Irrigation blowout

Happy Thanksgiving!

As the holidays near, they signal the time for the Grounds department to begin preparing for winter. As mentioned last week, we have a list of tasks to be completed before the cold sets in to stay. The biggest component of winterization is blowing out the irrigation system. Protecting the components with which we water the turf grass is of utmost importance. From the sprinklers scattered around the course to the pumps in the pump station near #17 tee, each piece needs to be as free of water as possible.

Blowing out the irrigation system is just as it sounds: we connect an air compressor to the system and pump air through the pipes instead of water. We close the valve that allows water from the pond on #17 to enter the pipes, then systematically begin turning on every sprinkler head on the course. The air forced into the pipes takes the place of the water and blows it out of the sprinklers.  Once a particular sprinkler is no longer spraying water, we turn it off and move to the next one. While this may sound painstakingly slow, the process actually moves quickly. By manipulating what valves are open or closed we can control where excess water is allowed to travel and thus more directly force the water out where we want it to go. Also, prior to turning the air compressor on, allowing water in the pipes to drain out through gravity reduces the amount of water that we actually have to force out with air.

There is no set date by which we always empty the irrigation system. Thanksgiving provides a general time-frame, but the decision, like most other decisions we make, is weather dependent. However, the weather simply getting cold for a few nights does not necessarily mean the irrigation system is at risk. For example, this year we have had some near-record lows in the two weeks leading up to thanksgiving yet, we have not blown the irrigation system out. Although the air temperature is well below freezing, and the upper half to one inch of ground may freeze, this freeze is nowhere near the irrigation pipes in the ground. The cold has to establish itself for an extended period of time and begin to freeze the ground down deeper before we are concerned that it may damage the irrigation system. Just like many other jobs, we have to wait for the right time.

Blowing the system out too early or too late can both lead to problems. If the irrigation system is off and the weather turns relatively warm and dry, we can be left scrambling trying to get water on turf grass. Filling up a tank at the shop and driving it out on the course would be one way to get water out when the system is no longer active. This is very slow and inefficient. So turning the water off too early can lead to issues. Similarly, waiting too long to blow out the system can lead to many problems as well. If the system is not drained before the long extended cold arrives, broken pipes, sprinklers and other components is very likely. This is very costly and would require valuable labor in the spring to fix.

Because the irrigation system is large and extremely valuable, taking precautions for winter is a must. Putting it to bed properly ensures that when spring arrives, we are ready to water without any delay.

As a side note, starting December 1^st, the weekly blog will be reduced to monthly for December, January, and February. While work never stops for the Grounds Department, weekly changes and new topics are fewer.

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Miscellaneous winterization

Winter seems to be just around the corner now. Temperatures are staying low and overnights are getting cold. As the cold weather flexes its muscle, we do a few things to protect some on-course items from freezing. The biggest step we take is to blow out the irrigation system which will be discussed in greater detail next week.

A few other winterizing tasks are performed in addition to the irrigation system being drained. The water in the ball washers is drained and the ball washer is brought in to the maintenance facility for yearly maintenance and touch-up painting. During the summer, through normal wear, the inner workings of the ball washers can be broken or the paint scratched and chipped. By bringing the ball washer to the shop and repairing the broken pieces, it saves us from having to buy an entire new ball washer. Similarly, by repainting the ball washer, we can extend its life and keep it looking sharp. When we are finished, the ball washer will look and perform like new for the next season.

We also bring in the water coolers that are on the course. Some minor maintenance will be performed, and the jugs will be cleaned and stored. Also, any water cooler that cannot be repaired or is too old will be replaced for the next year.

We also have a device in the pond between #1 and #10 greens, called Sonic Solutions, which uses ultrasonic waves to keeps algae from growing in the water during the summer. You may have noticed the solar panel and equipment near the bank. Algae growth is slowed in the winter months and we do not want any damage to occur to the device from freezing and thawing. So this device is unplugged from the solar adapter and stored in the maintenance shop for the winter.

The fountain in the pond on #9 is an integral part of the golf course at Bretton Woods, and it is also an important aspect to the atmosphere of the clubhouse patio and lawns. In order to protect the fountain through the winter we will also bring it to the maintenance shop where it can be safely stored. The fountain will be cleaned and inspected to be sure no maintenance is needed.

Similarly, there is a pump in the stream at the miniature golf course. That device will also be pulled from the pond brought to the shop; it will be inspected and cleaned, and then stored for the winter.

Finally, we will prepare a propane heater to be placed in the bathroom near #14 tee. While the bathroom is solar powered and heated, when the temperatures drop very low, an additional heater is needed to protect the pipes from freezing.

These are all minor, yet essential tasks. Taking the time to protect these items from the cold saves time and money in the spring.

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Carts on dormant Bermuda grass

Helping Bermuda grass enter winter as healthy and strong as possible is one of the key tactics for preventing spring dead spot. The last couple of months we have been trying several combined strategies to increase the hardiness of the turf in the fairways and new tees. Already this fall we have applied the organic compost, Orgro, to the fairways to aid in spring dead spot control, we have applied fungicides, and we have made an application of potassium to the fairways. The final step that we will take is to restrict cart traffic from the Bermuda grass for the remainder of the winter.

Carts are a very stressful thing to turf grass. Whether it is cool season rough or the warm season fairways, the constant traffic causes damage. In the summer, heat stressed rough grass that is driven on can die or turn brown for some time before slowly recovering. In addition, turf that is too wet or has standing water on it can be severely damaged when driven on.  Most of the time, the turf grass plant is able to withstand the wear and recover nicely.

Bermuda grass that is entering dormancy or is already dormant does not have the same ability to recover. While the plant may be able to withstand the damage early in dormancy, the growth rate is so slow that recovery may be until the following spring. Similar to the rough, when the Bermuda grass is too wet, driving a golf cart across the turf can cause damage. The most severe damage can occur, however, when the ground and plant are frozen.

Dormant Bermuda grass turf is not growing but it is still alive at the crown and underground rhizomes of the plant. When the dormant, frozen part of the plant is crushed under the weight of a cart, the cells within that portion burst. This in itself does not actually kill any living tissue, but the effects are seen in the spring when the Bermuda is trying to come back out of dormancy. Rather than being able to regrow from the leaf tissue, the plant must regrow from the crown or from the below ground rhizomes. This can significantly set the recovery back. It takes far longer for the turf to regrow from this point than it would from other tissue. This damage can occur when the ground is dry or waterlogged.

Since control of spring dead spot can be very sporadic and difficult to predict, we also try to limit any other factors that may contribute to slow spring green-up. Removing carts from the fairways is one of the easiest of these factors to accomplish.

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Leaf cleanup

Fall colors are terrific. The oranges, reds, and yellows make it a great time to be out on the course. In order for the falling leaves to not impact play, the Grounds department staff works diligently to keep the course clean. This is a very time and labor intensive few weeks.

First, the leaves are blown off of playing surfaces: greens, tees, fairways, and bunkers. The blowers are the initial step in the cleanup process. We have to move the leaves to more accessible areas daily. We use a combination of equipment. We have backpack blowers to clear the greens and bunkers because bigger equipment cannot be used. Leaves on tees and fairways are blown with tow behind blowers or a tractor mounted blower. These machines are very efficient and powerful, and are capable of clearing an entire fairway in about ten minutes. Wherever possible, the leaves are blown to a location where they will not have to be dealt with again. For example, the native grass areas or the trees to right of #15 are areas where leaves can be left. However, not all of the leaves can be moved to these areas.

Anywhere in the open where leaves must be removed, piles or windrows of leaves can be seen.  With the blowers, the leaves are moved into the rough on either side of a fairway or tee or in to an out of the way area. Once collected, there are two main strategies for dealing with the piles. First, we have a giant vacuum that is pulled behind a tractor and sucks the leaves up. This machine works just as it sounds: the vacuum opening is driven directly over the pile and pulls the leaves up. Wet, heavy leaves or very deep piles are much harder to vacuum, but nevertheless, this machine does a very good job. The second way that we handle the piles is by mulching them with a rough mower. By mowing over a pile several times, the cutting action of the blades chops up the leaves into tiny pieces. These tiny pieces fall into the turf canopy and are no longer able to move about the course.

Making matters more complicated are the windy fall days. Not only are we trying to clear the play areas of leaves that have already fallen, but more are continuing to fall. Then the wind shifts and everything that was blown away turns around and blows right back at you. It can seem as though we are not making any progress at all. However, each leaf must be cleared from the course, so although some leaves may avoid collection one day, this time of year we will be cleaning leaves at some point every day.

While it may seem that fall colors and the falling of leaves is short-lived, on the golf course dealing with the mess seems just the opposite. The leaves can seem infinite. But with the right tools and persistence we manage to eventually win each fall against the onslaught of debris.

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org