Updates from around the club:
Working on the Front Nine!
The Front Nine (1-9) is closed until the 22nd of June. The crew has been extremely busy working on completing several major summer cultural practices. Practices we have been unable to complete the previous 3 years due to the green side bunker projects.
Below is a brief rundown of what has taken place. It should be noted that we were EXTREMELY aggressive with the collars on the front 9. As most of you know from my years of discussions we faced several issues with our collars, including collar damming and major thatch and grain issues.(See links below to a couple of USGA reports on this. The second link shows the exact process we followed)
This is what # 9 collar looked like after we completed the striping
https://www.usga.org/articles/2011/11/course-care-strip-em-bare-21474843842.html
http//www.usga.org/course-care/2013/06/collar-dams-kill-turf-21474856484.html
What we've done/the "process":
We have verticut all the tees, collars, approaches and fairways, blowing and vacuuming any and all debris or clippings generated by this process. Followed by a circle mowing (this cuts/attacks the stand of turf from several different angles. Once this was completed we began the aeration process, we aerated wall to wall, the entire course. We use metal drag mats to break the course up separating the thatch from the "good" soil. We then completed the process by blowing and vacuuming up the remaining debris and thatch. We generated over 100 yards of debris from the front 9 process. This material is hauled off to a composting facility where it will be recycled and used in a compost blend..
Keep an eye out for more updates.
Videos from 6/5/23 - 6/9/23
Definitions and descriptions:
AERATION
We aerate to improve the health and quality of
the turf. Aeration involves perforating (punching holes) in the soil with small holes to allow air,
water, and nutrients to penetrate deep into the soil, which promotes deeper
root growth and a healthier turf. Additional benefits from this process are below:
3. Increase nutrient uptake: Aeration can increase the uptake of nutrients by the turf by allowing them to penetrate deeper into the soil. This can help promote healthier growth and better resistance to disease and pests.
4. Reduce thatch buildup: Thatch is a layer of dead grass and other organic material that accumulates on the surface of the soil. Aeration can help reduce thatch buildup by creating channels for it to break down and decompose more quickly.
Overall, aeration is an important part of maintaining a
healthy and high-quality turf on golf courses. It helps to promote deeper root
growth, better drainage, and improved nutrient uptake, which can lead to a more
resilient and attractive playing surface.
VERTICUTTING
(aka Vertical mowing)
We verticut to improve turfgrass health and appearance. Verticutting is a process that involves cutting small vertical grooves or slits in the turfgrass using specialized equipment. Below are a few of the reason we do this.
1. Thatch removal: Verticutting is an effective way to remove thatch from the turfgrass. Thatch is a layer of dead grass and other organic material that accumulates on the surface of the soil. If left unchecked, thatch can create a barrier that prevents water, air, and nutrients from reaching the roots of the turfgrass.
2. Improve nutrient uptake: Verticutting can improve the uptake of nutrients by the turfgrass by cutting the surface roots and allowing nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil. This can help promote healthier growth and better resistance to disease and pests.
Overall, verticutting is an important part of maintaining a healthy and high-quality turfgrass on golf courses. It helps to promote deeper root growth, better nutrient uptake, and improved water penetration, which can lead to a more resilient and attractive playing surface
