Small changes

Sometimes we make big changes, like the Master Plan renovation. And sometimes the changes are very small. We recently made two small changes: we moved the bench that is near the forward tee on #12; and, we delineated an area that we will not mow with our ride-on mowers.

The old bench location was under the oak
tree in the immediate distance

The forward tee on #12 is down a slope from the cart path. Cart riders leave their cart on the path, then slowly make their way down the hill to the tee. They then must climb back up the hill to their cart after teeing off. It had become a nuisance to many riders, so they were driving their carts down to the tee instead of walking.

The location of the bench and ball washers associated with the red tee on 12 was also placed directly up the slope from the tee. This is a subconscious indicator of where to park your cart when approaching any tee box. So, to counter not only the need to climb up and down the slope, but also golfers taking their cart down to the tee box, we moved the bench and ballwasher backwards along the cart path. The new location allows a much easier walk down to the tee box.

Another subtle adjustment we made this season, which we actually put into practice back in April, is a change to our mowing around the bunkers of #4 green. The bunkers on the left side of 4 green have a very narrow slice of grass separating them. It is also a steep drop down from the level of the green to the level of the bunkers.

This picture shows the relatively easier walk down
to the forward tee box.

We have dedicated mowers that we use to mow green and tee surrounds. These machines handle slopes very well. However, this particular location on #4 was being damaged from our mowers. There was not adequate room for maneuvering and occasionally when the turf was wet, tires would spin and tear the grass, when trying to climb the slope. The section constantly looked bad.

The area between the greenside bunkers
on #4.

So, this year, we have removed the section from the responsibility of the mowers and placed it on our bunker edging program. Now, the area does not receive traffic, turning, or tearing from a mower at all. Instead, we trim this spot during our regular bunker edging routine. Already, the turf is healthier than it has been in the past, and we expect it to remain that way through the season.

There are many other changes that are much more noticeable and impactful. But sometimes the small changes can make a big difference too.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please keep carts on cart paths for the entirety of par 3 holes.

 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

Bunker etiquette

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Slicing program

Lines from slicing.

This week we will be initiating our annual Bermuda grass slicing program. Using the growth habit of the Bermuda grass to our advantage, we help to promote new tissue and density.

Bermuda grass produces rhizomes and stolons that help it spread. Rhizomes are underground growing tissue and stolons are above ground. Both plant parts help the Bermuda grass move from one area to the next, where it establishes new plants. We promote this movement to help fill in weak areas as well as improve the overall density of all areas.

The beneficial aspect of the rhizomes and stolons that we exploit is their ability to grow new tissue from each place they are cut. What this means is that when this growing tissue is severed, a new plant will start at each end of the wound.

Up close shot after verticut machine. Notice
how much material is lifted out of the canopy. Compare
surface disruption to the above picture of slice lines.

There are many ways to accomplish this cutting action. There are specific slicing machines. The downside to a specific slicing machine is the cost and the fact that it would be in use for only a week or two a year.

There are also vertical mowing machines, which use a blade that cuts vertically, down into the turf, like what we use on the greens. We have a verticut machine that we have used in the past. These machines cut down into the canopy, slicing the growing tissue, but also removing large quantities of material. However, due to the damage the Bermuda grass has sustained over the last two winters, winter 2017-2018 in particular, we decided against using the verticut machine because we did not want to remove material from already weak turf grass.

Picture of a fairway after verticut. Next this fairway
would be mowed and then the excess material
blown off.

For us, we have found that our seeding machine works well and does not require another piece of equipment. We empty out the seed bin and simply run the discs through the turf. The seeding discs slice into the turf but no material is removed. The process is fast, very low impact, and much less labor intensive.

While the process of removing material using the verticut machine is still an important part of our program, we need the Bermuda grass to be stronger. It may be something we use later in this season or in another year. For now, though, the seeder accomplishes our goals the best.

Look closely and you can see dark green lines
from slicing. This is the new tissue starting to grow.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please keep carts on cart paths for the entirety of par 3 holes.

 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

Bunker etiquette

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Bermuda grass update

So far, the Bermuda grass is in better shape this year than last year, by a wide margin. However, that wide margin is still not fully healed from the winter and is not where we want conditions to be.

Last week, we raised the possibility that sod work would be done and briefly discussed some of the issues. You can read about it here.

Right now, we are in the early stages of planning some repairs. We will contract the work out as we have before and get it done as soon and as smoothly as possible. Not needing to do every tee and approach like last year will certainly help with minimizing the disruption. Like last year though, our work will have to be fit into already tight schedules, so there is not a specific date or timetable for the work.

Another concern is the availability of sod. We have already contacted our preferred source and the volume is ready, but the turf health is not. Though the sod producer is on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where it can sometimes be milder, their weather has been as difficult as everyone’s, and the sod is not in the condition necessary for a large harvest. Their expectation is that the Bermuda grass sod will be ready by the 1^st or 2nd week of June.

Our top priority will be holes 1, 11, 17, and 18. Hole #1 has some small areas starting about 75 yards out from the green and closer. These areas are highly visible as well as very much in play for the first hole. #11 has a medium sized area right in the approach, in high traffic area. The damage to #18 fairway is also in a high traffic, high playability location. It is also one of the larger areas of damage.

#17 was one of the holes that we were not able to repair last year after the damage of the 2017-2018 winter. The Bermuda grass did an ok job of healing itself, but it took far too long and was never fully healthy. Therefore, another cold, wet winter set the turf back again. There is a good portion of the main landing areas of #17 fairway that need to be repaired and we will be doing it this time around.

These are our top priority areas as of now. We will continue to do everything possible on our end to continue the recovery of the existing Bermuda grass and to shrink the areas that need repair.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please keep carts on cart paths for the entirety of par 3 holes.

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

Bunker etiquette

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Week review

Here is a roundup of some of the things happening this past week at the course:

1

1.        Because last season was so difficult due to heat and rain, the turf suffered. Weeds have taken advantage of the grass being knocked down and have increased in prevalence. We make an annual herbicide application in the spring to manage this outbreak. In an attempt to try something new and possibly improve control of weeds in spring and beyond, we tried a new product this year. Unfortunately, the results were horrible. The chemical was very injurious to the desired turf. It did not kill the grass, but the aesthetics and overall harm to the grass was more than we can accept. Although it did work in killing the weeds, it was not what we expected or hoped for. We have returned that chemical and a replacement will be delivered. Unfortunately, we have suspended the treatment of the weeds while this swap occurs. So, the weeds will be present a little longer than normal.
2.      The Bermuda grass is off to a much better start than last year. Last year’s discussions can be read here and here. However, we are nowhere near satisfied with the current Bermuda grass conditions. Several of the worst areas are areas that we were unable to repair last year and therefore, were never fully healthy headed into this past winter. Weak Bermuda grass will always struggle through winter. Several other areas are located where there is poor drainage or where water sits as it waits to drain. With the amount of rain we received last year, including during the winter, these areas are also showing damage. We are formulating a plan to repair the worst areas and more details will come. We will also be doing everything possible on our end to make sure that all areas heal as much as possible.
3.       New rule signs have been mounted on the hole signs at #1 and #10 tees. The signs remind players of the adoption of the local rule for the alternative to stroke and distance. This will add a visual reminder for everyone going out to play.
4.       We had a storm come through last Thursday as well as several windy days over the last week. We lost a couple of trees. More significantly though, has been the general debris around the course. Sticks, maple samaras, and other tree litter has been scattered about. We have been and will continue to be out with our blowers keeping things clean.
5.       We moved to cart scatter rules last week. We are now making a daily determination for carts leaving the cart path. We also make a separate, daily determination for Handicap flag accessibility.
6.       We purposely let the rough around the greens grow extra this spring. We were allowing for as much filling in and growth as possible before the heat of the summer comes. Also, our mowers are a significant source of traffic stress on the grass. By waiting, we bought time before the grass was subjected to our machines driving over it. We have now started our regular mowing routine and will do so for the remainder of the season.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please keep carts on cart paths for the entirety of par 3 holes.

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

Bunker etiquette

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org