Dry, sod

We laid 1 pallet of Bermuda grass sod this past week. It covered a few bad areas on #1, #15, and #18. This brings two things to mind: First, only one pallet of sod is a far cry from where we were in 2018; Second, the sod arrived very dry because it is VERY dry everywhere in the area right now, unlike 2018.

New sod on #15 fairway

The winter of 2017-18 was brutal for Bermuda grass. Not only here at Bretton Woods, but nearly all of the transition zone as well as may areas further south. Cold temperatures, no snow cover, wet days followed by cold nights, all played a part in causing widespread damage. If you can stomach it, here are some links, with some pictures to the carnage: initial observations, recovery plan, issues, sod plan, recovery. In total, all that work required 3.5 acres of sod, which is a little more than 150,000 square feet. The one pallet we laid last week totals 500 square feet.

New sod on #1 approach

While the pallet we laid by no means fixed every weak area, we were able to clean up 4 of our worst areas. A portion of the pallet was used in #1 approach. Two small spots were sodded on #18: one in the approach and one in the fairway. Last, all the sod that remained was used for the large bad area in #15 fairway. We have been diligent in keeping this new sod adequately watered because it arrived to us very dry, which is how our region has been for the month of May.

May is typically our wettest month. So far this year, we are almost 4 inches under normal and the rain we have received all came in the first 10 days of the month. Unirrigated rough is turning brown, dry circles around trees are enlarging as the trees out-compete the grass for water, and we are well into our hand watering program for the season already, including watering the new sod.

But……. what about 2018? Well, 2018 would eventually become the wettest year on record, with May being the wettest month on record! Again, here is are some links to flashback: rain, rain, go, away. We can add water, but we cannot take it back, so drier is better then too wet. However, too dry is not great either. We are working carefully to keep everything hydrated.

It seems that a true spring never arrived, and we are working to keep up. The Bermuda grass is getting back on track and the rain will come eventually, at which point we will ask it to stop!

 

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 a link to a video teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org