Today is the grounds crew last day for the season and it will be spent doing one final clean-up of leaves and doing course set-up for the weekend. While the crew will be leaving today the winter preparation work has really just begun. This week soil samples were taken from all areas of the golf course and sent to Logan labs for analysis to determine what our fertilization requirements will be for next season. The greens and approaches had the first of two snow mold plant protectant applications applied which was followed by sand topdressing. At some point between now and Christmas, weather driven, the greens and approaches will receive the second application of plant protectants, a second heavy topdressing, solid tine aeration, and finally 5 and 8 greens will be covered with turf blankets. Our main goals for the winter season are simple, protect the turf. Three main areas we focus on are as follows:
- Protect the turf from snow mold disease. Two types of this disease exists, pink and gray snow mold. We apply plant protectants in two split applications providing 3 months of protection to the turf.
- Protect the crown of the plant from winter dessication. Heavy sand topdressing covers the crown of the plant protecting it from the freeze and thaw cycles of winter as well as cold drying winds. The added benefit to this heavy topdressing is a much smoother playing surface come spring as well as diluting the thatch layer helping us keep the playing surface firmer.
- Avoiding ice build-up on greens. Even though the turf is dormant gas exchange is still taking place in the soil. Ice build-up stops this exchange leading to turf decline and death. The removal of trees around the greens has helped with ice build-up but we still aerfiy the greens late in December to help drains melting snow and rain from the surface of the greens during the winter. Greens such as the 3rd and 6th have yearly issues with ice.
Unfortunately the construction company for the 9th hole project is still working at neighboring courses and will be further delayed until December for our project. We have done bunker construction projects during December in the past with great results so I am not expecting any issues. Delays like these are one reason the club has decided these projects will be completed in the fall instead of the spring. When spring projects are delayed it causes disruption into the playing season where in late fall many members will be unaffected.
I would like to thank my crew for a great season as they worked very hard to maintain quality playing conditions in less then ideal weather. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and I look forward to seeing you at the Holiday Party on the 15th. Please follow the blog for construction and winter activity updates.
