Greens Superintendent’s Report- 1/27/14
Outside Work:
Winter projects began in early November and the following was accomplished. The fairways were core aerated after a weather delay in early November. The cores were chopped and dragged back into the turf as topdressing. The late fall fertilization was applied to greens, tees, fairways, the first cut of rough and the driving range. This is the most important application of the year, as it feeds the roots when top growth has stopped, helping the plant to build up carbohydrate reserves for the following year. Early spring green up will occur without excessive top growth that a spring application would bring. A preventive snow mold disease application was made to the greens in late December.
Our top priority project is renovating sand bunkers. Red 3 right bunker was started on 10/31 and after fairway aeration and weather delays, completed on 11/13, except for sodding the soil bank. All the silt contaminated sand was dug out and the old drain was removed. A new deeper drain was trenched and installed with 4 fingers added. Pea gravel covered the drain up to within 1” of the trench top with sand filling the rest. A transit was used to ensure the drainpipe had at least 1% fall. The bunker was constructed smaller on the green side so it could be returned to the original design of a flat bunker. OSB boards were cut and staked down where the new bunker edges would be. These boards will be removed when the bank is stable. Topsoil was filled on the bank side of the wall and it will be sodded this spring. Finally, USGA spec silica bunker sand was placed in the bunker until it was full. It settled some after a couple of rains and more sand was added to make the average depth the desired 6”.
Next Red 1 left sand bunker was changed closer to the original design also. All the sand and old drain was removed. It was decided to make it into a flat bunker by building up the bottom 18” to 24”. A hole was dug in the woods left of Red 4 and fill dirt was hauled for 2 days until the bottom was graded flat at the desired height. Some of the original walls were retained but much of the smaller bunker needed the OSB board walls installed. Then the drain was trenched and installed the same as Red 3. Sand was added to complete the bunker. It was decided at this point to extend the bunker backward closer to the middle of the green. After many snow and weather delays, this was completed on 12/18. All that is left to do outside the bunker is to add a bit more topsoil to the new bank, finish grading it and sod it this spring.
Red 4 pot bunker will be worked on when weather and ground conditions allow. The pot bunker will be filled some and a flat bunker close to the original design will be built. Following this bunker, the worst Blue side bunkers will be worked on.
Dead tree cutting started 12/9, when snow cover prevented us from working on bunkers. As of 1/21, 86 trees have been cut. The large pieces are being dragged to the shop stockpile, while the small stuff is being cleaned up and hauled to a place for burning. Most of these have been ash trees killed by the Emerald Ash Borer, including very large ones on Blue 4, 8 and 9. But poplars and other dead trees have also been cut. Tree cutting will continue when weather and ground conditions prevent us from other desired projects. A total of 190 dead trees were marked for eventual removal. So any not cut this winter and any more trees that die will have wait until next winter or beyond. A few trees may need planted between Blue 8 and 9 after the rest of the ash trees die, as the picture below shows.
Picture From Blue 8 Tee Shows After Many Ash Trees Removed & More Are Dying.
The drain at Red 6 fairway swale was surfacing in the fairway. There was a crushed clay tile under the newer ADS plastic drainpipe causing the problem. Water was getting into the old pipe and surfacing where crushed. The entrance of the old pipe was plugged and the crushed part was dug back to a good section. The good section was connected to the plastic pipe to solve the problem. Weather moved in before the hole could be filled and sodded but it will when conditions allow.
Channel drains were installed by the walk path behind Red 1 tee and connected to the catch basin by the Pro Shop door. This should help prevent water draining all the way to the door. The ornamental grasses were cut down at Red 1 tee, along with pruning the rose bushes.
Pumping the lake down to inspect the inlet began 12/19 with the 3HP jockey pump. Very little progress was being made and it had to be shut off when freezing weather move in. A slight warm up occurred the week of 1/13 and the 60HP pump was tried to pump the lake down. It was throttled by the shutoff valve at the pump house so it would run on automatic, pumping about 475 gallons per minute. It ran 3 days until it got too cold again. But the lake went down about 3 feet in 3 days so it shouldn’t take over a week to pump it down to the inlet when it’s above freezing. The fountains were also removed from the lake for winter.
During them couple of decent days, the golf course was opened. Cups were changed, tee markers were moved and trash was emptied. Also bushhogging the natural areas was completed on the Red and White sides, while the Blue was started. Low limbs affecting mowers and play were removed from many trees.
All the honeysuckle brush was removed from behind the driving range net. The right net had a couple of scrub trees removed also so a mower will be able to keep it cut down all season. This will make access to the driving range net much easier when it is repaired in early spring. All logs and debris by the maintenance road were moved to the other side out of sight from Blue 1 for better appearance.
The Blue side irrigation was blowed out and the Red and White sides were drained before cold weather. Leaks were discovered left of White 2 approach and left of White 3 approach before it was shut off. These will have to be addressed when the course is primed this spring.
During extreme cold weather, the back room of the Pro Shop is being inspected for water leaks, the pump house heat lamps are being checked and the torpedo kerosene heater we took to the clubhouse to prevent water leaks is being filled with fuel. And the parking lots are being checked for any drifting snow or refreeze areas and treated as needed. Also, 2 crew members helped repair water leaks at the clubhouse the first week of January.
Last but not least for outside work, snow was removed from the club parking areas 12 times since 12/6. Each time all walkways were shoveled and ice melter was applied where needed. Refrozen areas had to be treated after these snow events the following days many times.
Inside Work:
The 18 green and tee mowers reel work started in mid-December. By 1/4/14, all bedknives and reels had been ground and assembled. During extreme cold weather, both fairway mowers had all their bedknives refaced and will be lapped out when we can run outside water. All 4 greens and tees units, along with the 2 fairway units have been serviced, including changing oil, all filters, greasing, putting finished ground reels on and inspected for any problems. The 4 light duty utility vehicles have had their winter service performed during this severe cold snap, along with the heavy duty Toro Workman utility vehicle. The 4000-D is currently having its winter service performed. Besides all the required routine service, a loose pump was discovered. It was tightened up but the plate it’s fastened to is worn some. It will have to be inspected and retightened as needed during the season.
Future Winter Work:
The rest of the equipment will receive their winter service. This will include pressure cleaning when above freezing, tuning up and changing fluids and filters along with completely inspecting and repairing each piece as needed. The 75 golf carts will have their annual service performed in March.
The top priority outside project is to continue on sand bunkers when conditions allow. The lake will be pumped down as soon as it’s warm enough. More dead trees and low limbs will be cut. Bushhogging remaining natural areas and previously cleared areas will continue.
Other jobs we hope to get to include moving the fan at Blue 4 green to the right back part, removing trees and brush in Blue 4 ravines, sod fairways at the cemetery and where the plug chopper breakdown did damage, raise greens sprinklers, install a drain left of Blue 4 2nd landing area and repairing the railroad ties left of Red 4 approach.
Ron Patterson, CGCS