Tree Bags

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Steffie Safrit

Over the past several months the staff has added over 200 trees and shurubs throughout the property. Some plant material has been concentrated in screening Galltin Road from the golf course and other plant material has been installed to reestablish the tree lines separating each hole. As the mature trees have gotten older, many have died or fallen from storms leaving open voids around the course.  Utilizing the Master Tree Plan created last year we have set priorties to follow over the next several years to continue a consistant reestablishment plan.

The staff has begun our first year of applying fertilizers to feed the mature and new trees for increased health and the ability to grow stronger. Our recent goal has been to supply the neccessary water to establish a root system on the new planted trees. By adding tree bags we provide a slow steady supply of water to keep the trees hydrated that we fill a couple times a week.

Tree Bags

Watering the tree bags typically takes one crew member about half a day by using an old sprayer trailer converted to a water tank. The water tank hasn’t been operational for over 5 years and abandoned in the back of the shop. Now the tank has been restored and makes a perfect piece of equipment to provide water for the trees.

 


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Spring Aerification

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Steffie Safrit

The late Spring aerification has already come and gone. Monday April 30th we performed our second aerification of the year.  We began in the afternoon following in behind an outing and finished under the light of the moon. Everything went as planned and we are already 75% healed in 8 days.  Over the next 2-3 weeks, we will continue to topdress and verticut to resume the ball roll and speed prior to aerification.

Aerification the Day of

 

8 Days After Aerification

  Fun Facts From Aerification: 

  • 12.27 cubic feet of green remove per 1000 square feet
  • 1104.3 cubic feet of green removed over all greens
  • 9.82% of the putting surface affected
  • 72 holes per square foot
  • 6,480,000 holes over all greens

 Many wonder why aerification is so important. Greens aerifications are a necessary practice to ensure the green’s health for the future. Normally aerification on bentgrass takes place when the plants are at their optimum time for growth and when golfers view the greens are at their best.  Performing this cultural practice during this time will provide a speedy recovery and allow adequate amounts of oxygen and applied nutrients to the soil for healing and growth.

When selecting a tine size, tine spacing, and amount of organic matter to remove  is a lot more than just a guess or how much you want to make the golfers mad. The USGA provides guidelines for the amount of organic matter removed from a green every year (15-20% OM/Year). These guidelines help to prolong the life of a green and ensure the root zone will stay functioning as it should. Typically 3-4 aerifications a year, similar to this fall aerification,  will comply with the USGA guidelines.  We plan our tine sizes and spacing to remove 3-8% organic matter per aerification for the year using different tine sizes for different periods of the season. Early Spring and summer aerifications use smaller tines on a closer tine spacing to achieve the correct OM% removed.  A smaller tine in a closer pattern will be less disruptive to golfers than the larger tines in Summer and Fall.


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Bentgrass Growing Season is Upon Us

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Steffie Safrit

With the recent warmer temperatures everything has had a flush of growth, including the greens. The recovery period from our recent aerification in March was only approximately 10 days.  Since that time, we have been constantly trying to thin out the turf canopies and return the green speeds back to normal. The most recent stimpmeter reading was 11 and rolling true. To get to this point we used many different techniques in our arsenal including frequency of mowing, chemical applications, and verticutting. Verticutting has been our best method for thinning the turf canopy and reducing the amount of larger leaf blades that slow ball roll. Below is a video of Billy Grisard, Foreman, verticutting the 17th green.

We are expected to perform our second aerification practice on April 30th and May 1st which will carry us through the year until September when our next major aerification date is scheduled. We will do minor aerifications and ventings throughout the summer as stressful conditions present their selves.


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Driving Range Tee Make Over

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Steffie Safrit

The Driving Range Tee has had a make over the past several months to improve the overall appearance and curb appeal when you first enter the club. A few changes you will notice is the addition of a two-sided clock, benches, and a water cooler near the entrance point of the range.

Driving Range Tee Station

Also, over the past couple days, we have removed the viburnums along the curb to provide an open view of the range and better access to member’s car and trunks. We will maintain these areas as mulch beds and explore ideas of adding low growing plant material that will add color to the range in the near future.

Driving Tee without the Plant Border

 


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Drainage Project #17

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Steffie Safrit

With the wet, mild winter several springs have popped up around the course where water has been rising through the rock base of the course. Many of these areas are hard to control, but our staff has added a series of drainage pipes to assist in capturing the water in these areas until water levels below ground subside. 

Left of the green on #17 has been an issue staying wet, but after exploring the area we have found a drain pipe that existed, but was covered up from years of dirt accumulated on top. We have re graded the existing piping and added  extensions to capture more runoff water, which has been successful in keeping this area dry.

Drainage Box Covered with 6" of Dirt

 

Regrading and Adding Extensions

 

Finishing Touches


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Par 3 Tee Yardage Plates

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Steffie Safrit

The new Par 3 Tee Yardage plates are finally here and installed on each tee marker location.  There are 4 yardage plates on each Par 3 for the representing colored tee marker. The new yardage plates are measured to the center of the green and established from the yardage on our scorecards.

In the near future we also will be adding fairway yardage plates for the 200, 150, and 100 yard markers on each hole that will be similar to these tee plates.

Yardage Plates Ready for the Tees


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#10 Gazebo

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Steffie Safrit

This year during the staff’s winter painting projects, we decided to give the #10 gazebo a face lift. The gazebo has been pressure washed and stained with a colored water sealer. This will not only improve the look of the gazebo, but preserve the wood and structure for many more years.

Gazebo Before

Gazebo After

Gazebo After


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Cleaning Up Fescue Tree Lines

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Steffie Safrit

While the bermuda grass was still in dormancy, an application of Round Up was sprayed along all the edges of fescue tree lines. Over the years bermuda grass has crept its way into the fescue and the fescue has died back due to various reasons. The result has been a spotty, inconstant edge separating the rough and secondary rough. Through this process, the fescue tree lines are being reestablished to be clean and flowing with the mature over hang of the trees outlining each hole. We will continue every year to work for a constant look and a happy medium where each grass species can thrive.

Spraying Fescue Edges


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Spring Flowers

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Steffie Safrit

The weather has warmed up quickly and the course is showing signs of spring arriving. Tulips have bloomed and the winter annual flowers are in full bloom. Here are just a few pictures of everything in bloom.

Putting Green Flower Bed

Front Door Beds

Front of Clubhouse

Flag Pole Bed


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#2 Walk Way – Update

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Steffie Safrit

#2 Tee Walk Up Before

 In keeping with the Master Landscape and Master Tree Plan for the course, #2 Tee Walk Up is the first of many phases to be completed to incorporate a more consist landscaping theme on the golf course that is golfer and maintenance friendly. The plan establishes a landscape of 8-12 different plant species to improve the aesthetics of the course and enhance the characteristics of a parkland style golf course. Each year our staff will continue to install a new phase of the plan and create a consistent and eye pleasing landscape.

Beginning Phase of Walk Path Construction

Finished Walk Path

Currently we are completed with the walk path to #2 Tee. With many rain events over the past weeks, construction has been at a halt due to wet conditions, not allowing equipment to work the planting bed area. The new plants for the area have been specified and being ordered through a good local grower. We are expecting the new plant material to be delivered in the next few weeks when the finishing touches will be completed.

Asbuilt of Project

There has been a working asbuilt on site with the project to help understand and have a vision of what the finished product will look like. Please excuse the mess as we improve this area.

UPDATE 1/26/2012

Currently we are waiting for the final pieces of the puzzle to fall into place. The last section of the landscape material will arrive in the spring. Different ornamental grasses and ground covers will finish out this project and be topped off with a layer of mulch.  To date, we have created the new walk path, repaired/added/redesigned the faulty drainage system, added landscape boulders, relocated the tee sign and ball washer, and installed 3 new Redbud trees.

#2 Tee Walk Up

Phase 1 – Completed

The ornamental grasses arrived a few days ago and are now installed.  Phase 1 to the right of the walk path is completed and as we go foward in the near future plans will be revealed for phase 2 and 3 left of the walking path.

#2 Tee - Before

#2 Tee - After

 


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