End of the year wrap-up

Despite some of the coldest days of the year, the Grounds staff has been very busy. A common misconception regarding turf maintenance is that there isn’t anything to do over the winter since we aren’t maintaining the grass. However, the jobs may change, but the work doesn’t stop.

We have had several projects ongoing at once over the last few weeks. Although the weather has been cold at times, we have had some warmer days mixed in, but more importantly for our work, it has still been dry. Early frost delays are still part of the equation at this time of year, but once we’re past that, if the ground is dry, we can get out and accomplish our goals.

Here is a wrap-up of some of our recent work:

We are down to our last bunker renovation-the chipping green bunker - after having completed the renovations of the bunkers at 13 green, plus all of holes 14, 15, and 16. Due to the enormous amount of action the chipping green bunker gets, we must renovate it on a tighter schedule, having last completed work on it back in 2020. The sand blasted out of the bunker accumulates on the face at an accelerated rate and we must keep up or the integrity of the bunker suffers

Our annual winter tree work has also been in full swing. This, more than any other project, has benefited from the dry ground the most. Getting heavy tree maintenance equipment on the course can be a challenge, but when the ground is this dry (or frozen!) makes it much easier. We are working across the lower section of the course- holes 2, 3, 13, 14, and 17. Believe it or not, most of the work we are doing is still cleanup from the storm back in July that was a lower priority at the time, and we decided could wait until after the season.

Along with bunker renovation work, one of our recurring winter projects is adding additional drainage. Every winter since the Master Plan renovations were completed, we have added new drains, some of which you can read about here and here. We monitor areas throughout the season, noting how well they perform when we get heavy rain, and keeping a list of where work is needed. We have already completed drains on 4, 13, and 18. Work is still upcoming on 14 approach. The drains are out of site, buried in the ground, but this work is some of the most impactful for golfers as well as the turf. By adding these drains in wet areas, we improve the playability overall, as well as increasing our ability to allow carts off the path.

#18 fairway work

Drainage work on #4

#4

#13 work

Drainage on #13

More from #13

Lastly, back in the summer, the Golf Committee recommended the practice bunker to the left of the driving range tee be moved near the lower driving range tee. This is a project we can handle in-house, but it was not practical to try and do the work during the season. However, now is an ideal time. The old bunker near the upper driving range tee will be filled in completely and nothing new will be built in its place. A brand-new bunker is under construction down at the new practice tee area that will be much more accommodating to the Golf Professional staff giving lessons. This bunker will be finished soon, but we likely will not open it until closer to spring.

Preparing the location of the new bunker

Rough shaping of the new bunker

Another angle of new bunker

As you can see, winter only brings a shift in priorities, not a lack of work. Getting these projects finished now allows us to return our focus to the grass when it is time.

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not try and remove a flagstick that is frozen into the cup. Turf damage may occur.

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:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Golf Cart tips

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Deep tine and collar sod

We have had another busy stretch of work. The weather cooperated perfectly to complete our deep tine aeration as well as complete some sod work on the collars.

It may seem late in the season to be performing an aggressive aerification of the turf, but this is a critical practice for the health of the greens. Just as the name implies, deep tine aeration penetrates much deeper into the soil profile than the other aeration events that we perform. Reaching down 5-7” inches, this aeration is perfect for heading into winter. Plant growth is just strong enough to send roots down these deep channels. Strong deep roots grown now, will only help during the stress of the summer. Also, the depth of the aeration creates a place for water to drain down through the profile. Water from rain or melting snow will have an avenue to escape the surface, which will keep the surface from staying saturated for too long. Not only is this better for winter time golf, it is also much better for the plant.

We were also able to complete some collar sod work on holes 6-13 and the chipping green. 3 years ago we renovated all of the collars on the entire course. The old collars were not a consistent type of turf and struggled mightily in the heat of the summer. The new collars perform much better, but Bermuda grass especially still encroaches. This is the goal of these smaller sod projects that we have done the last two years: punching out spots of Bermuda grass and redefining the collars, especially across the front where the collar meets the approach. Last year we finished the putting green and holes 1-5, and so we picked up from there this year. The goal will be to finish next year and likely start back over at that point. This will be an ongoing program that we will stick to.

Both the green aeration and the sod work have been virtually uninterrupted by weather concerns. These were important steps to complete before heading into winter and everything went very smoothly.

 

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not scrape snow or ice off the green to clear your line for putting. Turf damage may occur.

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:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Golf Cart tips

 

 

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Halloween Harvest update

Bretton Woods is unique in many ways, from our membership demographics, location, and events. Some of these events require the Grounds department to perform unique jobs. Such is the case with our Halloween Harvest event last weekend. Here is a post from several years ago, that describes our involvement and how it differs from a regular day:

As we turn towards fall, another task for the Grounds department is helping with the club’s Halloween Harvest event. While this is an event that requires all departments to execute, the Grounds department manages the wagon rides and pumpkin patch portions of the activities.

Each year we host a large event for families centered on Halloween. There are many things for families to do including the wagon rides and pumpkin patch. Leading up to the occasion, we mow a trail out through the back field for the wagons to follow. This loop winds through some interesting terrain and fall colors.

We also mow a large area for our pumpkin patch. We purchase pumpkins and spread them throughout this open area. As part of the wagon ride, we stop at the pumpkin patch; everyone gets out, picks a pumpkin and then finishes the ride back to the clubhouse.

In addition to the mowing and prep work, Grounds staff employees are also the wagon drivers. We rent 2 hay wagons and use our tractors to pull them. The two tractors run pretty much non-stop for a few hours, giving everyone a chance to ride to the pumpkin patch.

One of the unique challenges at Bretton Woods is being able to handle different tasks that can be completely unrelated to turf maintenance. Driving wagons and setting up a pumpkin patch is just one of those instances. So, on the day of Halloween Harvest, the Grounds department’s day is not finished after the morning course setup.

Starting in November, we will reduce new posts to once per month. Thank you

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please stay off all grass surfaces during a frost delay.

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:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Golf Cart tips

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Fall fertilizer

Fall is a critical time of year for turfgrass. Some of the best root growth occurs in the fall as the plant prepares to survive the winter. To aid this physiological process as much as possible, we also fertilize almost all the cool season turf on the course at this time.

The top growth of the cool season turf has slowed dramatically now that we have had some seasonably cold weather. Mowing frequencies have decreased and clipping yield has dropped as well. However, this is not an indication that the plant has stopped growing. Under the soil, the plant is working hard to grow and develop its roots as much as possible, both to make up for lost ground during the summer, but also to prepare itself for the winter. This root enhancement takes a lot of energy.

To make sure the plant does not run out of energy for this critical process of root growth, now is the time we also provide another feeding to the plant. We fertilize nearly all the cool season turf: greens, surrounds, rough, and the soccer field. Since the temperatures are still warm, but not hot, and the soil temperatures are cool, but not cold, the plant will use most of the food right away. But the product we use also provides a steady stream of food for the plant over the next several weeks also, so that the plant has access to energy when it needs it.

Building strong roots now aids in winter survival, which is paramount. But another key to the fall fertilizer is that those strong roots built now will help give the plant a jump coming out of the cold in spring. Having plants that come out of winter strong helps them withstand the stress of summer and leads to healthy turf all season long.

 

 We will reduce down to one post per month starting in November. Thank you

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please stay off all grass surfaces during a frost delay.

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:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Golf Cart tips

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Yearly leaf and frost reminder

Now fall feels like it has officially arrived- we had our first sub-40-degree morning. This time of year brings with it two key issues: leaves and frost.

The changing leaves make this time of year the favorite of many. The weather is typically still comfortable, and it is perfect for outside activities. Another aspect of autumn is that leaves begin to fall. Leaf cleanup can be very time consuming and, especially when the wind blows, it can be frustrating also. We spend time cleaning a particular hole and five minutes later the wind blows a new round of leaves across everywhere and it looks as though we did nothing! Nevertheless, here are a few key points to remember about our leaf cleanup efforts:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

The second scourge of fall is frost! There is not a single good aspect to frost or frost delays. However, just because no one likes frost, doesn’t mean we can keep it away.  Just like with leaves, there are a few key points that everyone must remember:

·         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.

 

·         The coldest part of the morning is just before sunrise, so frost can set right at the last minute.

 

·         During the delay, all areas of the course are closed. While frost can form in some areas but not others, trying to direct people to frost or 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.

 

·         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, which can sometimes add a small amount of time to the delay.

 

·         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.

 

Some veteran fall golfers will undoubtedly be experts in dealing with these fall issues. But a reminder for all is helpful and we hope that it will help mitigate some of the inconvenience of dealing with the leaves and frost.

 

Also, we will reduce posts to once per month starting in November, through February.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please stay off all grass surfaces during a frost delay.

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:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Golf Cart tips

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org