A Deer Is Taking Up Residence In Our Wooded Lot

In recent weeks, a number of my staff have reported seeing a deer on the golf course on more than one occasion.  Yesterday, Jessie Zeiter, a member of our grounds crew, managed to capture a photo of the beautiful doe.  The number of sightings in recent weeks, gives me a strong reason to believe she is now calling our wooded lot "home". 

In the 13 years I have been here at CCD, I have never seen a deer on the property.  It's exciting to see and further reason to protect our wooded lot...it should be treated as a treasured piece of the CCD property.  We look forward to seeing this gift of Mother Nature from time to time and hope all of you are so fortunate as well. 

If you are a regular dog walker, please be aware of this situation as your beloved pet many chase after the deer if they come in contact with one another in the woods.  I would strongly suggest putting your pet on a leash to avoid any potential problems.  I have no intention of doing anything to remove this deer from the property.  I just hope she is kind enough to stay off the greens!!!

Yellow Spots on Collars???

By now most of you have probably seen the yellow "patches" in the collars around our putting greens.  Many of you may think this is a disease or unintended.  In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. 

Pictured above is the Putting Green collar illustrating the "yellow patches".  Poa annua has been injured but the surrounding bentgrass remains unaffected.  Why so?

The yellowing turf is the result of a very effective application of a selective herbicide known commercially as Velocity.  Velocity is a very good at injuring and/or killing Poa annua turfgrass.  The yellow spots are the result of a spot spray using a standard 2 gallon pump up sprayer available at any local hardware store.  This application method allowed us to deliver an aggressive rate of product specifically to the Poa annua without any risk of injuring the surrounding bentgrass.  The results of the application have been impressive to say the least.  While visually the turf has been compromised, the playability thus far has not.

The timing of this application was intentional.  As we head into the warmer portions of spring and summer, the bentgrass plants will thrive in the summer heat and humidity while the Poa annua will struggle.  The goal of this application was to cripple the Poa annua now and allow for the bentgrass to aggressively fill in these areas as the Poa dies back.  In the event, the damage becomes too severe, we are already prepared with over 2000sqft of sod to plug and or replace any area that becomes a nuisance. 

 

#9 collar:  The bent is thriving and the Poa annua...Not so much!!!

 

 

This and further applications will go a long way in preventing the encroachment of Poa annua into our wonderful new greens!!!

NOTICE: Sprinklers Running This Afternoon!!!

If you are playing golf today, you may see a lot of sprinklers running during the afternoon.  We are currently experiencing some operational issues with our pump station and have a technician who will be on site by noon today.  We must try to simulate a night's irrigating schedule in order for him to understand what is going wrong and how to isolate the problem.

I apologize in advance for this inconvenience, but you have to grab the technician when you can get them, especially in the spring when everyone is just starting their irrigation systems for the first time and realizing, like us, they have issues that must be addressed.

We will do our best not to interfere with your round as best we can!!!

Authored By:  Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent

Rough Herbicide Applications to Begin Tomorrow

I just wanted to let everyone know that we will be spraying all of the roughs for weeds beginning tomorrow morning.  We expect this process to last for 3-4 days; however, we will not spray on Thursday due to ladies day or over the weekend.  With any luck, we can wrap up the application by next Tuesday.  The plan is to start the applications in the #9 and #10 area of the course and work our way around the property and finish up at the short course and range area as quickly as possible.

If you are a concerned dog walker, we will be spraying the field on the left side of #9 fairway tomorrow and we will leave the polo field unsprayed for your use.  On Monday of next week, we will spray the polo field area so please make alternate plans to walk the pooches if you are concerned about this application.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.


Authored by: Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent

Graden - Aggressive Fairway Verticutting to Begin Tuesday

Below is a link to a YouTube video that demonstrates a process known as aggressive verti-cutting.  Last fall we purchased the Graden Swingwing unit represented in the video for use on our fairways and tees.  The process of "gradening" a fairway removes a significant amount of organic matter (thatch) from the turf in a process that is faster and less disruptive than traditional core aerification.   When the verti-cutting is complete, small lines approximately 2" apart will remain in the fairways for the next 7-10 days while they recover.  These lines will have little to no effect on the playability of the course.

The weather will be absolutely perfect the remainder of the week to get this process completed.  Please excuse or dust as we work this agronomic practice for the overall health and benefit of your golfing experience. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6-HoNyvaN0


Authored by:  Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent

New Yardage Tags On Every Sprinkler

 

 Last fall, we contracted with a company to come out and laser measure all of our sprinklers within 300 yards of any green complex.  We are happy to report as of Friday, all of these new tags have been installed out on the course.  A great big "Thank You" to our MSU Intern, Bryan Kiel, for making it happen so quickly.  Brian volunteered to work long hours in order to finish the installation prior to the Easton Cup last Saturday and Sunday.

 

Above: is a dated looking irrigation tag that would have been installed with the original irrigation system installation in 1994-95.

 

Below:  is a crisp, clean looking new tag after installation.

 

 

 

 

Below:  is a side by side comparison of the old and new.  Quite the contrast!!

 

 



 

 

Authored by:  Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent

No Carts Today...4-25-13

We are sorry to report that no carts will be available today.  Mother Nature continues to keep the golf course saturated this spring but better news is on the horizon.  The 10 day forecast calls for an extended period of warmer weather (mid 60's to near 70) throughout most of the weekend and late into next week.  Finally, some good golfing weather is just around the corner!!!

No Carts....Again - 4-16-13

Mother Nature continues to be relentless with the rain.  The course was still soaked yesterday after the 3" inches of last week and now it's raining "cats and dogs" this morning.  We will be unable to run carts at all today and the rest of the week is not looking much brighter.  Thanks for your continued understanding and patience. 

Authored by: Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent

No Carts Sunday April 14th, 2013

There will be no golf carts available again on Sunday April 14th due to the extremely wet conditions that persist on the golf course. We need some sun and wind to dry out the course after the 3.1" of rain that was received between Wednesday and Friday.  Sorry for the inconvenience, but we must protect the course this early in the season. We will get the carts rolling as soon as we can. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation!!!

Course Closed 4-12-13

Attention Members:
COURSE CLOSED TODAY – Friday, April 12th, 2013

The course has received 3.1” of rain in the last 48 hours and therefore a decision has been made to close for today.  This closure includes all golf related areas (Championship Course, Short Course, Range, Chipping and Practice Greens).  Greens crews are out working aggressively to remove the water as quickly as possible in order for the course to re-open tomorrow.

Dainforth B. French, Jr.
Golf and Greens Chairperson

Bunker Inspections

 

Each spring, the maintenance crew spends the better part of one entire week preparing the bunkers for play.  It takes a small army of about 15 crew members, split into two teams, to accomplish this task.  With 73 bunkers (including the 2 at the chipping green) covering approximately 110,000sqft of hazard, it is no small task to get this work done.  The crew have been instructed to ensure there is no more, or less, than 2" of sand on the "face" of each bunker and exactly 4" of sand in the bottom of each bunker.  We are constantly monitoring these conditions throughout the season and are always making adjustments as issues are discovered or reported.  

 

 

 

In the above picture, you can see crew member Martin Perez, who is leading team #1, inspecting the depth of the sand on the left side fairway bunker of hole #14.  The measuring device is nothing more than an old golf shaft that as been marked at the 2" and 4" depths mentioned above.  Behind Mr. Perez, the remainder of his team diligently works to smooth out the bottom of the bunker surface.

 

Below is team #2 working in the large bunker left of #9 green/approach.  This time crew member Bulmaro Cruz is leading the way and doing the inspections while Salvador Gonzalez is placing new sand where the depth was not correct.  In the areas such as this, where it has been determined that sand must be added, the sand will be raked out and re-inspected by Mr. Cruz to ensure the correct depth has been achieved. 

As of this morning, the combined efforts of both bunker teams have left us with just a handful of bunkers in the 4, 5, 13, 16 area of the golf course to complete.  This work will be completed today and all of the bunkers will be in service for the season. 

Authored by:  Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent

Course Opening FRIDAY!!!

Although today it feels more like winter than spring, we have made the call to open the golf course for the season this Friday (4-5-13).  Additionally, we will open all practice facilities (range, chipper, and putting green) on Thursday in order to allow a little warm up before your first round of the season.  For those of you looking to use carts...Good News!  Carts will be available on opening day!!!

A couple of things you should know about this years opening:

• Due to the cold temps and frozen conditions in the bunkers, many of them will not be groomed prior to opening.  The crew is out working today, and will be all week, on the ones we can but many of them are simply unworkable at this time. 
• While the greens will be mowed prior to opening, many of the other surfaces (tees, fairways and collars) may not be mowed prior to opening unless they begin to grow.  We will mow each of these respective areas as soon as they are ready.
• Deeptine aeration of the fairways is on-going and will continue daily into the week of April 14th.  It's a slow process but extremely important to relieve soil compaction in the fairways.  After last years unusually long, dry and warm season, the fairways are more in need then ever of this process. 
• Course Aerification - The greens and tees are scheduled to be aerified April 15th and 16th.  With cooperation from Mother Nature, in about 10 days time the holes should completely heal.
• Fairway Graden - This spring we intend to conduct an aggressive verti-cutting procedure known as "gradening".  This process is less intrusive than conventional hollow-tine aerification but still extremely effective in removing excessive organic matter (thatch).  We expect the process to take one week to complete all the fairways.  This work will begin April 17th and will continue daily until complete and as weather allows.

Look forward to seeing everyone back out on the course.  Here's to a great 2013 season ahead!

Authored by:  Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent

Course Update

Well Mother Nature continues to not cooperate this spring like she did last.  Last week we were able to be outside and start cleaning up the property but this week we have been completely idled due to the snow.  We managed to clean up the entire clubhouse area, driving range, and short course before the snow came so we do have a good head start as we await some better weather. 

The extended forecast is still not very favorable over the next 7-10 days.  With highs barely reaching forty degrees and lows at or below freezing well into next week, it does not look very likely that there will be any golf this March.  In these temperatures, the frost in the ground will not come out and until that happens, we simply can't open the golf course.  My hope is that our crew can resume the clean up efforts the early part of next week and perhaps finish that component by the end of next week.  With any luck, by then the temps will have elevated and we will begin to see the frost come out of the ground and the turf begin to grow. Ideally, we would get a week of good growth before we open so the course can defend itself from divots and ball marks.

We will continue to update you as conditions change.  In the meantime, keep hitting balls under the domes in anticipation of a great 2013 golf season!!!

Authored by: Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent

Extended Forecast Trending Up...But Slowly!!!

 

 

The extended forecast is starting to move in the right direction, but very slowly.  Below is graph from Accuweather.com prediciting the weather for the remainder of the month.  You will see the forecast highs and lows will be at or below average for the duration of March.  Certainly far different than last year when we were mowing by this time.  

 

 

Although the forecast may not be as aggressive as last year, we are gearing up to go to work full tilt next week.  We will be welcoming back a limited staff on Monday!!!  Once the paperwork is done, the clean-up of the golf course and grounds will begin in earnest.  After a long winter...Everyone is excited to get back outside and doing what we love!!! 

Looking forward to opening as soon as we can!!!

Authored By:  Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent