USGA Tree Survey

USGA Senior Agronomist Jim Skorulski

Jim checking the sun angle at mid day on 14 green

On Wednesday May 4th USGA Senior Agronomist Jim Skorulski, Green Committee member Mike Grenert and myself examined the golf course from the ground up. The focus of the tour was to evaluated the condition of our many trees and the affect the tress have on the health of the turf and the playability of each golf hole. 

Each green and tee complex was studied using a compass and an app developed for iphones and android devices called"sun-seeker". This app will show what the sun angles are at each location during all four seasons. Using the graphics on the screen you are able to see how all the trees around each feature affect sunlight to each location. The key times of the year we really worry about are spring and summer when the plants are actively growing and require the most daily sunlight. It is important to note the amount of sunlight on each feature during the winter months. Minimal sunlight can be critical during the winter months affecting temperature, ice formation and ice melt, all key elements in the battle against winter injury.

The health of the trees between all our fairways and along the perimeters of each hole were also examined during the visit.

Utilizing Jim's many years of experience dealing with golf and trees, the final report from the USGA will be a valuable tool in our tree maintenance program. Turf health,( sunlight, air movement and root encroachment), playability, safety and aesthetics will be the priority moving forward with tree care at Silver Spring.

Welcome to the 2016 Season

The golf course and practice range are open!

Welcome to the 2016 season!

Spring Update

Around the Course   March 2016

 

What a difference a year makes. Last season at this time the golf and grounds staff was gearing up to remove over a foot of snow and ice from our greens. Once cleared the severe winter kill we experienced last spring was revealed, which lead to many hours of reseeding, sodding and pampering new seedlings which carried throughout the 2015 growing season.

Fast forward to March 2016; the golf course is completely free of snow and ice. The greens that were covered for the winter season will have the covers removed this week, and all greens will be treated with an early spring fungicide and desiccation (protection from wind burn) treatment. Our initial examination of the putting surfaces shows some small areas of winter disease, but nothing that I am too concerned about at this time. The grass is still in dormancy and there are some areas of frost still under the playing surfaces. The warmer weather will trigger a growth response on the surfaces and if there is any winter injury, it will appear at that time.

Traditionally we open the greens the first week in April. The earliest we have opened in my 38 prior seasons has been March 16^th.  Weather permitting, I will be opening 15 holes and the short game as a par 3 Friday March 11th (4, 5, &6 will remain closed because of the construction last fall).  Greens will be lightly top-dressed, brushed and rolled before we open them and when indications of growth are present the first mowing will start. There will be no carts until the ground firms up enough to withstand traffic. It is important to realize that conditions change quickly in the spring and if the weather does not cooperate we may be forced to recover greens and close some of the putting surfaces.

We will post any changes and frost delays on the website daily. We ask for your patience and cooperation as we move on through the spring. I will be sending weekly updates as the spring progresses.

Staffing

There is a change to the makeup of my staff for 2016. Casey Sheehy who has served as our Assistant Superintendent for the past two years has moved on to a Lead Assistant position at Bryn Mare Country Club in the Chicago area. We wish Casey all the best and thank him for his time with us. Tanner Collins, who has served as our Second Assistant the past year will move into Casey’s position . Ken Welzien will continue his role as Senior Assistant.

Peter Rappoccio,CGCS

Master Plan and Golf Course Update

Master Plan and Golf Course Update

 

4th Green Complex



View from the new Black Tee on 5

 

 

Master plan

The Master Plan work on holes 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 is almost completed. As of December 1^st the only work left to be completed are the new forward tees on 7 and 9.  We have been lucky that the weather has been mild enough the last few weeks to enable the construction crew to continue to install sod and shape the remaining features.

To date over 23,000 square feet of bunkers have been built; 15,000 square feet of tees have been rebuilt and 40,000 square feet of fairway turf has been added. When the project is completed, (hopefully by December 15^th), over 340,000 square feet of new sod will be installed throughout the construction area.

Holes 4 and 5 have a terrific new look and will provide some interesting options for all levels of play. The goal is to open holes 4, and 5 by mid- April 2016 and hole 6 and the forward tees on 7 & 9 by early May. No winter play will be allowed on holes 4, 5, &6. The rest of the course will have winter temporary greens and tees available.

Golf Course

The lengthy process of getting the golf course prepared for a long cold winter is well underway. To date all greens, tees, and fairways have been treated with a winter fungicide application. A protective coat of sand topdressing has been applied and we are in the process of covering certain greens and tees. Covers are used to help modify soil temperatures throughout the winter as well as protecting certain greens that are in open areas from the steady northwest winds that blow across the course during the winter months. Greens and tees were closed on December 1^st. Temporary tee markers have been placed in the walkways leading to the fairways and temporary cups have been placed in the fairways. Please do not walk on or play to the regular greens and tees.

Prior to the winter prep, the golf and grounds crew performed an additional aerification to greens and fairways in late November. This additional aerification is designed to make 8 inch deep channels in the turf that act as a drainage aid that help remove surface water from the turf throughout the winter and especially during the time of snow and ice melt.

The golf and grounds staff would like to thanks the membership for a great season and wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Peter R Rappoccio, CGCS

Property Manager

Why we delay play on frosty mornings.

This is a great video by the USGA on the dangers of playing on frost covered surfaces.

Master Plan Update

The work continues on the 4th hole. The 5 greenside bunkers have been rebuilt and the green surrounds have been sodded. Next week we will complete the 3 fairway bunkers on the left side of the hole and drainage on the right side of the hole. The new tees on 5 will also start to take shape.

The completed green complex on hole 4

Master Plan Work 2015 - Hole 4

Grading the approach to 4 green

Cutting in the left green side bunkers

Right green bunker- shaped, liner installed and ready for sand

View from the expanded fairway area on the right of 4

Removal of the left fairway bunker



New green complex taking shape

The Master Plan work  is moving along nicely.  The new green bunkers on hole 4 are shaped, and ready for drainage and the liner installation. The approach will be graded and new bentgrass will be installed to the green surface. This week the new landing area on the right side of the fairway will be established and the three new fairway bunkers on the left side of the hole will be shaped.