First and foremost Happy Thanksgiving. We down in maintenance hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday.
With Thanksgiving here so is the cooler weather and the frost delays. It is critical that before you drive on the golf course that you check in with the pro shop to find out the current conditions for the day. Remember that it takes weeks to months to recover from frost related damage.
Always remember to SCATTER.
Tree trimming is starting on December 13th and only the worse of the trees will be trimmed to keep us within budget. We have a three to four year rotation and thus a tree you might want trimmed may not be slated this year ... but that being said if it is no harm to the tree you may pay for the desired trimming.
Speaking of trees, this year we planted 17 trees and only lost 5 to death or disease. Additional trees will be planted started in Jan thanks to the contributions from members for the five year tree replacement program. The Green Committee has made adjustments to the tree program and if you would like the details I believe it will be posted soon.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Scatter & Traffic Wear
The golf course is open and there is still seed germinating thus it critical that you scatter when traveling hole to hole; and leaving the tee complex or entering the green area. Lately, we have been seeing heavy wear from cart traffic in the areas listed above ... we are moving the ropes daily; however, this is just a temp solution of a deep rooted problem. One look at the par 3's that get very little traffic you will see a much healthier turf.
In courses such as Avondale which doesn't have wall-to-wall cart path survival of the newly germinated ryegrass depends solely on our members to ability to scatter. Thus we are asking for the health of the turf that if you see an area with traffic wear please choose another path to enter or exit.
In courses such as Avondale which doesn't have wall-to-wall cart path survival of the newly germinated ryegrass depends solely on our members to ability to scatter. Thus we are asking for the health of the turf that if you see an area with traffic wear please choose another path to enter or exit.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
December in November
The cooler weather has come upon us earlier this year than in past years, and even today we had a slight frost in the low lying areas. So what does this mean ... well currently the ryegrass is still germinating and what has germinated is only at the first and second tiller so far. Early cold weather along with the the flush of bermudagrass that we experienced in October after the rains will lead to off-coloring and thinning of the turf especially in the fairways and tees.
The good news is that we have so far put down 1,200 lbs per acre in the fairways and are fertilizing heavy to combat this thinning effect. In addition, we will be performing foliar fertilizer applications starting next week. The best news is that here in the Valley these effects historically go away during the first part of January as the ryegrass begins to tiller.
The good news is that we have so far put down 1,200 lbs per acre in the fairways and are fertilizing heavy to combat this thinning effect. In addition, we will be performing foliar fertilizer applications starting next week. The best news is that here in the Valley these effects historically go away during the first part of January as the ryegrass begins to tiller.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Course Opening
Finally the golf course is open and everyone seems to be enjoying being able to get out and play. Conditions overall are pretty good and the greens are rolling smoothly. Speaking of greens; over the next couple of weeks we will be lightly topdressing and rolling to increase the speed and the playability.
Overseeding this year was the toughest I have seen since arriving to the Valley over 10 years ago. Although the weather was cooler than most years and air movement was nonexistent while the humidity and dew point were quite high thus leading to numerous outbreaks of Pythium. Additionally, we had later increased temperatures and heavy rains which brought the bermudagrass back stronger than ever ... thus a great opening; however, if we have a cold November or December will lead to browning of the turf base.
We are fertilizing heavy (now that the temperatures have dropped) and adding addition seed to the fairways to lessen the potential of the "browning" effect. This will help but will not stop it entirely. The good news is that historically in the Valley this is short lived.
Overseeding this year was the toughest I have seen since arriving to the Valley over 10 years ago. Although the weather was cooler than most years and air movement was nonexistent while the humidity and dew point were quite high thus leading to numerous outbreaks of Pythium. Additionally, we had later increased temperatures and heavy rains which brought the bermudagrass back stronger than ever ... thus a great opening; however, if we have a cold November or December will lead to browning of the turf base.
We are fertilizing heavy (now that the temperatures have dropped) and adding addition seed to the fairways to lessen the potential of the "browning" effect. This will help but will not stop it entirely. The good news is that historically in the Valley this is short lived.
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