Turf Twister

What is wrong with the turf??

This picture is of a small section of turf on our putting green where the bent grass has been severely injured, but the Poa is surviving. Any guess to what caused this injury??


Answer: During the putting contest on Member Guest weekend someone spilled an Adult beverage on the putting green. The alcohol in the drink injured the bent grass but the poa remains healthy. Goes to prove Poa can hold it's booze better than bent!

Mother Nature Wins

12th green cup filled with water

 Another 1.8 inches of rain fell last night giving us a total of almost 12 inches of rain in the last seven days. When the golf and grounds crew arrived at 5:30 AM this morning to start our prep for today's tournament almost every fairway had ponds of standing water on them along with several cups on the greens filled with water. There are also several bunkers that have water in them. Most of the rain fell between 1:30 AM and 5 AM.
Our plan of action is pump and rake the bunkers immediately. Greens will be cut and rolled and pin placements will be set starting at 10 AM .
All the work will be completed before the 1 PM shotgun start. We could use some of those 130 volunteers that the USGA has at the Open this week. Our staff of 20 will get it done!!!
Going to be a slow track today

New water hazard on 4 fairway

Final Member Guest Prep

Greens rolling

 The final prep for the Silver Spring 2013 Member Guest Tournament is almost completed. Greens have been cut and rolled; fairways, tees, collars and approaches were also mowed this morning. A complete bunker rake will also be completed. The crew is also busy checking the course for any debris from last night's winds and a final clipping cleanup in the rough and perimeters/walkways will complete our prep work. Now if only Mother Nature cooperates and keeps the predicted heavy rains away we will be ready to have a great three days

Follow the straight lines to the green

Golf Archiect's visit

Roger, Peter, and Dave

 Yesterday the design team from Rulewich and Fleury Golf  Design spent the day with Green Chair Peter Morrice and Property Manager Peter Rappoccio, reviewing the Master Plan work scheduled to start in September. Holes 2, 3, 14 , 15 and 16 are scheduled to be reworked this fall. The emphasis of the work scheduled is to level and expand our teeing areas giving the membership more options to play from when they are out enjoying their course. Construction of additional tees will also be part of the plan as well as a reconstruction of our fairway and green side bunkers. Drainage of some fairway areas and tree work will also be part of the plan.
The Master Plan was originally approved by the Board in June of 2004. To date 6 holes plus the short game facility and the new putting green have been completed.

Peter Morrice with Roger and Dave

Dry- Ject Greens Tomorrow May 1st

Sand Injection process

 Tomorrow May 1st a Dry-ject aerification is scheduled for all the greens. Dry-ject aerification is a process by which sand is injected into the growing median at high pressure. The process leaves a column of sand below the putting surface which help relieve compaction in the soil and provide a channel for nutrients, water and root growth.
After the injection process, the greens are brushed, rolled and are ready for play.

The putting surface after injection

Refreshing Bunker Sand

Sand is delivered to the bunkers

 At the start of every season we examine our bunkers making sure the depth of the sand is at an acceptable, playable depth. The bunkers that have sand depths that are too shallow are "topped off" with a fresh layer of new sand. The depth of the layer of new sand usually runs between 1 to 2 inches.
The sand is spread by hand in each bunker; hand watered and then compacted by a plate compactor to attain the proper firmness and playable.
This spring in addition to adding new sand some of the bunker faces on 5 green and 10 green were re-sodded with Turf type tall fescue.

Spreading to the proper depth

Compacting to the desired firmness

Fairway Topdressing

The golf and grounds crew has begun our spring application of sand on the fairways.Our fairway topdressing program consists of applying 40 tons of sand per acre of fairway turf throughout the season,( usually in 2 applications).
The sand applied will aid in the reduction of our organic matter levels; help smooth the playing surface; and aid in drainage. The goal is to apply enough sand over a 8 to 10 year period to smooth and modify the growing environment to provide a firmer and faster playing surface.

Spreading the sand in an even pattern

The spreader holds 3 ton per load

Sand ready to be brushed into the canopy