Reel to Reel

I'd like to share with you my favorite shots in May. 

The golf course held on nicely throughout the warm weekend.  By syringing the greens we were able to cool off the plants and avoid wilt.  The short turn around after a holiday weekend is tough.  We are pretty regimented in our golf course maintenance routines, so losing a day is challenging.  Thankfully the weather cooperated today and we were able to accomplish a great deal.  Today's Accomplishments: - verticut/topdressed greens - cut greens, fairways, stepcuts, rough - cut and trimmed driving range - minor irrigation repairs The Week Ahead: - weekly mowing - spray greens, tees, fairways - weekly trimming - conduct irrigation audit See you on the course-

There never seems to be a dull moment in the world of turfgrass management.  Yesterday afternoon we lost power to the irrigation pump house.  After diagnostics performed by our building engineer, we determined that there was a problem with the transformer outside the building. The electrical company was unable to give us an accurate time frame for identifying and resolving the problem.  This led to the decision to rent a back-up generator so we could run the irrigation system at night.  The electricians worked on setting up the generator to the pump house while my staff hand-watered wilting greens using a portable tank filled from Big Fisher.   The irrigation system ran great last night with no issues or turf loss.  I am happy to report the power company has resolved the issue and we are back on the electrical grid.  The generator will be picked up in the...

The golf course is in great condition as we head into this holiday weekend.  A big thanks to the staff for their tremendous effort in preparing the course.  As you can imagine, it has been a busy week of preparation. This Week's Accomplishments: - Weekly mowing/trimming - Foliar nutrient/fungicide applications to greens and tees - Edged sprinkler heads and yardage plates - Painted yardage plates - Mulched ornamental beds - Planted annual flowers - Sharpened green and tee mowers - Painted water hazards The weather this weekend looks to be sunny and warm.  We will be monitoring moisture levels and most likely syringing greens in the afternoon to cool the plants down.  As always, we will do our best to avoid play. See you on the course-

...then I have won the poa annua seedhead battle for the last four years.  As you know, our greens are comprised primarily of poa annua.  This grass type has two key limitations:  it has poor heat stress tolerance and it is a prolific seedhead producer.  The seeding of the poa annua in the spring can be a playability issue due to the bumpiness and slower speeds caused by the seedheads. Seedhead suppression is a complicated endeavor due to the hundreds of poa annua biotypes that exist and several environmental factors that affect seedhead production each year.  Inconsistent results from traditional growth regulator applications prompted me to experiment with new approaches to seedhead suppression four years ago.  The new model I have developed takes into account the variability of the spring weather and has produced extremely consistent results.  As I have learned over this period, you can not stop seedhead production.  The goal...

Today we started slicing the fairways.  Slicing is an extremely effective but non-disruptive means of aerification.  The AerWay is a slicing machine that delivers a 4 inch slice, 3 inches deep.  As the blades penetrate the soil, they cut through and break up the soil profile.  The slicing helps reduce compaction, as well as, increase water infiltration. Mike slicing #6 fairway Close-up of the AerWay blades

Healthy turf depends upon a vigorous root system.  A deep root system provides the plants the ability to mine nutrients and water from the soil.  During times of environmental stress, such as periods of drought or high temperatures, a deep root system is one of the turf's greatest assets.  Plants that are well-rooted will respond more quickly to fertilization and other management practices designed to help the turf recover. Roots from #7 green following an aerification hole  How do we promote deep rooting? Pro-Active Aerification - creating pore space and channels for roots to easily grow. Water Management - allowing the soil profile to remain on the drier side to encourage deep aggressive roots. Nutrient Management - proper fertility will promote root growth during ideal temperatures. See you on the course-

Today we verticut greens.  Verticutting is the cultural practice that uses vertical blades to cut lateral growth.  This process is an integral part of our maintenance practices.   Verticutting promotes more upright growth which increases greens speeds and allows the greens to roll more true. close up of verticut blades Verticutting Benefits Include: Removal of thatch and organic matter Opening up of the turf canopy Increased sunlight and air exchange to the plant David verticutting #6 green

Steady rain throughout the day made ground conditions too soft for cutting turf.  Instead we opted to landscape and mulch a few ornamental beds.  Weather permitting, the rest of the week will shape up as follows: Normal weekly mowing/rolling Spraying of greens and tees Continued ornamental bed landscaping Trimming/edging bunker banks Edging irrigation heads and yardage plates

The green and white directional stakes have been put out this week. The stakes are in place around high traffic green and tee complexes to protect the turf from wear and compaction. The stakes will be moved routinely to divert and spread out cart traffic. Managing traffic flows will help alleviate any thinning turf and result in better playing conditions around the greens. Below are examples of golf cart " no-no's ".  Please use common sense. PLEASE refrain from driving thru or over the stakes PLEASE stay on the cart path when possible PLEASE drive at least 30 feet away from the greens/tees Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.