Fairway Top Dressing

Here are a few photos of the top dressing program that we do for the fairways. Once the sand is dry we drag in to fill the holes from the aerifier. Currently working backwards with 18 - 15 complete.

#6 Drain Relocation

In the photo to the right you can see that we have completed the tree installation on the drive way. As for our next project we are relocating a drain that was installed in the wrong manner. What has happened is the drain out fall some how was connected to the bunker drain line. We have always wondered why these bunkers continue to be slow drainers and this was our problem. Because the drain was on the path any kind of debris was passing through the grate and clogging the drain lines inside the bunker.  We have decided to by pass the bunker and take it all the way across the fairway and tie-in into a main drain.  This will keep any unwanted water and debris from compromising the bunker drainage. Once we have relocated the basin we also plan to install a rolled curb around the area. There by doing away with the paver's, this will make for a functional as well as aesthetically pleasing to the eye. As we move into the winter months our annual top dressing program for the fairways will commence tomorrow, starting on #18 and working our way backwards to one. Once complete we start again for the second application. If all goes well and we do not see 6 feet of snow, the goal is to have this done by March 1st. I will have photos of this process in a couple of days.

Frost

The past week we have started to get into frost delays. When we have frost on the turf grass, this is giving us a sign that the water inside the cell tissues is frozen. Once frozen the ice crystals can  puncture the cell walls there fore destroying the plant tissue. Once penetrated the tissue can no longer function or repair itself.  There are a number of factors that can influence frost as well as decrease the chances, If the temperatures range in the high thirties and the skies are clears the odds are very good. But if we have those same conditions and there are clouds in the sky the odds are leaning towards no frost because the clouds tend to trap a little heat in. Just enough to keep it from frosting over. I wish I could be more exact on when play might be ready to go off but there are just to many variables that we need to evaluate. Not only is it frustrating for the golfer but for the maintenance staff as well, because we are not able to perform our work.

Greens Compaction Relief

Today we are needle tining the greens. Because we receive a high amount of play the rate of compaction is very high. By opening them up we allow for water and air exchange. Which in-turn allows oxygen into the profile helping us to grow deeper roots. They will be rolled out and will be hard to tell in a few days that we have lightly disrupted the surface.