Committee Results

At the conclusion of the Committee meetings yesterday it was decide that we were going a new route when addressing the greenside bunkers.  The tool we built a couple of months back will be the tool that we will use on a regular basis to soften the bunkers.  This tool loosens the top two inches which gives the "feel" that the members are seeking without producing the issues that tilling causes for up to eight days.

Does this mean that we will not till anymore?  No.  We will still till the bunkers from time to time due to the sand type we currently have, it just will be less frequent and in less obtrusive times.  We will continue to experiment until we find a solution to the issues we face with our sand type.

Sumacs Planted Behind 12's Tee

The African Sumac have been planted behind 12's tee to block the street lights in the future.  The good news is that these trees were donated to the golf club and did not cost a penny of the over $1,200 it cost to purchase them.

15's Green Damage Caused by Ravens

Above is a picture of a hole torn into 15's green.  These holes that we repair almost daily are caused by ravens searching for grubs.  They are not finding any grubs, however, while we are removing the Poa Annua they see something different and thus assume the activity is caused by insects ... now you understand the meaning of "bird brain."

Committee Meetings

Today both the Golf and Green Committees meet and I am quite sure that for the golf course the bunkers will be up front in the issues covered.  Our goal (meaning the GCM) is to come up with a viable solution given the current state of our sand to resolve the issues with the bunkers.

Bunkers and the TIlling of the Bunkers

First, I am very tickled by my team's effort yesterday to pull together and not only get the daily maintenance done, but to 90% clean the golf course for the Guys & Gals Tournament.  They did an outstanding job.  Yesterday was the first day we were able to rake the bunkers in a single direction although be it double raked.

This year, more than in past years, there seems to be such a stink about the bunkers here at Avondale considering just how fantastic every other aspect of the golf course is this season.  The bunkers, "a hazard that should be avoided" have seemed to bring down the great feats that my team has overcome this season -- from  October's loss of nine greens and 60%+ of the fairways to pythium, to budget constraints due to rising costs and overall lower manpower, to weather in the Valley seeming to shift.  All of these we have not overcome but have prevailed ... but the hazards ... no such luck.

So are the bunkers important to the GCM team ... of course they are.  Currently we put 16 - 18% of our labor assets in trying to make them better -- I should note that only the greens (of course) and the roughs which constitute 67% of the golf course have slightly more usage of the labor.  So why does it seem that we mess them up by tilling them?

Along with all of the other testing we have done and continue to try on the bunkers, tilling of these bunkers was a agreement that we made with the committees and Board on a monthly basis to improve their playability for the remainder of the month.  Sadly, given our current sand conditions it takes us 7 - 8 days after tilling to firm them back up to the point where the "waves and bumps" are smoothed out.  Why is this?  Is it because the GCM team doesn't have a clue of what they are doing how to do this "simple" task correctly?  No, it all leans back to the quality of our sand.

We have spent numerous hours in training, hundreds of dollars in equipment testing, more hours than I can easily figure in testing (both the sand quality and potential rakes, an equipment to do the raking job better) and I have even attended classes in bunker maintenance on both the local and national level.  So far these efforts have not quickened or improved the process.

I have not yet found the machine that after tilling converts our blow sand (contains 10% organic matter and greater than 25% fines, highly calcareous sand) into Augusta White.  The chances are great that we never will either.  But everyone is trying to figure a way to improve the bunkers given our current sand from the Green and Golf Committees, the Board, the GCM team and JC Resorts.  We will continue to do are very best to improve them.

Mother Nature Can Be A Cruel Mistress

Wouldn't you just know ... working the bunker issues, having the Guys & Gals Tournament this weekend and of course a big storm comes in last night.  The good news is that we got some rain which is always needed, the bad is that along with the rain the winds reeked havoc on the golf course.  More to come later.

Well, it is later and the team has pulled together and cleaned most of the golf course.  We had to blow every green just to mow them, then blow the again.  Additionally, the bunkers were wreaked and filled with junk ... also which we got cleaned. 

As you can see below, we made the cover of the local GCSA magazine.  This picture below doesn't look as good as the real cover shot.

Avondale Made the Cover of Sea to Sand

Bunker Plan

As always after we finish tilling the bunkers (once a month as agreed upon with the Board) the dissatisfaction with their playability begins.  A couple months ago we along with the Green Committee and Board developed a plan to address the bunker's unevenness and softness.  We are doing that exact plan but from what I am hearing it isn't enough.

Thus, we will be addressing this plan and come up with a new one approved by the Golf & Green Committees, and the Board that hopefully will improve the playability of the bunkers for our members after tilling.  We have tried several things and continue trying new things each and every time we till, but so far satisfaction from the members has not been achieved.  We will continue trying until we find a solution with our bunkers here.

Bunkers Continue Today

Today, we are still addressing the bunkers by working of the edging, weed eating of the faces and cleaning of the bunkers.  We are starting on 10 - 14, then to 17, after which we will be working on the front in reverse order.  Also today we are lightly topdressing the greens which as usually will be ahead of play. 

On of our newest members who bought the old Anton's home at 12's tee has purchased some African Sumac to aid in the blocking of the corner of Country Club Drive behind 12's tee.  This plantings was in agreement with the Green Committee and Board and should be a welcome addition to the aesthetics of our golf course.  Also there are plans in place to improve the overall look around the clubhouse parking lot ... more to come on the front.

Tilling Bunkers Again

Today, we will still be tilling the greenside bunkers on holes 10 - 13.  If by chance we are not finished by the time you catch up to us ... please consider them GUR.  Additionally, we will be edging, weed eating the faces, and cleaning ALL bunkers ... once again if you enter a bunker that we are working on please consider it GUR.



Winds & Everyday on Hole 7 -- Bark Flakes from Eucalyptus Trees

Eucalyptus Trees De-Barking (What a Mess)

All of this work is in prep for the upcoming ladies event, the Tapestry.  Our goal is to have everything finished before the event so we can keep the crew (for the most part) out of the field during the ladies play for that event.  Lots to get done before that time.

8's Project Continues

And Continues

Additionally, you may have seen us working on 8.  We have finally found some time to hopefully finish that project soon.  Also we have been working on correcting the irrigation issues that have plagued the parking lot at the clubhouse ... lots to still do there as well.

Always a Pot of Gold on 18's Green

What a Wonderful Way to Start Your Round of Golf at Avondale

Tilling Bunkers

Yesterday we tested an idea from one of our members on the practice bunker by first loosening the top 2 - 3 inches, wetting it back down and then raking it smooth ... we are waiting for the results.  But speaking of bunkers, we are in the process of tilling the "humps" out of the fairway bunkers, and tilling all of the greenside bunkers lightly.  This process takes some time to complete but our goal is to have them playable for the upcoming Tapestry.

Today, we will also be foliar fertilizing the tees, DR floor and the fairways to improve the color of the turf.  Coming soon we will start the granular fertilizing program to start promoting the transition from ryegrass to bermudagrass.

Rains on the Horizon?

That is right ... according the the weather forecast there is the potential that it may rain this week.  We could use the break from the heat which has been stressing the ryegrass before we are ready to start stressing the ryegrass.

Last Year Before the Chemical Transition

During the Chemical Transition (3 Weeks After Spraying)

After the Tapestry we will be aggressively promoting the transition of the ryegrass to allow the maximum time for the bermudagrass recovery.  Since this year we are suspending the chemical transition which expedites the bermudagrass recovery and allows the 100 days plus of growth that is required for healthily turf conditions ... we will have to resort to other methods to transition this year.  Will the turf look better ... at first, yes, but in the long run transition will occur and recovery will be slower.

After the Chemical Transition (6 Weeks After Spraying)

Winds Yesterday

Yesterday the winds started picking up during the day and continued all last night ... what does this mean?  While with the eucalyptus trees starting to shed their bark, leaves dropping as the temperature rising and the normal branch loss there will be lots of clean up all day and through the weekend.

Repair of the 5's stump removal (smoothing and sodding) was completed yesterday as well.  By the time the Tapestry starts this area will be completely healed.  Same with the hydraulic leak in case you were wondering.

You may have noticed all of the red flags around the golf course the past couple of days ... this was due to Vector Control who first baited and treated all of the fire ants on the golf course.  If you are a homeowner it is ideal that you too treat or have your fire ants treated to increase the control of the population ... I should note that the design of ants has been successful for more than 150 million years thus eradication is impossible.

Hydraulic Leak & Pin Positions

Yesterday, while we were mowing fairways once again a wheel hub starting leaking hydraulic fluid.  This leak started at the DR Floor, and continued on 6 & 9's fairways.  Due to the dew on the turf and the time of day my operator did not see it until it was too late.  The good news is that we are treating it immediately and this time added green dye to the mix.

Without Green Dye

With Green Dye

It appears that that dye helps in the masking of the charcoal when sprayed on the turf, but does add costs and clogs the nozzles quite badly.  We will continue to work on this until we find the best way to treat hydraulic leaks.

Barraza Using the Slope Level to Determine Location

Now with all of the tools in for my team to set up the pin positions on the greens.  Between the book that show them the un-pinable slopes and the slope level we should almost eliminate what is considered "bad" pin positions on fast greens.

A Slope of 2.5% -- Good Location for Fast Greens

Flush of Growth and Plan to Address It

The temperatures will be in the 90's all week and this means the the Poa Triv and the bermudagrass underlying the Triv will starting growing heavily producing a flush of growth.  As many of you already know this flush of growth will lead at first to slower greens but do not worry ... we have a plan.

Ernie Dragging Green After Topdressing

Our plan is to attack this flush of growth on all fronts ... from using growth regulators (used on Monday), to light topdressings (being done today), light rolling (also being done today), to lower the HOC.  This is a normal condition that we usually see in March but with the changing weather patterns it did not occur until April this year.

Issue With Bunker Face & Ball Roll

Additionally, today Bob Dobek is coming up to look at the fairway bunkers to how we can address the concern shared by couple members about them.  More to come later on this front.

The Heat is On

Over the upcoming week our temperatures are going to exceed 90 and the winds are picking up.  What does this mean?  Well, it means that we will be turning up the nightly irrigation to compensate of the surface drying and at first will lead to the formation of wet spots as we are "tweeting" the irrigation system.  Additionally, you will see some spot watering during play to address the hot spots.  It takes about a week to get the irrigation computer adjusted to address these areas.

Also with the heat comes the slowing of the greens.  This flush of growth always occurs right after the temperature rises and is immediately addressed.  Yesterday, we sprayed Primo on the greens to regulate the flush of growth caused by the much needed granular fertilizer application last week to aid the transition of the bermudagrass, and tomorrow we are slated to lower the HOC (height of cut) from 0.100 inch to 0.095 inch.  Additionally, we are lightly topdressing the greens as well.

Today, we will be planting a tree behind 6's green as a replacement tree to one that we recently lost.  Also today we will be foliar fertilizing the fairways with calcium nitrate and ferrous sulfate to enrich the color.

The Underground Drain We Installed Last Week on 9

Starting a New Month

Today we are starting the true final month of the season.  There are the big events such as the Tapestry and the Adios Party along with many other events during the month.  After this month is complete we will start going into summer maintenance mode.

Meaning by summer maintenance mode I mean that we will start pumping up the underlying bermudagrass so that is ready for the transition.  This year, being the first in three years that we will not being chemical transition ensuring the required 100 days of growth required by bermudagrass to become healthy, we will have to look into the "old school" methods to try to come up with the same effect.  This will include selective drying, spot aerification, heavier fertilizations, etc.

My team is up for the task and ready to do whatever it takes to give the best possible results that we can with limited funds and rising costs.  So far, I could not be more proud of the team's efforts to produce a high quality golf course for our members and their guests.

I am Back

I got back yesterday form my trip and called Ernie to get caught back up.  It sounds like there was no issues except one complaint about the lips of the fairway bunkers ... I will find out the facts and address with the Green Committee.

Very Impressive

Darn Robbed Again