More information on aeration

We are on the other side of course aeration now. The operation was smooth, but the weather didn’t perfectly cooperate. Being closed Monday through Thursday can seem like an inconvenience, but it gives us the time to accomplish our work in the correct sequence with the right amount of delay between each task.

One of the biggest keys for aeration is having 4 days scheduled for closure. When things go exactly right and the weather cooperates, we can finish all the course in 3 days, allowing us to give back the 4^th day. However, when our plans get scrambled, like this year, we can use that 4^th day to finish without having to completely alter a tee sheet that has already been booked. We received rain the night before aeration, Monday during our first day, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoon. This forced us to pause our work on Wednesday and then finish Thursday.

During aeration this year we poked solid tine holes in the fairways, approaches and greens and removed cores on tees. We have a contractor help us on the fairways because we don’t have the labor or machines necessary to finish in a timely manner. Our staff handles greens and tees in house.

Greens- we mow the greens first; this helps dry the surface so we can apply dry sand. The sand is spread before the aeration begins because research has shown it will actually get into the holes better when applied first. Then the aerator traverses the green with a brush attached on the back that moves most of the sand into the hole automatically. We then drag the remaining sand into the holes, roll the green smooth, and water if necessary. Now that we don’t remove any material, the whole process is smoother and much less labor intensive.

Tees- this is the first time in 12 years that we have pulled a core out of the tee surfaces. That is a very long time to go without removing material, but each year we monitored and solid tines continued to be a good choice. Up until now there was not enough thatch to necessitate removal, and the tees were not healthy enough to withstand the stress. This year we finally reached the point where thatch needed to be controlled, so we pulled a small core out of the tees. We allowed the core to dry on the surface and then dragged it until the soil broke away from the thatch. After the drag, we then blew the thatch off the tee.

Fairways- As mentioned, fairways and approaches were done by a contractor using solid tines. Using our verticutting program to control thatch in the fairways is working really well. So, we will continue to use solid tines on the fairways until it is necessary to pull a core.

Compost- we also use this time to apply compost to all of the Bermuda grass. This is a great way to build healthy soil and help the plants be stronger naturally.

 

Having the time to accomplish all this work is key, because without aeration, the turf would begin to suffer and playability would decrease.

 

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not drive carts into the tall grass native areas. Because the carts are low to the ground, grass gets caught in the front bumper and then falls off back out on the course. Thank you

 

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

USGA explains aeration

We are starting our annual course aeration this week. The course and practice greens will be closed today thru at least Wednesday. We have Thursday scheduled as a closed day as well, but if our work progresses according to plan, we should finish on Wednesday and be able to reopen on Thursday.

Despite the disruption and inconvenience, aeration is crucial to the health of the course. Rather than explaining all the details again, here is a short video from the USGA explaining aeration and the benefits:

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/16/why-do-golf-courses-aerate-putting-greens-.html

 

We understand that the course is healthy, so it seems contradictory to tear it up right now. However, the course is healthy right now, because we tear it up each year at this time. Without this aeration program, the turf would decline and conditions would suffer. Then, playability would be affected for an entire season, instead of just a few days.

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not drive carts into the tall grass native areas. Because the carts are low to the ground, grass gets caught in the front bumper and then falls off back out on the course. Thank you

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

New driving range signs

We have made an increased effort to improve some of the “little things” around the course this year. New stone, new mulch, and new flowers were all part of the plan this season. A less significant change that we made last week was upgrading the warning signs that line the bottom of the driving range.

There are three signs near the bottom of the driving range, in the rough to the right of 18 fairway, warning golfers on the course of driving range balls. The signs serve as a reminder that venturing out onto the driving range looking for an errant tee shot of #18 tee is not safe. Certainly not the most important part of the property, they still serve a purpose. Most of the time, many golfers likely don’t even notice the signs, but the old ones had lived their life and needed replacement.

We purchased 3 new signs and new posts as well. The placement of the old signs was still acceptable, so the new signs did not change locations. We slightly adjusted the orientation of the signs to account for people entering the safety zone from different angles.

Trying to see the property through the eyes of the members helps us to spot small changes that we can make. The signs don’t affect the round of golf, but making upgrades even to something that minor can still go a long way to improving the overall experience.

 

 

Weather permitting, we will wrap up the Bermuda grass verticutting this week. Thank you for your patience.

 

Also, starting Monday August 3^rd, the course is closed for aeration. It will remain closed until Thursday, August 6^th. Thank you

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please remember to remove any bunker sand that may be stuck to your spikes before walking on the greens.

 

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

Second heat wave

About 10 days ago, we discussed a heat wave that we were just exiting, and the decisions we made to help the turfgrass survive. Well, we just went through another tough stretch, and we thought another update was pertinent.

The main topic in the post in early July was regarding green speeds and how they have slowed. That is due to our program and helping the turf survive. Because this 2^nd wave of intense heat was so close on the heels of the first, we didn’t push green speeds back up in the interim. We are in the hottest part of the entire year and a few days back to normal (upper 80’s to low 90’s) is not a sensible time to be aggressive. So, for the time being, our goal is smooth, consistent putting greens, that have healthy turf. This means they will be slower, but you can count on grass to putt on every day.

But the putting greens are not the only turf that feels the effects of a heat wave, or waves. The rough, especially around the greens, which is the most intensely managed and highly trafficked, can also start to fade. We have a hodgepodge of grass species in the rough: annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bent grass, tall fescue, ryegrass, and Bermuda grass. Aside from the Bermuda grass, none of these other species enjoy the heat. Annual bluegrass in particular hates the heat. Even though it is the predominant species on greens, when it grows to rough height it struggles even more. There are areas where small patches of annual bluegrass died out, with healthy turf surrounding it. Unfortunately, it is difficult to keep only one species of grass because there are many sources of natural seed that intermixes. We will continue to work diligently to protect the turf we have, but some of these areas will also be candidates for replacement with new sod.

The good news is that we have cleared the latest hurdle in good condition. A vast majority of our turf is handling the heat very well. We continue to monitor, adjust, and tweak our programs to make sure we stay ahead of the weather. We also are alw
ays planning for improvements in areas that do not live up to our expectations. It is a never-ending battle, but each year we gain a little more ground to the positive.

Two reminders:

Fairway verticutting is still ongoing. Thank you for your patience.

Also, aeration is the week of August 3^rd. The course is scheduled to be closed 8/3-8/6. Thank you

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please remember to remove any bunker sand that may be stuck to your spikes before walking on the greens.

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

Verticutting fairways

It is now peak growing season for the Bermuda grass. So, we started our fairway verticut program last week.

Verticutting the Bermuda grass slices down into the canopy and removes a tremendous amount of material- thatch, stems, and other organic material that has built up over the last year. By removing this material, it reduces the puffiness of the surface. It also allows air down into the canopy and reinvigorates the remaining turf to fill back in and grow very strongly for the remainder of the year.

The material that is torn out of the fairways is broken up first with a drag, which helps separate the grass and stem material from soil. The soil is allowed to fall back into the canopy. Once the organic material is dry, we then blow it off the fairway into the rough. From there, we use our vacuum to pick it up and haul it away.

It is a very slow process from start to finish- which is why we must spread it out over several weeks. We got an abbreviated start this year because of the Maryland Senior Mid-Amateur event we are hosting, completing only the par 3’s and 17 and 18 fairways. Picking back up just after the event, we will continue over the next couple of weeks to complete the work.

We appreciate your patience during this disruptive but very necessary and beneficial practice. Completing the work now, during our relatively slow time in the golf schedule, provides the best playing surfaces for our busiest time in the fall.

 

 

Also, please note that we will be aerating the course starting Monday August 3^rd through Thursday August 6^th. The course and practice facilities are closed during this time. Thank you

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please remember to remove any bunker sand that may be stuck to your spikes before walking on the greens.

 

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