Bunker Work & Verticutting

Team Working on 6's fairway Bunker -- New Sign Posted

Starting today we will be edging, weed eating and cleaning all of the golf course bunkers.  In the summer time this will be a every two week process that one (our members) should considered as GUR while my team is working on the bunkers.  We got our signs in and we will be posting them today as we are working on them.

Verticutting Lines After Testing on Small Putting Green

Yesterday we tested the verticutting units and our plan is to be verticutting the greens twice per week starting this Thursday.  Verticutting allows the slight removal of the of the Poa Triv while promoting the growth of the Tifdwarf bermudagrass.  Additionally, later on this process will also address the thatch that occurs while promoting the transition of the two turfs.

Higher Than Normal Temps Promoting Transition Early

Revenge Day Was A Success

Cutting the Pin on the Slope

From extremely tough pin positions to heavy rolling the greens, I did everything I could to raise the scores of those who chose to play last Friday.  We even left footprints in the bunkers but still Jerry Stenger shot a 82 (best men's score) and Kathy Baumann shot a 98 (best ladies score).  Congrats to the both of them ... maybe next year it is time to drop a windmill on 18.


Heavy Rolling the Greens in the Early Morning Light

This upcoming week we will be removing the remainder of the stakes around the golf course but still please scatter to even the traffic wear.  Also with the 107 degree temps lately the ryegrass is going to be starting to "check out" thus allowing the bermudagrass to fill back in ... of course with our help.  During this week we will be bring out the thatch master to remove the dying and dead ryegrass so the bermuda can fill back in it place.  Also at the end of the week we will be spraying the greens with Hertiage to prevent the bermudagrass decline that attacked our greens last year.

Revenge Day!!!

To is Superintendent's Revenge day.  I will do my very best to make all of your dreams come true from poorly and not raked bunkers, foot prints in the bunkers, crooked flag sticks, cups on the slope, fast greens, and team members that stop for nothing.  It should be a blast.

Remember today no scores are to be posted, but having fun is a must.

Later this morning Pat Gross from the USGA will coming out to evalute the golf course and give workable suggestions to ways we can improve the playability for the enjoyment of our members.

Heavy Rolling Greens

We are getting ready for tomorrow by heavy rolling the greens with the recently repaired greens roller which until yesterday has been out of commission for almost the entire season.  This along with light rolling tomorrow and cutting back the irrigation should speed the greens quite nicely for the Revenge.

2's Green Before Upcoming Transition

Lately, with the increased temperatures we are seeing the bermudagrass starting to grow slightly.  This process will take some time since the bermuda will have to wait until the ryegrass dies before it can start to fill in these areas ... basically, like the laws of thermodynamics -- two pieces of matter cannot occupy the same place ... same hold true for turf too.

1's Fairway -- The Lighter Color Turf is the Bermudagrass

Tomorrow, Pat Gross from the USGA will be coming in for a half of a day to evaluate and give recommendations to improve Avondale.  I am looking forward to his visit.

Superintendent's Revenge Day

This Friday is the second annual Superintendent's Revenge Day tournament and I am hoping to make it even more challenging than last year.  This is the day where I do (on purpose) all of those things I hear that my team does throughout the year ... such as putting cups on slopes, leaving foot prints in the sand, "volcanoing" cups (I tried this last year and couldn't make it happen), etc.  Just remember the day is for fun and do not post any scores ... but it is okay to drink ... heavily.

The projects are progressing nicely, but slowly.  With the rise in temperatures the team has been focusing their efforts on the golf course to address the heavy flush of growth.  Yesterday, we started setting up and testing the triplex for the greens that will take over the mowing duties from the walkers, and today we started reducing the rakes (sun damage protection) and removed the exits (white with blue tops) stakes.  During the summer months we also will be putting the rakes back into the bunkers to limit their potential damage and speed my team's ability to maintain the golf course.

Projects Have Started

Expansion of the Existing CH Bed

We started several projects yesterday with plans to start several more next week.  If everything goes right the irrigation additions to the clubhouse big bed will be finished this week and the flower bed expansion will be done by the end of next week.  There is still lots to do on both projects but we are addressing them as quickly as possible.

Expansion of the Existing CH Bed

Big Bed Irrigation Project

Today around the golf course we are addressing the detail items from course clean up to weed eating everything.  These are the items that take the longest to get completed and once you are done it seems like you are starting all over again.  Also over the next couple of weeks we will be slowly removing the collar cut and converting from walk mowing the triplexing the greens ... these two things will free up manpower to address other issues we face during the summer, heavy growing months.

Hot Spots Due to Transition

Hot Spots Due to Transition

Transition is Starting

As the temperature increases over the next couple of months, so will the transition from ryegrass to bermudagrass occur.  This year, unlike the past three years, we will not be chemically aiding the transition, thus what use to take five weeks to kill the ryegrass and promote the bermuda will not take most of the summer.  The good news is that in the beginning the turf will look better ... but sadly there is no stopping Mother Nature. 

In addition to transition (which has already started) you will see us prepping the golf course for the summer.  Due to the intense sun that we experience during the summers in the Valley we will be reducing the trap rakes since their handles will breakdown thank to the UV rays -- this will save the Club thousands of dollars in replacement costs.  Also we have already removed all of the ropes and stakes, and coming very soon the entrance and exit stakes.  With their removal please still scatter to prevent heavy wear and turf loss.

Today we will be starting the club house hill flower bed expansion project.  This project will include the sod removal, reshaping of the existing bunker, tilling of the new bed and shifting of the irrigation.  Also today we will be continuing the work of the first half of the big bed at the club house.  Coming real soon we will start the bunker re-shaping on a few select bunkers to improve their playability.

Greens Topdressing

Do you ever wonder why are the greens at Avondale so smooth?  Well for two reasons:  1) we roll them usually once per week, and 2) topdressing.  Today we are topdressing them to aid in ballmark repair and to fix small imperfections on the putting surface.

Later today we will be continuing the edging of the bunkers, thus any bunker in work is considered GUR.  We have purchased a sign to post at the holes we are working on ... but it still hasn't arrived yet.  Also, part of the team will be continuing to remove the club house flowers.  The flower removal at first is quite messy but rest assure it will be cleaned up soon.

Bunkers & Projects

We are continuing today the edging, cleaning and prepping of the bunkers.  During the time my team is in the bunker, or if you see foot prints left by my team, that bunker should be considered GUR until finished.  This bi-weekly project take three to four days to complete depending on the amount of play.

The Big Bed Project Continues

You may have seen the big bed at the clubhouse all torn up on one side ... this is because we are working on routing new irrigation per the request of the Green Committee to replant the hill and improve the overall look as you come into Avondale ... this will take some time thus please excuse our mess.

Flowers Faded Quickly

They Need to be Removed

You may wonder ... "what happened to the flowers?" ... well this is the time of year that our winter flowers quickly lose their flowers and try to seed ... so to speak.  This is why you will be seeing my team out and removing the flowers from all of the beds.

Removal of the Flowers is Starting on Top

Barraza Removing Poa from 6's Green

Lastly, we have the team addressing the Poa Annua in the greens.  As now you can see the Poa seed-heading you may also notice in the roughs mainly lots of Poa that is starting to seed and die back this year ... this is normal but unsightly.

Season, for the Most Part is Over

With the finishing of the Tapestry and the Adios party, the 2011 -12 season comes to a close, but rest assure the work never stops -- nor our dedication to excellent service and product to our members that still remain.

May is the start of the real work for the GCM staff.  As the temperatures rise, so does the amount of growth of the bushes, turf and everything is general.  Today, we will start the process of the removal of the winter flowers which takes us about three to four days to complete.  This will include treating the beds for weeds, and the expansion of the new clubhouse bed on the hill near the parking lot (this will take some time to complete).

Additionally, today we will start the edging of the bunkers because like everything else with the increased temperatures the runners are expanding into the bunkers.  Speaking of bunkers, this summer we are expanding our crew size to 19 to better take care of the golf course during the summer with so many activities and vacations occurring.  This is part of the master plan to address the concerns of our summer members.

We will be starting to outlying greens such as the small putting green, chipping greens and nurseries starting in May.  Please watch the blog for the upcoming dates.  And lastly, the month of May starts the death of the Poa Annua in the fairways and roughs.  This is quite the ugly process in where not only does the Poa off-color and die, but it also grows twice as quickly trying to produce seed heads for next year's crop ... wanted or not.  We will start in May scalping these areas to improve them quicker.

The Winds Finally Died Down

Now that the biggest event for the ladies is completed the winds that have been reeking havoc on the golf course have died down.  There will still be lots of cleanup today to get the golf course ready for the weekend but rest assure that my team is up for the task.

A note for June ... I know June's aerification is almost two months away but due to recent weather trends the aerification dates listed in the calender have been back one week to allow for better recovery of the greens.  Additionally, this year we have move the July's drill and fill into June along with the aerification to better serve our summer members by disrupting only in June and August, thus hopefully increasing their enjoyment.  Please check with the pro shop for all on the latest details.

First Day of Tapestry is in the Books

Well, we finished up the first day of the Tapestry in which the wind did us no favors.  Quick cleaning and blowing of the greens slowed our crew so much that we finally finished the last two holes 10 minutes after the start of the SG ... the goods news is that the ladies didn't waiting a moment and thought the golf course was great.

Last night wasn't any better as far as the winds were concerned.  Along with the little rain we got the winds last night made the golf course look like we did nothing the day before.  However, today since we were not mowing everything such as fairways and tees we were able to finish with one minute to spare and got most of the course cleaned again.

I hope today will be another fun one for the ladies.

First Day of the Tapestry

Well, this is the first day of the last big event of the season.  My team has prepped the golf course and cleaned everything over the last few days ... thus I think we are ready.  Our goal, as always, is to produce the best product we can for the maximum enjoyment of our members and their guest.  I hope everyone is pleased what my team has accomplished.

Timelines:

a.      Upcoming Week:

a)            Apr 30^th foliar application on greens including Primo.

b)            May 1^st we will start removing CH flowers.

c)            May 2^nd lightly topdressing greens.

d)            May 4^th outside bunker analysis being performed.

b.      In Next Week After:

a)            May 7^th foliar spraying greens including Primo.

b)            May 7^th starting the flower removal at the CH.

c)            May 7^th start removing collar cut slowly.

d)            May 8^th heavy rolling greens – Super Revenge Prep.

e)            May 9^th slightly drying greens -- Super Revenge Prep.

f)             May 10^th lightly topdressing greens.

g)            May 11^th double rolling greens for Super Revenge Tour.

h)            May 11^th USGA preforming course analysis.

c.       In Near Future:

a)            May 14^th foliar fertilizing greens.

b)            May 18^th spray greens for bermudagrass patch suppression.

c)            May 21^st granular fertilizing greens – transition prep.

d)            May 24^th aerifying both nurseries and small PG.

e)            May 28^th foliar fertilizing greens.

f)             May 29^th aerifying the CGs – aerification prep.

g)            Week of May 28^th – reduced staffing levels due to holiday.

Working the Last Bits & Pieces

As the horse race of the Ladies Tapestry starts today we are finishing up the clean up from the wind storms this weekend.  The major clean up is finished now nit is all of the little stuff that needs to be completed including the flush of growth from the fertilizer the 100+ degree temperatures from this past week.  We will be there by day's end.

Half of the Hive on the Ground

Caution needs to be observed between 1 and 6's fairways where today the winds took down a bee hive that was in the trees.  Using our bee suit we removed the part on the ground but we were unable to address the other half in the tree.  Killer Bee service will handle that part of the hive later today.  But since the hive was damaged special care needs to be observed in the area until the remaining part of the hive is removed.