Over the hump on Palmetto...

Last week was quite busy on Palmetto and now that its over it feels like we made it over the hump.  We still have a ways to go, but things are progressing nicely.  As long as mother nature continues to cooperate things will continue to improve and the course gets better by the day.  The front 9 fairways are growing in at a rapid rate, we began mowing them last week.  As we continue to mow and fertilize they will just get better and better.  We planted them 27 days ago and there are some that are almost completly filled in.

Here is a look at #8 fairway 27 days after being planted.

This past week we also had TifGrand sod being laid on the collars as well as TifGrand sprigs put down on the approaches.  We had a few spots washout from the rain but they were easily repaired the following day.  Barring any major rain storms the approaches should begin filling in nicely over the next couple weeks.

On top of all that work, we also had to sprig and topdress the greens.  The TifEagle sprigs were put out by hand on the greens and then cut in two directions.  Cutting them in allows them to make better soil contact and help them stay in place.  Once they were cut in we topdressed them with about a quarter inch of sand. 

Here you can see the sprigs being cut in on the putting green.

Sprigs being laid on 5 green. You can also see the sod that was laid around the collar.

After the sprigs were cut in we put out about a quarter inch of sand down.

Now that all the grass is down, we can turn our focus back to other projects on the course.  We will continue working on coquina beds, encroachment(OB lines), among other things.  We appreciate the patience and look forward to the final product.

Sprigging Front 9 Fairways

Last Thursday and Friday we sprigged the front 9 fairways on Palmetto...and even had enough sprigs left over to do #18 as a bonus fairway.  The process went exactly as planned and we've had great weather so far for establishment.  The 20mph winds today have created some challenges for our irrigation heads, but at least its not terribly hot. The fairways are being watered hourly to keep the new sprigs wet until they begin to develop a root system.  We'll continue to water hourly for about 7 days.

We are also continuing to prepare the back 9 fairways and all the greens for planting in the coming weeks.  Back 9 fairways will be planted on June 11th and 12th, and the greens will be planted the week of June 16th.

Cranking things up on Palmetto!!

Things are really starting to ramp up on the Palmetto Project.  The contractors began stripping the collars last week, as you can see in the pictures below.  They also stripped the entire green and collar on number 3, to prepare it to be recontoured, and will do the same to the 7th green this week. 

Here you can see how the contractors have stripped the grass on the collars.

#3 green being stripped



#3 green being entirely stripped and being prepped to be recontoured




Also, this week we began getting the greens ready for grassing next month.  The process of verticutting and grooming began last week.  We verticut and groomed the greens 3 times and plan to do the same the following two weeks, to get a total of 9 times on the greens.  This helps reduce the thatch layer and provide better soil to sprig contact. 



The verticutter really did a good job of pulling up the thatch layer, and will continue to with each additional mow.




You can see the verticutter, on the left, and the groomer following behind it.

We had already begun scalping the fairways out once the second application of round-up was allowed to set in.  We began the process of verticutting the front 9 fairways, in preparation to lay the sprigs towards the end of the month.  Just like the greens this process helps thin out the thatch layer and provide better soil to sprig contact.  We will verticut the fairways one more time in addition to aerifying them.  Once they are verticut we will begin the process of cleaning them up.  We will drag, blow, and mow them to help provide the best possible conditions for the sprigs

As you can see the verticutter kicks up quite a bit of thatch and soil.





. Things are really starting to get in high gear on the project.  We hope you all are just as excited as we are to see the end result.  Stay tuned to the blog for more updates as the work continues.

Palmetto Summer Project Update

On Wednesday April, 16th we sprayed the fairways, greens, and approaches with a combination of Round-Up and Fusilade.  This was to begin the process of killing off the old turf in preparation for the regrassing that will take place this summer.  We will follow up with a second application of Round-Up and Fusilade on May 5th, weather permitting.  The fairways and greens really started to brown up more with the sunny, warm weather we have had this week.  Here are a few pictures of course for any of you that have not been able to get out and see it yet. 

Palmetto #3  You can really tell how much the round-up has taken effect when comparing it to the rough.  You will also notice that we have recontoured and decreased the size of the approach.  Over the years, it had grown larger than need be so we are taking this opportunity to bring it back to a more appealing look.



Palmetto # 4 Fairway




Here is a view of the 18th green and fairway from the range area. 

                                       Stay tuned for further updates as the project progresses.

Bunkers…A golfers arch nemesis

 In recent years staff has put a considerable effort into improving the playing conditions of the bunkers on all six courses.  The bunkers have consistently rated as the lowest section of our member survey and standards reviews, which is not surprising since nobody likes being in a bunker…but after all, they are a Hazard, right?  Bill McMahon, of the McMahon Group who executes our club surveys, has surveyed well over 1000 clubs and almost unanimously finds that every member rates bunkers poorly, no matter what course your at...it seems golfers just don't like bunkers.  Bunkers are supposed to be penalizing, but we also strive to provide bunkers that are consistently penal from hole to hole on a particular course.  We frequently hear that members would like the bunkers to react consistently from course to course, which presents a much greater challenge.  Bunker sand characteristics change over time based on a variety of different factors, but primarily correlates directly to the age of the sand.  Some of the factors that can affect the condition of the bunkers include:

• Moisture content at the time of play
• Physical characteristics of the sand
• Sub-surface drainage functionality
• Characteristics of the sub-soil
• Contaminants in the sand from heavy-rain “washouts”
• Environment of the bunker (Sun vs Shade, windy vs. protected, etc…)

Those are just some of the things that can affect bunker conditions and controlling these micro-environments can be very challenging and costly.  Click here for an interesting video from the USGA detailing some of the variables to bunker consistency listed above.

The best way to produce bunker consistency between courses, although not feasible, would be to do a mass bunker sand swap on all 6 courses at a singe time so that the bunker sand is at the same stage in it’s lifetime.  As we realize this is not an option, we feel the next best solution is to routinely change out bunker sand on a consistent rotation each year.  The American Society of Golf Course Architects states that bunker sand has a useful lifespan of about 5-6 years and this works out convenient for The Landings since we have 6 courses.  Our current methodology is to replace the sand on one of the courses each summer as we take advantage of excess inventory during the slow golf season on the island.  

We also have new “angular” technology sand now that helps to produce better playing conditions.  Previously the sand we used was a washed river-sand that was locally available in our area.  These sand particles are more rounded in physical shape of the particles and thus have a much higher propensity to produce poor lies and inconsistent conditions.  

(This above photo shows the rounded variety of sand, which tend to fit loosely together and cause poor playing conditions)

(The above photo showes the same sand "cracked" into more angular pieces of varying size which fit together tighter and thus produce a firmer lie in a bunker.)

New angular technology takes that same sand and literally “cracks” the particles into more angular pieces that produce a firmer playing surface.  We've been working since 2009 to change our courses to this new technology sand and have completed 5 of the 6 courses, with Plantation being targeted for the summer of 2015.  We frequently hear from members that Plantation bunkers are drastically different than some of the other courses, and given the information above, it’s easy to say why…Plantation bunker sand was installed in 2004, 11 years ago, while Marshwood was brand new last year.  Even when plantation is completed in 2015, Deer Creek’s bunkers will be near the end of their life- and will play differently than Plantation.

We are by no means making excuses for poor conditions and there are surely some opportunities to improve bunker play-ability.  Routine maintenance is done regularly on our bunkers to keep them in shape and we are constantly adding sand as needed to keep the depths right, but there are certainly times when conditions are not perfect.  Interestingly, bunkers are the 2^nd most costly piece of the golf course to maintain behind the greens, yet most would not consider them the 2^nd most important component of the golf course.  It is important to Tyson and I to drive member satisfaction up on course conditions and bunkers will surely be a major area for improvement.  

Up Tp Par - Another Arctic Blast

Another Arctic Blast

The Polar Vortex has revisited the southeast this week, bearing unseasonably cold weather conditions. Temperatures are forecasted to be very cold tonight and not to exceed 39 degrees until Saturday morning. It's crucial to take precautions to ensure the low temperatures won't have a negative impact on the turf, particularly the putting surfaces. We expect a short relief from the cold weather by Saturday afternoon before cooler temperatures return next week.

We don't foresee any issues as long as we take the necessary precautions to protect the putting surfaces during the cold temperatures. The most effective way we can protect the turf is to restrict all traffic from the golf course until the weather warms up. Another step we are taking is to make sure the soil has adequate soil moisture, keeping the temperatures higher and grass healthier. Staff will be taking steps today to hand water dry areas and ridges to prevent the turf from drying out during the windy conditions we will experience.

Based upon the current forecast, it is our expectation that the golf courses and the practice facilities will be closed tomorrow. High temperatures are expected to barely get above freezing, with a wind chill ranging from 15-32 degrees. Additionally, we expect the weather to remain cold Saturday morning and will likely have a weather delay on the courses and practice facilities until mid-day.

To coincide with the courses being closed, Franklin Creek Café, Oakridge Steak & Pub and Deer Creek - A Coastal Grill will be closed for lunch on Friday. The Marshwood and Plantation Clubhouses will be open with normal hours of operation.

As always, please check the Rain Line (598-3450) for the most current update on the status of our courses and practice facilities.

Soil Nutrient Testing

This week we completed our annual soil sampling review on all 6 golf courses.  This information helps us to form our agronomic plan for the golf course for the entire year, particularly the fertility inputs needed to maintain a healthy turf.

 Overall our soils are in good condition, however we identified some areas for improvement as we continue to focus on progressing from good turf to great turf.  By testing the soil we enable ourselves to be good stewards of the property by developing a program to only add back the nutrients that are needed, without providing excess of those elements that are already present.  This is both environmentally friendly and financially efficient.

Ever get that sinking feeling?

I am sure some of you have noticed the unsightly, uneven ground next to the bulkhead on 12 Palmetto.  With all the rain we have recieved this past year, this area has grown more problematic.  Over time the runoff has caused excessive erosion and created open voids under the turf.  Some of these voids have reached the surface and created open holes next to the bulkhead.  As these areas became evident we would fill them in and level the surface as best we could.  This resulted in a bumpy, uneven, and unsafe area adjacent to the bulkhead.  The area became an eyesore and was very unsafe for golfers as well as workers.  This week we began work to repair the area.  We began by stripping the turf along the bulkhead to expose the dirt.  With the area exposed, we used soil probes to find the cavities below the surface.  Once the cavities were identified, the crew then collapsed them to create a solid base.  Some of these areas were rather large and 2 to 3 feet below the turf.  After all the cavities were collapsed, we then back filled the area with soil and used tamps to pack it down.  With the area filled in and leveled off we regrassed the area with sod.  The area will remain marked "Ground Under Repair" until the turf has time to establish itself; with the weather we have had this could take a while.  The finished product is definitely a huge improvment. 

Here you can see one of the voids being exposed, the shovel is resting on the bottom.  The first foot or two of soil was solid, but once we were past it there was just an open cavity. 

This is a good example of how deep the voids are once you get beyond the top layer.

This is how the bulkhead looked once we collapsed all the open cavities.  As you can see they were quite extensive.

We used our Tycrop materical handler to add fill dirt along the bulkhead.

Here a worker used a hand tamp along the edge of the bulkhead to pack the soil.

The mechanical tamp was used to ensure the area was packed down to recieve the sod.

There was quite an improvement in looks, playability, and most importantly safety once the project was completed.