Finishing touches

As the year winds down, we have been busy putting the finishing touches on some projects. We were able to complete our last set of bunker renovations before the nasty cold set in. And all the tall grass native areas were mowed down one last time for the season.

Being able to wrap up the bunkers on #2 before the cold (and holidays) was ideal. Although it looks like we may still get some unseasonably warm temps right after the start of the new year, we can’t count on that happening. Using the last stretch of warmer temps, we were able to quickly get the last bit of sod laid. Hopefully, in this next warm up, the sand will thaw, and we can move it back into place.

We also performed our winter mowing on the tall grass areas. We aim to mow these areas 3 times per year, with the last of the season being in December. Again, a few nice days right before the heavy rain, allowed us to compete the project. This mowing helps limit any winter germinating weeds from getting a head start and removes any dead tissue from some of the grass, so they have a fresh start come spring.

Mother Nature cooperated just late enough into the year for us to finish up some pressing outside projects before we hunker down to focus on our inside work.

Happy holidays

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not try and remove a flagstick that is frozen into the cup. Turf damage may occur.

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

 Golf Cart tips

 

 

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

November wrap-up

The Grounds department has been busy the last several weeks. Leaf cleanup, drainage installation, and bunker renovations have been ongoing since the middle of October.

New drains were installed in several locations. Getting water off the surface is one of the best ways to ensure good turf quality as well as improve the playability of the course. This year we added new drains in #1 approach, #15 approach, and 3 different locations on #17 fairway. We installed just shy of 1000 linear feet of new drains which will be great long-term improvements.

We have also been slowly working on our annual bunker renovation work. We started on #5 and have completed all those bunkers. Then we moved on to #6, with work ongoing on that hole. Time and weather permitting, we will move to #7 next, and lastly to #2. Especially on #6, we have seen severe buildup of bunker sand on the lip, which we have removed, and reshaped the edge back to its original design.

Lastly, we hit high gear on leaf cleanup over the last couple of weeks. The leaf season started slow, but in the 2 weeks prior to Thanksgiving, the leaves seemingly all dropped at once. Our blowers and vacuum were out in full force, and we took care of nearly every leaf. While it can be bothersome to hear or see the machines out all the time, we must work our entire shift in order to keep up.

Some old sod sloughing of the edge
of the front bunker on #6. The grass was rooted in splashed bunker
sand only and was no longer stable. The perfect example of why we
do the bunker renovations every 5-7 years.

We should have another few weeks of workable weather to get as far as we can on our remaining bunker work. If so, then this next stretch should be as productive as the last.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Winter cart path rules are now in effect to protect the dormant Bermuda grass- we will scatter less and be more restrictive with blue flags.

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

 Golf Cart tips

 

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Bunker rake stands

Starting today, 10/3, we will begin testing bunker rake stands in the bunkers on #2 at the request of Golf Committee.

Trying to get golfers to rake the bunkers after they play out of them is a problem at all courses. There may be many reasons why a person does not rake their bunker, one of which may possibly be that they can’t find a rake easily or at all. The new bunker rake stands hope to eliminate that particular issue and perhaps increase the instances of raking following play.

The bunker rake stand is placed inside the bunker. These stands are where one is to replace the bunker rake when finished raking. Each rake has its own stand, and the stands will be placed inside the bunker. The rake handle lays on top of the stand at an angle.

There are a couple of goals for the stands:

1.       Having a place to put the rake will remind people to put the rake back at the stand, inside the bunker, rather than tossing it wherever they exit.

2.       If each person replaces the bunker rake back to the stand, then the next person does not need to search for a rake. In theory, not having to search for a rake might encourage everyone to rake their disturbance and eliminate time wasted searching for a rake.

We will run the test for a couple of weeks and check periodically on the location of the rakes. Perhaps we can increase the instances of golfers raking behind themselves if they see the rakes and know what to do with them afterwards.

 

As a reminder, starting in October, thru February, we will reduce to one post per month.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please stay off all grass surfaces during a frost delay

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

 Golf Cart tips

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Greens stepcut

In consultation with the Golf Committee, we are beginning a test of a greens stepcut. This will be an intermediate height of grass between the collar and rough.

Around the fairways, we have an in-between height of Bermuda grass: we call it the stepcut, as in it is a step higher than the fairway but shorter than the rough. We are now taking that same concept to the green surrounds. The reason we are starting with only a test is twofold: 1. The current grass around the greens is not ideally suited to be cut at this new lower height and we want to make sure it can take the change; 2. We need to make sure this is a job that we can successfully add into our program without sacrificing other jobs. Now is a great time of year to check both things. The weather is conducive to putting a little pressure on the turf without killing it and some of our other jobs are winding down allowing for room to practice and see how a new job fits in.

It has taken us lots of time and effort to improve the green surrounds. It is still something we are working on and will continue to work on. Each year has shown improvement, to the point that sometimes the rough immediately off the green is very thick and lush. It can be difficult to play from. The goal is to allow a shot that rolls just into the rough to be slightly easier to play. We will mow 2 passes with a rotary push mower around the green at lower height of cut compared to the rough, but higher compared to the collar. As you move further off the green, the next shot becomes for difficult. To begin, we will be mowing this new stepcut on holes 1, 5, and 13.

Be on the lookout for this new height of cut around these greens. Hopefully it will make the next shot easier if a green is missed and the turf will tolerate this change.

 

Beginning in October, and lasting through February, we will drop to one post per month

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

In addition to repairing your own ball mark on every green, please repair at least one other as well.

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

Golf Cart tips

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Upcoming bunker and drainage work

As day lengths shorten and overnight temperatures drop (Finally!), the Grounds department is looking toward project time. Like other years, we will tackle more drainage work as well as our annual bunker renovations.

For the most part, our bunker renovation routine stays the same, year after year, we just rotate which bunkers are due for the work. Our staff has learned the process well and the work goes smoothly. This year we are tackling holes 2, 5, 6, and 7. Some of you may recall that we have already done work on #7 in the past- #7 bunker work. It has been 7 years already since that work. We won’t be doing everything listed in that past post, but it is good for general information. We typically expect a bunker edge to last 5-7 years, so we are right on schedule. Though we are circling back to bunkers that have already been through this process, it doesn’t mean that all bunkers have been renovated. Instead, some of the bunkers were built during the Master Plan construction more recently and are not quite due for more work. We track when each bunker was built, rebuilt, etc. and have a spreadsheet indicating which bunkers will be done each season. If we spend the time to rebuild the bunkers on this rotation, it can extend the overall life of the bunker many, many years.

Our other project that we consistently work on in the fall is drainage. Often we do work on greens- #17, #8 and #9, and #4 and #15. We have also tackled wet areas in approaches, fairways and rough- #3, #7, and #10 . This year we will be focusing on #17 fairway, #15 approach, and if we have time, #1 approach. We are slowly making progress on wet areas around the course, and we will eliminate a few more this season.

Some of our regular maintenance starts to slow down or stop completely soon. This allows us time to focus on these projects which are vital for the course to be in its best shape for the next season.

 

Beginning in October, and lasting through February, we will drop to one post per month.

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

In addition to repairing your own ball mark on every green, please repair at least one other as well.

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

Golf Cart tips

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

SDS and soil temperatures

Spring Dead Spot (SDS) isn’t the only disease that affects Bermuda grass, but it is the only one that we worry about. It will very soon be time for our first of two applications to preventatively treat for the disease.

We have discussed some of the nuances of SDS treatments in the past, which can be found here and here. The difficulty with treating for SDS is that we must treat in the fall but have no indication of whether the treatment was effective until the following May. And, even if the fungicide worked well, if the winter was too harsh for the Bermuda grass, we may still have a lot of disease and possibly winter kill.

Regardless, our program still follows the best available university research. We are working on adding in the newest and best chemicals for our applications. We water the applications down into the soil where the target pest is located and use enough water to fully penetrate the thatch at the surface. But most importantly we monitor the soil temperatures to accurately time when the applications should be made. Soil temperatures need to be below 70 degrees for 5 consecutive days. This sounds simple but it still takes monitoring and recordkeeping.

 

Soil temperatures follow the same trajectory as air temperatures but do not swing as wildly or rapidly. There is a gradual cool down as we head towards fall and not many spikes, even if we have a very warm day. Since we have been diligently checking these temperatures, our first application has been applied sometime between the September 20^th and October 1^st.

Starting September 1^st, we check soil temperatures every 5 days and wait to hit the threshold. Once we do, then we start to monitor every day so that we know when it has been 5 in a row. Finally, we must find a window to actually make the application. To have the best chance at success we must apply when Mother Natures says so, not just whenever we want. And it is a slow process- spraying all 47 acres of Bermuda grass as well as watering every sprinkler for 15 minutes afterwards.

All of this comes together to make these the two most important applications to the Bermuda grass all season. We expect to get it right and for the control to be as good as it can, but it will be 7-8 months before we know for sure.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

In addition to repairing your own ball mark on every green, please repair at least one other as well.

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

Golf Cart tips

 

  

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Native area update

Our second native area mowing of the season occurs in August, and we just wrapped it up last week. The new areas that we marked earlier in the summer are slowly maturing and will be ready for a cut in December. We are also working on getting red stakes out to mark all the native areas.

Our regular mowing schedule for the native areas is May, August, and December. The cut in May helps to give the grass a jump start for the season and trimming back any weeds that are infiltrating as well. The August mowing is a good reset after a long summer of growth. Some of the grasses are at their tallest and thickest of the season and it helps to keep them from getting laid over and too unsightly.

The new areas that we established earlier in June are not quite ready for a cut yet. Most of them are still wispy, thin, and uneven. A few more months of growth and we will give them a trim. At that point they will much more closely match the existing native areas. The density will continue to improve, weeds will be managed, and soon it will be hard to distinguish old from new.

All our native areas are also marked as penalty areas with red stakes. The old areas in some cases had overgrown the stakes and made them difficult to see. We paid special attention this time around to getting the stakes set out, trimming the edges of each native area to prevent further encroachment out into the general rough, and reestablishing an edge for the stakes to be placed. We also finally received our order of more stakes (ordered in June- delivered in August!) to be placed around all the new native areas. This will ensure that all the course is marked appropriately and consistently.

Slowly the new areas are filling in nicely. We mowed the old areas, and the new ones will be ready to cut soon. In a short time, it will be like they have always been there.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

In addition to repairing your own ball mark on every green, please repair at least one other as well.

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

 Golf Cart tips

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Soccer and sod

Just because the week of aeration is over, doesn’t mean the work stops. Once past that busy week, we turn our attention to soccer and a few small side projects on the golf course.

From the middle of August thru the middle of September, the upper soccer field is closed for maintenance. We aerate, seed, and sod out a few of the worst areas. It gives the field a nice break and refreshes it for the fall season. Once the seed matures and the sod knits down, we put the mowers back on it at a higher height of cut and gradually work it back into playing shape. Despite last year’s fall armyworm outbreak, the timing remains good for us and the soccer players.

A step back showing the area we sodded
behind 8 green

Usually, we have some left over sod once the soccer field is finished. Sometimes we order a little more to add to the leftovers and tackle a few green surround areas that are struggling towards the end of the summer. This was the case again this year and we were able to knock out some of the worst areas. But it didn’t go totally to plan. We encountered three different issues all at once:

1. It was still hot. The sod suffered some damage just from cooking itself while rolled up on the pallet. We laid the new sod as soon as we could, but even just the few hours that it was rolled from when the grower harvested it, to when we laid it, was enough to overheat some of the grass. Most of it will likely recover, and we will be inter-seeding into it in a few weeks to repair what doesn’t recover.
2. Our sod cutter had a small gear oil leak that went unnoticed for most of the time we were using it. We use our sod cutter to remove the trash sod and prepare the area for the new sod. The oil leak wasn’t too big of a deal on the grass we were taking out but maneuvering the machine in the area and driving it across adjacent turf that was not being removed, resulted in some grass inadvertently being killed by the oil. These are the dead or thin areas very near the new sod. It was not that we neglected to repair those areas- they were fine until the oil from the sod cutter killed the grass.
3. We had a malfunctioning sprinkler. The sprinklers have internal gears that makes them rotate. As they wear, the gears can stop working, and the sprinkler stops turning. A sprinkler that won’t turn on at all is much easier to spot than one that is not spinning, so we are not sure how long it was working incorrectly. However, judging by the fact that we had to replace sod right near this particular sprinkler, it likely wasn’t working for quite some time which led to the decline in turf. But now it has also led to poor sod health as well, before we replaced the sprinkler with a new one.

The dead grass to the right of the white line was killed
from the sod cutter gear oil. The dead
grass in the sod pieces is a result of being too hot
while it was rolled and sitting on the pallet.

Not all three of these issues happened at each location, or even happened at all in all locations that we worked. Nevertheless, the improvements we were making did not turn out as good as we had planned. But we will keep pushing and working to get things as good as possible.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please don’t apply bug spray or sunscreen while standing on greens, tees, or fairways.

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

Golf Cart tips

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

USGA visit

On Monday, 8/8, we had a USGA Green Section Agronomist out for a course consultation visit. Our focus of discussion was the Bermuda grass and the struggle we have seen this year. It was a productive meeting.

We will post the full report at the bottom, but here are a few highlights:

• - Bermuda grass across the region has struggled this year. Overall, there was a higher-than-normal infection rate for Spring Dead Spot. Spring Dead Spot is a disease that can only be managed, not cured, or eradicated.
• -  Weather trends over the last 5-7 years have shifted (the cause is irrelevant). May and June are cooler than in the past; July heat does not arrive until the 15^th or later; the summer stretches well into September and even stays seasonably warm into October. So, seeing green Bermuda grass in April and May is great, but it will continue to be late June, July, and early August until the Bermuda grass reaches its full growth potential and fully heals any damage from the winter.
• -  We discussed the impact shade has on Bermuda grass, and in our case particularly on #5 fairway. The USGA Agronomist reminded everyone that Bermuda grass needs at least 8 hours a day of quality sunlight. It was recommended that 4 trees be removed along the right side of #5 fairway. However, it was noted that the right half of #5 fairway is highly prone to disease and winter death, and it will not be cured by removing some trees. The idea is to do all that we can to provide the best growing conditions possible.
• - We covered our current and proposed weed control program. Prior to this meeting, and in fact as early as this past June, the Grounds department started evaluating our current program and looking for ways to improve. After speaking with several other Turfgrass Weed Scientists, and proposing the new program to the USGA Agronomist, he agreed that the new program would improve upon our weed defense. More importantly though, we devised this new program to aid in the recovery of the Bermuda grass from the winter and he agreed that it would also provide the best situation for the Bermuda grass to heal.
• - We also covered our current and proposed Spring Dead Spot control program. Like our weed program, the Grounds department also evaluated our Spring Dead Spot control program. While this year was a bad year across the board, we also felt that our particular control was worse than normal. In discussing the disease with a university pathologist, we are looking at switching to a new chemical. Again, the USGA Agronomist agreed that we were due for a rotation and probably did in fact see less efficacy this year. He also agreed that new products would certainly improve our control.

      Like we have posted and stated many times: the health and playability of the grass is our focus, and it frustrates us as much, or more than the members when it is not right. We have already started the steps to improve for next year. The USGA consultation visit provided good confirmation that we are on the right track.

USGA Report

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please don’t apply bug spray or sunscreen while standing on greens, tees, or fairways.

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

Aeration and turf decline

We are now starting our second week after aeration. It was a very tough stretch for aerating cool season turf and we have some areas that did not respond well (It has sparked some serious rethinking of the whole program as well as timing for upcoming seasons). In the meantime, we are focusing on healing and repairing.

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for the Bermuda grass. It received a boost of oxygen to the roots, some fertility, and it reached its highest growth rate of the season. It is ready for the late summer and fall golf season.

The weather couldn’t have been worse for the greens and collars. High heat, high humidity, and high soil temperatures are never a good combination for cool season turf. Add in the stress of aeration and some turf did decline. These areas will show great improvement as the weather breaks, which has already started: highs in the 80’s and lows in the 60’s. However, turf never recovers as fast as it declines. This process will take time. But we will be doing all that we can to make sure it improves as quickly as possible.

Looking forward we will evaluate all the issues that led to the poor performance of some of the turf. Several factors were caused by the Grounds staff and the things we do during the aeration process. For next year, we are already planning a few tweaks to the procedure, all to help the grass better withstand all the stresses. However, we are also looking at the overall trends of the last few years- weather during aeration has been getting warmer and warmer and likely isn’t going to get cooler. Another part of the post-aeration evaluation is whether the first week of August still makes sense as the date for aerating the greens and collars. It has long been the scheduled date for aeration at Bretton Woods, but that does not mean it always has to be. October weather would be much better for the turf, but healing would likely take longer, especially as the golf calendar keeps moving further into the fall. Nevertheless, it is still a viable option that we are assessing for years to come.

Now that aeration is behind us, we will focus on getting the course back in shape for the fall golf season. We will work diligently to make sure that the turf that did decline through the tough weather and aeration stretch is back in top condition as quickly as possible.

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please don’t apply bug spray or sunscreen while standing on greens, tees, or fairways.

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

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Tee edges

Over time, especially regarding Bermuda grass, the edges of tee boxes can shift- the tee can change size and also twist in relation to the line of play. We have been out painting new edges and will be working on straightening the tees out.

During the summer, particularly on the sunny side of a tee, the Bermuda grass from the teeing surface can migrate out into the rough. The mower operator, possibly missing the correct edge by half an inch won’t really be able to tell the difference of what was tee and what was rough. This leads to the tee slowly shrinking as each cut follows the “new” edge. Similarly, the opposite can happen: the Bermuda grass moves into the rough, it looks just like the tee surface grass to the operator, so they mow it. Now the tee starts to get bigger as each cut follows this “new” edge. In each case, the area of the tee box can change- it can grow wider, or it can shrink.

As you can see, the white line has been
painted out from the current edge. This 
indicates that the tee box has shrunk slightly.

It is also difficult to maintain a straight edge for the length of a tee box, so realignment is necessary in that case also. The edges can swerve slightly, angle in the wrong direction, or even bow in the middle. And once these long edges start to get off, the front and back edges tend to follow suit. What is left is a tee box that may or may not be square to itself but is also not aimed correctly down the hole; it has slowly twisted on its plane and now does not align with the intended line of play.

This edge and corner as still very close
to as originally built

We are out to correct these two scenarios by painting in straight edges that are in the correct position and correctly aimed. We will then mow to the paint lines to correct the issues. Since the Bermuda grass is growing so vigorously right now, areas that we must scalp down to correct, will be able to adjust to the new mowing height and heal in before it gets cold.

Nothing is static. Just like we must regularly strip the edges of bunkers to redefine the perimeter, we must regularly reshape the tee boxes. We will finish up this round this week and be ready for when the edges need to be reworked in the future.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please don’t apply bug spray or sunscreen while standing on greens, tees, or fairways.

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

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Aeration

We begin aeration of greens, tees, and fairways today. Although disruptive, aeration is critical to the health of the turf.

For the Bermuda grass, it is growing at its fastest rate of the entire year. Providing some oxygen down into the soil will give it the last boost it needs to finish the season strong. But more importantly, the growth that is occurring now means that it is also producing carbohydrates and storing them for the winter. Helping make that energy storage process as efficient as possible is a key defense against winter injury.

We will also be applying our twice annual compost at this time as well. This is a part of our Spring Dead Spot control program but is also generally very beneficial to the turf and soil, giving a boost of energy to the turf, and a source of food for the soil organisms.

On greens, we are less aggressive due to the time of year and stress the turf is already facing. However, letting the greens breathe is still worth the work. Timing the aeration now, also allows for an uninterrupted fall golf season on greens that are healed from the summer stress and ready for more.

We also time some of our more extensive work on the soccer fields for this same window. Equipment is already hooked up and ready and the staff is in “aerating” mode. Both soccer fields are aerated, composted, and the upper field gets new sod in worn out areas.

Some of our regular maintenance is postponed during these busy few days, but grass doesn’t stop growing so we still have mowing to fit in. After aeration is complete, we try to have everything back together and in the best shape possible by the weekend. It is a whirlwind few days that most golfers despise, but it is critical for the long-term health of the course.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please don’t apply bug spray or sun screen while standing on greens, tees, or fairways.

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

 

 

 

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Stretch of heat

This past weekend was a tough stretch. It was good Bermuda grass weather, but it was not good cool season turf weather. Overall, our preparation for the summer has still been successful, and the stress is not over, but the recent heat did take a toll. Mother Nature won this round, and we suffered some small areas of turf decline.

The turfgrass on the greens is capable of surviving the heat of the summer, but not thriving. It prefers 45-55 degree nights and 65-75 degree days. This past weekend was most definitely not in those ranges. Even the bent grass, which can tolerate much higher temperatures compared to the Poa annua on the greens, still had a tough time.

While none of the damage is permanent, some spots will take longer than others to heal. We are scheduled to aerate in one week, which will help. We will also make a few other small tweaks to make sure that the weakest areas recover as quickly as possible.

We are in the hottest week of the year. We continue to strive for the best conditions possible and we often must work against, or at least around what the weather is doing. We took the last few days of heat head-on and did not come out unscathed, but we will make sure that the turf bounces back.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

When parking your cart at a tee or green, please keep all 4 tires on the path.

This is the same etiquette reminder we posted in April, but after seeing carts all over the grass around tees and greens it felt like time for a reminder.

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

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Summer Bermuda grass update

We continue to work on improving the Bermuda grass across the course. Luckily, most of the turf is very healthy and growing vigorously. Our focus has been on the areas that are still struggling.

Additional fertilizer is still being applied to all weak areas. Based on recommendations from our agronomic consultant, we are feeding the turf every week. Making sure that the grass has enough food to grow as much as possible is key. Without energy, healing will take much longer.

We also recently sliced 5, 7, 8, and 11 fairways again. This was our 3^rd time across these holes. You can read more about the process here and here. While it easy to focus on the damaged areas (we do it too), the turf is improving. Stolons, the new growth of the Bermuda grass that is on the surface, are moving towards the center of the damaged areas. Every day the bad spots get smaller and slicing the healthy grass creates more growing points. Although the fairways look bad for a few days immediately after the slicing work, the progress gained is worth it.

Plugging healthy Bermuda grass directly into the bad spots is also ongoing. Though it is a slow and tedious process, over time it does provide a benefit. We will continue to plug until the Bermuda grass ceases growth for the season.

Lastly, we are already planning for our Spring Dead Spot (SDS) chemical applications for this fall and beyond. We stay up to date on the most current research. We monitor soil temperatures, which are the key to timing when the applications are actually made. We have also started looking at alternative chemicals for our SDS sprays in 2023, as new chemistries become available and university research concludes if any are better options than current products. The chemicals are just a small part of our program because we cannot actually prevent SDS with the products, but severity can be reduced, so it is still a beneficial aspect of our defense.

The weather plays the biggest role in what happens to the Bermuda grass the entire year. We must take whatever weather cards are dealt for the season, and give the Bermuda grass all the advantages we can. From the moment the Bermuda grass breaks dormancy, until it goes back into it, we are using many different tactics to make the Bermuda grass better.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

When parking your cart at a tee or green, please keep all 4 tires on the path.

This is the same etiquette reminder we posted in April, but after seeing carts all over the grass around tees and greens it felt like time for a reminder.

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

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Delicate balance part 2

Almost all the equipment we use is gas or diesel powered. Both will kill grass rapidly, but each is necessary. Recently, we had a gas can tip over in the back of a cart and spill across #13 approach.

Battery powered equipment is much more common than it was 5 or 10 years ago, and there are many products out currently. The battery technology has come a long way, but it is expensive and converting a whole fleet is very difficult. The batteries do a great job for light duty or homeowner use, but for professional use, the batteries can still run down a little too quickly. We will likely convert eventually, and we have purchased a battery blower and tested a battery pole saw. But for now, occasional mistakes and damage are something we must work through.

Some of our jobs take several hours to complete- in this case changing cups and rolling greens. Over the course of the task, the roller needs additional fuel to finish. Instead of returning to the shop, say from 13 or 14 green, the operator takes a small can of gas with them. In the case of #13 approach, this can tipped over in the back of the cart, dribbled out the tailgate, and then once the cart was parked, continued to leak in one spot. This is the reason for the long trail across the approach and then the large dead area over to the far right.

This picture was taken just after
the gas was spilled and the grass
had not completely died yet. This is the long
strip that was dripped out of the tailgate.

As of this post, we have already repaired the large dead area. Since it was such a large patch of dead grass, it is much less likely to heal from the surrounding healthy grass. The smaller spots did not receive as high of concentration of gas on them, and still have green tissue mixed in with some dead grass. This will recover, and quite quickly cover the dead grass. Similarly, the long trail is such a thin strip of damage, and resulted from drips rather than a dousing, the grass on either side will grow in. Although it is very unsightly, the Bermuda grass will heal, and the damage was limited to only one approach.

Pictured here is where the cart parked and
the large dead area occurred. This section has been
repaired already.

Fuel is a necessary tool for us to complete our tasks. All the hours our machines spend on the course, and the refueling cans we take with us, and a mistake is bound to happen. We must balance the knowledge regarding the damage the fuel can cause with the fact that we must keep using it.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

When parking your cart at a tee or green, please keep all 4 tires on the path.

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

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Delicate balance part 1

As we head to the peak of the difficult weather here in the Mid-Atlantic, every decision can have consequences that we must live with for the rest of the summer. Making sure the greens are taken care of in every regard is our highest priority because they would not heal quickly from damage. Similarly, the rough, collars, and even Bermuda grass need monitored closely. At this time of year, it is a delicate balance making sure everything is in the best condition possible.

Footprints coming off #18 green,
through the approach.

Historically we have had a problem with goosegrass on the putting greens. Goosegrass has recently become one of the most difficult to control weeds of all. It is especially difficult to control on putting greens because of the sensitivity of the putting green turf. A new product came out several years ago that does a fantastic job of killing goosegrass. We tested and tested it for use on putting greens and it has shown to be very safe. In fact, we have been using it on greens now for 6 years. However, one of the drawbacks of this chemical is that it is also very toxic to Bermuda grass.

For most courses, with all cool season grasses, a chemical that kills goosegrass and injures Bermuda grass, would be a godsend. Two of the most troublesome weeds on a lot of courses, managed with one spray. But we don’t want to injure our Bermuda grass so we must apply the chemical with as little overlap into the Bermuda grass as possible. We can minimize the amount that touches the Bermuda grass, but some inevitably still does

Up close picture of the
bleached Bermuda grass

We spray the chemical at VERY low rates- .06 oz per acre. Put in terms that might be more relatable: we mix 6 mL, or about 1.25 teaspoons, in 225 gallons of water and those 225 gallons cover 3.75 acers of turf. At this low of a rate, it is safe for the greens, but still damaging to the goosegrass and Bermuda grass.

Bermuda grass is very difficult to kill- cold weather is about the only thing that can really keep it in check. Most herbicides will only set it back, including when we treat the greens for goosegrass. When the chemical does get on the Bermuda grass it turns it bleach white. Some of you may have noticed the white marks in #18 approach. These were made from me walking off the green after spraying for goosegrass. A small residue stuck to my feet and as I walked through the Bermuda grass approach, it was still concentrated enough to bleach the grass (Don’t worry- this only happened due to it being immediately after the spray was applied- chemicals are not sticking to everyone all day!) The Bermuda grass will grow out of this, it wasn’t a high enough rate to really injure the turf. But this is just one example of how fine of a line we are walking during the heat of the summer. Too much chemical or sprayed in the wrong place and thousands of square feet of Bermuda grass could be as white as these footprints.

In the end, we have developed a program and the goosegrass issue on putting greens has been reduced to an occasional nuisance. Nevertheless, we continue to treat for the weeds, so they don’t return to a bigger issue. In doing so, we balance between keeping the goosegrass out and making sure the Bermuda grass doesn’t turn white.

 

Happy 4^th of July

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

When parking your cart at a tee or green, please keep all 4 tires on the path.

This is the same etiquette reminder we posted in April, but after seeing carts all over the grass around tees and greens it felt like time for a reminder:

If you don't park your car like this in your
driveway, don't park your golf cart like this here. Thank you

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

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

Drain repair #14 approach

For the last few weeks there has been a wet area in #14 approach. Though this area has been wet before, nothing has persisted the way it did this spring. After staying wet through a relatively dry stretch of weather, it was time to dig it up and see what we could find.

Here is the end of the old drain pipe with the crushed
piece already removed.

Here is an old photo from construction.
In the background you can see the bulldozer and
large pile of dirt. That is the dirt that was excavated from 
the front of approach. This is likely when the pipe was 
damaged.

At first, we suspected it could be related to the irrigation system. Though it was not exactly where the pipe should be, we know from experience two things can happen: first, the pipe isn’t always where our as-built maps indicate; second, water will find the easiest way out, even if it is in an odd direction from the pipe. However, after valving the irrigation off in this location, the wet area remained.

After eliminating the irrigation system, digging an exploratory hole was the next step. Not very deep down, we found an old drainpipe, likely an original from the green. As we chased the water downhill, we quickly found that the pipe was crushed right where the wet spot started. The water was travelling down the pipe, reaching the dam, and coming to the surface. This by itself was not all that confusing or unique- old pipes were rarely marked and even if they were, it is unlikely anyone still remembers.

Prepped and ready for the new trench

What was strange was that this pipe had to have been crushed during Master Plan construction- in 2014! If you picture the front of #14 green as it turns into the approach- there is a quick drop off, going down several feet before the approach levels off. Right where that slope is located is where the old drainpipe was crushed. That slope was created during construction. So, the pipe had to have been smashed at that point, without ever being noticed. How or why it took 8 years for a truly unmanageable wet spot to develop is unknown.

Regardless, the repair was straight forward. We were lucky enough to be only about 30 feet from the bunker drain line, so we trenched right to that pipe. We cut a clean edge on the old pipe, attached a new, and ran it to the bunker drain and attached it there also. Now, the water that comes out of the old drainpipe will be captured and fed down to the bunker drain that is tied into the main drainage. Once we discovered the issue, we were able to develop the repair and complete it in one day.

Repaired and sod replaced

We never know what might be causing a particular underground issue on the course until we dig it up. This time, we were surprised by what we found.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not hit into the Grounds department staff, because it is dangerous. Please be sure that we see you before hitting your shot.

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

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

More Bermuda grass work

We continue to push the Bermuda grass to fully heal from winter damage. This week we continued our healing program by targeting a few certain holes and certain small spots for improvement.

We sliced for a second time a few of the worst damaged fairways: 5, 7, 8, 11, and 16 were all completed. Winter and early spring shade played a role in the damage to several of these holes and we will continue to address that issue. As we have discussed previously, this winter we also suffered above normal Spring Dead Spot (SDS) damage, which also affected these same holes more so than others. Slicing helps to cut into healthy tissue and invigorate new growth, which will lead to the bares spots filling in with healthy tissue. It is not an easy process, and the slicing actually sets the healthy tissue back for a time, but it rebounds quickly with renewed vigor.

On some other holes, we also started plugging out SDS spots that are struggling to heal. We have done this in the past, which is detailed here and here. Our goal is not to fill in every single blemish, but instead to fill some that are not showing the progress of others. By taking out the worst areas and helping the other areas recover, the overall improvement of a particular fairway will be faster.

Lastly, we have been and will continue to feed and water the Bermuda grass. Weekly fertilizer applications are ongoing and will remain part of the program until no longer necessary. We are also making sure the Bermuda grass has adequate moisture. Luckily, Mother Nature has been doing a solid job thus far, but we want to make sure that grass that is trying to recover and grow is not short any essential needs.

Our work on the Bermuda grass is on-going. We are making daily and weekly adjustments and will continue to do so through the season.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not hit into the Grounds department staff, because it is dangerous. Please be sure that we see you before hitting your shot.

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

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org

New native areas

In consultation with the Golf Committee, we have decided to increase the area of “no mow” or native space around the course. With fuel and labor costs being as high as they are, reducing the acreage that we mow regularly is great.

We have worked hard to make sure that the native areas are attractive. Left alone, who knows what all plants would take over. So, they are not truly no-mow areas, but instead very infrequently mowed. We mow the native areas three times per year to keep the weeds down, compared to the two times per week that we mow the regular rough. And we don’t truly let them go completely native, weeds and all. We make one herbicide application per season for further control of the weeds. So, these areas are actually low maintenance versus no maintenance, but still far less inputs than the regular rough.

Flags representing a new native
area between 15 green and 16 tee

This topic came up at a recent Golf Committee meeting to evaluate if there were more areas that could become native areas. The Grounds department had previously explored new areas to incorporate into the native area management program instead of regular rough, so we were ready with specific sections to assess. The new rules involving penalty areas that were instituted in 2019 made some areas more viable as locations for native areas than they had been in the past. So, recently Jason, Chris and I rode around the course to look at the proposed locations. From the Golf Pro perspective, all the areas were deemed satisfactory to transition to native areas with no undue penalty on golfers.

So, we placed flags around the perimeter of these new areas to delineate new mowing lines for the Grounds staff. You will see them as you are out playing and can watch as the grass is left to continue growing tall. However, over the course of the season, if we decide that a new area is not a good fit or causes some unforeseen difficulty for golfers or pace of play, we can still adjust the size or remove it completely.

More flags for the same area at 15/16 
marked over towards the trees

Reducing the areas that we regularly mow is a savings of fuel, labor, and even wear and tear on our machines. However, if we didn’t tend to the native areas some, the would be unruly and unattractive. Striking the balance between no maintenance and low maintenance is key.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not hit into the Grounds department staff, because it is dangerous. Please be sure that we see you before hitting your shot.

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

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org