Glen Eagle Maintenance (11/26/25)

The course is in great shape and the weather here in Naples couldn’t be better. Cooler nights and warm afternoons are hard to beat!

Superintendents can easily become fixated on the pursuit of perfection, so seeing pictures like the ones above serve as a reminder how greatful I am to have this beautiful course as my “office”. I truly appreciate the opportunity and trust the Glen Eagle membership has given me to manage and care for this great property and wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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! 

Glen Eagle Maintenance (11/19/25)

Dry and warm—that’s the theme across Southwest Florida this week and for the foreseeable future. After the brief cool-down last week, the course has rebounded nicely and is currently in very good condition.

Early Signs of Drought

Although it’s unusually early to be discussing lake levels, drought conditions have become a real concern. Local news reports that Naples is already 7 inches behind normal rainfall for 2025. Here on property, our measurements show an even more significant shortfall.

So far this year, we have recorded 44.45 inches of rainfall, compared to a 64.78-inch average over the past four years. That places us at a 20-inch deficit year-to-date.

With these numbers in mind, we ask all members to be mindful of water usage. Early conservation efforts will put us in the best possible position as the dry season continues.

Greens Committee Updates

During Monday’s Greens Committee meeting, we discussed several timely topics as we move into the busy season.

Fill Fairway Divots

There has been an increase in unfilled divots throughout the fairways. Please help us keep the course in top condition by filling your divots with the sand provided on the carts. Our staff will take care of the divots on the tee boxes.

Because of our turf type, do not replace turf back into a divot. Instead, fill it with sand and gently pat it smooth with your foot. This creates a smooth surface and an ideal medium for our bermudagrass to grow in which promotes quicker recovery.

Repair Pitch Marks

While we’re on course etiquette—please take a moment to repair your ball marks on greens. Properly repaired pitch marks help ensure smoother, truer rolls for everyone.

Bunker Raking

Our newer bunker sand remains somewhat soft, making proper raking essential for fairness of play.

The USGA notes that there is no single “correct” way to position bunker rakes. We have adopted the placement shown above to improve accessibility for players while increasing efficiency for our maintenance team. This arrangement allows rough mowers to work without repeatedly stopping to move rakes.

Pro Tip: Only rest the end of the rake handle on the turf. This keeps the rake head away from the bunker edge and prevents balls from being stopped or trapped unfairly.

Agronomic Report

Dr. Kammerer makes two visits per year to Glen Eagle, one in the spring and one in the fall. His fall visit was on October 14th. Here are a few highlights from his report. The full report is available on the club webpage under the Golf Maintenance tab.

Executive Summary

The putting greens are in good shape going into peak season. Health of the putting greens, using no. 18 as an ongoing monitored metric, is above average and belies low risk of issues going through the winter.

The biggest improvement noticed at Glen Eagle compared to the spring and past fall visits is the improvement in color, density, and turf quality of the fairways. Adjusting fertilizer sources and frequency of applications have contributed to this improvement. Going into the winter, bermudagrass wear and thinning from play and cart traffic can be problematic, similarly hunting billbug larval damage can magnify turf loss. Applications of appropriate treatments may be required based on history and any winter outbreaks.

Several capital improvements were finalized this summer, all which improve the quality of the course and the golfing experience. Not to be forgotten or lost in prioritization is the upcoming tee renovation scheduled for 2026.

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!

Glen Eagle Maintenance (11/12/25)

Tuesday, Veteran’s Day we honored those who served and defended our freedom with American Flags on the course. Thank you for your service to our great country!

We continue to see more and more members returning from other parts of the country and it appears someone brought the cold weather with them. This week several historical low and high daily temperature records were broken as we have been unusually cold here in SW Florida. Our weather station recorded 43 as the low on Tuesday but with the wind chill, it felt well into the 30’s.

Despite the cold weather the golf course is looking good with normal amounts of wear occurring due to slowed turf growth and increased traffic.

Since we had a drop in temps this week I thought it was a good time to discuss how southern turf reacts to cold weather. Many of these will apply to your home lawn too.

With recent cooler mornings, lower humidity, and increased play, you may start to notice subtle changes in turf color and growth around the course. These shifts are completely normal this time of year. As daytime highs dip into the 70s and nights fall into the 50s, our Bermudagrass begins to slow its growth and transition into a semi-dormant state typical of Southwest Florida’s winter season.

Slower Growth, Not Full Dormancy
Bermudagrass thrives in warm weather, performing best when daytime highs are in the 80s and soil temperatures stay above 65°F. When temperatures drop below that threshold, growth slows considerably.
Here in Southwest Florida, we rarely experience temperatures cold enough for complete dormancy, but the grass does enter a semi-dormant phase. In this condition, Bermudagrass retains some color and limited growth, but recovery from divots, ball marks, and traffic becomes noticeably slower. The turf is still very much alive—it’s simply conserving energy until warmer weather returns.

Color Changes
During this seasonal slowdown, the turf often loses some of its deep summer green and takes on a lighter or slightly straw-tinted appearance. This isn’t a sign of disease or decline—it’s simply reduced chlorophyll activity as the plant adjusts to shorter days and cooler temperatures.

Occasional cool fronts or light frost may temporarily dull the turf’s color, but once temperatures rebound, so does the green.

We do have one not so secrete weapon to fight loss of color during the colder months. That is Fertigation. With Fertigation, we inject small amounts of fertilizer into the water as it is used to irrigate the turf. This fertilizer usually has Nitrogen and Potasium but also a critical minors package containing Fe, Mg, and Mn that help the plant produce chlorophyll and improve color rapidly when temperatures rebound into the 70’s and 80’s.

Playing Conditions
From a playing standpoint, semi-dormancy can actually enhance some aspects of course performance. With reduced growth, fairways and approaches tend to play firmer and faster, and putting surfaces remain smoother for longer stretches between mowings.
However, because the turf isn’t actively regenerating, traffic management becomes more important. Our team makes several adjustments during this period to protect turf health, including:

Slightly raising mowing heights to maintain more leaf tissue.

Reducing nitrogen inputs to avoid weak, frost-sensitive growth.

Closely monitoring irrigation to balance plant health and firmness.

Rotating traffic patterns and protecting high-use areas from excessive wear.

In Summary

While cooler weather brings some visible changes to the course, Bermudagrass in Southwest Florida remains healthy and active below the surface. With a few seasonal adjustments to maintenance and golfer awareness, we will maintain great playing conditions through winter and set the stage for a strong, vibrant spring.

We added Copperleaf at the Radio Road entrance recently and applied pinestraw to the beds. It will take a bit of time to fill in but Copperleaf grow quickly and will provide excellent screening and color over time.

Upcoming Projects

This week we are changing out the summer annuals at the Davis blvd entrance. This will provide a fresh look that will carry us thru season.

Next week will be working on mulching beds in the common grounds starting at the Clubhouse. Just a heads up, there may be a temporary odor from the mulch “decomposing” as it sits in the bags during production and shipping. Once spread, the odor is temporary and the mulch will add a nice finished look to the landscape when complete.

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!

Glen Eagle Maintenance (11/5/25)

The last two weeks have brought significant changes in weather and an uptick in play across the course. Temperatures have dipped below average at times, and forecasts suggest we may experience our coldest conditions of the fall next week. Season is certainly in full swing with league play underway and four shotgun starts scheduled this week, culminating in the Fall Classic on Saturday. It’s great to see everyone back out enjoying the course!

Course Conditions and Play Reminders 

Overall, the golf course is in good condition. However, turf growth has slowed due to cooler temperatures, and we are beginning to see signs of wear from the increased traffic. Please remember to follow the “90-degree rule” and “scatter” when driving in the roughs to help distribute wear and preserve turf quality.

During my own round this past Sunday, I noticed that ball marks were quite noticeable. A friendly reminder to all players—please take a moment to repair your ball marks, rake bunkers, and fill divots in the fairways. Small efforts by everyone make a big difference in maintaining great playing conditions for all members.

Broken Tees on Tee Boxes

It was recently brought to the Greens Committee’s attention that broken tees are frequently being left on the teeing areas. We’re asking everyone to make a quick habit change and remove your used tee and place it in your cart, a nearby trash receptacle, the palmettos, or discard next to the tee markers. This simple step will help our team collect them more efficiently and keep our course looking sharp and clean.

Radio Road Entrance Update

The Radio Road fencing and gates are now complete. While there were a few unavoidable delays, the finished product looks great. Final cleanup and landscape detailing will take place soon to polish off the project and enhance the entrance’s appearance.

Upcoming Projects

Most of our maintenance projects have wrapped up for the year, with only the recharge well replacement remaining. We anticipate this work will be completed within the next 30 days or so. In addition, we have begun thinning the palmettos around the course. This work not only enhances the overall aesthetics but also allows players to more easily locate golf balls, helping to improve pace of play.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. Your efforts on the course truly help us maintain the high standards we all enjoy. Here’s to a great start to the season and another fantastic week of golf!

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!