This week we are scheduled to aerate greens. Originally, we had planned to aerate by pulling soil cores and topdressing heavily to fill the holes. This is the process that no one likes, golfers and greens crew included. For different reasons related to both agronomics and weather, (Tuesday through Thursday forecasted rain) we are ramping down plans for the week. Beginning this morning, we are poking 6” long holes into greens using a solid blade like tine. Each green will be done twice. This process brings no soil up to greens’ surfaces and is much less invasive. Greens may be unsmooth for a few days but will heal completely by this weekend. Greens will be topdressed with sand but at a much lower rate compared to the other process.
Will the greens have less health this year because of this change? No and here’s why. A main reason we aerate is to add oxygen to soils, to let soils breathe. Aeration, whether using conventional soil pulling equipment or solid tines both provide soil oxygen. The difference between the two methods involves the amount of sand we add to the greens.
The greens aeration planned for September will be the conventional method with 25 tons of sand applied for those who miss the heavy sand accumulation. We are able to make adjustments like this and still provide excellent greens because we have been on a very diligent program of aeration and sand topdressing since my arrival to Potowomut in 2005. This persistence has given us a bit of greens health insurance!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Where is that darn bunker rake??
We are instituting a change that begins this weekend. The location of bunker rakes has been a topic of discussion among Greens Committees both last year and again this year. We think we have an easy solution to assist our many players.
Bunker rakes are to be placed on the LOW side of bunkers. Because there may be some confusion about exactly where that is, we have painted a white line on low bunker edges that designates a spot for each bunker rake. There should be no more long searches for bunker rakes as both maintenance employees and golfers will place rakes on the white lines. The white lines will hopefully keep golfers off the steepest slopes of bunkers and save the bunkers from even more decline. To play your shot, find the rake, walk into the bunker from that low side, play your shot, then rake your way out of the bunker placing the rake right back on the white line.
Thanks for everyone's help! Please email me if anyone has questions about this new bunker rake policy....and tell your playing partners too!!!
Bunker rakes are to be placed on the LOW side of bunkers. Because there may be some confusion about exactly where that is, we have painted a white line on low bunker edges that designates a spot for each bunker rake. There should be no more long searches for bunker rakes as both maintenance employees and golfers will place rakes on the white lines. The white lines will hopefully keep golfers off the steepest slopes of bunkers and save the bunkers from even more decline. To play your shot, find the rake, walk into the bunker from that low side, play your shot, then rake your way out of the bunker placing the rake right back on the white line.
Thanks for everyone's help! Please email me if anyone has questions about this new bunker rake policy....and tell your playing partners too!!!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Quick Update
Miscellaneous Ramblings
-We are installing sod today and tomorrow to bunker edges that were cut out last spring. Please try to avoid walking on the sod for two weeks as it heals. These areas will be painted as ground under repair. The right greenside bunker on #9 will be open and playable Saturday.
-The bunkers are blue. Have no fear. The bunkers feel fine but herbicide Roundup was used (with a blue dye marking agent) to limit grass growth on bunker edges and to control weed grasses growing inside bunkers.
-Fairways have been slowly filling in all spring from last fall's grey leaf spot damage. Because we need fairways to be aggressive to laterally move and fill in voids in turf, growth regulators will not be used until fairways are 100%.
-The height of cut of the intermediate rough was lowered this week. We will observe its quality and playability characteristics during the next few weeks and may decide to lower the height again in May. Voids will be seeded all season long. The intermediate rough will get extra fertilizations all season long.
-We have begun controlling broadleaf weeds this week. Because of two hot and punishing summers in a row for turf, more advantageous weeds are present this spring, but not for long!!
-Materials will be applied to control root eating nematodes from April into June. Most of these chemicals are plant extracts that when applied discourage these extremely small soil organisms from thriving and reproducing. Our focus will be on green edges and 15 green, where populations exploded two seasons ago.
-Two applications have been made to eliminate Poa annua seedheads on greens. Because of the length of extended 2012 spring weather, a third application will be needed.
-The new fountain was installed about a month ago but doesn't like to stay running. The unit is under warranty and will be serviced on Tuesday.
-All new equipment has been delivered!! Both rollers will be in use this weekend!
-The process of cleaning tree stump debris, filling with soil and seeding is complete. There are a few stumps that need to be re-ground again.
-This is the first year we have had two rough mowers to attack heavy spring rough. Because it has been so dry, this is the first year we have not needed to own two rough mowers because the rough isn't growing.
-We are 8.5" below normal in precipitation for 2012. We have already pumped 2.25 million gallons of irrigation water.
-Dry conditions means there is little chance for any turf disease this spring. Yahoo!!
-Spring greens aeration is scheduled for the week of Monday May 7th. (More on greens aeration in a future blog post!)
Thanks to my wonderful crew this spring! They worked very hard to get the golf course open and playable after aggressive winter tree work. We aren't there yet, but I am amazed at their efforts.
Play well and often!!
Patrick Gertner
Golf Course Superintendent
-We are installing sod today and tomorrow to bunker edges that were cut out last spring. Please try to avoid walking on the sod for two weeks as it heals. These areas will be painted as ground under repair. The right greenside bunker on #9 will be open and playable Saturday.
-The bunkers are blue. Have no fear. The bunkers feel fine but herbicide Roundup was used (with a blue dye marking agent) to limit grass growth on bunker edges and to control weed grasses growing inside bunkers.
-Fairways have been slowly filling in all spring from last fall's grey leaf spot damage. Because we need fairways to be aggressive to laterally move and fill in voids in turf, growth regulators will not be used until fairways are 100%.
-The height of cut of the intermediate rough was lowered this week. We will observe its quality and playability characteristics during the next few weeks and may decide to lower the height again in May. Voids will be seeded all season long. The intermediate rough will get extra fertilizations all season long.
-We have begun controlling broadleaf weeds this week. Because of two hot and punishing summers in a row for turf, more advantageous weeds are present this spring, but not for long!!
-Materials will be applied to control root eating nematodes from April into June. Most of these chemicals are plant extracts that when applied discourage these extremely small soil organisms from thriving and reproducing. Our focus will be on green edges and 15 green, where populations exploded two seasons ago.
-Two applications have been made to eliminate Poa annua seedheads on greens. Because of the length of extended 2012 spring weather, a third application will be needed.
-The new fountain was installed about a month ago but doesn't like to stay running. The unit is under warranty and will be serviced on Tuesday.
-All new equipment has been delivered!! Both rollers will be in use this weekend!
-The process of cleaning tree stump debris, filling with soil and seeding is complete. There are a few stumps that need to be re-ground again.
-This is the first year we have had two rough mowers to attack heavy spring rough. Because it has been so dry, this is the first year we have not needed to own two rough mowers because the rough isn't growing.
-We are 8.5" below normal in precipitation for 2012. We have already pumped 2.25 million gallons of irrigation water.
-Dry conditions means there is little chance for any turf disease this spring. Yahoo!!
-Spring greens aeration is scheduled for the week of Monday May 7th. (More on greens aeration in a future blog post!)
Thanks to my wonderful crew this spring! They worked very hard to get the golf course open and playable after aggressive winter tree work. We aren't there yet, but I am amazed at their efforts.
Play well and often!!
Patrick Gertner
Golf Course Superintendent
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Summer, No It Is Spring Again Update
March and summer roared in like a lion this month. Constellations Leo and Aries may have acted according to their eons old schedules, but not much else has followed normal timeframes during March. Temperatures have been more May-like than March. Rainfall has been low all month and just like that, our golf season is in full swing. No one is complaining, especially your golf course staff.
We have been working hard to clean the golf course from winter winds, and also from winter tree work. As of this writing, I am amazed at how much we have accomplished in three weeks, but like you, also see much work ahead for the next month and beyond.
Turfgrass came out of winter in wonderful shape. Greens are well ahead of schedule. Height of cut will be lowered this week. Edges that were weakened by last year’s summer heat will continue to improve with more sod, hand watering and some new maintenance practices for 2012.
With this onslaught of unexpected early heat, a potential problem looms on the summer horizon. There are millions of viable crabgrass seeds present on all 100 acres of Potowomut property. They are all located within the top inch of soil just waiting for the opportunity to germinate. What is opportunity for a lowly crabgrass seed? For our purposes here, the answer is as simple as soil temperature. Crabgrass seed will germinate when soil temperature reaches 55 degrees for two or three days.
To prevent these ugly, no good seeds from germinating, annually we apply herbicide that coats the top surface of soil. The pre-emergent herbicide prevents seeds from beginning the process that ends with unsightly laptop sized grassy weeds in July and August.
We completed applying herbicide products Barricade and Dimension to 100 acres of roughs and fairways last week. However, upon completion, soil temperatures were closer to 60 degrees, at least five degrees higher than seeds need to germinate. Also, since these herbicides need to be thoroughly watered in, areas not covered by the irrigation system could see some crabgrass later in the season.
In previous years, we haven’t failed to get materials down before seed germination because most springs, soils warm slowly. Last year, this herbicide application was completed forty days later on May 2nd, and in 2010, on May 6th. The good news is that chemical manufacturers have recently introduced post emergent chemicals that eliminate crabgrass plants. The control these chemicals provide is somewhat unreliable, but they will be used if our crabgrass crop is bountiful.
EQUIPMENT
New equipment has been arriving for the last few weeks. Needless to say, we are very excited to be able to provide better service for 2012. Here is a brief description about each piece we purchased in our new lease.
2012 Jacobsen AR-5 Rough Mower
The rough mower will be the primary unit we mow rough with. You will recognize it by its bright orange color. Based on current growth patterns, we believe we will begin mowing rough on or about April 2nd. This mower comes with a two year warranty, and is of a superior design and build quality compared with the old John Deere mower. Speaking of the old mower, we did not trade this unit in. It will be used as a backup second rough mower, especially during April and May when we struggle to keep up with extreme and thick rough.
Articulator deck
The smaller 60” wide rough mower is used to mow tighter areas than the large area mower is capable of mowing. The John Deere tractor unit was in great shape, so we only replaced the cutting deck. The old deck needed at least $ 4,000 in repairs after last season, so buying a new deck was funds well spent.
Redexim Speedseed
This machine is capable of planting fine bentgrass seed to both greens and fairways. Before owning this machine, we had no way to seed these areas ourselves; expensive contractors were hired. We plan on introducing bentgrass seed because bentgrass plants provide higher quality and more reliable turfgrass for these areas as compared to disease and heat problem prone Poa annua (annual bluegrass.)
Turfco Topdresser
The topdresser will be used to apply sand topdressing to greens. Prior to 2012, we borrowed other club’s machines to get our greens topdressed. Owning our own machine will enable us to topdress greens more frequently, providing smoother and faster green speeds.
Second Salsco Greens Roller
As you may recall, generous members donated a greens roller to our equipment fleet last year. Our roller was previously used for tournament preparation at Wisconsin course Whistling Straits during the 2010 PGA Championship won by Germany’s Martin Kaymer, but remembered by Dustin Johnson’s final round when he grounded his club in an area that didn’t look like a sand bunker, but was. The second roller is actually the first roller’s brother, also from Whistling Straits. Both these rollers (with only 40 operating hours when purchased) were available at a 50% discount because the dealer who was selling them no longer sold golf turf equipment. They were both lost in the shuffle of turf equipment business, but we found them!
Utility Carts
The new lease also provides us with four utility carts for staff transportation and hauling needs, replacing four older carts in very rough shape.
Sand Mower
Over the winter, we purchased a used and inexpensive Jacobsen triplex mower that will be used to mow greens after aeration and topdressing events. Mowing when the heavy sand accumulation is present on the greens helps to ruin our everyday mower’s reels and bedknives. This machine will “save” our good mowers from unnecessary wear and tear.
Jacobsen 548 Seeder
This seeder replaces an identical machine we owned that failed while seeding damaged roughs last fall. The new one is thirty years newer than the old one. The new machine, found on EBay at a fifth of its original cost, was used once by a golf course in Pennsylvania and then stored in a barn. This machine looks brand new and will enable us to get out quickly to plant turf seeds in rough areas. With both new seeders, we now have the ability to seed any area of the golf course, a task we could not accomplish last year.
New Pond Aerator
The new pond aerator was installed last week. The Otterbine aerator adds to the beauty of the pond on 18, but it is also important for the health of the pond and the koi fish that keep the ponds clean by oxygenating the water.
MISCELLANEOUS
Within the next week or two, we will complete the bunker edge project we began last fall. Also, fairway bunkers on 11 and 13 will get new sand.
We are significantly upgrading our insecticide programs for 2012. New England’s most damaging golf course insect pest was present at Potowomut last year. These hyperoides weevils, also known as annual bluegrass weevils can destroy greens, tees and fairway turf. Last June they damaged 11 fairway, and during 2010 they damaged the 18th approach. This year, we are addressing these small, yet voracious little buggers with a well designed control strategy.
This year the intermediate rough’s maintenance will be upgraded. In the past, this turf area has been treated as rough, from a maintenance standpoint. Beginning in 2012, however, this “first cut” of rough will get all the fertilizer, insecticide and fertilizer applications fairways receive. We also plan on lowering the height of cut slightly, later in the season.
Last week, we applied the first of two applications of growth regulators to control Poa annua seed heads on greens.
We are thrilled to get an early start on the 2012 golf season and hope to see everyone out enjoying your golf course very soon.
Patrick Gertner, Golf Course Superintendent
We have been working hard to clean the golf course from winter winds, and also from winter tree work. As of this writing, I am amazed at how much we have accomplished in three weeks, but like you, also see much work ahead for the next month and beyond.
Turfgrass came out of winter in wonderful shape. Greens are well ahead of schedule. Height of cut will be lowered this week. Edges that were weakened by last year’s summer heat will continue to improve with more sod, hand watering and some new maintenance practices for 2012.
With this onslaught of unexpected early heat, a potential problem looms on the summer horizon. There are millions of viable crabgrass seeds present on all 100 acres of Potowomut property. They are all located within the top inch of soil just waiting for the opportunity to germinate. What is opportunity for a lowly crabgrass seed? For our purposes here, the answer is as simple as soil temperature. Crabgrass seed will germinate when soil temperature reaches 55 degrees for two or three days.
To prevent these ugly, no good seeds from germinating, annually we apply herbicide that coats the top surface of soil. The pre-emergent herbicide prevents seeds from beginning the process that ends with unsightly laptop sized grassy weeds in July and August.
We completed applying herbicide products Barricade and Dimension to 100 acres of roughs and fairways last week. However, upon completion, soil temperatures were closer to 60 degrees, at least five degrees higher than seeds need to germinate. Also, since these herbicides need to be thoroughly watered in, areas not covered by the irrigation system could see some crabgrass later in the season.
In previous years, we haven’t failed to get materials down before seed germination because most springs, soils warm slowly. Last year, this herbicide application was completed forty days later on May 2nd, and in 2010, on May 6th. The good news is that chemical manufacturers have recently introduced post emergent chemicals that eliminate crabgrass plants. The control these chemicals provide is somewhat unreliable, but they will be used if our crabgrass crop is bountiful.
EQUIPMENT
New equipment has been arriving for the last few weeks. Needless to say, we are very excited to be able to provide better service for 2012. Here is a brief description about each piece we purchased in our new lease.
2012 Jacobsen AR-5 Rough Mower
The rough mower will be the primary unit we mow rough with. You will recognize it by its bright orange color. Based on current growth patterns, we believe we will begin mowing rough on or about April 2nd. This mower comes with a two year warranty, and is of a superior design and build quality compared with the old John Deere mower. Speaking of the old mower, we did not trade this unit in. It will be used as a backup second rough mower, especially during April and May when we struggle to keep up with extreme and thick rough.
Articulator deck
The smaller 60” wide rough mower is used to mow tighter areas than the large area mower is capable of mowing. The John Deere tractor unit was in great shape, so we only replaced the cutting deck. The old deck needed at least $ 4,000 in repairs after last season, so buying a new deck was funds well spent.
Redexim Speedseed
This machine is capable of planting fine bentgrass seed to both greens and fairways. Before owning this machine, we had no way to seed these areas ourselves; expensive contractors were hired. We plan on introducing bentgrass seed because bentgrass plants provide higher quality and more reliable turfgrass for these areas as compared to disease and heat problem prone Poa annua (annual bluegrass.)
Turfco Topdresser
The topdresser will be used to apply sand topdressing to greens. Prior to 2012, we borrowed other club’s machines to get our greens topdressed. Owning our own machine will enable us to topdress greens more frequently, providing smoother and faster green speeds.
Second Salsco Greens Roller
As you may recall, generous members donated a greens roller to our equipment fleet last year. Our roller was previously used for tournament preparation at Wisconsin course Whistling Straits during the 2010 PGA Championship won by Germany’s Martin Kaymer, but remembered by Dustin Johnson’s final round when he grounded his club in an area that didn’t look like a sand bunker, but was. The second roller is actually the first roller’s brother, also from Whistling Straits. Both these rollers (with only 40 operating hours when purchased) were available at a 50% discount because the dealer who was selling them no longer sold golf turf equipment. They were both lost in the shuffle of turf equipment business, but we found them!
Utility Carts
The new lease also provides us with four utility carts for staff transportation and hauling needs, replacing four older carts in very rough shape.
Sand Mower
Over the winter, we purchased a used and inexpensive Jacobsen triplex mower that will be used to mow greens after aeration and topdressing events. Mowing when the heavy sand accumulation is present on the greens helps to ruin our everyday mower’s reels and bedknives. This machine will “save” our good mowers from unnecessary wear and tear.
Jacobsen 548 Seeder
This seeder replaces an identical machine we owned that failed while seeding damaged roughs last fall. The new one is thirty years newer than the old one. The new machine, found on EBay at a fifth of its original cost, was used once by a golf course in Pennsylvania and then stored in a barn. This machine looks brand new and will enable us to get out quickly to plant turf seeds in rough areas. With both new seeders, we now have the ability to seed any area of the golf course, a task we could not accomplish last year.
New Pond Aerator
The new pond aerator was installed last week. The Otterbine aerator adds to the beauty of the pond on 18, but it is also important for the health of the pond and the koi fish that keep the ponds clean by oxygenating the water.
MISCELLANEOUS
Within the next week or two, we will complete the bunker edge project we began last fall. Also, fairway bunkers on 11 and 13 will get new sand.
We are significantly upgrading our insecticide programs for 2012. New England’s most damaging golf course insect pest was present at Potowomut last year. These hyperoides weevils, also known as annual bluegrass weevils can destroy greens, tees and fairway turf. Last June they damaged 11 fairway, and during 2010 they damaged the 18th approach. This year, we are addressing these small, yet voracious little buggers with a well designed control strategy.
This year the intermediate rough’s maintenance will be upgraded. In the past, this turf area has been treated as rough, from a maintenance standpoint. Beginning in 2012, however, this “first cut” of rough will get all the fertilizer, insecticide and fertilizer applications fairways receive. We also plan on lowering the height of cut slightly, later in the season.
Last week, we applied the first of two applications of growth regulators to control Poa annua seed heads on greens.
We are thrilled to get an early start on the 2012 golf season and hope to see everyone out enjoying your golf course very soon.
Patrick Gertner, Golf Course Superintendent
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Greens open tomorrow
Greens will be open tomorrow (Thursday) and through the weekend.**** Carts will NOT be available. Greens will not be mowed because mowing would eliminate our snow mold fungicide protection.
Please take great care when playing February greens to carefully repair ballmarks. Limit any and all physical damage to putting surfaces (now and always) because February greens' turfgrass is not growing. Turf that isn't growing cannot heal damage. Please keep golf clubs off greens and collars.
Another potential problem could happen if play becomes too heavy and wear patterns develop. We will cross that bridge when and if we come to it...
For now, welcome back!! The Clubhouse will only be open while Donna is working in the office. If she isn't here, the building will be locked.
****Please know that opening the greens and keeping them open is totally dependent on April-like weather continuing. This offer will be rescinded when cold returns.
Please take great care when playing February greens to carefully repair ballmarks. Limit any and all physical damage to putting surfaces (now and always) because February greens' turfgrass is not growing. Turf that isn't growing cannot heal damage. Please keep golf clubs off greens and collars.
Another potential problem could happen if play becomes too heavy and wear patterns develop. We will cross that bridge when and if we come to it...
For now, welcome back!! The Clubhouse will only be open while Donna is working in the office. If she isn't here, the building will be locked.
****Please know that opening the greens and keeping them open is totally dependent on April-like weather continuing. This offer will be rescinded when cold returns.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Winter weather words
As of Friday morning, the winter of 2011-2012 has been a non event from a winter weather standpoint. I've never lived in the area of Washington DC, or coastal Virginia or North Carolina, but I am guessing our winter this year is similar to a normal winter there. In other words, we're seeing a nice warm winter for Rhode Island residents and for our golf course's turfgrass!
Most years, we enjoy (and promote) a thick blanket of snow during January and February. Snow cover protects turf from extreme cold and winter winds that can dry out and cause springtime havoc for golf playing surfaces. This year it has not been cold enough for desiccating winds to do any damage. Our long range forecast tells us next week will continue with above average temperatures with colder, more typical winter weather returning during early February. Even if we get a three to five week winter beginning on February 2nd or 3rd, its short duration tells us our spring turf conditions should be better than after most New England winters.
Now there is some good news to start 2012 with!
We hope to see everyone very soon!!!
Most years, we enjoy (and promote) a thick blanket of snow during January and February. Snow cover protects turf from extreme cold and winter winds that can dry out and cause springtime havoc for golf playing surfaces. This year it has not been cold enough for desiccating winds to do any damage. Our long range forecast tells us next week will continue with above average temperatures with colder, more typical winter weather returning during early February. Even if we get a three to five week winter beginning on February 2nd or 3rd, its short duration tells us our spring turf conditions should be better than after most New England winters.
Now there is some good news to start 2012 with!
We hope to see everyone very soon!!!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Merry Christmas (Greens are still open) Update
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
So far, we are happy that true winter weather has stayed away. December weather has allowed cold weather golf for our bravest golfers. As of today (Monday Dec 19th) greens remain open and based on the forecast I suspect they will be open for a few days beyond Christmas. Persistent below freezing cold or significant snowfall closes greens for winter. Once closed, they won't open again until warmer March or April weather returns. We will alert everyone again when greens are closed for the season.
Greens and tees were sprayed to prevent winter diseases last week. A high rate of iron was added to the tank. Iron helps plant functions continue into January despite cold temperatures. Additional photosynthesis means deeper roots for next season and better turf. The final greens application for the year will be completed this week and involves applying the dark green waxy colorant that protects turf in case of a dry, open and snow free winter.
We have begun addressing a few tree issues on the golf course. We have removed dead and unsightly trees and a few affected by Hurricane Irene. Clean up will be an opngoing winter project. We will also look to remove some lower hanging limbs on trees this winter to allow better access for both golfers and mowers.
Sincere thanks to everyone for the wonderful support during 2011. Our golf course is ready for its long winter rest while my staff and I prepare for an even better 2012.
So far, we are happy that true winter weather has stayed away. December weather has allowed cold weather golf for our bravest golfers. As of today (Monday Dec 19th) greens remain open and based on the forecast I suspect they will be open for a few days beyond Christmas. Persistent below freezing cold or significant snowfall closes greens for winter. Once closed, they won't open again until warmer March or April weather returns. We will alert everyone again when greens are closed for the season.
Greens and tees were sprayed to prevent winter diseases last week. A high rate of iron was added to the tank. Iron helps plant functions continue into January despite cold temperatures. Additional photosynthesis means deeper roots for next season and better turf. The final greens application for the year will be completed this week and involves applying the dark green waxy colorant that protects turf in case of a dry, open and snow free winter.
We have begun addressing a few tree issues on the golf course. We have removed dead and unsightly trees and a few affected by Hurricane Irene. Clean up will be an opngoing winter project. We will also look to remove some lower hanging limbs on trees this winter to allow better access for both golfers and mowers.
Sincere thanks to everyone for the wonderful support during 2011. Our golf course is ready for its long winter rest while my staff and I prepare for an even better 2012.
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