We have been blessed the past few months of work on the irrigation system with nice dry weather. In fact I don't think any of us expected to see the weather this nice. As good as it is, the dry weather has some drawbacks.
A few weeks ago we made the decision to sever the old irrigation system with the thought the cooler weather and fall/winter rains would cary us through. Unfortunately the lack of rain is starting to affect the seed and sod we have used to repair the damage from the irrigation system and the scars of summer. It won't be until spring that we see what has survived but we are praying that we see some of the rain due to us at this time of year. In the meantime, use this nice weather to try your luck on the fast 12th green!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Work on 3 Continues
Last year we started the clearing out of the hillside to the right of the 3rd hole. This process will take a few years to clean out all the unwanted vegitation and vines that populated this area. While we continue to clean that up with the hopes of planting some flowering trees, we have begun to improve the creekside. We removed the vines and poison ivy and have sodded a low input grass called fine fescue.
It requitres very little fertilizer or water and likes shady environments. We don't need to mow it but a few times a year. It should grow around 6 inches but flow over and cover the slope. This new variety that we have planted is roundup tolerant, so we can hopefully manage weeds a little easier. If this works in this location, look for us to follow up and try to establish this turf along many more of our creek banks in the future.
It requitres very little fertilizer or water and likes shady environments. We don't need to mow it but a few times a year. It should grow around 6 inches but flow over and cover the slope. This new variety that we have planted is roundup tolerant, so we can hopefully manage weeds a little easier. If this works in this location, look for us to follow up and try to establish this turf along many more of our creek banks in the future.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
1 Down 17 To Go!
Today we started our second hole of irrigation installation. Hole 6 was successfully installed and is ready to go in the spring. There are still some details to take care such as removing all the old valve boxes and sprinklers. This type of work will be performed later in winter when weather slows progress on the main installation.
The new pump station is due to arrive in the next few weeks, so we will be busy preparing the site below the 7th green to make room for its arrival. We know there will be quite a few rough areas when we are finished in the spring. It will take a whole year to get things back into the shape we expect, with some sodding needed well into the spring. As we get familiar with the new system, we hope you will see some of the benefits of the new system.
The new pump station is due to arrive in the next few weeks, so we will be busy preparing the site below the 7th green to make room for its arrival. We know there will be quite a few rough areas when we are finished in the spring. It will take a whole year to get things back into the shape we expect, with some sodding needed well into the spring. As we get familiar with the new system, we hope you will see some of the benefits of the new system.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
To Range or Not to Range
The irrigation of the driving range is currently being discussed. The original plans did not call for installation of irrigation at this time, but provisions were made to make future installation easily accomplished. The main piping that feeds holes 9-15 pass through this area so connections at a later time are simple.
The reasons for neglecting to add it at this time are the future plans for the range are under development. The five year plan includes the driving range redevelopment in 2015 and it made sense to not perform work and install piping that more than likely would be demolished in this work.
The range requires a substantial amount of work to make it a more enjoyable area for use. The landing areas needs better targets and currently filled with gullies from washouts due to poor drainage. Large areas have been overrun with weed grasses, and the lower range structure has a poor hitting area.
All this is being reviewed under the new planning, but in the meantime we are debating the need to irrigate range at this time. The facts are that irrigation can help the turf on the range in the short term, but cannot overcome all the issues we face. The drainage and the rutting that is present will continiue to be major issues in having a presentable range. The targets will not become better with irrigation and the sloping hitting area does not change. We most likely will lose about 2/3 of the cost involved when we reshape the landing area. The sprinkler heads themselves will be saved but little else. It is just too costly and time consuming to work around existing underground wiring and piping.
We have the resources on site to make this a easily doable at this time, the costs are yet to be determined, and of course the range planning and funding are always variable. Short term gain or long term vision is the debate and both have merit and accomplish something for everyone. Right now the new irrigation is going well and we hope to move foreward before winter sets in.
The reasons for neglecting to add it at this time are the future plans for the range are under development. The five year plan includes the driving range redevelopment in 2015 and it made sense to not perform work and install piping that more than likely would be demolished in this work.
The range requires a substantial amount of work to make it a more enjoyable area for use. The landing areas needs better targets and currently filled with gullies from washouts due to poor drainage. Large areas have been overrun with weed grasses, and the lower range structure has a poor hitting area.
All this is being reviewed under the new planning, but in the meantime we are debating the need to irrigate range at this time. The facts are that irrigation can help the turf on the range in the short term, but cannot overcome all the issues we face. The drainage and the rutting that is present will continiue to be major issues in having a presentable range. The targets will not become better with irrigation and the sloping hitting area does not change. We most likely will lose about 2/3 of the cost involved when we reshape the landing area. The sprinkler heads themselves will be saved but little else. It is just too costly and time consuming to work around existing underground wiring and piping.
We have the resources on site to make this a easily doable at this time, the costs are yet to be determined, and of course the range planning and funding are always variable. Short term gain or long term vision is the debate and both have merit and accomplish something for everyone. Right now the new irrigation is going well and we hope to move foreward before winter sets in.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Why Bermuda?
We are changing the grass type at the par 3 tees at 9 and 14 to Bermuda grass. As many know, this grass is prevelant down south and can be an excellent grass there. In our region it is more commonly a weed and more known for it's off color apearance all winter. We are truely at the transition zone for this grass, hot enough in the summer but cold enough in the fall/winter to sometimes make things very dicey.
The tees at 9 and 14 are both extremely small for the short holes they represent. Normal design characterstics call for 200 square feet of useable space for every 100 rounds on this type of tee. This equates to a tee space needed of around 3500 square feet. Since both 9 and 14 are in less than half that size and most of our play is in the heat of summer, we decidied to try a grass that will perform better during the summer heat.
Both teeing areas take an intense amount of injury. Bermuda can be safely fertilized all summer which wil encourage recovery, unlike the cool season grass it replaces. Bermuda also does not suffer from summer disease and pest that we have to constantly treat for on this injured tees.
It must be remembered that most of the tees here were designed with a much smaller membership and number of rounds played. Many of the tees that were built were also done when little tree canopy was present. Combining these two attributes and the need for better surfaces year round, we are always looking on ways to maximize space and improve conditions with what is present.
Some may not like the look of square tees, but in the same space they provide a much larger area for us to move tee markers. The very back of a tee is not used and the sides see very little wear no matter where the markers are placed, so we are challenged to keep the tees in good conditions in the limited teeing area. In our experience most of the damage nowadays is from foot traffic. With the new shoes with a multitude of spikes both replaceable and molded into the shoe, coupled the twisting motion of most swings, the shearing of grass is more damaging than any a club makes. With most play from the same spot, the grass is literally sheared off and not fixable like a divot. Thats why you see larger patches of missing grass, all caused by twisting foot traffic.
Since we always fight the same areas, we decided to change up the grass. If it works, we hope to provide a better year long experience. If not, we will again try something else, looking for the best fit. Our wonderful course is not static and always requires us to look for answers to the problems that arise.
The tees at 9 and 14 are both extremely small for the short holes they represent. Normal design characterstics call for 200 square feet of useable space for every 100 rounds on this type of tee. This equates to a tee space needed of around 3500 square feet. Since both 9 and 14 are in less than half that size and most of our play is in the heat of summer, we decidied to try a grass that will perform better during the summer heat.
Both teeing areas take an intense amount of injury. Bermuda can be safely fertilized all summer which wil encourage recovery, unlike the cool season grass it replaces. Bermuda also does not suffer from summer disease and pest that we have to constantly treat for on this injured tees.
It must be remembered that most of the tees here were designed with a much smaller membership and number of rounds played. Many of the tees that were built were also done when little tree canopy was present. Combining these two attributes and the need for better surfaces year round, we are always looking on ways to maximize space and improve conditions with what is present.
Some may not like the look of square tees, but in the same space they provide a much larger area for us to move tee markers. The very back of a tee is not used and the sides see very little wear no matter where the markers are placed, so we are challenged to keep the tees in good conditions in the limited teeing area. In our experience most of the damage nowadays is from foot traffic. With the new shoes with a multitude of spikes both replaceable and molded into the shoe, coupled the twisting motion of most swings, the shearing of grass is more damaging than any a club makes. With most play from the same spot, the grass is literally sheared off and not fixable like a divot. Thats why you see larger patches of missing grass, all caused by twisting foot traffic.
Since we always fight the same areas, we decided to change up the grass. If it works, we hope to provide a better year long experience. If not, we will again try something else, looking for the best fit. Our wonderful course is not static and always requires us to look for answers to the problems that arise.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Sandy and the Lake
Well again we have another weather event that nature throws our way..... Sandy. Although it could have been much worse, it still packed a wallop and hopefully was the final punch to a stressful year. Kind of like the children's tale, Earthquakes, Derachos, and Hurricanes.. Oh my! Here at the club we had winds that peaked around 50 mph and the rain gages averaged around 7.2 inches.
This combination with leaves and limbs has made a mess of the course. We lost one white pine between the 7th and 8th hole and created a new lake behind the 14th green. While pretty to look at is still is not enough to water the golf course.
We are diligently working to open the course with playable conditions. Many times in events like this the view from the club is beautiful, but the unseen holes are a mess. Most likely when we open the bunkers will still be washed out. Decisions are made on where to spend man-hours and the removal of leaves, limbs and water are more important. I would rather make it easier to find a ball by working on leaves than spend two full days raking bunkers.
We are always sorry when we have to close the course to play and we don't take it lightly. We hope the efforts put forth by the staff will result in an enjoyable round of golf than a frustration in ball hawking. In the future we would like to rebuild the bunkers with a material that will significantly reduce the time spent repairing bunkers after events like this and thunderstorms, but that topic is for another day.
This combination with leaves and limbs has made a mess of the course. We lost one white pine between the 7th and 8th hole and created a new lake behind the 14th green. While pretty to look at is still is not enough to water the golf course.
We are diligently working to open the course with playable conditions. Many times in events like this the view from the club is beautiful, but the unseen holes are a mess. Most likely when we open the bunkers will still be washed out. Decisions are made on where to spend man-hours and the removal of leaves, limbs and water are more important. I would rather make it easier to find a ball by working on leaves than spend two full days raking bunkers.
We are always sorry when we have to close the course to play and we don't take it lightly. We hope the efforts put forth by the staff will result in an enjoyable round of golf than a frustration in ball hawking. In the future we would like to rebuild the bunkers with a material that will significantly reduce the time spent repairing bunkers after events like this and thunderstorms, but that topic is for another day.
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