Just a quick update on what is happening on the golf course.  The COVID-19 situation has forced a reduction in our staff.  Most part time labor has been laid off and we have reduced hours to the full time staff.  Hopefully this situation will improve after April.  Once the turf begins actively growing more labor will be necessary.  Please bear with us. 

 

A foam insert was added inside the pvc pipe and works much better.

 

 

Rough is being mowed throughout this week.

 

 

Annual bluegrass weevil monitoring has begun.  As you can see the adult weevils are very small.  They are just beginning their migration into low mowed turf.  An insecticide will be applied when we believe the majority of the adults are in the short grass.  The timing needs to be precise as the insecticide loses it's strength rapidly.

 

 

Our wildflower beds did not come in very well last fall and will be replanted next week.  More annual bluegrass came up than wildflowers following the drought..  Roundup was applied a week ago to kill the bluegrass.

 

 

Tulip have been excellent.  Too bad more can't enjoy them.

 

 

 

 

 

Spring is just about to bust out.  The density of the turf on the course is increasing dramatically.  We are fortunate to use growth regulators on greens, tees and fairways to reduce the amount of mowing.  This is particularly important with a reduction in staff during this difficult time.  We are all praying for better days.

 

The rough is ready to explode.  We will mow it all this week.

 

 

Our bent is growing as well.  We will apply a fungicide and growth regulator this week to slow it down.  Seeded areas will not receive regulation.

 

 

On Friday we applied our final annual bluegrass seed head preventive application to the greens.  Control has been pretty good.

 

 

Minimal seed heads seen on the 18th green.

 

 

The ground is still quite cold.  Bentgrass is just beginning to germinate in some southern exposure spots.  We will do a little more seeding this week.

 

 

The driving range tee was fertilized on Friday as well as the club grounds.  The tee was seeded in September with a low mow bluegrass with mixed results.

 

 

The first crabgrass observed germinating near the pump house.  Last week over 36 acres of rough were treated with a preemergent herbicide.  Fairways and tees will be treated after aeration.

 

 

The crew is doing some beautiful mulch work. 

 

 

Tulips on the patio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The core crew is getting the job done during these difficult times.  On days like Monday we are staying home.  We are practicing as much social distancing as possible.  If we are not able to work outside then we stay home.  The crew has been instructed to stagger their breaks and continue to wash and clean surfaces as much as possible.  We currently have two men on vacation so we are a little shorthanded.  Part time workers are here only when absolutely necessary.

 

This morning we began applying a preemergent herbicide to the primary rough.  We use a product called Dimension (actually a generic that is a little cheaper).  More rain is expected tomorrow so the timing is perfect as this must be watered in.  We do split applications six weeks apart.  This gives better weed control than a single application. 

 

 

Greens were mowed this morning and there were plenty of clippings.

 

 

This is a portion of what came off the 16th green.

 

 

Today we eliminated the raised cups and inserted a piece of two inch pvc to prevent the ball from falling to the bottom of the cup.  This has been done similarly at Pinehurst.  Putting just became a little more difficult!

 

 

Mulch Madness has begun!

 

 

Nothing like the farm fresh smell of mulch in the morning,  It smells like....Work!

 

 

Tulips are opening a little earlier than expected.  This awesome display is near the practice green.

 

 

The Yoshino cherry trees are in full bloom now.

 

 

Spring is definitely here.  The hooded mergansers have left and headed north and purple martin houses are back on the course awaiting their return.

 

 

Spring weeds are in abundance right now.  These are actually winter weeds that germinated in winter from last spring's seed.   The purple plant is called Henbit.

 

 

Here is a closer view of Henbit..

 

 

Often confused as Henbit Purple Deadnettle is prevalent as well.

 

 

A closer view shows they really do have differences in flower and leaf.

 

 

This weed is everywhere this spring.  It is called Harry Bittercress.

 

 

Another look.  It has tall white flowers.

 

 

One of the weeds I really hate-Common Chickweed.

 

 

Not as common on our course is Mouse Ear Chickweed.  It has fuzzy, hairy leaves.  All of these weeds can be controlled with broadleaf herbicides or by mowing.  Warm weather will be their end as well.

 

 

Gill continues to be everyone's friend.  Here she enjoys her Grandpa Thomas' company.

 

 

She even gives putting lessons.  Bill Wydo enjoys a Gill moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strange times we are living in for sure.  Golf course maintenance goes on however.  We have had a productive week.  All the greens have been deep tined aerified and we hope to complete the tees today.  Rough aeration is essentially complete except for some deep rough.  We seeded bentgrass in bermudagrass areas before we ran out of seed.  The front nine and several holes on the back are finished.  This work will continue the first week of April. 
In response to the COVID-19 virus we have removed all the ball washers and rakes on the course.  Cups have been removed from the practice green and replaced with cupless markers.  On the course  all cups have been raise one inch above the green surface.  Hit the cup and you are holed out!

 

Josh seeding large areas on the 15th fairway with the Redexim seeder.

 

 

This is what it looks like after seeding. 

 

 

Max seeding small patches in the top picture and Rony below. 

 

 

Deep tine aeration of greens by Francisco followed by rolling by Jose. 

 

 

Julio and Oscar cutting back the last of the ornamental grasses. 

 

 

Josh with a puzzled look while bringing rakes in at the beginning of the golf season!

 

 

Like a proud papa Jose shows off a greens plug with awesome roots from our green nursery.  This is going directly in our practice green.  Good turf is all about growing roots. 

 

 

The pond on 11.  Have you noticed the water is darker?  We added a dye to help reduce the promotion of algae. Less light means reduced photosynthesis and less algae.  This pond will be treated with a safe algaecide once the water temperature reaches sixty degrees.

 

 

Soil temperatures are beginning to climb.  Once the temperature reaches 55 degrees crabgrass begins to germinate as well as some disease pathogens. We will apply Dimension herbicide next week excluding where we have seeded. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty has happened since my last blog.  COVID-19 is here and we are doing are best to deal with it. This is a very busy time of year for our crew so we are especially careful when interacting with each other.  The early start to spring has been beneficial.  Rough aeration is nearly complete and we begin deep tine aeration of greens and tees on Tuesday.  Bentgrass seeding in fairways begins tomorrow. 

 

A cloudy start but the bentgrass is starting to take off.

 

 

Rough aeration is wrapping up.  We have experienced excellent conditions to perform this work,

 

 

Rony on the JD5210 with Aercore 1500 aerating large areas around fairways.

 

 

Francisco on the JD955 with Aercore 1000 doing tight areas around greens and tees.

 

 

Jose Nunes on the JD5055 pulling the Ryan Renovaire in the deep rough.

 

 

Bill Rechin taking over for Richard in the stick department.  We begin mowing rough this week!

 

 

Growth regulators have been applied for annual bluegrass seed head inhibition.  Here Josh sprays the 9th green.

 

 

A west wind has pushed our algae bloom near the 16th green.  This will be treated once the water warms up.  Heavy silt accumulation with some nutrient leaching is the cause.

 

 

This is our enlarged garden.  This will be amended with leaf compost and tilled in before too long.

 

 

Red tail hawks are pairing up!