December is motoring along and the new year is around the corner.  We have experienced some nice weather for golf and work but it appears this is about to come to and end.  We expect to cover greens 3, 4, and 5 on Friday as well as the fifth tee.  Temporary greens and tees have been prepared throughout the course in preparation for the inevitable.  Once winter is firmly in place we will move to all temps.  We will monitor the weather and make this decision based on course conditions and not the calendar so check with the pro shop for the current status of the golf course. Our greens are very susceptible to damage from foot traffic particularly when they have received lots of moisture in the winter. Internal drainage is limited on the course greens and the ones that have drainage do not work as well once it gets cold.  The practice green is the only green on the course that was constructed to USGA specs and features a complete sand root zone.  This green drains so much better than our course greens and will remain open longer because of this.

 

A temporary green ready for the word to open.  We extensively roll and then mow the green slightly lower than the fairway.  A six inch cup is used.  Automatic two putts is your call. 

     

 

Deep tine aeration of tees.  Too much rain prevented us from doing the greens but we will be back at it in the spring.

 

 

A nice pattern with no disruption to play.  This type of aerification helps break down the layering in the soil profile and improves rooting and internal drainage.

 

 

Perennial ryegrass set to be removed in our bent collars.  The ryegrass has a much darker appearance and is aesthetically undesirable.

 

Plugging out perennial ryegrass in our collars with bent from our collar narrowing project.

 

 

Bent plugs match up much better.

 

 

Filling divots in fairways before winter sets in.  Always replace your divot!

 

 

Repairing a "bird bath" in the third approach.  Drainage, drainage, drainage.

 

 

Tis the season for frost delays.  Walking on frozen turf that is not dormant bruises the plant and can kill the plant if repeated.  Staying off our the greens in the winter makes them that much better in the spring.