Greening up, South aeration Monday

 

Here is our quick test plot on the South putting green for the start of greens aeration on this coming Monday. As we described in the email that went out this morning, these 3/8" cores will be filled with dry sand and then a similar size solid tine will pass over the green a second time and we will brush all the sand in. The green remained nice and firm after this first pass so we are encouraged for a smooth process next week.

At the same time next week, Monday through Wednesday, this bridge between 2 and 17 will be closed for re-surfacing and repair. The construction company will actually get started on some smaller prep work on Friday this week in order to beat any sort of rain delays next week and have the bridge back open for Thursday the 19th. Neighbors will need to drive through the North course to get up to the Clubhouse Monday through Wednesday.


Not long after the blog was posted last week did the bermuda greens decide to start growing. Friday and through the weekend the bermuda started burning through some stored up carbohydrates from winter as the temps stayed warm. We were able to get a light topdressing on the North on Monday afternoon and we dropped the mowing heights slightly to try and maintain some putting quality. Overall the greens look excellent and they should do ok through next weeks cold spell. We will continue to drop heights as temperatures moderate and the roller will be out on a daily basis.


The fairways are starting to green up and both courses received their first mowing this week. Areas with more shade and cart traffic will continue to lag behind full sun areas and we are still not 100% out of the woods yet with any potential winter kill areas. 


Dormancy and winter pre-emergents always produce interesting patterns depending on the weather. Some of the bermuda fairways on the North have green sprayer tracks where the post emerge herbicide must of slid off the leaf blade after the tire ran over the turf. These winter oddities continue to even themselves out daily.


Our tree work has slowed down significantly as normal daily course set up comes back in to play. We did take time to remove an oak on the right of 1 South however. This tree blocked sunlight from reaching this fairway entry for carts and the turf here was rarely able to dry out giving a bad first impression. The fescue will be replaced with bermuda now and be ready for whatever cart traffic the season brings.


Beating the current deluge of rain the North got a new french drain installed in 9 fairway this week. This fairway is already drying out faster thanks to the tree work but this additional drain in the first landing area should help ensure carts are able to get out here as soon as possible after a rain event.


We are at a half inch and counting right now. This spring rain is bringing in some cold air for a few days before we get back to growing grass again. The days are getting longer and April will be here before you know it.

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