Glen Eagle Maintenance (3/22/24)

 Golf Course

Just when it looked like El Niño was gone, here comes another “disturbance” that will bring us 24 to 36 hours of wet weather. Our lakes are near 2 feet higher than they were this time last year and will likely go up another 8+ inches if the predicted 4” of rain happens over the next couple days.

All-in-all, these periodic rains and warm weather has the grass growing.

This past Tuesday Dr. Steve Kammerer was at Glen Eagle for the 1st of 2 visits in 2024. Dr. Kammerer has an extensive experience in the turf industry including several years as a Regional Agronomist with the USGA. We discuss areas I am concerned with and he takes samples from our greens to examine and provides a report on the quality of the roots. That data can be compared to our course during past visits and against the average of what he is seeing at other clubs. That type of information is particularly beneficial during years where the weather has been challenging like this year. These are great visits where Dr. Kammerer and I can get deep into talking turf and swapping ideas. I expect the report will be very positive.

In attendance for the meeting were Dr. Kammerer, Mr. Healey (Greens Committee Chairman), Gustavo (Asst. Superintendent), Lucas, and myself.

Hard to tell in the picture but even Lucas at 6’4” looks up to Dr. Kammerer who is 6’6”.

Not sure how well this will come out in this picture but here is an example of what we look at during our visit.

We were comparing root quantity and length on #8 green between the middle which receives full sunlight and the left side that is shaded most of the day. The soil profile on the right where we had 3.5” roots is from the sunny area and the profile on the left from the shaded side only has 2.5” roots. The profiles also show the normal accumulation of organic matter (dark soil) in the sun and less in the shade. The uniformity of the organic matter indicates that our aerifications practices have been doing a good job of diluting the organic matter thru the entire soil profile.

As you can see these profiles can tell us a story once you know how to read it.

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