Project Update

 

Seed starting to germinate. Look closely at the new chipping green. You can see lime green bentgrass seedlings starting to grow!

The chipping green 1 week later!

The projects are moving along at a decent pace despite being delayed by a week because of rain. The areas around the chipping green and practice tee have been shaped, drainage connected, and irrigation has been installed for the entire project area.  The chipping green, approaches, range tee, and surrounds have all been seeded . The chipping green was seeded with S1 bentgrass, the approaches with declaration bentgrass, and the practice tee was seeded with a combination of both. All surrounds were seeded or sodded with turf type tall fescue. Also, a starter fertilizer, and a fungicide for damping-off disease were put down. Futtera matting has been placed over the rough areas surrounding the practice tee to hold the seed and soil in place until the turf becomes rooted enough to hold on to the hillside. 

Now the process of watering has begun. During the beginning part of the grow-in the shallow rooted seedlings will need light and frequent irrigation. As the turf matures, watering will change to deeper and less frequent. The maturation process of the seeded areas will be ongoing. Optimistically, we will be able to mow the turf a couple of times before winter sets in. A deep root system and a thick canopy will be needed before the green can begin to be prepped for constant golfer traffic. This process will take many months, and is very weather dependent, but hopefully by late spring it should be ready for play.  On the other hand, the sod must be watered heavily, daily so it does not dry out. Once the roots grow in the the existing soil we can cut back on watering.

Next up will be to continue to lay sod around the entire chipping green complex and start shaping, adding drainage, and seeding the target greens and driving range floor. The putting green has been seeded and we will be working on the surrounds in the next couple of weeks.

A wet construction area after a week of rainfall

12" catch basin installed in front of chipping green area

Russ Macke digging drainage lines for the new practice tee. The mound of dirt to the left is the old practice tee topsoil that was reused for the existing tee.

Leibold irrigation company installing the irrigation lines

Assistant Michael Westendorf dimpling in the S1 bentgass on new chipping green

Futtera matting installed to help with erosion on steep banks

Brush cleared out of old wooded area next to #5 tee. Much better view now from 4 green and 5 tee. Maybe a park bench and grill for this beautiful new site?

View of chipping green after sod installed and matting placed around tee

Putting green enlargement cavity

The next project is already on deck. Golf Preservations will be here to fix the slope on #13 green and install drainage on #4 and #8 greens on October 25th. The right side of #13 green will be raised up around 6" and new drain tile installed. This should help with drainage for the low turf area, and allow putting to occur on the front right portion of the green. Hopefully, this improves the playability of this problem green. 

Currently, #4 and #8 are the worst draining greens. There are many benefits to having a better drainage system installed, some of them are as follows:

• increase turf quality
• increase green speeds
• create firmer conditions
• decrease compaction
• increase root depths
• allows greens to be opened up quicker after a rain storm
• decreases disease presence. 

It will take a couple days for them to finish this project. The 2” tile will be placed around 15"-16" below the surface and will drain out to the lowest point of the greens. These holes will be closed for a short time to allow the sod to root back in. Updates will occur as we move closer to the project date.

Meanwhile, fall maintenance practices have been occurring on the rest of the golf course. The aeration of the greens was completed on September 7th and have healed in well. Most of the tees have been aerated. All of them should be completed by next week. On Thursday, October 7th fairway aeration will take place (weather permitting). The fairways and approaches will be aerated and the cores drug and mowed into the turf. This will be an all day project and the course will be closed that day. After this the play rough will be aerated and overseeded.

Topdressing #1 green after greens aeaification. 6 cu/ft /1,000 sqft of sand was used to fill in aeration holes

Aerating #9 green

Aeration plugs on #12 tee

The wear and tear on equipment and labor is becoming evident as the projects, daily operations, and fall maintenance progresses. Particularly, the utility vehicles and loaders/skid steers are being pushed to the limit. A pro gator recently succumbed to the added work load and needed a worn out clutch replaced from hauling sand, gravel, and topsoil back and forth from the job site. After ordering a new $1500 replacement clutch, and spending an 8 hour day fixing it, Jim Hessel, and his assistant, were able to get the vehicle back into operation. These fixes have been happening much more lately with the increased work load, and the hard working mechanics deserve a substantial amount of credit for keeping the equipment fleet up and running on a daily basis.

Clutch replacement on Pro Gator utility vehicle

Also, currently some of the thinned out rough areas are being overseeded with turf type tall fescue. Fall fertilization will occur once aeration is completed. I will continue to update the status of these projects as we push through the fall season. Hopefully, by November most of these fall maintenance practices will be accomplished and the crew can be ready to take on the next work load- leaf removal!

Brad Piecuch

Grounds Superintendent