Happy Independence Day Weekend!

We have begun to edge golf course bunkers, from hole eighteen working backwards. So far, the crew has worked on holes 18-16.

Details of the project:

1. Add a distinct edge on each bunker. In some cases, remove areas where sand and vegetation has created an ugly "no man's land" of both sand and grasses.
2. Remove all weeds from bunker interiors.
3. Add sufficient sand to bunkers that need it.
4. Distribute sand within each bunker, especially out to edges that have been altered during edging process.
5. Fertilize bunker banks.

Sixty tons of bunker sand will be delivered Friday (7/5) morning, with another sixty tons expected later in the month. We will begin installing sand to newly edged bunkers next week. In the meantime, we apologize for the transition areas on the low side of bunkers that is deep and not at all golf friendly. Please have patience as we will get to these areas ASAP!

All greens were topdressed yesterday. Applications of sand helps to keep greens smooth and to maintain their speed. You may see remnants of the sand tomorrow and Friday. Greensmowers will be sharpened and re-adjusted because the sand is abrasive to steel blades and bedknives.

All fairways were fertilized today. Fairways have needed no help staying healthy due to significant rainfall they've seen since June 1. This application will help them recover quickly from the stresses of summer and will help divots recover faster. An added benefit of a summer fertilizer application is better resistance against our most common turfgrass disease caused by fungus Schlerotinia homeocarpa....commonly known as dollar spot. Dollar spot is lessened with higher nitrogen levels, the opposite of most disease organisms which thrive with higher nitrogen levels. If fairways begin to grow excessively because of the added fertilizer, higher rates of growth regulators will be used in coming weeks.

The third insecticide of the season will be put down on fairways for hyperodes weevils next week. (Greens and tees have received multiple applications) Also in July we will apply an insecticide to control grub populations (both European Chafers and Japanese Beetles) to the entire property. Remember, the grubs don't do as much damage during fall as the skunks that dig up turf looking for them.

During fall, we plan on addressing the mound on 16 green that fails annually. This sizable mound was formed by bunker sand being thrown onto the green from thousands and thousands of golf shots from the bunker. Therefore, soils underneath the green in this area are comprised of 100% bunker sand. Needless to say, bunker sands cannot support turfgrass growth because of their total lack of nutrient and water holding abilities. This fall, we will dig out all the old bunker sands under the failed area of the green and the collar, and will replace with high quality loam and re-sod. We guarantee this area will improve for 2014!!

Tidbits.....The ugly hydraulic oil spill damage on 2 fairway will be sodded within the next two weeks. We also had another mower spew hydraulic oil onto 4 fairway today and will most likely replace this area with sod as well....Irrigation contractor will help us locate and repair a few broken wires the week of July 15....Thanks to Sal Soscia and John Bianco for their help painting the chain link fence on 17!!!....First fairway and rough fungicide application for disease gray leaf spot (GLS) are down and hopefully working, we sincerely appreciate the added 2013 budget funds for this purpose!!!

Please enjoy the 4th of July!!


Patrick M. Gertner CGCS