Course Update - Warmer Temperatures

The greens aeration was a huge success with the removal of 10 percent of the surface area on each putting green, we are exactly where we need to be in accordance with our ISTRC testing. The topdressing of the greens did not go as well. There is still a lot of sand on the greens and this is due to the lack of water, more on that in the next paragraph. The greens have been rolled and finally fertilized today. The cups will be changed this weekend for play and golf carts will be available. We will mow the greens next week following some heavy irrigation cycles and begin to remove the excess sand. The tees and approaches have also been aerated, seeded, and fertilized.

The irrigation system was finally able to be charged today after the nighttime temperatures are above freezing. Our pump house does not have heat so until the weather is above freezing the system must remain dry. The irrigation motors are started by Storr Tractor and a problem was noticed on the pump along Green Village Road. The power from the pole was not correct, so after a call to Madison Electric the cause was determined to be the transformer on the pole. Madison Electric fixed the problem within two hours and Storr Tractor will be back on Monday to start the pump. The irrigation has allowed me to fertilize the tees and greens pushing growth and healing the aeration. The fertilizer I used for this application is available to the turf even during cold temperatures allowing for good growth in a short period of time.

 

The crew has finished mulching and woodchipping the golf course and has moved on to topsoil and seeding areas in the rough that were damaged during Sandy and winter tree work. The crew planted a Rutgers Hybrid Pink Dogwood at the turn around 5 White/Blue tee replacing the lace leaf maple that was lost during Sandy. We will be aerating the fairways on Monday so please leave all the small flags in place on the fairways delineating the sprinkler heads. We are on schedule for Pavelec Brothers and Robert McNeil to be on property Monday morning.

3 Green with aeration plugs