? I jumped out of bed and headed straight for the door. And what did I see?  A sight for soar eyes!  It's pouring rain! And it was coming down hard. The showers lasted off and on until 7AM.  I checked the rain gauge and we got 3/4" in four hours.  As most of you know, when we get that much rain in such a short amount of time we get rivers running through the golf course.  There is usually a lot of debris to clean up after the water stops, but I'll take the extra work with the rain any day.  The course soaked up much of the water, but we still have many wet spots in low areas.  The weather channel is calling for thundershowers for the next couple of days, so this might not be the end of the rain.  Try to remain on the cart paths as much as possible and please avoid any low areas because they will be saturated. If you see muddy golf cart tracks, go around that area. 

Another bonus from the rain is the ponds get full.  I know many of you express your concerns about the water level getting low in the pond on hole 13.  This pond, as well as the pond on hole 18, was designed as part of the drainage system throughout Spring Valley Lake.  They fill rather quickly when we get this much rain.

Storm run-off across #6 cart path

Storm run-off to #5 fairway

#5 Fairway- Avoid this area with golf carts