Fescue Renovation Update

Last month (see, Project Time), we discussed the upcoming renovation to the Fescue between #7 and 13.  Since then, we have made several applications of selective herbicides, for control of both broadleaf and grassy weeds.  Lo and behold, after one mowing, we now find that there is still some very good Fine Fescue in parts of this area.

On a small scale, this is good evidence that, given enough time and effort, once established, we can maintain a pretty pure stand of Fine Fescue.  Again, the keys are time and effort--"low maintenance" is definitely a misnomer.

With several applications of selective herbicides complete, we have separated the wheat from the chaff (or the Fescue from the weeds).  Parts of this space which have too little Fescue, and require sodding, can now be easily identified.

In these locations, an application of a non-selective herbicide was made recently.  As you can see below, a green tracker dye was used when applying the non-selective herbicide in order to see what sections were sprayed.

The story will continue next month as we prepare for a few tractor trailer loads of sod.

Ignore the calendar!

If you looked at the calendar and have already put your clubs away for the year, you are really missing out on some of the best golfing weather and course conditions of the year.  This weekend's forecast was spectacular for late October.

It's pretty unusual that we are content with the weather.  More often than not, we feel like Goldilocks:  It's too hot, it's too cold, it's too wet, it's too dry.  However, from gorgeous sunrises to beautiful sunsets this weather is hard to beat.

A great picture from Mr. Christian Noyes.

From a course management perspective, the biggest challenge at the moment may be a lack of light in the morning.  To stay ahead of play, we are still starting at 6:00 a.m., and everything is a bit trickier for the first hour. 

Even with lights, mowing in the dark is challenging.

 

If you see the greens dotted for future pin placements, it's because choosing a good location is a whole lot easier to do when you have some light to work with, than in the dark.

Dotted during the day helps when it is dark out.

The clocks will be going back in two weeks, and eventually cold winter winds will be blowing.  So get out and take advantage of these special days while you can!

A game changer?

Greens aerification is not something that either golfers or turf managers enjoy.  While this process provides long-term benefits to the putting surface, in the short-run, the greens often resemble Swiss cheese.  For years, equipment manufacturers and turf researchers have looked to build a better mouse trap, by developing a method of aerifying which increases pore space, removes (or dilutes) thatch, all while causing minimal disruption to the surface.

For the past several years, we have used Dryject aerification in conjunction with a conventional core aerification in the spring.  Does Dryject create channels with lots of pore space?  Yes.  Does Dryject create minimal surface disturbance?  Yes.  So, to date, the only argument some might make, is that Dryject isn't doing enough to remove or dilute thatch near the surface.

A conventional Dryject machine following core aerification.

Dryject typically gets the sand deep into the profile.

Well, those who developed the Dryject nearly 20 years ago, were outside the box thinkers back then, and continue to be so today.  The new question for them is, can Dryject actually reduce organic matter/thatch percentage in a putting green without pulling a plug?

This is where Laurel Creek steps into the picture.  We are always happy to help with turfgrass research which could benefit the golf industry.  In this case, we are located very close to Dryject's world headquarters, and didn't hesitate to let them use our nursery green for some real world testing of their prototype aerifier.

In order to sufficiently dilute organic matter, a good deal of sand needs to be added to the upper part of the soil profile.  Therefore, the hole spacing needs to be much tighter than with a traditional Dryject.  In the picture below, the hole spacing was  a tight 2" X 1.5".  This provides three times more holes per square foot than the Dryject spacing we have used.  You will also notice, that unlike a typical Dryject hole, the sand is staying in just the upper few inches of the soil.

Below, Dryject President, John Paddock, is keeping an eye on the process, and perhaps contemplating the next change to the amazing machine.  Measuring spacing, checking depth, and weighing sand was the order of the day.

While it will definitely take some time to see if this is a viable long-term substitute for core aerification, it is tough to argue with the visual results.  In sticking with tradition, the Dryject disturbance was minimal.  Below, is a picture of the nursery green just four days after the testing was done.


Who knows, the day may actually come, when aerification isn't considered to be a four letter word by many golfers.

Proper Planning

The Clubhouse expansion, and splash pad projects are now well underway, and it is great to see excavation work moving along quickly.  You might not think that these would have much impact on the Grounds Department operation, however there are a number of things which had to be taken into account.

For starters, we knew that the multitude of wires and pipes which came out the side of the Clubhouse would need to be relocated.  This included:

• Irrigation zone control wires and common wire.
• Power wire for irrigation controller.
• Communication wire for irrigation controller.
• Fiber optic wire to the Cabana building.
• 480 Volt line for putting green fan.

As we discussed last winter in Rewired we tried to prepare as best as possible for the impact the Clubhouse project would have.  One thing we knew would be close, was the irrigation main line that supplies water to everything on the front side of the Clubhouse.  Had we just needed to avoid the actual building, we would have probably been alright.  However, with a 12' vertical cut for the new foundation, shoring had to be put in place away from the actual building, and the line moved.

The relocated 2" line is still not far from harm's way.

Here is a little before and after.  Prior to excavating the new foundation, the irrigation line is about 18" below ground level.

Now there is just a bit more change in the grade behind this line.  In this particular area, we also had to cut and cap where the three turf and shrub zones came off the main line.  Ideally, these can be tied back in for future irrigation once the building and landscaping are completed.

We had our fingers crossed as the excavator was digging a line for the storm drain last week, with our irrigation controller, pipes and valves all close by.  Thankfully, we had no geysers!

With silt fence and construction fencing surrounding it, we know that accessing the Clubhouse putting green has become a challenge for our members.  You are not alone, as getting blowers, mowers, and sprayers to the green, is also a challenge for the Grounds staff.  Sprinklers around the green were converted from full circle to part circle, in order to avoid hitting the fence and running onto the construction area.

Over at the pool area, the tennis irrigation supply line had run straight across the area where the splash pad is being built.  We cut this line along court #2, and rerouted it to feed courts #3 and 4.

Three turf zones and the tennis court irrigation were impacted by the splash pad.

Projects like this are exciting to take part in, and keep us on our toes, as the landscape literally shifts quickly.

Wacky Weather

If it seems as if weather is a topic frequently focused on, that is likely a correct assumption.  This is because of the fact that the weather has a very significant impact on most every decision made in the daily operation of the golf course.

After teasing us with October-like temperatures at the beginning of September, and plentiful rainfall throughout the summer, we should have known that there would be some form of payback required.

Despite a very cool beginning and ending, September was 2.5 degrees above average.

While this weekend was cool, the past week's temperatures in the upper 80's and low 90's felt more like July than the last week of September.  And, after averaging five inches of rain for the four month period of May-August, we had close to an 80% reduction in September with a mere 1.1".  As a matter of fact, since September 7, the golf course has only received 1/10" of rain.

The buried fairway sensors tell the tale of a slow dry down throughout September.  

It probably shouldn't come as a great surprise given the above average precipitation of the summer, but we are only now finding irrigation issues that hadn't surfaced all year.  This includes a handful of sprinklers not running in the rough, and part circle heads out of adjustment in their arcs.

When we think of fall, what often comes to mind is some of the best playing conditions of the year.  Cool temperatures and adequate rainfall means that the irrigation system can take a break, and there's little concern of turf disease or insect issues.  However, the long-range forecast looks like we'll be back in the 80's this week and there's little rain heading our way.

As we've said before, 2017 might end up being an "average" weather year when the books are closed, but from beginning to end, it continues to be a roller coaster ride, keeping us on our toes.