Golf Course
It’s that time of year when our maintenance staff has a lot going on. This post is lengthy but I hope gives you a feel for the amount of work we undertake during our closures. I know two weeks is a long time without your home course but we need every minute to get critical work done which helps keep the course in great condition year around.
This week started our 2nd of 3 course maintenance closures. The organic layer in the greens gets deeper with age. It is critical that we break thru the organic layer and create channels that reach the sand layer. These channels will allow water and air to penetrate, gas to escape but getting below the organic matter really helps the greens drain.
Here are some videos of the process
Slow motion
Core harvesting
Filling those holes with fresh sand
Slow motion
After applying the sand we brush the greens two directions then roll the greens daily to smooth them out.
We are also spike aerifying and core aerifying Tees, Fairways and Roughs. After the two types of aerification, the turf is scalped and either blown off or vacuumed up. Both types of aerification releive compaction but the deep spike aerifier can also help break up our rocky soils. Since rock is hard to grow roots in, breaking up the rock or pushing it down further into the soil, will make it easier to grow roots which will lead to growing better turf.
Slow motion
We contracted at different company to perform root pruning along the perimeter of the course. As trees like oaks and cypress grow, their roots expand under the surface of the turf. As they do, they compete with the turf for nutrients, and water. Since the tree roots are much bigger than the turf roots, they often outcompete the turf and leave us with thin turn along the perimeters of the course.
Unfortunately we have so much rock that the equipment broke half way thru hole #8. This is nothing new in when it comes to maintenance equipment, stuff breaks down all the time. They will get the equipment repaired and be back to finish the job next week.
Here are the blades on the machine
Video of the root pruner in action
You can see the machine cutting thru the oak tree roots near the putting green. Also visible, the turf is weak around the tree due from root competition. Sorry the video was too long so I had to add the link from youtube. I am expecting in a month or so that there will be a distinct difference in the turf quality now that the tree roots have been dealt with.
Next week we are going to flail mow collars to remove collar damns that have accumulated due to topdressing buildup. It will be invasive and take a couple months to heal but will be well worth it both in playability and improved greens surface drainage. It will look like we tore up the collars and that the turf won’t come back but it will and be better than ever.
Here is a video and some before, during and after pictures of what a flail mower can do.
These pictures show how much material is removed during the process
Before and after profiles
After a couple weeks of growth. You can still see how level the flail mowed areas are compared to areas we skipped as comparison strips
Facilities
Hector has been replacing things and painting things….as usual 😁
Replaced the bleeder valve on the fertigation line at the pump station
Put the light back in the pool after the conduit for the wire was epoxied
Painted safety line on the curb at the back dock of the kitchen
I look forward to seeing everyone on the course or in the facilities, and as always, if you have any questions, flag me down or shoot me an email. I always enjoy talking turf and facilities too!
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