Course Update

This past Monday we brushed greens to stand up the grass, we took advantage of the cooler temperatures because this practice can be very abrasive under hot conditions. At times the grass becomes laid over and this is a good way to achieve a more precise cut. We also have vented a few greens on the course and will continue to do this to help in reducing compaction and allow air and water infiltration. This week we have been concentrating on course details and will be a daily routine through out the rest of the season. 

There a few house keeping things that I would like to mention, 

1. Please rake the bunker, foot prints left behind are unsightly and a disadvantage for the golfers behind you.

2. Please repair your ball mark plus another.

3. Replace your fairway divots or fill with sand, keeping in mind to use your foot to level out the sand, no mountains please. As this to is a disadvantage if a ball rolls into an unfilled divot but could roll next to a mountain. From a mower stand point, if you do not level out the sand this dulls the mowers and can introduce bad cuts through out the golf course. 

4. Follow all cart rules for the day paying attention to the cart control post.

5. When parked next to a Tee or a Green, keep the tires on the path. This will reduce wear and tear around our most visible areas. 

6. Please mention to your fellow partner or group to obey these rules, every one can help in a kind manner.

7. Have fun and enjoy your course.

If there is any question or doubt how to properly adhere to these items listed please speak with a manager on the Greens staff or the Pro Shop.

Venting process

A brushed green, followed by mower, you can see the difference.

Finishing up the plants around the second half of the drive way trees.

My time at Merion

One can easily say that Merion is one of the greatest golf courses in the world rich with history, but I gained an even more appreciation being a fly on the wall so to speak during my time there. The staff was eager to introduce them selves and welcome me into their home and it was that welcoming that made me feel very comfortable right away. It was amazing to see what is involved for setting up a course for a major tournament from the grand stands, tv towers to logistics. There was not one person who had a confused look on there face, it was clear that they had a plan and it was moving forward to the next assignment. Some of my tasks there was to help with the measuring of the green speeds, firmness and moisture readings. I had no experience in measuring firmness so this was a great opportunity to see what were some of the target numbers they were looking for, even after a few tenths of rain was an eye opener on how taking measurements can be helpful. Let me say thank you to Matt Shaffer and the entire greens department for allowing me be a part of their team, it was a great experience. 

On my first day I was quickly thrown into brooming the greens.

When I was able to look at the shop I met Miguel, he has been
in charge of the up keep of the wickers for 41 years. 

Dave here is taking firmness and moisture readings.

My job for the better part of the week in the mornings was
taking stimp meter measurements.

Pat, one of the assistants is rolling the approaches with a
machine called the "Trans-former". 

A view from a tv tower over looking the 6th hole.

I view from the grand stand over looking the 14th hole.

Staff thinning out the native area. Yes, by hand!

Golf Course Update

Never would I have imagined that at the end of May we would have a high of 60 degrees as we are experiencing today. But do not worry next week we will be back up into the high 80's. This past week we continued with our club house plants on the drive way trees. We are awaiting another order to finish the rest of the trees as you pass the parking lot. Another area that we dressed up was around the short game, the trees we have there have had plants added to there base. From the golf course we successfully completed the MGA Guest Day and slowly but surely tiding up some loose ends for the season prep. This  week we  groomed greens and although this is a great benefit to the greens it does have its draw backs such as actually making the greens a little slower than normal, but rest assured they will pick back up in a couple of mowing's. If you are wondering what is grooming, using a special machine we can cut down into the turf canopy with blades that remove any grass that is being laid over. A laid over leaf blade does not get cut by the mower. This is a process that will be continued until the onset of warm weather and will help us manage the greens density.

 Next week I will be at Merion gaining some insight to how they set up there golf course before a major tournament, such as grooming, lowering heights and prepping bunkers. I hope to take some pictures and pass along what I have learned. 

As you can see here Ovidio is placing the second addition
on the drive way trees. And those weeds will be sprayed tomorrow!

I did enlist some help from my oldest daughter, Bailey. Although
helpful, smelling the flowers was more important.

Driving in circles is the quickest and most efficient way
to groom for us.

After the grooming you can see grass clumps left over, most
of this is from the grass that tends to lay over and not get mowed.

The mower operator here mows and picks up the grass clumps.

Above the camera case is a groomed section, below has not
yet been groomed.

You almost cannot even see what we have done after a groom, mow and roll. 

Golf Course Update and Club House Plantings

This week has been very busy and we took advantage of the warm weather (except for the Frost Delay on Tuesday) that looks to be here until the fall. The golf course is shaping up and the mulch beds are just about complete. You may have noticed some work being performed on the back of the range and I am glad to say, that we will be finished with the Teaching Tee extension on Monday. We shifted into high gear on our club house plantings after the frost and there are some notable additions that will contribute to the over all look. Plantings also took place on the golf course around the Tee monuments. 

Monday we top dressed greens 

Greens top dressing being dragged in, this brush also help
stand up the grass for a much better cut.

The teaching tee extension getting its first top dressing.

Sodding around the new Teaching Tee

Front of the new tee

New additional planting around the tennis parking lot

This area is to the right of the club house 

This is to the left of the club house 

Plants added to the drive way trees near the main entrance,
this is placed on every other tree and we are awaiting our
other half next week. They will be placed where we have the
tree lights installed.

A close up, regarding the picture above.