Master plan construction update, aeration

This year’s Master Plan construction work is moving along right on schedule. Seeing the changes move from rough dirt piles to completed bunkers and tees is very exciting.

Currently, all work done around 1 and 10 greens is open for regular play. The sod at the greens is still young, so we continue to maintain it separately from our regular routine, but it is plenty mature enough to handle golfers. As the construction progresses back towards the tees, each new aspect will be opened as it is ready. Next will be the fairway bunker complex between 1 and 10, followed by the right fairway bunker on 10. Sod was laid on 10 tee this past Saturday. Since 10 is not a par 3 hole, the tee does not face the same abuse as a par 3 tee would; therefore, we expect 10 tee to most likely open within a couple of weeks. If this had been a par 3 we would have kept play off longer in order to allow the sod to mature further and withstand the divoting better.

This upcoming week is also aeration time for the course. We will be aerating greens, tees, and fairways. This schedule is slightly earlier than last year because it will provide benefits to the Bermuda grass. Since we are in the middle of the best Bermuda grass growing conditions, aerating it now allows it to utilize all of the benefits- relieving compaction, oxygenating the soil, among others- while also being able to grow and heal quickly.

For the greens, even though it is still hot, the turf has been dealing with the stress of summer for a long time and opening up the soil is like a big exhale for the grass. While we must still be diligent with our afternoon monitoring of stress, letting the greens breathe increases the amount of stress they can tolerate. Also, getting the aeration out of the way now paves the way for healing to happen quickly and provides a smooth transition into the busy golf schedule of September.

This is a week of balancing between intense course cultural practices and construction. With construction only a couple of weeks away from completion, getting aeration out of the way as well, will set us up to get the course into terrific shape as we head towards our Member/Guest tournaments.

Etiquette Reminder of the Week

Please leave bunker rakes inside the bunker once you are finished.

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org