Sunny and 75

Daytime and nighttime temperatures are becoming conducive for turf growth, and with the soil temps also on the rise, it is time for our annual Pre-emergent herbicide application for weed control. The sparged fertilizer will provide a slow and steady Nitrogen source for the turf to feed on throughout the upcoming months. The main weeds this product will provide control for include crabgrass and goosegrass, as well as some other pesky summertime weeds.

 Truck applying Pre-emergent on Hole 9, Magnolia

In the coming weeks, we will begin sodding areas around enter and exit stakes that would have more than likely had a poor transition due to heavy shade/traffic. Some of you may have already noticed this work taking place on Marshwood earlier this month. As always, these areas will be marked G.U.R. so that they do not affect play.

Sod on Hole 10, Marshwood

In an effort to become more efficient, the staff here at Marshwood and Magnolia is going to revive our nursery area located next to the sparrow field. This area is fully irrigated and will provide us immediate access to all cultivars of turf that can be found on our courses.

 The nursery in its current state

Landings Bird Cam

We began some repairs on the Eagle/Owl camera this week.  We look forward to whichever species decides to take up residency in the nest.  I wanted to share a link to the article Mary Landers wrote for Savannah Morning News that made the front page!  It was great having her out to cover our efforts to get the cameras up and running again.  I also would like to thank Josh Galemore for being on hand to take photos for the article.

Landings' owl nest cam returns in Savannah

Irrigation Blowout!!

On Thursday June 18th, I got a report of a "stuck head" on the 7th green of Palmetto.  I did not think much of it, as it tends to happen from time to time, and it is usually a simple fix.  As I rounded the turn going from 8 tees to 7 green, I could not see any sprinkler heads running.  I was relieved and figured the head had gone down on its own.  But once I topped the hill and saw what the issue really was; I wished it had just been a stuck head.  As you can see from the picture below, there was quite the mess on the green.  The PVC elbow cracked and blew the head all the way off.  The pressure from the water blew out  about a 10' X 4' hole, that was about 4 feet deep.  Once the water was cut off Chris, Embree, and I began the clean up process.  Thankfully, they were still around to pitch in on the effort.  After about 4 hours of shoveling in the hot sun we had the green back in shape and ready for play.  We sodded the area this past Tuesday and after a few weeks you won't even be able to tell there was ever an issue.

This was how it looked as I pulled up to the 7th green.  I was amazed at the amount of material on the green.

The end result of out 4 hour clean up.

Preserving Our Wildlife

The other day while riding the Palmetto course a few of my crew members spotted a baby otter.  They told me about it and I went to check it out for myself.  I found the otter at the base of an oak tree beside 9 tee box.  It was acting very scared and shaking.   After sitting there for a few minutes in hopes the mother would pop up I decided to call Robin Gold with Skidaway Animal Rescue(912-598-5370) to see what I should do.

She advised me to get the otter and she would meet me at our maintenance shop to pick it up.  So I grabbed a bucket and towel from my cart.  The otter was scared at first but once I laid the bucket down it crawled right in and curled up in the towel.  After about ten minutes Robin showed up at our shop with a crate and she took the otter off.  She provides a valuable service to the wildlife on the island and I encourage anyone that sees a distressed animal to call her. 

 

Two days after she rescued the otter, Robin sent me a picture and text to update me.  She said the otter was doing well and was being taken to an otter specialist in Conyers.  It will be raised with other baby otters and should be released once it matures.   

 

I want to thank Robin and Skidaway Animal Rescue for helping us out.  This is a valuable asset to have on the island and I encourage others to take advantage of it, if need be.  I have included her contact information below in case anyone sees an animal in need.

 

SKIDAWAY ANIMAL RESCUE

Robin C. Gold

Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator

912-598-5370

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.

This weeks USGA newsletter had a great article on why turf goes brown in the winter...remember it's not dead, it's just brown...Click here for the article.

Also, last week we started the winter "3-hole" plug method to reduce old hole plugs on the greens during the winter months.  The USGA featured this method in their new video series "How it's Done" this week.  Click here for a link to the 9 minute video presentation if you interested in the process.

Welcome To My Office

The Georgia Golf Course Superintendent's Association released a new promotional video Monday; while we were at the annual meeting at the Atlanta Atheltic Club.  Everyone in attendence loved the video and I am excited to share it with you all.  The video is titled "Welcome to My Office" and gives good insight to what our daily life, as superintendents, is all about.  As the title states, we have one of the biggest and best officies out there.  Getting to work on the courses every day requires a passion that each of us as superintendents possess.  I hope this gives you a little look into how every day starts and progresses for each of us. 

The Landings Club and Chris Steigelman are featured in the video.  The crew came out a while back to film some of the segements.  You can see several shots filmed on both Plantation and Palmetto throughout the video.  The link to the video is below, just click on it and it will open the video.  Please take the time to watch it and share with others.  I hope you all enjoy it. 

***CLICK LINK BELOW***
Welcome To My Office

Finally some weed control!

While growing in new fairways, the grass is very susceptible to herbicide injury if the plant is not fully mature.  With this being noted, there is a stretch of 8-10 weeks where we have to stare at some unwanted weeds each day and look forward to the next mowing to keep them in check.  Fortunately, we are now to the point of applying chemicals again.  Over the next few days we will be concentrating on areas throughout the fairways and collars in preparation of re-opening the course.  

Thirsty Tree Roots = Dry Turf

Tree roots can be very detrimental to turf because they literally suck up all the water.  Turf usually suffers the most in areas where the tree roots monopolize the available water.  A prime example of this is the 13th green on Palmetto.  You may have noticed the large dry patch on the back left of the green.  We have known that the large oak tree roots were the main reason that area has stayed overly dry in the past.  The area has been hand watered on an as needed basis, but the heat has taken its toll.  The area became overly dry to the point we experienced turf loss and needed to be resodded.  Prior to resodding we decided to run the root pruner, up by the green, to cut the water hogging tree roots.  I was surprised at the number of roots that were growing up into the collar and green.  Its no wonder the grass was being out competed for the available water in the soil. 

Notice the size and number of roots we cut through while root pruning in the collar. 

Here is a view of the area after we sodded the green and the collar where we root pruned.  This picture puts a perspective on just how far the tree roots extend out from the base of the tree.   

Driving Range Update

We have started stripping the front range tee today, and the contractors will be onsite Thursday morning to apply the new Celebration. We are still on schedule to reopen Friday morning on the mats. A majority of the plant material for the new wall should arrive tomorrow morning and will be planted during the afternoon. While this has been a long process in the making, I anticipate the new tee, plants, and all grassing areas to be complete by early next week.

Sprigging Oakridge Fairways

We started the sprigging process on Oakridge fairways this week, the video below shows the process being completed on #4 for those interested in seeing how it's done. Thus far we have sprigged fairways # 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7. We expect to be finished sprigging all 18 holes by early next week.

 

Greens Contamination / Encroachment Repair

One of the major issues we are dealing with in the turf industry, particularly in the southeastern united states, is the encroachment of undesirable bermudagrasses into the putting surface.  Modern turgrass management strategies used to provide consistenly fast greens speeds are exacerbating the problem and since there are no selective herbicides to remove an "off-type bermuda" from a bermudagrass greens, we are forced to physically remove the contaminant to resolve the issue.  Many in the industry are trying to find the best way to do this and the USGA wrote an interested article on a repair strategy that we are trying on Oakridge this year. 

The USGA has named this method the "collar plug method," because of the use of aerification plugs as the viable plant material used to grow in the area.  The process includes chemically eradicating the existing off-type using 2 separate herbicide applications.  The dead turf is then physically removed.  In the next step, we aerified the green and pushed the aerification plugs into the voids left from the removed turf at the collar.  The area will be leveled with greens mix sand, rolled and grown in to match the existing greens elevation.  the benefits of this method over traditional sod or sprigs is that the area contains more of a similar organic content to the green, making consistent maintenance easier.  Also, it tends to blend in quicker due to the grain of the grass matching the existing grain of the green.  And the biggest benefit, since you are supplying your own plant material (plugs), is that it's cheap.  The downside of this process is that it takes time, we expect these areas to grow-in over the next 6-8 weeks.  Fortunately for us, due to the nature of the Oakridge restoration, we have time to try this method.  The photo shows the process taking place on Oakridge's greens this week. 

Marshwood Update

Everything is going as planned throughout the project, and the new fairway grass is now taking hold. We did have an issue during the major downpour 2 weeks ago that washed 60% of the sprigs to the drains on holes 7 and 9. Our contractor is scheduled to re-sprig these holes next Monday morning. Bunker work is currently on #9 and the tree company will resume work as soon as the weather clears.