Maintenance Updates (7.29.22)

I’ve been away this week enjoying time in the Florida Keys. I appreciate the time to recharge my batteries while enjoying one of my favorite hobbies, sport diving for Lobster!

I look forward to being back next week with a new maintenance blog post.

Maintenance Updates (7.22.22)

I am trying something a little different, using a blog-based format and providing a link in the Friday Flash. I hope this will give me more flexibility in creating content while making older content chronological and searchable for easier reference in the future. 

I just set up this account today and it is my first attempt at the format so bear with me while I learn more about layouts and other visual and informational items I can add.

Golf Course Maintenance

Once again our maintenance staff has been hard at work thru some extremely hot and surprisingly dry weather to complete our task list before reopening the course next Tuesday.

Here are pictures and videos highlighting some of the items we have been working on this week.

Verticutting Collars

• Removing excess growth and old grass material to promote young rejuvenated growth
• The clippings generated are vacuumed and blown off. Mowers come behind to cut the turf that is standing up, removing more of the excess vertical growth.

 

Next, we use the greens mower to scalp back the collar 6 to 8 inches (see videos). This reduces encroachment and the lip that can form between the collar height of cut (HOC) and the green HOC. We go two directions so that no matter which direction the turf is growing the mower cuts it all.

 

We have been using the Airway (in the video below) again this closure reaching 6 - 8" deep into the soil creating millions of channels for water to move thru the soil profile. The deeper the water goes, the deeper the roots will be.

Another benefit of using the Airway is the channels created help to keep the surface drier during our rainy season. I think we are seeing proof of it's benefits this year which is our second year using this type of aerifier. The proof is in 2022 we have had 14.46" more rain this year vs the same time in 2021 and yet we have only had one or two fully cart path only days so far this year. Additionally, we have noticed that even on days where we have had to make some holes cart path only (which hasn't been many), it has only been a couple holes instead of 6 or 7 like in the past.

 

We have also been scalping roughs during this closure. You can see from the video below how much material is being removed. Scalping by lowering the HOC (in this case by only 1/4") below our normal or regular HOC removes old and excess leaf tissue and promotes new less matted growth from the base of the plant.

All of the verticutting and scalping practices we perform are intended to provide the finest (both size and quality) turf possible.

Last but not least, the vacuum. Somebody has to clean up the mess we are making. As much debris as possible is hauled off one hopper at a time to clean the course up and remove what would become new thatch if left to settle back into the turf canopy.

 

After all the cleanup is done, we apply sand to the fairways, doubling up in areas that we know tend to be soggy. The sand smooths and firms the surface by filling in small voids and diluting organic material in the soil. Routine and targeted topdressing is another reason that we are seeing fewer CPO days.

Facilities Maintenance

While some of the larger facilities projects get a lot of attention, we are also working on all types of smaller facilities improvements at the same time.

Here are a few items that have been in the works...

• Removing the rotted steps under the scoring board at the Cart Barn. Our next steps will be lowering the board so that it can be reached without the steps, some additional paint, and relocating or covering the washing machine drain.

• Replacing broken shelves for wine storage

• Adding glass holders to the bar

• Adding braces to the chef station to hold the weight of plates stored on the top shelf

I look forward to seeing everyone on the course (when it reopens), and as always, if you have any questions, flag me down or shoot me an email. I always enjoy talking turf!