tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34713911951784521692024-03-20T11:11:51.484-04:00Tee Off With JoeJoseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.comBlogger385125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-74836239570973319422024-03-18T04:44:00.006-04:002024-03-18T04:44:36.207-04:00Traq Matz continued<p></p>We slowly continue the addition of more Traq Matz around the
property. We have been please so far with our test at <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2023/10/traq-matz.html">17 tee</a> and
have selected a couple more locations.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In our March 4<sup>th</sup> post, we noted that we had
finished a Traq Matz installation <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2024/03/upcoming-work-trees-and-traq-matz.html">at
#2 tee</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and were headed to #8 tee.
The matting is now finished at #8 tee as well. Compared to the work at #17 tee,
#8 tee was much easier. The area we were looking to cover with mats was a
simpler shape and required much less trimming. Overall, the process went very
smoothly- we finished it all in one day- and with the warmer temperatures we
have had since then, the new sod has already started to grow through the
openings in the mat very nicely.<o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JxV46PCUbISBdzTnDMSwGROM6uAq8msDg-7jdrmnf1vBiCYTG9a8eertB9sOzNqmkUWpTMnhIKD-kpDkDtp3q-xdccYy9DtZfn6Z-yDS2wfPhH5Z8fi3Kxf5Re7jqQYHjS0TvDQAdL9uK8XB8A-s46w60WeA1euTadzew4ELAYora_IuHAw_NKZI1s8/s3456/20240304_133210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3055" data-original-width="3456" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JxV46PCUbISBdzTnDMSwGROM6uAq8msDg-7jdrmnf1vBiCYTG9a8eertB9sOzNqmkUWpTMnhIKD-kpDkDtp3q-xdccYy9DtZfn6Z-yDS2wfPhH5Z8fi3Kxf5Re7jqQYHjS0TvDQAdL9uK8XB8A-s46w60WeA1euTadzew4ELAYora_IuHAw_NKZI1s8/s320/20240304_133210.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#8 tee installation</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After we finished our work at 8 we had a few extra rolls of
matting leftover. Back when we initially did the work at 17 tee and found that
it was working as well as we expected, we started a list of additional areas
that could possibly benefit from the Traq Matz, like #2 and #8 tees. Further
down the list, #12 tee was also included and we had enough to tackle that spot
also. Though it is the smallest area that we have repaired to date, it is perennially
one of the worst locations for traffic related decline of the turf, which made
it a perfect candidate. With enough extra matting as well as just enough
leftover sod, later in the same week, we were able to complete work at #12 tee
also.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67myDty5KCRxACZtQWve6Y55nxBz2shixelzlM8smrlQRyJh8-qQ4t2Ofe_DreW8neW4TEZwV17GFzWXbTSYoOJ7sWfbPTMqarfgpuGr_5dOhtGK58aSgj_BzCOJ5E_SYjQhL0FbzvKSzG94ZBlOgCbcS3ZzjLwaEeZKSwUugRPluWZv_wRcnOmW2NUs/s4608/20240304_133220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67myDty5KCRxACZtQWve6Y55nxBz2shixelzlM8smrlQRyJh8-qQ4t2Ofe_DreW8neW4TEZwV17GFzWXbTSYoOJ7sWfbPTMqarfgpuGr_5dOhtGK58aSgj_BzCOJ5E_SYjQhL0FbzvKSzG94ZBlOgCbcS3ZzjLwaEeZKSwUugRPluWZv_wRcnOmW2NUs/s320/20240304_133220.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#8 tee</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As we continue to see positive results, we will continue to
knock other locations off our list. Slowly, we can improve many underperforming
areas across the property.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4fZZFAHkpIrnClPce9M4ystRWu4q7kLNi2X5-DrCELnJbhnXJ7TB8g48xKyvcnj1trb4LnBGEo-fahEkr2ybCj10whJLM-hufmnqcqFRFfqk6GcfPmglwlQY3ZIxTYz_Z5WaVyd75ePw_7cB8EcVaCTAplh-kjfMNBd6lam54RO5taSxyy_cpXbdUP0/s3456/20240304_134918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3402" data-original-width="3456" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4fZZFAHkpIrnClPce9M4ystRWu4q7kLNi2X5-DrCELnJbhnXJ7TB8g48xKyvcnj1trb4LnBGEo-fahEkr2ybCj10whJLM-hufmnqcqFRFfqk6GcfPmglwlQY3ZIxTYz_Z5WaVyd75ePw_7cB8EcVaCTAplh-kjfMNBd6lam54RO5taSxyy_cpXbdUP0/s320/20240304_134918.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#8 tee</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhly2McS8tbzuUQiIclGhKpH5cVomvV8tFRBHSGSLHRGPqTPhISS4xVuqLGjTDya3IPK9F6Nhj4JDeNI0CrQakhJj-ygavTUxtq9vQs_Z66GalzADaATGKzLrVQFPsfa0WTmNFQdMsW_z3SVy8xjVJWJy8eia_M3fknCeicTd1JcHaKzhkRe35mc6JnwpU/s4608/20240304_140937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhly2McS8tbzuUQiIclGhKpH5cVomvV8tFRBHSGSLHRGPqTPhISS4xVuqLGjTDya3IPK9F6Nhj4JDeNI0CrQakhJj-ygavTUxtq9vQs_Z66GalzADaATGKzLrVQFPsfa0WTmNFQdMsW_z3SVy8xjVJWJy8eia_M3fknCeicTd1JcHaKzhkRe35mc6JnwpU/s320/20240304_140937.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final touches at #8 tee</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHplU-aH56vTMxWCD8GEF-G8ej2pkCpyM-R7Czuh4QMdOAmzFJL5gK19s1u0vZFxysGzieBWIuJhNRv0CL-CyKYmfa9KxznH4RAbe_PzfrPrX_I9KhBtJ_ZhpUkgBxHScHjcqPPszotdB3uviyOM76tYQoMBBqhDQF7I3QLLJtijDhRfCDZsZrlOytmV4/s4608/20240308_071538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHplU-aH56vTMxWCD8GEF-G8ej2pkCpyM-R7Czuh4QMdOAmzFJL5gK19s1u0vZFxysGzieBWIuJhNRv0CL-CyKYmfa9KxznH4RAbe_PzfrPrX_I9KhBtJ_ZhpUkgBxHScHjcqPPszotdB3uviyOM76tYQoMBBqhDQF7I3QLLJtijDhRfCDZsZrlOytmV4/s320/20240308_071538.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completion of #12 tee</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please do not climb up the steep face of the bunkers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-38050781178370432682024-03-11T06:52:00.003-04:002024-03-11T06:52:11.097-04:00March work<p>Although it isn’t technically spring yet, we are in “spring
cleaning” mode. Waking the course up from winter is a slow process and is our focus
in the month of March.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the first projects we start in March is to clean out
the flower beds on the property. While the style of our course and grounds is
not to have large, extensive flower beds, we do have several areas of evergreen
and perennial shrubs scattered around. The shrubs receive any necessary pruning,
the bed itself is edged and cleaned and the fresh wood chip mulch is applied. We
typically do this work over the course of the entire month, often using frost
delays and wet days when we can’t accomplish other jobs on the course, to work
on the flower beds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another of our main March tasks is to recharge the
irrigation system. Although the irrigation system is buried deep enough in the
soil to likely survive and hard freezing, we still choose to blow all the water
out of the system at the end of the fall. Because irrigation is so important to
the maintenance of the golf course, it isn’t worth the risk for us to leave it
full of water and potentially have a freezing issue. But, come March, and
warmer temperatures and near-zero chance of freezing into the soil, we pump
water back into the pipes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We slowly crank the pumps back up and let water fill all the
piping across the property. Once the system has reached full pressure and is
stable, we start to methodically check every sprinkler on the property. We use our
radio control to start and stop every sprinkler, making sure it is operating
correctly, and as importantly, making sure it turns off correctly. The whole
process of refiling with water and then testing everything takes 3-4 days.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Often, the change from air to water can cause little issues
with the functionality of the sprinkler and we want to get all of those
potential issues corrected before we get into the season and need to fully
relay on the operability of the system. Of course, issues can and do arise
during the season as well, but running through everything now, when there is no
actual need for water, at least gets us ready for the season with everything in
working order.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most of the turfgrass on the course is still waking up from
the winter and has very little need for attention in March. However, there is many
other things on which we can focus at this time, allowing the Grounds staff to
be ready for the season.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please do not climb up the steep face of the bunkers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-84813845102571364012024-03-04T06:37:00.003-05:002024-03-04T06:37:42.017-05:00Upcoming work- Trees and Traq Matz<p>It is March. I am sure there will be some days that still
remind us of January, but we are noticeably closer to spring than winter. The
Grounds department had a busy off-season: drainage work, tree work, mini golf work,
and lots of inside work to prepare for this upcoming season. But with the weather
getting nicer, we also have lots of upcoming work.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For many years in a row now, we have made it a priority to
plant new trees on the property. This year will be no different. We have
already met with our supplier, and he will be scouting out good specimen trees
for us to plant. Our target locations this year are: right of #5 fairway, right
of #8 fairway, and left of #17 fairway. We will discuss species and more
specific placement in a later post.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our most pressing project concerns the installation of more
Traq Matz. This the same product we tested at <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2023/10/traq-matz.html">#17 tee
walk-on</a> last fall. Through the dry, busy fall golf<br /> season the turf held up
well. So, we are moving forward with two more locations: the walk-on at #2
alternate tee and the walk-on at #8 tee. The unique aspect of this rubber
matting is that it is installed over the top of new sod. At first it looks as if
we are covering the sod too much for the grass to survive. However, the turf
settles in, and starts to grow up through the mats, creating a nice turf cover
and hiding the rubber mat. Both areas struggle mightily with high foot traffic
concentration. We believe these are two ideal locations for the Traq Matz. We
finished up #2 alternate tee at the end of last week and we will begin work at
#8 tee this week. Getting the matting down now should allow ample time for the
sod underneath to establish itself and grow before the heat of summer.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkOuYm6aOTgusRCvF42x3R2h9Broy9aluVMYkesmazvaL-VzdVIaw9VZF2XviZ-UNdpiJl2Lfo5tXYkdXY27bjhVS_fiENOWMFZ6vTeGa8VczoKA-mtjDO6QW0RLOQQHC0yw3a-pplSpGibeVNY8xRJUXJ4HyRaHqO5QsINncIL6xgLZp154_mraT5e0/s4032/20240227_122341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkOuYm6aOTgusRCvF42x3R2h9Broy9aluVMYkesmazvaL-VzdVIaw9VZF2XviZ-UNdpiJl2Lfo5tXYkdXY27bjhVS_fiENOWMFZ6vTeGa8VczoKA-mtjDO6QW0RLOQQHC0yw3a-pplSpGibeVNY8xRJUXJ4HyRaHqO5QsINncIL6xgLZp154_mraT5e0/s320/20240227_122341.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our list of projects and routine maintenance really starts to
stretch at this time of year, and through the whole season. Working now to
knock out a couple of projects like this allows healing time for the new grass,
as well as allowing the Grounds staff to cross another item of the list.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">We are no returning to weekly posts. Thank you</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please do not climb up the steep face of the bunkers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-11918200553199631742024-02-12T07:56:00.003-05:002024-02-12T07:56:23.745-05:00Greens aeration<p>We are aerating greens this week. It may seem early- and it
is very early compared to most courses- but there are a couple of very specific
reasons that this timing works for us.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Though the timing is early, this is nothing new for us. We
have been aerating greens in this window for several years now and it works for
our situation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, comparing aeration
timing between two courses is not a useful metric because of grass differences,
tournament schedules, agronomic programs, and more. So, this schedule is good
for our greens and calendar, but it wouldn’t necessarily work at other courses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes the mid-winter thaw that we target as our aeration
window is also the first nice weather in a few weeks that golfers also aim to
get back out and play. It may seem as though we are disrupting everything just
at the time when some nice winter golf can be played. However, part of our reasoning
behind the early season aeration is so that the greens are healed and ready for
spring play when the weather turns nice consistently and golfers want to be out
regularly. It also allows the course to be ready for our early season tournaments
and outings. By aerating now, we impact the first nice <i>winter</i> weather,
not the first nice <i>spring</i> weather.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our biggest reason for aerating in February has to do with
our type of grass, <i>Poa annua</i>, and its life cycle. Each spring the <i>Poa</i>
plant produces <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2014/05/seedheads.html">seeds</a>. We
work very hard to minimize the number of seeds produced because they can negatively
impact ball roll, as well as deplete the energy of the plant. To stop, or at
least slow, seed head production, we must slow and nearly stop all plant
growth. But, to get our aeration to heal, we need aggressive growth. Recovery
and seed head suppression do not work well together, so we aerate early. This
allows 3-5 weeks of healing for the greens before we start our aggressive seed
head suppression program. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, and our aeration
gets delayed until we are much closer to our first chemical application for
seed heads, but we have been lucky that last several years to aerate in February.
We are in the midst of this year’s thaw and are hitting the window right on.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>We will return to weekly posts starting in March. Thank you</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please do not try and remove a flagstick that is frozen into
the cup. Turf damage may occur.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-61699499504664122922024-01-22T06:16:00.001-05:002024-01-22T06:16:28.765-05:00Drainage work on hole 18<div class="separator"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">Typically, in the off-season, one of our main goals is to
install more drainage on the course, and this year was no different. Although
we have handled most of the immediate drainage concerns, there are always more
areas in need of attention. This year we focused on hole #18.</p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-OXVOaIGA8oPM8Iw0GsfagtrHZWM7MlttG1nnJitBZgpQZO7V72xCyD5nBR62Fs_3odF-Vs1wNBbqGiftLvNNX2WobZTm-bjSvU_qJ_YIcfECbxhb8HaKSZjMdnzG8zFCx-MjsltRhkrk_Bpy6_D2NZ-TzoJE3J3MXrDs7mpBAvf1zxAyC5Y5wGVHcc/s4608/20231220_090234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-OXVOaIGA8oPM8Iw0GsfagtrHZWM7MlttG1nnJitBZgpQZO7V72xCyD5nBR62Fs_3odF-Vs1wNBbqGiftLvNNX2WobZTm-bjSvU_qJ_YIcfECbxhb8HaKSZjMdnzG8zFCx-MjsltRhkrk_Bpy6_D2NZ-TzoJE3J3MXrDs7mpBAvf1zxAyC5Y5wGVHcc/s320/20231220_090234.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Managing surface water is one of, if not the most important
strategy for improving turf health and playability. A myriad of issues arise
from water being left on top of the grass and poor conditions follow quickly.
Similarly, playability declines rapidly in soggy conditions. The winter months
are the perfect time to do this work as we have staff available and no regular
maintenance of the turf to perform.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-DNoCY4M6bSjiwuBO1dVNH_qRjoa16XsfVwo8SsKGGxBRLhDZLkz4qxJAYnoUaJ6mJ49Dyd-mxAP0kfk1hTS7sh-RPhX4HxlYFGWLYbnaPEt1GqdYRbEMFUSi99kgdMAmbC6yDOgbonXGNQXmk57X4SS8gp-CjsGiVoYeCLBnEZ2uMAo3HzurJk14wk/s4608/20231220_092014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-DNoCY4M6bSjiwuBO1dVNH_qRjoa16XsfVwo8SsKGGxBRLhDZLkz4qxJAYnoUaJ6mJ49Dyd-mxAP0kfk1hTS7sh-RPhX4HxlYFGWLYbnaPEt1GqdYRbEMFUSi99kgdMAmbC6yDOgbonXGNQXmk57X4SS8gp-CjsGiVoYeCLBnEZ2uMAo3HzurJk14wk/s320/20231220_092014.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>First, we added a drain along the immediate edge of the cart
path near 18 green. This was a trouble area for some time, and we were finally
able to tackle the issue. Between rain washing down the hill, or irrigation
water trickling onto the cart path, a certain area right along the edge is
where all this excess water accumulated. Slowly, a muddy section of turf
developed. Even though another drain exists just into the fairway from the cart
path, we still wanted to catch most, if not all the water before it made it
onto the turf. So, we installed a linear drain- like what you might see on a
pool deck- right along the edge of the cart oath. Now, water coming down the
hill will have an entry into the drainage system before making it onto the
grass. In heavy flow situations, the drain in the fairway will still provide backup
and catch water also.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgxVWJ3j11y-p2ZRO9e6wJwU-8d7BlPqQXsSbDtCM2qZcCSTln0qd_YCyZ_zmzaavcuT-u5OhiDKEABFN5FLtcQD1YvFe0Kgqk32OrSXZ49bqr_dC8DU4tky1853_SyoZwn8Idi8lpZFAO-9ix75-LdVMpAj1Gzbop4lgLgUm6aIvPHmr85Os6Z_U66c/s4032/20231221_085908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgxVWJ3j11y-p2ZRO9e6wJwU-8d7BlPqQXsSbDtCM2qZcCSTln0qd_YCyZ_zmzaavcuT-u5OhiDKEABFN5FLtcQD1YvFe0Kgqk32OrSXZ49bqr_dC8DU4tky1853_SyoZwn8Idi8lpZFAO-9ix75-LdVMpAj1Gzbop4lgLgUm6aIvPHmr85Os6Z_U66c/s320/20231221_085908.jpg" width="240" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3F4b-mWMpPLPwuiwrfWBgsvIGovaXv5oeULVLKfWp25_jAov8sA7gogH3OOFlbik_jOGbfgrDhe2FZFw6AA0tddvqMwpFFOFktvlKWkSxexzktd-Nc3rbrf-rgoVHtn_hCpwAtlkQyBZ-6Rf50scdZYN3p4hyNf8db209cazYegrHYDYTOxN1NPZ60o/s320/20231222_131549.jpg" width="320" /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">From that spot, we moved back down 18 fairway near the
200-yard mark. Here we mapped out 350 linear feet of new subsurface drainage to
install. During heavy rainstorms, or just after the rain has stopped, we often
drive the course to see where water remains and where it is very slow to drain.
These are areas that we then earmark for new drainage, which is exactly what we
did on #18. This portion of the fairway is also plagued by very poor soil, with
many more rocks than most any other place on the course. Poor drainage (prior
to our new installation) and poor soil are two of the greatest contributing
factors to the poor turf health in this section of the fairway. This year’s
drainage will start to help in this situation.</p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgve8n8eU6lhS987ULzKEqd0azOXgYjbjmy29roNfQvhQJ8FldlaB-XpdKBtu6mNbVXIM_UW5EQDwHIgi3kJCHBu0VbKJc9WVUNvAc9MFOuPrNKBOaW9e9ckwV5ESPsRvUttUcWzI4W4dLgVa4VBIk-rUVXzRPo2W3XNSfNFfYnAjpIXA4tmiQWf1o76w/s4608/20240104_091048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgve8n8eU6lhS987ULzKEqd0azOXgYjbjmy29roNfQvhQJ8FldlaB-XpdKBtu6mNbVXIM_UW5EQDwHIgi3kJCHBu0VbKJc9WVUNvAc9MFOuPrNKBOaW9e9ckwV5ESPsRvUttUcWzI4W4dLgVa4VBIk-rUVXzRPo2W3XNSfNFfYnAjpIXA4tmiQWf1o76w/s320/20240104_091048.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaBxjp1NO07pzbm7hYmHJuUzzXhHW8ujMpJ4UfVgLa9jUmGhbIByyP80PWQZNc4J4MsUhoySa_00ybX8aJpNpobnMR6z54abDWy8y1P-7Xlec2Z4O-PzDK-Fxz8-EWzIqOR0DQ6NmpnqnBGGtUlsh_FgJdr5MDhXY9nSNgqqQgFZ2lSqK2aRgUI423-A/s4608/20240103_084002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaBxjp1NO07pzbm7hYmHJuUzzXhHW8ujMpJ4UfVgLa9jUmGhbIByyP80PWQZNc4J4MsUhoySa_00ybX8aJpNpobnMR6z54abDWy8y1P-7Xlec2Z4O-PzDK-Fxz8-EWzIqOR0DQ6NmpnqnBGGtUlsh_FgJdr5MDhXY9nSNgqqQgFZ2lSqK2aRgUI423-A/s320/20240103_084002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhSphtqstPFbzJHkas2aPaOMdxOrQ2DByqe2MapQq2JU3t2ET8u4BAv_e12pHsxYs5Cm9of_Gcx-t2CWX9yK6Ypc32lJgXwsFIR5gEaJga2xZtKLCIa3CcbVRiTRW3mg32QO0qDd0433dZ7-LwYDYEYZMhYU2-84gz_km5brqD8qPv6Er0M-ncqOHuUE/s4032/20240103_083956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhSphtqstPFbzJHkas2aPaOMdxOrQ2DByqe2MapQq2JU3t2ET8u4BAv_e12pHsxYs5Cm9of_Gcx-t2CWX9yK6Ypc32lJgXwsFIR5gEaJga2xZtKLCIa3CcbVRiTRW3mg32QO0qDd0433dZ7-LwYDYEYZMhYU2-84gz_km5brqD8qPv6Er0M-ncqOHuUE/s320/20240103_083956.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Although most of our highest priority drains have been
installed, every year we still have more areas to capture water. We only
focused on hole #18, but we were able to finish two separate trouble areas this
winter.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Winter cart path rules are now in effect to protect the
dormant Bermuda grass- we will scatter much less and be more restrictive with
blue flags.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is a link to a recent article regarding bunker
maintenance for golfers. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://golf.com/lifestyle/bunker-care-mistakes-golfers-make/">https://golf.com/lifestyle/bunker-care-mistakes-golfers-make/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course
etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:</p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-60738729891862091582023-12-18T06:27:00.000-05:002023-12-18T06:27:26.843-05:00Final greens application<p>Believe it or not, as winter approaches, we still have one
last chemical application to make on greens. Sometime between now and the end
of the year is the window for which we are aiming to spray.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have several components to this last application, covering
several different needs for the greens. We often combine chemistries that
accomplish different goals. Even during the season, when we spray, the tank
will contain multiple products that help protect the plants, aid water movement
through the soil, or any number of other things.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this last spray we have three main goals:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Protect the turf against possible disease over
the winter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Discourage the <i>Poa annua</i> on the greens
from producing seedheads.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Aid in water movement during the winter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Snow mold is a disease that affects turf over the winter.
There are two types, one which requires snow over and one that does not. In our
case, we are protecting against both, but particularly the type that occurs
under snow. Although lately, extended snow cover has been uncommon, we still
play it on the safe side because real damage can occur if left unprotected.
This product will last until at least very late winter and possibly early
spring.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the last five years, new research has shown that applying
a growth regulator to <i>Poa annua, </i>or annual bluegrass, can greatly reduce
the amount of seedhead pressure that occurs in the spring. Since our greens are
predominantly annual bluegrass, this is a crucial component for us. Timing can vary,
sometime between Thanksgiving and the end of the year, is the best for this
last plant growth regulator application. Again, applying the product now will
last until March.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, we will include a wetting agent in the upcoming
spray. Again, following new research, putting a wetting agent in applications
more frequently is better. We add the wetting agent into every single spray
that we apply to greens, and this final one for the year is no different.
During the winter, the wetting agent is important especially when the greens
get waterlogged from heavy rain or snow melt, and the sun is not strong enough
to evaporate the moisture. The wetting agent helps the water move down through
the soil profile. In conjunction with the <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2023/11/deep-tine-aeration-preview.html">deep
tine aeration</a> completed last month, the wetting agent helps keep the
surface firmer and less spongy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although normal turf growth has slowed to a crawl, we still need
this last application on the greens. This application is critical to making
sure the greens work through winter and start next spring on the right foot.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please do not scrape snow or ice off the green to clear your
line for putting. Turf damage may occur.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-63675953680619405972023-11-13T05:30:00.000-05:002023-11-13T05:30:00.837-05:00Deep tine aeration preview<p>It is now the middle of fall- the leaves are coming down in
droves- and the weather has been more consistently cold. Despite the
temperatures, we are still preparing the greens for winter. Starting today we
will be deep tine aerating the greens as part of this preparation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The growth of the turf has slowed tremendously. However, the
soil is still warm enough and daytime highs are warm enough that the plants are
still working on getting ready for the cold. Storing carbohydrates and growing
and strengthening roots is all occurring currently. We are still consistently
feeding the turf so that there is sufficient energy available to complete the
steps necessary ahead of winter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another important step we take is to deep tine aerate the
greens. Just as the name implies, this aeration goes deep down into the greens-
about 7-8”- and provides several key benefits. First, because this aeration is
so much deeper than our typical 2” depth, we are breaking into new soil and
working through any layering that may have occurred. Second, by opening these
channels so much deeper, we provide avenues for new roots to reach further down
into the soil to find water, oxygen, and nutrients. Deeper roots equal
healthier plants all season long and forcing the roots to reach deeper into the
soil is a huge benefit. Lastly, any water that is not used by the plant now has
an outlet to exit the soil over the winter through these new deep holes.
Instead of being stuck in the upper layers of soil all winter, the water can
percolate down through the profile, especially through these new holes,
reducing soft mushy surfaces and potential damage that may occur as a result.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even though this season is nearly over, performing one last
cultural practice to the greens is beneficial. Setting the turf and soil up for
success heading into winter ensures that when spring rolls back around, the
system is ready for the next season. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please stay off all grass surfaces during a frost delay.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-40595562943278676202023-10-30T05:51:00.004-04:002023-10-30T05:51:38.033-04:00More on frost<p>We had our first frost last week, but it was light enough to
not cause much of an inconvenience. Coming up this week it looks like at least
two days with temperatures cold enough to warrant a delay.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Frost has been discussed on the blog many times before. For
some more background information, we direct you to those past posts: <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2014/05/frost-delays.html">here</a>
and <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2015/10/fall-frost.html">here</a>.
But for some quick topics that come up repeatedly, here are a few reminders for
the frost season:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There will be more than one occasion where golfers may leave
their house and have no frost, but we can easily have frost here at the course.
Our temperatures can get colder than in town. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During the delay, all areas of the course are closed. While
frost can form in some areas but not others, trying to direct people frost/no
frost areas would be too difficult. A frost delay equals a full closure. This
means no mingling in the grass around the putting green or first tee.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Walking on frost can cause damage or death to the plant, but
carts are especially destructive because they are heavier. We must consider the
cart traffic that will occur on the course when managing a delay. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lastly, after most frost delays, some form of course
preparation must take place. Anything from a full setup to a minimum of
changing cups and blowing leaves, takes time. Here is the tricky part: we can’t
go do that setup until after the frost- the Grounds staff is delayed too. So,
we must balance allowing the golfers out onto the course as soon as possible,
while also leaving time for some work. Frost may be clear near the clubhouse as
golfers wait, wondering why they aren’t allowed out yet, but it may be because
we are getting our work done.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Without a doubt, the Grounds staff dislike a frost delay
more than golfers. Nevertheless, at this time of year we all have no choice but
to manage our way through the cold mornings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Starting in November, and continuing through February, we
will shift to 1 post per month. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please don’t stand in one place for an extended period of
time to practice putting. Your footprints can be worn into the green.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-9897849216754269572023-10-23T05:41:00.004-04:002023-10-23T05:41:25.321-04:00More on leaves<p>We are moving deeper into fall and the leaves have started
to ramp up. Sometimes it can seem as though we never make progress, but we do have
a process for this yearly task.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blowing the course everyday is time consuming and
monotonous. And losing golf balls in piles of leaves is frustrating.
Nevertheless, for several weeks a year, leaves are at the forefront for golfers
and the Grounds staff, and many other tasks take a back seat. Keeping the
surfaces clean keeps the course playable, but we also must focus on removal of
the leaves, otherwise we are just pushing them around from one side to the
other. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Generally, early in the week we try to focus heavily on leaf
removal. Racing around the course and simply cleaning the greens, tees, and fairways
takes at least 4 hours. Doing this daily wouldn’t allow enough time to clean up
and we would start to fall behind. So, we sacrifice the days early in the week
to blow piles and pick them up. The trade off is that during these days, the
playing surfaces may not be entirely cleaned.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But later in the week, usually Thursday through Sunday, we
shift our attention to making sure that the course is clean and playable first.
Most of our rounds occur on these days, and especially during the weekend, we
are aiming to have the best playing experience possible. Our strategy is to
work around the course clearing each surface out into the rough at least far
enough that a mildly errant shot can still be found. Then, once the course is
clean, we do then shift back to making piles for removal.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It takes weeks and weeks to battle the leaves and we never
get every single one. While our process isn’t perfect- leaves tend to interfere
with golfers and our staff one way or another- we do at least have a plan of
attack.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please don’t stand in one place for an extended period of
time to practice putting. Your footprints can be worn into the green.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-80115556255724046732023-10-16T05:10:00.003-04:002023-10-16T05:10:22.889-04:00Collar sod replacement<p>Two and half years ago we replaced our <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2021/02/new-collar-sod.html">old collar
turf</a> with a new variety. This past
week we worked back through several holes to take out spots in the collar that
had been contaminated with other species of grass.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIgL1txvMrh817JSgkiBzL0NtUWuGjkrQVVLbfihT89iiad4vXvtRBf0rSYPZy6dKC6qfwFxBM__OKkIRAJGSvEH8q1IDAtnKjGeecv3sAtH4-Ls4bFxWKn3dZ0s_4hosjHOeH2Ltpp3PQmob1_A0_Rb4qNfh1ECtMKmtY6yROEdxu_kcZVkPfbzzF5Y/s4032/20231010_133137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIgL1txvMrh817JSgkiBzL0NtUWuGjkrQVVLbfihT89iiad4vXvtRBf0rSYPZy6dKC6qfwFxBM__OKkIRAJGSvEH8q1IDAtnKjGeecv3sAtH4-Ls4bFxWKn3dZ0s_4hosjHOeH2Ltpp3PQmob1_A0_Rb4qNfh1ECtMKmtY6yROEdxu_kcZVkPfbzzF5Y/s320/20231010_133137.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a Bermuda grass spot marked for removal.<br />Looking closely you can see the different color of the<br />Bermuda grass compared to the bentgrass<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The work we did in 2021 was to replace our old collars that
consisted of very weak turf- mostly <i>Poa annua</i> and ryegrass- with bentgrass.
The previous collars could not handle the heat and stress of the late summer
and would decline or die each season. Despite our best efforts, keeping the
collars in the condition we expected was not feasible with an inferior turf
stand. Bentgrass on the other hand is much more heat and stress tolerant. So,
we initiated the project of a full renovation of the collars to a monostand of
bentgrass.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UwWphK6HHlLhpFjuI0oeJ44m1RagNRc5wrNUG4eDX224O20S1Iaprz0_fy2TMIjC2D8zHb2OVq_RT_gh6jbWVbrgVqxutJQYHalAO0mEoFhun5MPIuKzMCN8GYWI0zqgwlwYmF4QDum2ya9jiah_HGqvJkoyrcmmAA62LvWg9YnSwf0-KH7aw9ameCg/s4032/20231010_081443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UwWphK6HHlLhpFjuI0oeJ44m1RagNRc5wrNUG4eDX224O20S1Iaprz0_fy2TMIjC2D8zHb2OVq_RT_gh6jbWVbrgVqxutJQYHalAO0mEoFhun5MPIuKzMCN8GYWI0zqgwlwYmF4QDum2ya9jiah_HGqvJkoyrcmmAA62LvWg9YnSwf0-KH7aw9ameCg/s320/20231010_081443.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A larger spot marked for removal.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Although bentgrass is a vastly improved turf species for
this application, it is not bullet-proof. Both <i>Poa annua</i> and bermuda
grass will grow their way back into the bentgrass collar. This is something we
knew would happen and can’t really be prevented, especially with the amount of
bermuda grass that we purposely grow on our property. There are a few ways to manage
this contamination of the collars. The small <i>Poa annua</i> spots can be <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2022/05/poa-removal-from-collars.html">hand
picked out</a>, which we did, and will continue to do on a regular basis. For
both the Poa annua and the bermuda grass, there are chemical options, but in
the case of the bermuda grass, the chemicals are only partially effective. We
also are not in favor of more chemicals, the labor required, to obtain less
than ideal results. Another option is to remove spots where the Poa or bermuda
grass is located and replace it with new grass. While all these options are
labor intensive, replacing with new sod is the best answer for our operation.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5e1Er2Ee-mFbXBRKrhxX7E9fqQ_6nEtMVkEN8__R55rd4JFc3MFgE1fiJXIePYggaef8FuwPe7sF7CE5JUKbsuI-A98p3JrECp2FUggLCPARtNynIV_CmkPqNVDMsghN2zQtAepCLxLFs78mDk7jonyioNRpKemWOw2BrYLOrAYUm5AUS_kWx1H5y7g/s4032/20231010_081612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5e1Er2Ee-mFbXBRKrhxX7E9fqQ_6nEtMVkEN8__R55rd4JFc3MFgE1fiJXIePYggaef8FuwPe7sF7CE5JUKbsuI-A98p3JrECp2FUggLCPARtNynIV_CmkPqNVDMsghN2zQtAepCLxLFs78mDk7jonyioNRpKemWOw2BrYLOrAYUm5AUS_kWx1H5y7g/s320/20231010_081612.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>With all of this in mind, last week we started the process
of removing bad spots. Our goal is to complete several holes each fall to stay
on top of the problem. We don’t plan on doing every hole each year because we
also have lots of projects, leaf cleanup, and regular maintenance to complete
at this time of year so we don’t want to be tied up for too long. For this
year, we completed the Putting Green, holes 1-5, and part pf #6. We will pick
up where we left off starting again next fall and continue until we have completed
each hole. Depending on how the process goes, we may have a year gap before we
start again, or we may finish just in time to start back at the beginning.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4UTxCgrGbg3vG09xFBsrH7RJQF-ZfklEqnOteWBQmGRNPaBTBfszqAq3EsrWz17wtn9PVi49txw8Y0T-chu97YW6BxHCsVxZ7qdf3u8GLcS2hTo1kjInmVngUie_hFcRynMuHKNdbrrYHaOsJIG06bOCOBf_OnhfY8YdGpDJZmbGzLw4Cf92cNiX_lQ/s4032/20231011_132422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4UTxCgrGbg3vG09xFBsrH7RJQF-ZfklEqnOteWBQmGRNPaBTBfszqAq3EsrWz17wtn9PVi49txw8Y0T-chu97YW6BxHCsVxZ7qdf3u8GLcS2hTo1kjInmVngUie_hFcRynMuHKNdbrrYHaOsJIG06bOCOBf_OnhfY8YdGpDJZmbGzLw4Cf92cNiX_lQ/s320/20231011_132422.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here the old turf has been removed and new sod is <br />being laid down. Notice that we only removed contaminated turf,<br />not the entire collar.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_uE5IOFGgWhpE8EBw_u8WBswK6Y15FIiRdI3mncuKDrNQOsPJHoOqDlYSGcYfD9xfPHTNjAIzGQEwTqVCxyKF38OaEJjkBLQo3r5dlyTOYtmn4If1CEVadHvA2TChkMs9njzJgtbRvLyQvJPG4Zb-PDPTZ1cjryVn9k2sYoLzjTBBS-Y0AlNW9bOuqc/s4032/20231010_130051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_uE5IOFGgWhpE8EBw_u8WBswK6Y15FIiRdI3mncuKDrNQOsPJHoOqDlYSGcYfD9xfPHTNjAIzGQEwTqVCxyKF38OaEJjkBLQo3r5dlyTOYtmn4If1CEVadHvA2TChkMs9njzJgtbRvLyQvJPG4Zb-PDPTZ1cjryVn9k2sYoLzjTBBS-Y0AlNW9bOuqc/s320/20231010_130051.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A section of completed new sod</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While it may seem odd that we are replacing grass that is only
2½ years old, being proactive against contamination will help to keep the collars
in the best shape possible.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Starting in November, we will shift to 1 post per month for the winter. Thank you</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please don’t stand in one place for an extended period of
time to practice putting. Your footprints can be worn into the green.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-34822554151388601682023-10-09T04:35:00.004-04:002023-10-09T04:35:31.699-04:00Leaves and frost<p>October is beautiful around the area, and our property is no
exception. Leaves are changing color, the turf is rebounding from a long summer
season, and the weather is near perfect. So, as we head into the 2<sup>nd</sup>
week of October, it is time for our annual discussion regarding leaves and
frost.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have not had any frost yet, but the leaves have started
to come down. So, our blowers and vacuum will be out in full force for the next
several weeks. Here are a few things to keep in mind during this time of year:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> If
it is frosty or wet, we may have to wait until later in the day or for
another day entirely before we can resume cleanup. Similarly, if it is
windy, trying to corral the leaves is nearly impossible. We may choose to
skip trying to clean the playing surfaces until a calmer day. So, playing
through leaves may happen.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Blowers
will be running for several hours or more each day. They cannot stop for
every golfer that is within earshot or we would never finish. The same is
true for the vacuum. Please be patient.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">We
make piles for the vacuum in the most efficient places. For example,
blowing a large amount of leaves the entire length of a hole does not make
sense. We make piles where most of the leaves are already located.
Sometimes this will be near the line of play and balls can easily be lost
in the piles. Unfortunately, this is a fact of fall golf. We will make
every attempt to keep our piles away from play as much as possible.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Lastly,
while leaf cleanup overwhelmingly dominates our course prep attention, we
do have other tasks we are trying to accomplish. We must balance our
efforts. So there may be days where there are clearly leaves to be blown,
but the Grounds staff is working on other things also.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for the nuisance that is frost, we are not too far away
from our first occurrence of the season. We can promise that we hate frost more
than golfers. Nevertheless, we can’t control it and must deal with it also.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We make every effort possible to provide the best conditions
each day. This does not mean conditions are the same every day- the course will
not play the same on a rainy spring day as it does on a dry, early summer day-
but our goal is to make each day the best it can be. All our maintenance is
aimed at improving turf health and providing good conditions. Frost makes this
particularly difficult.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Typically, a frosty morning happens before a day of nice
weather and a busy tee sheet. We have lots of people wanting to enjoy the
course and the Grounds department is not able to adequately prepare the course
due to the delay. We achieve everything we can, but sometimes it is not
feasible to fit an entire morning of maintenance in between when the frost
lifts and when golfers are ready to play. This is hard to manage.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We also must be weary of causing damage to the turfgrass. We
must wait also. While our time is not wasted while we wait (there are ALWAYS
things to do!), we still are not able to start our regular morning routine. We
cannot get our machines on the grass and most times we cannot even walk on the
grass (the exception being when the frost is in some areas but not others).
Protecting the turf is important, so we wait just like the golfers. All of this
comes to a head when the frost starts to break: we hurry out and try to get the
course prepared as quickly as possible, but we also try to let the golfers go
at the earliest possible moment. Care must be taken not to rush back onto the
grass though.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The golf course is in terrific shape. Between leaves and
frost, Mother Nature tries to spoil the beauty of October and a good course,
but we will work through it. With a little patience from everyone, the fall
season will go smoothly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please don’t stand in one place for an extended period of
time to practice putting. Your footprints can be worn into the green.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-26470377197761664312023-10-02T06:07:00.004-04:002023-10-02T06:07:43.086-04:00Traq Matz<p>Traffic wear has always been a problem on golf courses. Traffic
from carts or walking can thin grass out very easily. Last week we initiated a
test of a product designed to help the turf withstand repeated trampling.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1mtWsCfR2o2olUR25ph72dE69foMkK9WM-txQ-l9vfZKJYaDZSQ0i6mXTtM6d2MhNkoRdJjrcfU-xae8-VFtKphITP_uifTq7aIWWytr0UqDlQeEGgkhac9DvN4PmnbhCtgAV2iUkW6KsddOp2gOEkolRjXfBr9S1BLkAZaPnzmNqvMV0FfJN9_dxdc/s4032/20230927_094243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1mtWsCfR2o2olUR25ph72dE69foMkK9WM-txQ-l9vfZKJYaDZSQ0i6mXTtM6d2MhNkoRdJjrcfU-xae8-VFtKphITP_uifTq7aIWWytr0UqDlQeEGgkhac9DvN4PmnbhCtgAV2iUkW6KsddOp2gOEkolRjXfBr9S1BLkAZaPnzmNqvMV0FfJN9_dxdc/s320/20230927_094243.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first step was to lay the mats out in place to<br />determine the exact area we wanted to protect.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Especially since COVID, the increase in rounds has caused an
increase in all types of traffic. Areas that used to withstand a season’s worth
of golfers now gets worn out quickly. Areas that were bad when rounds were
lower are now getting really thin. Often, rerouting traffic can alleviate the
stress for long enough for the turf to recover. But sometimes there is no other
route to take- golfers must walk on and off a tee or green in a certain
location because of the design of the hole or other obstruction.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ghIBsiEK_zXlmwgPcxiNMRF-uDbH4BzOXhSyDxYpsMtNWaL1e2zdsaZYMYL13LRnauYy1gFaRbFrqWD7RzmEO8xa9Rejulk5G2T-s_p6IZ0cNw0NZeJooBjqGgjeiOtGTBvnCYAAKFzM1YECOG7we2sWcp7O6AAo1Cob-27tRw4byp4qS_NTyu0H5bY/s4608/20230927_123225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ghIBsiEK_zXlmwgPcxiNMRF-uDbH4BzOXhSyDxYpsMtNWaL1e2zdsaZYMYL13LRnauYy1gFaRbFrqWD7RzmEO8xa9Rejulk5G2T-s_p6IZ0cNw0NZeJooBjqGgjeiOtGTBvnCYAAKFzM1YECOG7we2sWcp7O6AAo1Cob-27tRw4byp4qS_NTyu0H5bY/s320/20230927_123225.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next, we removed the old grass, aerated the area to help<br />the new sod grow, and then laid the new sod.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We are testing a product known as Traq Matz near 17 back
tee. The walkway leading to this tee is a recurring problem because there is
only one place to walk due to the pond on one side and a ditch on the other
side. Every golfer headed back to the white, blue, or black tees must walk in
this same location and the turf takes a beating. So, this particular walkway is
a perfect place to test the mats.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is not a new product, many courses have used this brand
or other similar brands for years, but it is new to us. The particular brand we
used, Traq Matz, is a rubber mat that is laid down on top of sod. In a few
weeks the sod starts to grow through the openings in the mat. Then, as golfers
walk across the area being protected, they walk on the very tops of grass
blades and the mats, not the crown of the grass plant. The mats take the stress
of traffic and keep it away from the turf.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u-3e01jgT01_BedNn6nf_FW3A4f5CNtnMko-VLrWllT1sJ49Ndo7eACNWaG9s2kEznnrm5JqpF6gBZLCClPKCKMddQakEokFr5pPP_avPWcQqDKjJAMQYYtsPq5F-0O-_mN7GQw5d3yq5ekRuKKSMrvxfauNeD2TRhayECHKbv_VdW0yVNT0Z1DU4RQ/s4608/20230927_132851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u-3e01jgT01_BedNn6nf_FW3A4f5CNtnMko-VLrWllT1sJ49Ndo7eACNWaG9s2kEznnrm5JqpF6gBZLCClPKCKMddQakEokFr5pPP_avPWcQqDKjJAMQYYtsPq5F-0O-_mN7GQw5d3yq5ekRuKKSMrvxfauNeD2TRhayECHKbv_VdW0yVNT0Z1DU4RQ/s320/20230927_132851.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the new sod was laid, we then laid the mats back<br />on top of the new sod. The new grass grows up through<br />the mats but is protected from traffic.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We have several areas around the property, especially at
tees, where the mats could prove useful. But we wanted to test it first and 17
tee was a good location. It won’t be a quick conclusion; we must wait for the
turf to grow through the mats fully and then survive next season. However, if
the results are positive, we could start to tackle one or two bad areas each
season.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is exciting to try a new solution to a problem. We hope
that these mats will help us solve the thin grass in high traffic areas around
the course.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please don’t stand in one place for an extended period of
time to practice putting. Your footprints can be worn into the green.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-1410202114410981352023-09-25T08:18:00.004-04:002023-09-25T08:18:26.665-04:00Bench at 16 tee<p></p>Sometimes we complete major projects that change and improve
the course dramatically, like the master plan construction that renovated every
hole. Other times there are very small, nearly inconsequential things that we
do that can still make a difference. Recently, it was one of those <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2019/05/small-changes.html">smaller
changes</a> that we accomplished that had been on the list for a very long
time.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONXwY7scqQdvNHLgT1kbQ7JpKfRwiu08uQMiihvmEg1f1NZa2fABNbuu7YvM8hEUMo5-pjdNMNBLn7XikVrQBrA1U1fcfTPi91f7jmOcoaIRD7xpMFkfs-oaVNsOHlWiysEgo9ZGpSccRog2qyQ50eqGdXh3aYqo_0jTw1EF7Mj_9H28Cr5R0CyAI4T0/s4032/20230925_080746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONXwY7scqQdvNHLgT1kbQ7JpKfRwiu08uQMiihvmEg1f1NZa2fABNbuu7YvM8hEUMo5-pjdNMNBLn7XikVrQBrA1U1fcfTPi91f7jmOcoaIRD7xpMFkfs-oaVNsOHlWiysEgo9ZGpSccRog2qyQ50eqGdXh3aYqo_0jTw1EF7Mj_9H28Cr5R0CyAI4T0/s320/20230925_080746.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the old location of the bench.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>In January 2022, we <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2022/01/ornamental-grass-transplanting.html">split
the ornamental grasses</a> that dot the hillside along our entrance road. Some
of them were large enough that we could quarter them, leaving one quarter in
place and having three new plants to move elsewhere. One of those places we put
new grasses was at 16 tee. <o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOhTIoZ3PmtUeEGk9dkjRkdGdLB-E2-OJrZtGvXkkr41wkT6SSdYTxJNjgMrtZMikir5Is9Zb1ArX-YyKuuaZUFbLPv6vhOVc7mgJQ5LQACHJYjx3zOJ8gWome1u0vyds9K-UkOkPWj1YmY4UX0ZP6tcJVxxht6WWKmF_qOFIYn6Is9VqPET6pmByhLc/s4608/20230925_080759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOhTIoZ3PmtUeEGk9dkjRkdGdLB-E2-OJrZtGvXkkr41wkT6SSdYTxJNjgMrtZMikir5Is9Zb1ArX-YyKuuaZUFbLPv6vhOVc7mgJQ5LQACHJYjx3zOJ8gWome1u0vyds9K-UkOkPWj1YmY4UX0ZP6tcJVxxht6WWKmF_qOFIYn6Is9VqPET6pmByhLc/s320/20230925_080759.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the view from the old bench location.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a full year in place, the new grasses at 16 tee really
started to grow and get large. Large enough that they started to engulf the
bench nearby. We saw this happening, but the season just got too busy, as it always
does, and we couldn’t move the bench. Finally, last week, we made the necessary
adjustments to the flower bed and moved the bench out in front. It wasn’t a
master plan type change, but it was still an issue that needed correcting.<o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ur4DxUhF7Hptdu68JjUgfsC4DoNABk6cxvvu-LYMr54iJwfitM8hcntIHMddOWt1J1C5rGERPO3E-FrQXG_hTZOvb75tyP2Kvg4oappzDvjYjOpDVlbXW63xMjw4nQtFtsNh5DN7nhW0bkY3-OuPUGjWVDalb6CBK_8QV53hoJCv00kfnMRd2Bj3HPk/s4032/20230925_080826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ur4DxUhF7Hptdu68JjUgfsC4DoNABk6cxvvu-LYMr54iJwfitM8hcntIHMddOWt1J1C5rGERPO3E-FrQXG_hTZOvb75tyP2Kvg4oappzDvjYjOpDVlbXW63xMjw4nQtFtsNh5DN7nhW0bkY3-OuPUGjWVDalb6CBK_8QV53hoJCv00kfnMRd2Bj3HPk/s320/20230925_080826.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture shows the relocated bench.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No matter how small the change or how minor the problem,
crossing something off our list is still an accomplishment. Getting this bench
to a proper location qualifies as small but satisfying.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_JAnO8Cx_J6p7h7Wna_ZsFT9cAsSgvuTasPzs_yIcRzG8BnXtqqHTXej2_ij4htGqA_q7xcQeHqprUcJklkRyLIyZktwQXn8UPghB0mFD7Vv2j4y95SZIGIPOIxrTbNxsPE9ZtyXCincYWnPlyGJMlMV1ijN_lkMXikxTb3uZuKm42CYMD0c6jonuoQ/s4608/20230925_080838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_JAnO8Cx_J6p7h7Wna_ZsFT9cAsSgvuTasPzs_yIcRzG8BnXtqqHTXej2_ij4htGqA_q7xcQeHqprUcJklkRyLIyZktwQXn8UPghB0mFD7Vv2j4y95SZIGIPOIxrTbNxsPE9ZtyXCincYWnPlyGJMlMV1ijN_lkMXikxTb3uZuKm42CYMD0c6jonuoQ/s320/20230925_080838.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the proper view of #16 from the spot.</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please be conscious not to scuff your feet or drag your
putter along the surface of the putting green. This can adversely affect other
people’s putts and can damage the turf grass.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-92132445486077369892023-09-18T04:52:00.001-04:002023-09-18T04:52:12.635-04:00Granular wetting agent<p>Like any industry, turf chemical companies are constantly
coming out with new products. Sometimes they are novel active ingredients, or
more often a combination of two well-known products, and recently lots of
organic and much safer products as well. This year we tried one of these new
products- a granular wetting agent and it has worked very well for us.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wetting agents are chemicals that help to reduce or break
the surface tension of water at the interface with dry soil. The chemical
allows the water to infiltrate and percolate down through the soil. As with
anything, there are many, many different wetting agents on the market- some
alleviate drought conditions, some actually help move the water through the soil
faster so that the soil can dry out; some are liquid, some are like a bar of
soap and are mixed with water as you apply it, and some are granular that you
can spread like fertilizer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We use all these different types of wetting agents for a
myriad of different reasons. This year we tried a new granular formulation in
the rough around the greens to try and keep water available to the turf for
longer, allowing it to survive between rain or irrigation cycles. Especially in
the rough immediately around a bunker where there is excess bunker sand, the
soil can dry out really fast. This year we added this wetting agent to our <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2019/09/green-surround-rough.html">hand
watering program</a>. But we don't just spread the material wherever- we can’t
and don’t do this with any pesticide we use on the property. Instead, we
strategically map out the areas that need attention.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTdk76K_YrFmCGmZrb7DbkK3mfmyNVh-JOhZj5LXc32FTogLQxnPqMle0oFgNDksgpVfAMNEiNl-xptsBJSLwtSfnWSXYivPEgiubCxRVnfILDXNCFwMT9Nw4etAqqxgbYCYy3r0u0xzvy-RZM29aKyp0vrdiBEsmTBPPKauCKb7cLX0MswH7V7Ip2bg/s4032/20230917_083624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTdk76K_YrFmCGmZrb7DbkK3mfmyNVh-JOhZj5LXc32FTogLQxnPqMle0oFgNDksgpVfAMNEiNl-xptsBJSLwtSfnWSXYivPEgiubCxRVnfILDXNCFwMT9Nw4etAqqxgbYCYy3r0u0xzvy-RZM29aKyp0vrdiBEsmTBPPKauCKb7cLX0MswH7V7Ip2bg/s320/20230917_083624.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture of the map we use to apply the material.<br />The shaded areas are where soil can get dry. This<br />is where we put the granular wetting agent, rather than covering <br />the entire green surround.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We see the course every day, over and over through the day.
Certain areas of the course behave similarly each season when faced with
similar circumstances and we notice and take note of these trends. In this
case, we know specific areas around greens and bunkers that are typically the
first to dry out and that is where we spread this new granular wetting agent.
We have basic maps of the green complexes, and coloring in certain areas on
paper, we can outline where to make the application. It isn’t GPS precise, but
it is still very accurate for this purpose, and much better than spreading the
material everywhere. Once per month starting in May, we applied the wetting
agent in these known dry areas and the results were terrific. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This year has been dry- despite the few storms that we have
had in mid-September, we are still well behind our average rainfall for the
year. Despite the dry conditions, the driest areas around greens and bunkers
performed better this year than any year in the past. Can everything be
attributed to one single new product? Of course not. We had healthier grass in
these areas starting the season, so it was stronger on its own. Nevertheless, combined
with our hand watering, this new product maintained plant- available water in
the soil and allowed these areas to survive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Newer isn’t always better. In this case though, we did see
an improvement by adding a new tool to our repertoire.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please be conscious not to scuff your feet or drag your
putter along the surface of the putting green. This can adversely affect other
people’s putts and can damage the turf grass.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-80109399262977446642023-09-11T04:50:00.005-04:002023-09-11T04:50:41.810-04:00Bunker repair<p>We finally received some rain. We have been behind our
average rainfall all year, and we still are, but we are closer to normal than
before. We totaled 3” of rain in a 36-hour span from Friday afternoon through
Sunday morning. That amount of rain can wreak havoc on the bunkers.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The bunkers can handle even medium to heavy rates of rain
without too much trouble. The water moves through the sand and enters the
internal drains and can escape as fast as it falls. As a result, there are no
puddles left in the bunkers even just a short time after the rain stops. When
the rain reaches rates like we have seen in the last couple of days, where it
is an inch or so per hour in a single storm, then some damage can occur.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The water is flowing fast enough that it erodes the sand
from the edges of the bunkers and moves it down into the center of the bunker. Once
this sand is gone, if it is still raining, then the next thing to erode is the
soil beneath the sand. This compounds the problem because this soil mixes with
the sand and that impedes water’s ability to drain through the profile. The
finer silt particles fill in the gaps of the larger sand particles and water
cannot get through.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNd2S4WmiGjE39VHCZmjcTxH0ctIAgJCAQO8_8HG4fOf8Nc-ezB5NW4GSAqBzqG_eaoVDwlMeLi_mTHTtXfvN4BpPicc99a4y9zirzeBzmk1QhBzu4bIZzB8GAGdGGNSnuUx2iSmhuRzj65GQAEJtIQ965k9pGDD6p3XR2MIU0IeJ7kms4CrJopqWKEAQ/s4608/20230910_073848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNd2S4WmiGjE39VHCZmjcTxH0ctIAgJCAQO8_8HG4fOf8Nc-ezB5NW4GSAqBzqG_eaoVDwlMeLi_mTHTtXfvN4BpPicc99a4y9zirzeBzmk1QhBzu4bIZzB8GAGdGGNSnuUx2iSmhuRzj65GQAEJtIQ965k9pGDD6p3XR2MIU0IeJ7kms4CrJopqWKEAQ/s320/20230910_073848.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The silt laying on top of the sand is <br />very obvious in this photo. All of that must be <br />removed before the final repair of the bunker can<br />be completed.</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once the rain stops, in comes the Grounds department for
cleanup work. Any debris must be blown out of the bunkers. Then the most
important step is to remove the silt layer from on top of the sand. If we don’t
remove this layer, it mixes into the sand and eventually reduces the drainage
rate of the sand to a point where water will puddle in the bunker indefinitely.
After the soil layer is removed, we must replace the sand from where it was
originally on the edge of the bunker. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All of this takes time and old-fashioned manpower. Shovels
are the best tools, though for some of the worst washouts we do have a machine
with a flat blade on the front that can be used to push sand back into its
general location. Depending on the severity of the washouts, this process may
take a long time- the worst damage can take 7-8 staff members 10-12 hours to
repair all the bunkers. That is 80% of our staff, and more than a full day of
work just in the bunkers after one storm. We have been lucky this year to not
have too many of the worst storms. But in wet years, those storms can come once
or twice a week from the middle of July through August. That equals a lot of
man hours spent in the bunkers. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Getting the bunkers back in shape after a storm is
necessary, but slow. Making sure to do it right is more important than speed so
that the bunkers perform for their entire lifespan.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please be conscious not to scuff your feet or drag your
putter along the surface of the putting green. This can adversely affect other
people’s putts and can damage the turf grass.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-88871630216925509572023-09-04T04:49:00.004-04:002023-09-04T04:49:40.364-04:00September agronomic practices<p>As the calendar flips to September, the stress to cool
season turf starts to subside (usually; though the first week of September
this year will be the hottest week all year!). We also have major chemical
applications on the Bermuda grass to help ensure that <i><u>next season</u></i>
is as good as possible.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Part of the difficulty of managing any turfgrass, but especially
Bermuda grass, is that many of the agronomic programs that we implement won’t
show results, good or bad, for many months. We execute our plan in the fall,
but we don’t know if it worked until at least the following spring, and in the
meantime, there is nothing more we can do. We must make observations, take
notes, and plan accordingly for our chance to improve that next fall.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of our first major items currently is a pre-emergent
herbicide application. This application prevents weeds from growing in the Bermuda
grass while it is dormant all winter. The rule of thumb is to have the application
made by Labor Day. We made our spray last Monday and everything went according
to plan. We have a couple of other tools to help take care of weeds that grow
over the winter, so all is not lost if we do start to see some breakthrough.
That is not always the case with some of our Bermuda grass management.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Starting September 1<sup>st</sup>, we monitor soil
temperatures for our Spring Dead Spot (SDS) applications. You can track some of
the evolution in current research and understanding for treatment by reading
some of the past blogs <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2018/09/preparing-bermuda-grass-for-winter.html">here</a>,
<a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2020/09/tweaks-to-spring-dead-spot-control.html">here</a>,
and <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2022/09/sds-and-soil-temperatures.html">here</a>.
Those blogs illustrate how our program has changed. Regardless, September is
the time to start preparing so that we are ready when the soil temperatures are
optimal.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But why do we have to be so precise? First, we are always
trying to be precise when making any pesticide applications. We have a specific
target and chemical and we apply it only where needed. But, with SDS, the
chemicals are expensive, and the pathogen is very difficult to control. Missing
the window would be an enormous waste. Unfortunately, even if we make our
application on time exactly, we don’t know the results for 6-8 more months. There
really is no indication of percent control for that long, so we are not able to
make a rescue application in the winter to help. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If we spray too early, the fungi have time to rebuild their
population and infect the turf. If we spray too late, the infection has already
occurred, and chemical is no longer effective. And even if we spray right on
time, it has not been shown that 100% control can be achieved, we are working
to get as close to 100% as possible only. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All of this makes September a crucial month for the Grounds
department. Aside from the best golfing time of the year, it is also an
important agronomic time as well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Labor Day<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please be conscious not to scuff your feet or drag your
putter along the surface of the putting green. This can adversely affect other
people’s putts and can damage the turf grass.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-92153740853889203742023-08-28T05:26:00.000-04:002023-08-28T05:27:30.280-04:00Strange metal pipe<p>We have been working on plugging out bad areas of Bermuda
grass in the fairways over the entire summer. Last week, while working on this
project, we found a piece of metal in #17 fairway.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2017/06/fairway-plugging-progress.html">plugging
program</a> has been going on for several years. Though slow, it is an
effective way to mitigate the Spring Dead Spot infection areas and provide the
best surface possible. This year is no different; we have been working on
plugging the fairways since June. We cut 2-3 inches down into the fairway to
remove the dead grass as well as some of the infected soil and in one
particular location on #17 fairway we found the piece of metal only about an
inch from the surface.<o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7_YfuQ-XKDBTiPJFAq5eW6DrGSKRcSp1sYwviLkoK5o_EgGBJKOxA-jCiOnOwYZx0XAFGnU0o_N2Awf2qIZ6TMrWSfBI382uF1lmyRbnoaJhp4LUBrwV-LaFyXBQQ4WOsbOsXt72AW1TkpLTX3N0kw1dZ-GmziemeTO-dN2jSbmTOyxDPtr0Qq1W5yc/s4608/20230821_074606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7_YfuQ-XKDBTiPJFAq5eW6DrGSKRcSp1sYwviLkoK5o_EgGBJKOxA-jCiOnOwYZx0XAFGnU0o_N2Awf2qIZ6TMrWSfBI382uF1lmyRbnoaJhp4LUBrwV-LaFyXBQQ4WOsbOsXt72AW1TkpLTX3N0kw1dZ-GmziemeTO-dN2jSbmTOyxDPtr0Qq1W5yc/s320/20230821_074606.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The location of the metal piece in 17 fairway</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After discovering the metal, we excavated a little more
around it and were able to pry it free and remove it from the fairway. We
packed some fresh soil back into its place and were able to finish the new plug
of grass over the top. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is more interesting though is that we have no idea what
this metal object is. It is about 4-inch diameter metal cylinder with 4 plastic
tabs attached to the side. The metal piece is about 6 inches tall and about a
1/16” of an inch thick. We found it almost exactly at the 100-yard mark in the
center of the fairway. Though our most tenured employee does not know what it
was for and has never seen anything else like it on the property, we are
guessing that it could have possibly been an old yardage marker. If any members
recall anything like this from back when the course was built, we would love to
hear from you.<o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BVkc3Rcc-DOkMif5BmK9dhTkvfJDSXqwGzMIlXZuGwScEwRjFIygxc2_ReMMOramwHXHsePmwGV8xIp-ulIlgNAPJs9LHSUkeWZPQuip60EKGskp6Hf_8fUCgoQdXBqkrozjkR_vfyufPf47wVOMIsOQa4ChFrFhWugsQwjd4tOJnBN46_2JkgKs2Ik/s4608/20230821_074746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BVkc3Rcc-DOkMif5BmK9dhTkvfJDSXqwGzMIlXZuGwScEwRjFIygxc2_ReMMOramwHXHsePmwGV8xIp-ulIlgNAPJs9LHSUkeWZPQuip60EKGskp6Hf_8fUCgoQdXBqkrozjkR_vfyufPf47wVOMIsOQa4ChFrFhWugsQwjd4tOJnBN46_2JkgKs2Ik/s320/20230821_074746.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This where the metal pipe was in the ground just after we<br />loosened it from the soil</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is also amazing that it has taken until now to find this
thing. Every year, dating back at least 15 years, we have aerated #17 fairway.
Tractors with ¾” tines pound down into the soil. It is remarkable that we never
hit or dislodged this piece of metal in all those times across the fairway. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not only is it remarkable that we didn’t hit this metal with
an aerator, but in the several years that we have been plugging Bermuda grass,
we never put a fresh plug in exactly this spot. Based on the way that we take
out several inches of soil, if we had plugged here, we no doubt would have
encountered the metal.<o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziNCxooGGHyWMdWFJUvb8CGVXhwv9CvrmEK8xTZXdpVmQAY1KE1lqGSKw0erisoiPVdBK7SUctGS8nY8ANSicQHiRaJr-8NdR8_ztTLU4ZbTPg6Mohh1p4R56HSIotJxGw_gA5IrZUcBaKblf_e9hV9WoGBWMLNPc9iSewb7P-EpNzT5_yGGwCoHBQ5k/s4032/20230823_084837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziNCxooGGHyWMdWFJUvb8CGVXhwv9CvrmEK8xTZXdpVmQAY1KE1lqGSKw0erisoiPVdBK7SUctGS8nY8ANSicQHiRaJr-8NdR8_ztTLU4ZbTPg6Mohh1p4R56HSIotJxGw_gA5IrZUcBaKblf_e9hV9WoGBWMLNPc9iSewb7P-EpNzT5_yGGwCoHBQ5k/s320/20230823_084837.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The metal after removal from the fairway</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes it is amazing what you can find in the soil around
the property. In this case, we found something we had never seen before right
in the middle of a fairway.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When parking your cart at a tee or green, please keep all 4
tires on the path. See pictures below for a visual aid:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX4VtWjZEJ6sHsRksADNvJCic1-XhNbuic4jzXTFAPBQ-9eopI3vAqUimsrH02mP63VQ0x12XqbK88X3J0_2WLNjGKDba_MrCxNas2bTXAnOasxF2An018BXSpXYRku3S0JhVxf05GbXH-i6MgriwJ6oY2WscqvyPXhXqIQadYJBup1837Fi9Is_fWX7k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="975" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX4VtWjZEJ6sHsRksADNvJCic1-XhNbuic4jzXTFAPBQ-9eopI3vAqUimsrH02mP63VQ0x12XqbK88X3J0_2WLNjGKDba_MrCxNas2bTXAnOasxF2An018BXSpXYRku3S0JhVxf05GbXH-i6MgriwJ6oY2WscqvyPXhXqIQadYJBup1837Fi9Is_fWX7k=w546-h634" width="546" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-70609325311264249952023-08-21T04:50:00.000-04:002023-08-21T04:50:44.029-04:00Soccer work and green surround sod<p>Last week was our big push for <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2017/09/soccer-field-maintenance.html">maintenance
on the upper soccer field</a>. Aeration, seed, sod, compost, and fertilizer are
all accomplished. We also had left over sod from that work, so last week we
also sodded a few spots out in the green surrounds.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We usually lay some green surround sod every year at this
time, usually with left over sod from soccer. What is significant this year is
how little we had to do. With only half a pallet (about 25 pieces), we were
able to get to all the worst areas around the golf course. Small sections at 2,
3, 4, 7, 13, 14, and 17 were all completed. While that is a long list, we only
needed to do 3-4 pieces of sod at each hole. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We believe that a few factors have led to the improved
health of the turf around the greens. First, while it has been dry, it has not
been an overly hot summer. We have sprinkled in a few hot days, but not a
prolonged heat wave of many days in a row. Anytime the weather is cool, the
rough will be better. Second, we have managed the dry conditions by diligently
sticking with our hand watering program. Lastly, the significant effort we have
made to over-seed the rough around the greens is paying off. We have slowly
started to shift the dominant species of turf around the greens to one that is
more tolerant of heat, traffic, and drought. We will continue to work on
everything that we can control and are optimistic that improvements can
continue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Did we sod out every single little bare area? No, because at
a certain point, the bad areas are too small to sod because the sod won’t survive,
or the area is a better candidate for another recovery strategy. We will still
work to improve the places that didn’t receive sod- first, with seed a little
later into the fall, and second, we will have more sod to potentially use when
we do bunker renovations or other work later in the year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We must share resources between the golf course and other
areas of the property, including soccer. Most times, it is the golf course
sharing with soccer. But in August, soccer gives sod back to the golf course
for late summer repairs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When parking your cart at a tee or green, please keep all 4
tires on the path. See pictures below for a visual aid:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKYjxdss--7XwZeyb0qMWsDIM3U193e0PLTX_4zLtUGNMRe3AIfnZWzCqZ5Y0irCE9jelihJPfc8fpmiaBwnhvRROt24wTCj3nD0_7tcRKhP9L6Xi9y_Fx728ft-Xx3cOaDfKtjqB6vWoAbjrKxER_uPYgmwSedPpXlIW89GGgdczJt5cqnJw1CRtZcuo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="975" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKYjxdss--7XwZeyb0qMWsDIM3U193e0PLTX_4zLtUGNMRe3AIfnZWzCqZ5Y0irCE9jelihJPfc8fpmiaBwnhvRROt24wTCj3nD0_7tcRKhP9L6Xi9y_Fx728ft-Xx3cOaDfKtjqB6vWoAbjrKxER_uPYgmwSedPpXlIW89GGgdczJt5cqnJw1CRtZcuo=w524-h608" width="524" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-28579822315703678852023-08-14T05:50:00.005-04:002023-08-14T05:50:34.948-04:00Aeration review<p>Last week we <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2023/08/aeration-preview.html">previewed
our upcoming aeration</a>. This week we will recap how the process unfolded.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the biggest changes this year from year’s past was
our plan for greens. We used bigger tines, but fewer of them, and we applied
the sand prior to the aerator doing its work. We tested the plan on the
chipping green on July 31<sup>st</sup> to get a sense of what the process would
look like. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last week we headed onto the course to try and mimic what we
did on the chipping green. The results were terrific. First, as we expected the
process was much less labor intensive. We were able to use staff to get mowing
done ahead of aerators, drag sand and compost, among other things. This was a
huge bonus for having the course ready for play as soon as possible. Aside from
using less labor, the result on the putting surface was far better than before.
We were able to get much more sand into the holes (which is the idea) all with
less disruption to the actual putting green. We didn’t have any extra foot
traffic from shoveling, we didn’t have to drag as many times, there was less
sand left on the surface which resulted in less abrasion to the grass plant.
All of this adds up to a much cleaner, healthier final product. And now, one
week later, the healing is incredible. We will be back to regular putting
surfaces in less than 10 days.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aeration of the fairways and tees, and our compost
application also went off just as planned. Though we didn’t change this
process, it still takes a lot of coordination and execution to go smoothly.
Mowers go out first, followed by flagging of sprinklers quickly right behind
before the aerators start. The compost spreader comes in just after the
aerators. Finally, dragging the compost into the holes and turf canopy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our only hiccup for the week- 1.35” rain came Monday night.
Although this was ideal for washing the sand into the holes on the front 9
greens, it made everything too wet to aerate the back 9 on Tuesday. We had to
suspend our operation, but luckily only for one day. We were able to complete
the fairways and greens on Wednesday and tees on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone did a great job, and the aeration process went just
as we hoped. The changes we made look very promising, and we look forward to
fine-tuning for next year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When parking your cart at a tee or green, please keep all 4
tires on the path. See pictures below for a visual aid:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrwDmYE9YQqWKqNOnMNL2ufxkeJIi45MESPLiyn8oNK3fZgjoZ13jBbn7EU6v07jvMlr5Ky--mFtM2Rr3UNeLjsb9z4SPwW-Qpun9L7-bVdB7lJnt_8aSlLgz2tXDgvHL7dVYi70hK6bDJgGGwMcxFra_d2ojDeh8Q4ZMP7Pya3nSHMuttoYZh4RHNsNM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="975" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrwDmYE9YQqWKqNOnMNL2ufxkeJIi45MESPLiyn8oNK3fZgjoZ13jBbn7EU6v07jvMlr5Ky--mFtM2Rr3UNeLjsb9z4SPwW-Qpun9L7-bVdB7lJnt_8aSlLgz2tXDgvHL7dVYi70hK6bDJgGGwMcxFra_d2ojDeh8Q4ZMP7Pya3nSHMuttoYZh4RHNsNM=w521-h604" width="521" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-58301025471688229392023-08-07T04:55:00.005-04:002023-08-07T04:55:53.463-04:00Aeration preview<p>Aeration starts today. It is
very common to hear the comment “just when the course was getting good, it is
time to aerate and ruin it.” Well, we aren’t running the course by aerating, in
fact, a large part of why the course looks good is <i>because</i> we aerate.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are trying a new process this year, though, during
aeration of the greens. In the past we have pulled cores- material- out of the
greens during this summer aeration using a combination of solid and hollow
tines. We would follow that up with a layer of sand and then drag the sand into
the holes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBw2uymdSTgYuvX5snLTY5G0AFdtRxV12nZmiTpXxEt5Qh2c_W34j7JXsGTPsvxPX49M8G2pKUab8ES6VSJHHjI4euFq94mS_taBRCMafZDr0Pv4WEntHDd0tg8VUVLqozeyN3_4nzexUE_hocd0uiKGGQbIFsO4JfRd2D78IZSytLfjHkIZfCUw8-aQ/s4032/20230731_064530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBw2uymdSTgYuvX5snLTY5G0AFdtRxV12nZmiTpXxEt5Qh2c_W34j7JXsGTPsvxPX49M8G2pKUab8ES6VSJHHjI4euFq94mS_taBRCMafZDr0Pv4WEntHDd0tg8VUVLqozeyN3_4nzexUE_hocd0uiKGGQbIFsO4JfRd2D78IZSytLfjHkIZfCUw8-aQ/s320/20230731_064530.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the new brush attachment down low<br />behind the machine.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>This year we are switching up the order, and not removing
any material at all. First, we will mow the green ahead of any aeration work.
Next will come the sand- prior to making any holes. Over the winter at our national
turf conference, we came across a new tool that attaches to our aerating
machine and brushes the sand into the holes for you as the operator aerates the
green and we bought it to try at Bretton Woods. So, after the sand is applied,
the aerator works the green making holes and brushing the sand into them
immediately. Finally, we roll the green and cut a new cup and the process is
done.<o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkzMM0Rslje8CisanKG3_d_abZkyaby_cXltOQEN0JFMLbCNgWfj6WvF4sgMmiAeas7PSNnkPNB6CDy71j_BHc_TQDMnzUMhbYMX6uB8l_dF8lor4RxSAKpqenRRqQz7yU-A44Ahnd5U_aUUzo_eKnPKUKNNQsAz18ZiZZyzvE_ojKuq6Xm5dwMuglAA/s4032/20230731_064519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkzMM0Rslje8CisanKG3_d_abZkyaby_cXltOQEN0JFMLbCNgWfj6WvF4sgMmiAeas7PSNnkPNB6CDy71j_BHc_TQDMnzUMhbYMX6uB8l_dF8lor4RxSAKpqenRRqQz7yU-A44Ahnd5U_aUUzo_eKnPKUKNNQsAz18ZiZZyzvE_ojKuq6Xm5dwMuglAA/s320/20230731_064519.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the foreground is following the aeration and brushing<br />and the background is prior to the machine. One of our issues<br />is the sand being a little too wet to fully brush into the holes. </td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So why the change? First, this is far less stressful on the
turf. Solid tines do not pull on the grass and cause any upheaval, and the process
is faster, so we are done before the afternoon heat sets in. Second, it is much
less labor intensive. Instead of 6-8 guys working behind the aerator shoveling
material into a cart, we can now work on some other aspects of our aeration
program. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We tested the process on the chipping green last week and
saw positive results. We have a few things still to figure out and a couple of
factors that make it difficult for us, but overall, it went smoothly. Healing
after summer aeration is always quite fast, and the chipping green is on, or
ahead of the normal healing pace. We expect the course greens to be on par with
what we have seen from the practice green. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are also aerating fairways and tees this week. Both of
those surfaces will also get solid tines only, and both will get compost as
well. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many courses have been topdressing with sand before aerating
for several years, so we are not inventing the process, but after seeing the
positive results that those facilities are having, we decided to give it a try.
Changing the process after many successful years is hard, but we expect that
this could lead to even better results.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When parking your cart at a tee or green, please keep all 4
tires on the path. See pictures below for a visual aid:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgElluGVjGQLuWCiF94iIpZetOWp5kRHIYKS19agc2vliO6t3edBdpx_huWZeIlrgo3wfS0mlQCS3sxYr79f0BqtbFjJ_nsMe4uHYH63cvo8dkjs1J83eMPdusw1Fl6j1vi4evnTCA8MKoqctSpdFvfNdSIPziytukGUAS7u81FhC1zCzznNmfdpcwgXzQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="975" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgElluGVjGQLuWCiF94iIpZetOWp5kRHIYKS19agc2vliO6t3edBdpx_huWZeIlrgo3wfS0mlQCS3sxYr79f0BqtbFjJ_nsMe4uHYH63cvo8dkjs1J83eMPdusw1Fl6j1vi4evnTCA8MKoqctSpdFvfNdSIPziytukGUAS7u81FhC1zCzznNmfdpcwgXzQ=w533-h618" width="533" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-45160580190328049502023-07-31T05:53:00.004-04:002023-07-31T05:53:36.866-04:00Storm cleanup<p>Though we are still drier than normal overall, we did
receive some rain in the last few days. Unfortunately, one of the storms also
came with some intense wind. Cleanup after a storm is always a process and
can’t be finished the next day.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are not far past the anniversary of the derecho that came
through the area in 2012. Some of you may remember that storm and the
destruction it caused. Luckily, we are nowhere near that messy following the
most recent storm, but we still have lots of cleanup to do. There are 3 main
aspects that usually require the most attention following a thunderstorm:
bunkers, blowing small debris, and tree/limb/stick removal. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The storms are hard on the bunkers for two reasons. First,
the heavy rain washes the sand off the edges of the bunker and down into the
center. This sand must be shoveled back into its correct location by hand.
Second, after the sand moves out of place, the rain then starts to move the
underlying soil out of place also. This soil then settles on top of the sand
and can lead to contamination. We must scrape the silt off the top of the sand
before repairing the bunker. Of course, small debris also collects in the
bunkers which must be blown out before raking as well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The wind that accompanies the storm will strip some leaves off
trees and break some small branches out of the tree and blow them across the
course. We must use blowers that we can tow behind our maintenance vehicles to
blow all this debris off the tees and fairways. We use backpack blowers to
clear off the greens and blow out the bunkers. The smallest sticks blow off
play surfaces as well, but larger ones need to be moved by hand.<o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZ6blvw1KTyanB6AStnh5qKf5S2p16kRWrCCdXmVfns_xxQK6jhy89-6y0cMSmQakNtScm4kRP7Uk7tdI4VfpN03GWh92-rrQez3wzLX8g4ifEH3obCpQ8-ryfwhxAWumi-aombGiNASnnsrXOMLIWmsykT7y9Pl4OC7UPMGzlsEqLtZbW7nIZv0zYLg/s4032/20230729_103311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZ6blvw1KTyanB6AStnh5qKf5S2p16kRWrCCdXmVfns_xxQK6jhy89-6y0cMSmQakNtScm4kRP7Uk7tdI4VfpN03GWh92-rrQez3wzLX8g4ifEH3obCpQ8-ryfwhxAWumi-aombGiNASnnsrXOMLIWmsykT7y9Pl4OC7UPMGzlsEqLtZbW7nIZv0zYLg/s320/20230729_103311.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luckily this large section of tree<br />fell at just the right angle to miss the<br />tee sign, bench, and barely graze the trash can. No damage<br />to any of those items.</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lastly, if the storm is severe enough, we will likely lose a
few trees or at least several large limbs as well. These are branches that are
too large to blow or move by hand and must be cut before they can be cleaned
up. If the trees we lose are too big, or too numerous, we will get help from
our tree contractor. So, we spend several days methodically working around the
course cutting the larger pieces and picking up the smaller sticks by hand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The important part to keep in mind is that through all this
cleanup, most of our other maintenance tasks continue. We adjust our schedule,
especially if the storm came with heavy rain and we can’t mow, and the cleanup
does become the highest priority. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We try to get the course back in to playable condition as
soon as possible, but it still takes several days. Fortunately, the storm last
week was minor, and we should be back in shape in just a few days.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">After
filling your divot with sand, either on a tee or fairway, please smooth the
sand pile out so our mowers don’t cut through the sand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-56049923606709638702023-07-24T05:39:00.001-04:002023-07-24T05:39:07.527-04:00Finishing Bermuda grass sod<p>We will finish up the Bermuda grass sod this week. It took
later into the season than we wanted to get started, but the natural healing of
the existing turf allowed for less sod overall.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once the weather turned in favor of Bermuda grass growth, our
existing fairway grass started to heal in many of the weaker areas around the
course. While it was hard to look at some of the thin areas for so long, waiting
longer can be a benefit in the long run. Turf that recovered naturally and
healed in will be stronger and more resilient to stresses through the seasons
compared to brand new turf that may or may not have experienced some of those
same conditions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nevertheless, some sod was necessary. We were able to
accomplish all our sodding goals with 10 pallets of sod, or 5,000 square feet. This
may seem like a lot of sod but repairing 5,000 square feet out of the 1,960,200
square feet of total Bermuda grass on the property isn’t actually that much.
This did not cover every square inch of weak Bermuda grass, nor were we ever
going to try to cover everything. Some weak areas will be transitioned to rough
next year and some weak areas are healing enough on their own and did not
warrant sod. Luckily, the weather is perfect for the new sod. With a little
water and a few warm days, new roots are forming in about 3 days. The sod from
1 week ago has already been mowed once and the newest batch will be cut this
week. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In no time the new sod will be part of our regular maintenance
routine and ready for play.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">After
filling your divot with sand, either on a tee or fairway, please smooth the
sand pile out so our mowers don’t cut through the sand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-18457002016603113242023-07-17T11:07:00.003-04:002023-07-17T11:07:10.318-04:00Bermuda sod and emergency tree work<p>It was a busy week last week. We started on Bermuda grass
sod and had to do some emergency tree work as well.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">First, this blog entry may be posted a little later in the
day than usual- we are still working through an internet outage in the Grounds
department. The recent storm on Friday afternoon knocked power out to the
entire property and seems to have fried a couple of components at the shop.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ64mpC7GVryfpqrjg9U6d58hsBPCXXetD0KYG1LwbyyrgWx6FfOxPCC0K5tT4rfVHv9lNd-Zg4oyKMij5WhsNyzppRaQgtbYdMq8AKH61maBGIh8lW8wI-JD1BW8RDeCF-d2L6egLvHcyya8nIWoHRXY7_5EU6Zo5jDRH78dPPUapcIfYswaQ-n1l0k/s4608/20230714_075013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ64mpC7GVryfpqrjg9U6d58hsBPCXXetD0KYG1LwbyyrgWx6FfOxPCC0K5tT4rfVHv9lNd-Zg4oyKMij5WhsNyzppRaQgtbYdMq8AKH61maBGIh8lW8wI-JD1BW8RDeCF-d2L6egLvHcyya8nIWoHRXY7_5EU6Zo5jDRH78dPPUapcIfYswaQ-n1l0k/s320/20230714_075013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The damaged tree on 17</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Funnily enough, the storm didn’t cause too much damage to
the course- lots of debris and a few small limbs fell. However, that same
morning, well before the storm, a large section of the big pine tree on the
left of #17 fairway broke off and fell. After clearing the cart path to at
least allow access, we inspected the remainder of the tree and saw that the
wound was very deep into the center of the trunk. We felt it was warranted to
have our tree contractor inspect the tree for safety and to recommend whether
the entire tree needed to be removed. Our contractor strongly recommended the
tree be removed for safety reasons because the missing limb had left a scar
that reached well past 50 percent through the trunk and the remaining part of
the tree was leaning heavily in the direction of the missing limb. Luckily for
us, the tree crew had a small job that was nearly finished that same morning
and they were able to make it to our property and remove the tree that same
day.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8U1UIeqqxki4l3iXhlLa6XLudLzk1oba5vR2HyUU1pgJXTLikkVwOPA73RB3YbzsZXsp3MPvqi_1WkzlL607NHOaBodUkOOcyLbGDmIDHYxrJ7B2i-FTplECRhqFtu9aQHBWcSf2VH8ribCQDOPMHEW3TgkW9jWlHXy6jTQdGNfU1ArLIP0khyza9n4/s4032/20230712_105342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8U1UIeqqxki4l3iXhlLa6XLudLzk1oba5vR2HyUU1pgJXTLikkVwOPA73RB3YbzsZXsp3MPvqi_1WkzlL607NHOaBodUkOOcyLbGDmIDHYxrJ7B2i-FTplECRhqFtu9aQHBWcSf2VH8ribCQDOPMHEW3TgkW9jWlHXy6jTQdGNfU1ArLIP0khyza9n4/s320/20230712_105342.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prepped sod location</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">We were also able to get started on Bermuda grass sod this
past week. For lots of the same reasons that our Bermuda grass struggled this
spring- very dry, much cooler than normal, cloudy, etc., the sod company’s
Bermuda grass struggled also and it delayed delivery of material. But we received
4 pallets last week and were able to repair spots on 1 fairway and 1 approach,
2 approach, 3 approach, 9 approach, 15 approach, 16 approach, and 18 fairway.
We have 4 more pallets coming this week and we should wrap up all the remaining
worst areas. We will also continue to plug in small pieces in various locations
across the course through the rest of the season. And, in a few very specific
locations, we will be transitioning the existing Bermuda grass to rough grass
in the fall, so we won’t be repairing those places at all.<o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OGZ4p5G_0axiuSkl-N_pu-ZvGRt5ya7LbonW24siZl9Z7OP0lupKakTJ7_ggnigGZYAB6HEVP4jVffSCXgRycHrmaMDJofE3sfToC7Hp6EaW9M9wI-S47ea4nlriw_bM3s5v_k2PCkA0aSHBNnRmB_uq8sYoilbDOofUMhF89tDiRVr_d9ks0xrbodI/s4032/20230713_092949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OGZ4p5G_0axiuSkl-N_pu-ZvGRt5ya7LbonW24siZl9Z7OP0lupKakTJ7_ggnigGZYAB6HEVP4jVffSCXgRycHrmaMDJofE3sfToC7Hp6EaW9M9wI-S47ea4nlriw_bM3s5v_k2PCkA0aSHBNnRmB_uq8sYoilbDOofUMhF89tDiRVr_d9ks0xrbodI/s320/20230713_092949.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New sod being installed</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbG5KiHZQQCA-3BfG4k_cOm2lHfeXVys7jfQ2zRJVDFowtJp6MDta3h28gAoVsHAu84Rv6k7auiC6_eZQ2N5Ag2ZRVFvTCc6cGiB8pC6ctEqr2o7boTmDoKQ5fRBoBNzkLBKLndtV16YSdXTbaSnp3wXsioHbeVK77BBrFrHFC2x-1q0FYfNv4AQCwlPM/s4032/20230713_100644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbG5KiHZQQCA-3BfG4k_cOm2lHfeXVys7jfQ2zRJVDFowtJp6MDta3h28gAoVsHAu84Rv6k7auiC6_eZQ2N5Ag2ZRVFvTCc6cGiB8pC6ctEqr2o7boTmDoKQ5fRBoBNzkLBKLndtV16YSdXTbaSnp3wXsioHbeVK77BBrFrHFC2x-1q0FYfNv4AQCwlPM/s320/20230713_100644.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One spot completed</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The last 3 weeks have finally been a conducive Bermuda grass
environment. We will continue to strive to improve everyday and hopefully we
don’t have any more random tree work to tackle.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After filling your divot with sand, either on a tee or
fairway, please smooth the sand pile out so our mowers don’t cut through the
sand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-15531386241448589622023-07-10T05:43:00.004-04:002023-07-10T05:43:54.104-04:00Trials and tribulations<p>The trials and tribulations of maintaining a golf course
continue. After writing about a <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2023/07/gas-spill.html">gas spill</a>
last week, this week we have a couple new issues to discuss, one regarding
another leak and the other having to do with the irrigation system.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thursday of last week we had several thunderstorms in our
vicinity. We could have used some rain, but unfortunately all we got was
lightning. Repeated nearby strikes kept our staff in after lunch for so long
that we eventually just sent most of the staff home rather than continue to
wait. Instead of getting rain, the close lighting did produce a power surge
that went through our irrigation system. This is <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2019/07/storms.html">not the first
time this has happened</a>. Like the occurrence back in 2019, some minor damage
was observed in a satellite box and the lightning arrester located in that
satellite box did its job and had to be replaced. Normally that would have been
the end of the story. Unfortunately, when we turned the power back on to the
field, nothing turned on. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not having any power to the satellites is one of the worst-case
scenarios for the golf course. Without power, we cannot electrically operate
any sprinkler. So, the only way to irrigate is to manually turn on EACH
INDIVIDUAL SPRINKLER one at a time. With approximately 900 sprinklers on the
property, you can see how this is not realistic. Luckily the Bermuda grass does
not need much water, so we focused on running sprinklers on the greens only.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We could not restore power at all on Thursday, our
irrigation specialist contractor was busy all-day Friday tending to another
lightning related irrigation emergency, so we did not have power on Friday either.
So, for two nights we manually turned on every sprinkler around every green- a
process that alone takes 2 hours. We didn’t make it through the hot weather
unscathed, but for no irrigation system, we did ok. Finally, on Saturday, after
nearly 4 hours of troubleshooting, we were able to restore power. The culprit:
a small jumper wire in a closet at the shop had also been damaged during the
surge, the existence of which was previously unbeknownst to anyone in the
Grounds department.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While we struggled with putting water out onto the course on
Thursday and Friday, we also unfortunately had a hydraulic leak in several
locations on the course on Friday. A hydraulic pump seal went bad and caused
oil to leak across several approaches and tees. We train our staff to watch for
leaks such as this, but it can be difficult to see. Every course that has hydraulic
powered equipment will deal with this at one point or another, but it doesn’t
make it any easier to look at. We have fixed the bad seal and will continue to
work on mitigating the damage.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All in all, it was an eventful few days. We don’t like
having problems, but it is inevitable, especially when dealing with Mother
Nature. We will keep moving forward and working to make sure everything is as
good as we can make it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After filling your divot with sand, either on a tee or
fairway, please smooth the sand pile out so our mowers don’t cut through the
sand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471391195178452169.post-63359882112871745442023-07-03T04:42:00.006-04:002023-07-03T04:42:50.652-04:00Gas spill<p>Last week there was gas spilled in #12 fairway. We don’t
know exactly what happened, but it doesn’t matter at this point anyway.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a previous post, we explained that <a href="https://teeoffwithjoe.blogspot.com/2022/07/delicate-balance-part-2.html">gas
and diesel kill grass</a>. Anything from a small drop to large spills will kill
whatever grass it touches within 36-48 hours. And that was exactly the case in
#12 fairway, including some footprints made by whomever was at the sight when
the spill occurred.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-d3ducQGpjH9CWQs3QYtRtBmqvVDvfFr0wwVXQJppQjqCB0d_3ZIx-e4E1CVzuRgK1mUrExFdSFJiZ1WIFotQF-c06RI1jgwno3y6_PGx_x_2JfMSnVPNqfAkbPirf2T0KfPeCNFuqgx7hvUqrYMf5yyOqhtV-Kqj5aW7uu7qUj8xg0ZqtSHJmMIrQbo/s4032/20230627_081653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-d3ducQGpjH9CWQs3QYtRtBmqvVDvfFr0wwVXQJppQjqCB0d_3ZIx-e4E1CVzuRgK1mUrExFdSFJiZ1WIFotQF-c06RI1jgwno3y6_PGx_x_2JfMSnVPNqfAkbPirf2T0KfPeCNFuqgx7hvUqrYMf5yyOqhtV-Kqj5aW7uu7qUj8xg0ZqtSHJmMIrQbo/s320/20230627_081653.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The spill 24 hours after it occurred</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Repair of fuel leaks can vary greatly depending on the
substance spilled, the amount spilled, the location of the spill and other
factors. For example, hydraulic oil leaks can sometimes be mitigated with dish
soap, copious amounts of water and a little fertilizer in the next few days
after the spill. Gas and diesel are not managed with soap and water, but
factors such as amount of fuel and location still play a role. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the linked post, the gas spill was directly
in front of the green in the approach. Not only is that an area that sees a lot
of play, but also a lot of traffic. We immediately sodded out the worst section
in that instance. <o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavXHAyFi0nGN8088cKSI8vyLA2Sg-poBLWGJLiCjN05g4XvVq02ljLXssKA20bIod1z2FNg7pTWoRhpd9Kb1rxTYatleKJP7CvEvM6Mwvgc6m3OTONfc-D9R66y8A4g8vErbxBdaqW5ghxBpveBY13O5qIjo2haN8TD3XyyWsN5VPdS45L3yhnX_dBnI/s4032/20230701_071835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavXHAyFi0nGN8088cKSI8vyLA2Sg-poBLWGJLiCjN05g4XvVq02ljLXssKA20bIod1z2FNg7pTWoRhpd9Kb1rxTYatleKJP7CvEvM6Mwvgc6m3OTONfc-D9R66y8A4g8vErbxBdaqW5ghxBpveBY13O5qIjo2haN8TD3XyyWsN5VPdS45L3yhnX_dBnI/s320/20230701_071835.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">48 hours after it occurred</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The situation in #12 fairway is a little different. Although
the volume spilled was very large, its location makes it less of a candidate
for sod. Very few shots will end up directly in the dead area, and if one did,
it wouldn’t play any different than the healthy turf. And, though highly
visible, it is not a section of the fairway that everyone will traverse.
Lastly, the turf around the dead area is some of the healthiest and most
vigorous Bermuda grass on the entire property. With some cooperative weather
and some fertilizer, new grass will repair the area quickly. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We work every day to make sure the turf on the course is as
close to perfect as possible. An accident like this, even though it was out of
our control, is still discouraging. But we will keep working to correct any
issues that arise.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Etiquette Reminder of the Month<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After filling your divot with sand, either on a tee or
fairway, please smooth the sand pile out so our mowers don’t cut through the
sand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve
course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course
etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://mailersite.memfirstweb.net/mail/mail_click.asp?CODE=GMSTIROMRNGIBSXNTORGBIMRTTM&LID=1">Ball
Marks - How to properly repair</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/15/golf-cart-tips-to-keep-you-on-the-right-path.html">Golf
Cart tips</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the course!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">jvillegas@bwrc.org<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Villegashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02074597469278340761noreply@blogger.com0