Topdressing

We were able to topdress all the greens and approaches with sand and brush the sand into the turf canopy this morning before the rains started. I was asked why we apply so much sand to the greens by a member and I explained all the reasons behind this agronomic process but I think I was a bit to technical so I found the following description from Purdue University that explains why we topdress greens:

From Purdue University :

Sand Topdressing Programs
There are many different sand topdressing programs used by superintendents. Budgets, experience, labor and equipment availability, and play schedule are just some of the factors affecting topdressing programs.
Our research hopes to provide answers to many of the common topdressing questions and help present a better understanding of the topdressing requirements for high quality putting greens. Sand topdressing decreases thatch, increases surface firmness and smoothness, and decreases grain. Insufficient sand topdressing may result in excessive organic matter accumulation in the upper soil profile. Excessive organic matter, or thatch, results in greater pest damage, shallow rooting, poor soil air exchange, and may cause the turf to be more prone to scalping.
The most effective surface organic matter management programs for putting greens normally combine hollow tine aerification with regular sand topdressing. In addition to seasonal heavy applications to back-fill aerification holes, sand should be applied frequently enough to match seasonal shoot growth and to prevent an organic layer from forming. Typically, topdressing every one to three weeks during the growing season is done using light applications of sand to dilute organic matter and smooth wear areas. If applications are spaced too far apart, layering occurs and little thatch reduction actually takes place.
Although topdressing application frequency has increased, the overall annual amount seems to be declining. Ultra-light topdressing on a weekly basis is not always enough to keep up with organic matter accumulation. It is important to remember that for effective thatch management, it is necessary to match the rate of organic matter production with appropriate amounts of topdressing material. Some greens may require more topdressing than others due to differences in growing environments, fertility programs, traffic, compaction, etc. Cool-season turfgrass organic matter production is highest during periods of cool temperatures (32-55 F) and in areas with poor air circulation and high moisture (Carrow, 2003).
A long-term successful topdressing program normally includes the use of a material with a particle size distribution that matches the underlying rootzone. On many closely mowed newer putting greens, coarse topdressing sand particles may be easily picked up by greens mowers. Finer sand is easier to work into the turf canopy, especially at lower mowing heights, and with new high shoot density bentgrass cultivars, and a desire to have less impact on play, are all persuading turf managers to switch to finer sands. The long-term implications of this practice are not well understood.
Within reason, topdressing particles slightly coarser than an existing rootzone will not adversely affect long-term soil physical characteristics. Conversely, topdressing sand that is dramatically finer than an existing rootzone may have serious negative consequences on soil physical properties. A decline in saturated hydraulic conductivity or percolation results from the loss of macropore space when a finer sand is used for topdressing. Additionally, a distinct layer forms at the surface resulting in a perched water table. This layer restricts drainage and air movement, resulting in a softer, wetter surface more prone to scalping.
Sand topdressing is still an essential cultural practice to maintain the highest quality putting green. Remember, one size does NOT fit all. It is important to critically evaluate your topdressing program. If you are applying topdressing more frequently, ask yourself if you are actually meeting the critical annual amount necessary to minimize thatch and excessive organic matter and ensure firm, smooth surfaces? Analysis of topdressing material prior to sand selection can prevent potential long-term layering issues and detrimental effects to soil physical characteristics caused when a sand finer than an existing rootzone is used for topdressing. Mechanical damage can easily occur if plants are stressed and topdressing should be delayed until the turf is actively growing and healthy. Appropriate topdressing rates and frequency with sands matching the existing rootzone are a few steps in the right direction towards maintaining high quality putting greens.

Memorial Day Weekend

Well let's say the unofficial start to summer isn't starting off so great in the weather department. Yesterday the course received over 2.5 inches of rain and its raining again right now. The good news is that Sunday and Monday look promising although maybe not for wearing shorts with highs only getting into the 60's. The wetting agent application that we applied on Monday is working as expected and we were able to mow and roll all the greens, mow fairways, tees, collars, and approaches today following the rain. The green speeds are much slower then the last few weekends when weather conditions were more favorable but we will be mowing and rolling everyday this weekend to keep them playable. The crew is spending the rest of today mowing and blowing the rough to achieve consistent and fair playing conditions. The rough this time of year following warm weather and large rain amounts makes hitting the fairways a premium.

It has been decided by the Board of Governors that carts will be permitted on the upper portion of the 6th fairway in a hope to increase the pace of play. Carts should exit the cart path and enter the fairway after the large oak tree on the top of the hill and proceed towards the 7th tee. Please scatter towards your ball to create a single area of traffic. Signs are provided to help direct traffic. Please drive in the fairway and not in the rough as the rough does not have adequate irrigation and will suffer from the cart traffic. Players can still use the cart path around the rear of the green as well. Under no circumstance should a player drive on the bottom or middle areas of the 6th hole.

The family tee markers, black in color,  will be placed on the golf course this weekend for use by the entire family. These tees are a great way to practice your short game while the little ones practice their game. It might seem silly but playing the golf course from different positions can be a lot of fun and is strongly encourage to provide a variety of golf shots. Score cards for the family tee markers are available in the pro shop. The family tee markers will remain on the golf course for the entire summer.

I ask as a sign of respect on Monday that the American Flags on the flagsticks not be placed on the ground. I will provide stands in the rough to hold the flags while you are playing or your playing partner can hold the flagstick. This is a small gesture that we do every year to thank the men and women who have served our country and especially for those that paid the ultimate price fighting for our freedom. Memorial Day is a great weekend for food, family and golf but let's keep in mind what the Holiday really stands for. See you on the course.

Practice Green after the Rain

Course Update

Today felt like summer and the grass is growing very quickly from the rain over the weekend and the warm temperatures from early this week. The greens were top dressed and brushed on Monday followed by a summer patch plant protectant spray and a wetting agent application. The fairways and tees also were treated with a wetting agent allowing for moisture to move through the soil profile. It's very important to keep the root zone dry during periods of heat and humidity allowing the roots to breath. The wetting agent will also aid in moving water down past the roots during the forecasted thunderstorms toward the end of the week. The new fairway sod is being aerated with quarter inch tines and top dressed to remove thatch and help smooth these areas. Sod comes with a large percentage of thatch from the farm so these aerations will help break that layer down and increase rooting. 

USGA Update - May 2013

Why Are Our Greens So Bumpy?

By David A. Oatis, director, Northeast Region
May 15, 2013


Cool, dry weather has been the norm throughout most of the Northeast Region, but the recent series of storms brought much needed rainfall. Temperatures, however, remain cool, and much of the region is 1-2 weeks behind normal. Grasses all react a little differently during the periods of seasonal transition. Kentucky bluegrass is slow to green up in the spring, whereas perennial ryegrass maintains good color all winter and begins growing much sooner in the spring. When multiple grasses are present, the variation in their growth rates makes for uneven playing surfaces. This is especially apparent on putting greens in the Northeast Region right now. Greens are bumpy, and they won’t get smooth until the temperatures warm up.

Most golfers think of putting greens in a “singular” sense, but each putting green is comprised of millions of individual plants. In the northeast, most greens are populated by two species: annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and creeping bentgrass, but there are many biotypes of each. In general, bentgrass initiates growth first in the spring, but it grows very slowly. Once temperatures warm a little, annual bluegrass kicks into high gear, and its growth rate outpaces creeping bentgrass. To further complicate matter, the different biotypes can vary significantly. This is the stage many courses are entering right now. In short, the different grasses all are growing at different rates, and this makes putting greens bumpy! Add annual bluegrass seed heads to a surface and the recipe is perfect for questions and complaints.

Bentgrass at many courses remains off color, and it is very susceptible to mechanical injury during periods of cool weather each spring. The lack of growth, poor color and susceptibility to mechanical injury often is attributed to a disease. This phenomenon occurs nearly every spring to some extent, but it is much worse when the period of temperature fluctuation is longer. Two or three days or more of warm temperatures are usually sufficient to get bentgrass growing, but when cold nighttime temperatures occur, the bentgrass shuts down again.

So, the grasses are growing at different rates right now, and nothing that can be done to combat it. The best course of action now is to avoid maintenance practices that constantly injure the bentgrass. Aeration, verticutting and topdressing treatments are fine, but repeated treatments of each will cause injury to bentgrass. Even rolling and repeated mowing can cause injury to the bentgrass right now, so if your bentgrass populations are thinning or showing signs of injury, back off on them.

Once temperatures warm sufficiently, bentgrass will begin growing more vigorously, and it will tolerate stressful maintenance practices. However, the yearly decline of annual bluegrass will follow close behind. Once annual bluegrass produces its seed, plants begin to turn yellow and root systems shrink back, so we will begin talking about problems with annual bluegrass then. Since cool weather is predicted to last for a few more days at least, that will probably not happen for a few more weeks.

For now, golfers in the Northeast will have to suffer with bumpy greens. When will they smooth out? Right after the temperatures stay consistently warm! When will that occur? I’ll leave that answer for your favorite weather man! 

Hole 6

The mounding on Hole 6 is now open for play. It's going to be to fun to see how they come into play. I had a member already nickname them the "Devil Mounds". We will soon find out. 

Irrigation

The VFD drives were replaced yesterday and are working properly. It's amazing how technology has changed, the new drives are half the size of the old ones.  The weather worked out in our favor during this irrigation system shut down although I feel much more comfortable knowing I have water if I need it. We will be spending most of the week mowing, keeping the turf under control after last weeks 4 inches of rain. The mounds on the second hole are open except for one small area that is still wet from last weeks rain. The weather should be warming up over the next few days but frost is still a possibility as was evident today. 

Weekend Update

The golf course took over two inches of rain on Wednesday and Thursday and more looks to be in the forecast for tonight and Saturday. The greens were brushed and mowed today but have lost the firmness and speed from the rain. The fairways, tees, and approaches were all mowed today as well. The great benefit of our new rough mower that we purchased last year was evident today as we were able to send out two machines and cut 80% of the golf course in one day. The sod areas on 2 and 5/6 will be closed this weekend to all golfers, your balls will be returned in the clubhouse. These areas are coming along nicely and were cut for the second time Friday but are still a little soft to allow for play. The new fairway areas and select approaches were top dressed with sand this afternoon in anticipation of the rain to work it into the turf canopy. This is the second time we are topdressing the new fairways expansions helping create a smooth transition from the existing fairways and firming the surface. The stairs on the 8th tee have been finished and landscaped as well as the annuals being planted in front of the clubhouse. The golf course is still without our irrigation system, thankfully mother nature helped us out. Storr Tractor is expected to be here Monday morning to install the new VFD drives and get us back online.

Lifting Fog at Sunrise 3rd Hole

Course Update

We had a serious issue with our irrigation pump station with the malfunction of our VFD drives for the motors. In simple terms it means we can't water the golf course. Storr Tractor was here within an hour and confirmed our issues. New VFD and fuses blocks are coming from Texas to get us back up and running. The 36 hours without water has caused some areas to wilt and turn black, the greens were irrigated using our sprayer carrying 150 gallons at time. Thankfully rain is on the way.

All of the new fairway areas are open for play and have been top dressed with sand to help smooth them out. The fairways also were fertilized with our organic fertilizer which is what the odor around the course is. 

The signal light on the 9th hole is now operational after replacing all the buttons and relays. The logs along the cart path on the 6th hole were removed today by Greenwood Tree and the stumps will be buried in the next few weeks. 

Removing Logs

White Box Top Right is the VFD Drive

Weekend Update

The dry weather has kept us busy this week dragging hoses and checking moisture levels. The second fairway is now open for play and the ropes have been removed from holes 3 and 4. The mounds on the second hole are still roped off along with all the work on 5 and 6. Please stay out of the roped areas and your balls will be returned to the clubhouse. The stairs on 8 tee have been replaced and can be used, some cleanup still needs to be done next week. The tees and rough have been treated for crabgrass and the fairways will be completed next week. The greens were given their spring organic granular fertilizer application along with the tees. The fairways will be completed next week. Enjoy the great weather and I will see you on the course.

Oak Borer

I found damage on some our newer oaks on the 5th hole with Red Oak Borer damage. I had our Arborist from Greenwood Tree Experts confirm my findings and recommend treatment. Today we treated all of the newer oaks on the 5th hole and the brand new Swamp White Oak on the 9th hole.

The red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman)³, is an important member of the oak borer complex that permanently damages the wood of living oak trees. The red oak borer is native to North America, where it occurs naturally from southeastern Canada and Maine to Florida, and west to Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Wood-inhabiting insects such as carpenterworms, timberworms, and carpenter ants use red oak borer tunnels to gain entry into oaks. These other pests extend and increase the damage begun by the red oak borer. Decay organisms also gain entry into oak heartwood through borer tunnels.

Borer Hole

Bark and Systemic Control for Year Long Protection