#16 green damage

Sometimes despite our best intentions and our best efforts, we still fall short of our expectations. This past week we aerated greens and the process went quite smoothly. However, the weather was too good: it was hotter than we would have liked. We did not manage the heat as well as we needed to and a section of #16 green suffered.

Unfortunately, the aeration process is labor intensive, slow (unless you have an army of staff and equipment), and tasks must be completed in a certain order. The problem for #16 green was that it sat exposed for a long time while each step of the process was completed on other holes. We reached #16 as quickly as we could have considering, but with the heat already taking its toll, by the time we were ready to apply water, some of the turf had already been severely stressed. The result is some loss of grass, some heavily injured grass that will slowly recover, and some grass that only slightly wilted and has started to recover.

We have already taken steps to regain control of the situation. First, aeration itself, while partly to blame, will also aid in some recovery, relieving some stress on the surrounding turf. Also, we will be even more closely monitoring the moisture of this particular area to make sure no further drought conditions occur. A fertilizer application has already been made, with others to follow. We will seed bent grass into the damaged areas to re-establish grass. We will closely manage the equipment traffic, keeping all unnecessary machines off the damaged turf.

Lastly, one saving grace is the specific location of the damage. The very back of #16 green is one of the least utilized areas of the green, partly because of the mound in the back right. This is not a place that we can put a pin because of the slopes. The back left is usable, but we can keep yellow flags off this area or reduce the frequency with which they occur. It is also not a high traffic area, i.e., no one walks to the next hole across this spot, so golfer traffic should be minimal.

The loss of grass is below our expectations as well as yours. Rest assured, we will do everything possible to recover as quickly as possible.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please leave bunker rakes inside the bunker once you are finished

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