Course Update

I apologize for the long gap in postings, like any golf course in the spring, it has been extremely busy here. There are several things going on around the golf course that I wanted to update you guys on.

Projects and seeding:
The irrigation projects that we worked on this winter and spring are all completed.  The previous thin areas of turf have been seeded and things are really growing in well.

New irrigation on the perimeter of hole #14

Seeded area

Early germination from seeding

These areas are being maintained like a grow-in situation with extra watering cycles and fertility.  Please avoid them with cart traffic as we try to establish turf as fast possible.  With favorable weather right now I would anticipate having them fairly well filled in by mid-June.

#5 tee walkway pavestone project

Irrigation system:
It has been the spring of irrigation breaks once we started using the system.  Our irrigation pipe in the ground is 43 yeas old, and the water hammer as water moves through the pipe puts stress on the system.  Many of our breaks are bell fittings and the inside joint of tees.  Always something to repair and improve on an older high maintenance irrigation system.

#16 green

2 irrigation breaks on #1 - 25 yards apart

Without an assistant:
This spring has been busier than normal because my assistant had the opportunity to go to a great golf course this spring, and I have had a tough time finding a candidate that would fit in our system.  That has led me to do the assistants work with chemical applications and irrigation work, and then do my duties as a superintendent.

Poa Annua - hurting from plant growth regulators(PGR's):
You will see on all areas of the golf course that the poa annua is off color and a little tan looking.  All areas have a plant growth regulator applied to them to hurt the poa, slow down the production of seedheads and growth, and allow the desired specie to crowd it out.  During the spring the weather here is very favorable for poa, not as hot, our rainy season, and the production of seedheads allow the poa to establish itself.  In the summer the dry hot weather favors our creeping bentgrass and kentucky bluegrass and we can keep the poa under control with water management and the help of mother nature, but in the spring I really hit the growth regulators hard to keep the poa under control.  The off colored areas are nothing to worry about, they play the same as the greener turf, and just shows us the regulators are doing what we want them to do.

Poa on 9 fairway under a little stress

Lack of rain:
Like I said, normally April and May is our rainy period, but this year we went from March 24 to May 13 without any rain.  It has forced us to rely more on the irrigation system and even do some handwatering early in the season.  Our rain total is about 1/3 of normal for our spring period, and I even heard they have already put watering restrictions in place for homeowners.

Fertilize collars:
You will notice that the collars around the greens look very green in color compared to the green itself and surrounding turf.  That is because I use a drop seed spreader to go out and specifically drop a fertilizer just on the collar.  That collar area is very difficult to manage because it does not get specific nutrients applied to it, it might get over spray from the green or the surrounds but typically not a specific application.  It is also an area in the middle where it gets an excessive amount of traffic.  Greens mowers turn on the collar, approach mowers turn there, many golfers walk around the green or push pull carts around the green.  Many superintendents try different strategies to move this traffic around, but one thing I have found that works for us is to create a healthier stand of turf that will develop a deeper root system and stand up to the traffic.  A couple times a year, mainly in the spring when it is cooler and the plant is developing a root system, I will fertilize just the collar and when I do that you can see a green ring around the green.

Rattlesnakes coming out:
It is that time of the year where we start to see rattlesnakes out on the course.  This year the agronomy staff has seen more than usual.  I believe the mild winter decreased the mortality rate, and the dryer spring has them coming to the irrigated golf course turf to get the moisture on their skin that they need because the native grass is already very dry.

Turf conditioning and tournaments (pig roast):
Through all of these typical spring challenges, the golf course is really in great shape.  We have hosted many tournaments already this year and we have one of our biggest coming up this weekend. We also typically do a pig roast in the ground for this event so that project has been underway this week.

The start of the in-ground pig roast

Pool:
We also have been prepping everything to have the pool open this weekend.  It has been drained, cleaned, all mechanicals gone through, and all furniture set-up.  Come out and enjoy.