Happy Holidays

The Golf and Grounds Department wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year

October Snow Storm Damage

On the heals of the cleanup from Irene the October snow storm that dumped 16 inches of snow on the golf course has caused an enormous amount of tree damage. All our ornamental trees including some of our memorial trees were severely damaged and a number of them will have to be removed. The golf and grounds staff has been making progress tackling the massive amount of branches and small tree that were damaged. A tree company has been working with our staff for the last 9 days to remove all hanging branches and large trees that were damaged in the storm. Cleanup will continue for the next two weeks. Our normal winter prep work of fertilization and winter fungicide applications on greens, tees and fairways is also taking place.
A busy fall for the staff.

Improving Drainage

Vertiquake Unit

Groves are cut on 1 foot centers

Finished surface is playable immediately after the process is complete

The machine pictured is a Vetiquake aerifier that is designed to penetrate through the turf canopy to a depth of 12 to 14 inches. The slicing action of the machine cuts a deep grove and at the same time shatters the soil beneath the surface. The slicing and shattering action loosens the soil so water can penetrate below the playing surface to improve surface drainage. The loosened soil also makes it easier for the root systems of the fairway turf to deepen and improve.

Golf Course Aerification Schedule

The schedule for aerification is as follows;
Greens, tees, collars and approaches - September 12, 13, and 14. The golf course will be closed Monday the 12th.
Fairway aerification and topdressing will start on Thursday September 15th, and continue on Monday 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd. The golf course will be closed on Monday the 19th.
The schedule is subject to change depending on the weather.

Post Irene Maintenance

Hand Watering Greens with a Spray tank after Irene

Hand Watering Tennis Courts

Damage From Irene

 Tropical storm Irene has caused severe damage to many large trees throughout the course. Sixteen trees had to be removed as a result of the heavy winds and rain associated with the storm. Utility poles, wires and transformers are still down on the property. Restoration of power has been extremely slow and as of Labor Day power has still not been restored to our clubhouse. The golf course greens were watered using a 300 gallons spray tank until a 400kw generator was located to restore power to the pump station last Saturday morning.
Over 700 man hours by the golf and grounds crew were spent getting the course clean and ready for Club Championships on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  .

The Art of Syringing Turf

Throughout the season you often see sprinkler heads popping up and down as well as people with hoses applying water on the greens, tees, and fairways.  While this is often perceived as us ‘watering’ it is actually a very common and necessary practice called syringing.  During syringing a light mist of water is applied to the leaf blades in order to cool them down and supplement oxygen the plant needs in order to survive the heat and stress it undergoes throughout the day. Syringing does not add water to the root zone or soil profile, the mist is quickly taken up by the plant in order to help it survive the stressful periods. Areas that require syringing are those that are wilting.  Wilt occurs during high stress periods because of heat, wind, sun, or the combination of all three.  Often you can see the wilted areas of turf because the plant turns purple, black, or gray.  If these areas are not treated quickly by syringing, turf loss can occur in as little as a couple of hours.    

Often after rain events syringing is still needed.  This can lead to confusion but is easily explained.  Throughout the hotter, more stressful months of the year the root zones of the plant get shorter and shorter.  So while rain may have occurred the night before, high skies and wind can easily dry up the top ½ inch to 1 inch of turf where most the roots are located in less than a day.  The ground below the root zones is still moist, but since the roots are located above the available moisture, wilt occurs quickly and syringing is needed.

A good example is number 16 fairway about 125 yards from the green.  There is a mound in the fairway that transitions into a low spot where you can often see water puddle after a rain event.  The mound right next to the low spot dries out quickly and wilts easily as do most high areas throughout the golf course, so you can actually see wilt about ten feet from a puddle.  When a situation like this occurs a hose is used to syringe only the stressed area in order to avoid adding water to where it is not needed.   However, throughout the year syringing in the fairways is often done with sprinklers because we have 27 acres of fairways to look after with only limited time and personnel.  Each sprinkler is on for about one and a half to two minutes which applies approximately 22.5 gallons of water per minute to an area 60 feet in diameter.

Once consistent cooler temperatures arrive, root zones begin to deepen, less and more infrequent water is needed, and healthier and more importantly stronger turf enables syringing practices to be unnecessary.  

Ken Welzien

Assistant Superintendent