Finishing Touches on 2013



Sand topdressing greens



The  few decent days of weather has allowed us to complete the remaining cleanup of leaves as well as the topdressing of the greens.  Aside from a few other tasks, the course is ready for the winter.  The cold weather looks to take ahold late this week which will limit a few small projects such as drainage & shaping a new front tee box on the range tee.  Some things it appears will have to wait till 2014.  The cold weather will allow us to begin tree removals and with the damage created by the Emerald Ash Borer; there are more trees to remove than we will probably have time to get to.  Either way, we will do our best to get as much done in between preparing the equipment for the 2014 season.

Course Closure & Temporary Greens



The time has come......the 2013 golf season is over


The time has come for the closure of the greens with the move to temporary pins in the fairways.  The below average temperatures over the past week has put the turf into winter mode a little earlier than normal.  The recent weather combined with the forecast moving forward doesn't leave me with anymore thoughts of a warm up that would allow for the greens to remain open.  The unusually cold weather will also claim another victim as the usage of golf carts is done for the season.  Sad to say but the 2013 golf season is over.  Temporary greens & walking will be allowed after 11am on days when the temperature is above freezing for those that are brave enough to battle the elements.

The USGA does an excellent job of explaining the issue with winter play so I am attaching the link below.

  http://www.usga.org/course_care/articles/other/winter_play/Politics-Religion-and-Winter-Play-on-Greens/

Thank you to the membership for a great season and the positive support, constructive comments, & valued relationships that make Idlewild so great.  Have a safe & happy holiday season and see you in 2014.

Irrigation & Acid Injection System Update

If you can go back in time with me for a bit, the 2012 season was marred with numerous irrigation system issues.  Whether it was the numerous irrigation hydraulic leaks, well pump issues, or clogged heads; you name it, we seemed to have it.  Fast forward to the end of 2013, we are down to the numerous irrigation hydraulic leaks which is frustrating enough all by itself.



Well pump repair work being performed



The winter of 2013 we had the well pump work completed & it performed at 100%.  Check!!

We also installed the acid injection system to our irrigation pump system to help with the clogged head issue.

Acid injection system

Clogged irrigation head

Flushing the debris from the irrigation line

Debris that was flushed out of irrigation line

This system injects acid into the irrigation water as it is pumped through the irrigation system.  If effectively lowers the pH of the water from 7.8 to 6.5 thus having a cleaning affect on the build up of material that was clogging our irrigation heads.  After a season of operating the acid injection system, I can say without hesitation that it has helped to reduce the build up & clogging of the irrigation heads allowing them to operate properly & provide the proper coverage of the irrigated areas.

Irrigation heads operating properly

I look forward to operating the acid injection system going forward as I feel it will help completely eliminate the clogged head issue in another 1-2 years.

Green & Course Closure Update

Greens, Tees, & Fwys have been treated with plant protectants prior to the winter

The tasks involved in preparing the golf course for the winter have been completed.  The 18 holes that we all know and love as Idlewild is ready to be put to bed.  It may happen sooner than it normally would based on the calendar with the cold weather is fast approaching.  The forecast this weekend has the high's in the upper 20's - lower 30's.  The forecast for the week of Thanksgiving looks to be very similar.  The greens will remail open this weekend for the brave hearted & a decision on the remainder of the year will be determined on Tuesday.  The soil profile, the soil/sand mix the turfgrass plant uses as the growing medium for the turfs root system, is the determining factor on the move to temporary greens.  The soil profile will become frozen this weekend with the night time temperatures in the teens & the high temperatures at/or near 32 degrees.  If the soil profile is consistently going to remain frozen, the move to temporary greens will ultimately take place next week.  Golf carts could also be coming to an end if the temperatures continue to remain at these cold levels.  The risks involved in repeated traffic on frozen turf far out weigh allowing them to remain open.  Hopefully the forecast will improve and the greens can remain open for a bit longer but we will have to wait and see.  Until then, I am thinking positive.  Update will come on Tuesday on the status of the 2013 season!

Decision Making Process

The decision making process on course conditions & cart restrictions is a hot topic when the weather doesn't cooperate.  If only we lived in the perfect world right?  It seems to me that as the Superintendent, I am always the person with bad news but as the care givers of the course, it is the Grounds Departments responsibility to make the decision that serves the clubs best interest not only now but in the future.

I wish everyday was beautiful & course conditions were perfect!

What goes into the decision making process?  Member satification/enjoyment/happiness, economic ramifications, turf conditions, future weather forecast, agronomic issues both short & long term, membership following cart restrictions, etc.  First and foremost, I am here to make the course the best it can be on any given day no matter what the circumstances.  Weather dictates a majority of what we do and rolling with the punches is part of what makes the course good vs great.  I need to be able to adapt to the daily scenerio that is presented to us daily, whether good or bad; making a decision that will benefit/protect the course & keep conditions at a high level.



Quality course conditions are not achieved by making poor decision during inclement weather.

 The decision making process takes into account the pros vs cons of allowing the course to be open and/or carts being allowed for the day.  Both of these choices come with economic & member satifaction ramifications.  Should we allow damage to incur to the course that could create problems not only that day but in the future?  The issue doesn't arise from one cart making tire tracks but from a cumulative affect in the highly trafficed areas with numerous carts driving on these areas one after another.  I have seen in the past the areas that are allowed to be highly trafficed show the signs cosmetically in the "now" but are the first areas to show the agronomic consequences during the heat of the summer when events are played & guests are comparing course conditions to their home course. 

Carts driving on the newly laid sod

Carts not following "Rough Only" restriction

Members & guests can help by following cart restrictions.  Carts are the main culprit behind many of the adverse tuf conditions.  Compaction, wear tolerance, & quality turf conditions are always challenged due to the issues in high traffic areas from carts.  Following cart restrictions helps in limiting high play areas from suffering the negative affects.

In summary, the decision is made with the best interest of the course & club in mind.  It is a thoughtful process that entails the use of knowledge & past experience that will ultimately provide the membership with a highly conditioned course today & into the future.

Drain Blaster

Drain Blaster used with 1-inch hose

Drain line entry point

Drain line exit point

This little tool has come in handy with past season.  We have been able to clear debris out of drain lines to allow for the drainage water to flow without restriction.  The high pressure water is able to bust through the restriction as it moved forward & the water pressure from the back of the drain buster pulls the debris back out as it is removed.  Only issue is it doesn't remove tree roots but for $89 bucks what can you expect.

Follow Me on Twitter for the Most Up to Date Information

My fingers are on fire from all this typing

Follow me on Twitter @idycc for the most up to date information pertaining to Idlewild CC & occasionally additional information in regards to sports, weather, The Ohio State University or anything else I find interesting!

Winterizing the Irrigation System or Putting the Dragon to Sleep?

Compressor pushing 875 cfm of air through the irrigation lines.

Compressed air is pushed through the irrigation lines eliminating all the water.

The "Dragon" has been put to sleep for the season.  Winterization is one of my happiest days of the year.  Why?..you ask!  The irrigation system is the cause of making my career/job/passion somewhat of a headache.  With 122 irrigation leaks during the 2013 season, which represents over 50% of the days the system is used during a season; there are a lot of days that are presented with a curve ball.  So headache may not be the most accurate word but this is a PG channel so I will leave it at that.  Needless to say, the proper things have been done for the "Dragon" to sleep well and hopefully wake up in the spring of 2014 with less fire.

Frost Delay Knowledge!

Early morning frost delays are a part of spring & fall golf

Frozen dew is the culprit of these frost delays

Damage created by traffic on turf with frost

Frost is something that some of us just think about when we scrap it off our windshield but it is something that needs to be taken seriously when it comes to turf.  Rather than hear me write about it...click on the link below as the USGA does an excellent job of explaining the issues that can be created with frost when put into the context of golf.

http://www.usga.org/ourexpertsexplain.aspx?id=21474852543

Leaf Season Starts Later Than Normal & Ends With Severe Storms Leaving Debris Scattered Throughout the Course!

The leaf season didn't start truely until the middle of October.  With the weather being so great with limited low temperatures...the leaves were slow to fall.  Once they started to fall, there were some days you couldn't even tell that we did anything at the end of the day.  I hope the membership was able to recognize the effort given in trying to keep the course playable & clean.  Much of the work is done during the week but a focus was given on the weekends to provide a course that was as close to great condtions as possible.  Kudos once again to the great Grounds Crew!!!  The severe weather this past Sunday has added to the fall cleanup.  In total, 4 trees were lost during the storm & 2-3 trees will need to be removed.  Not to mention all the small tree debris that will have to be cleaned up....no fun.  Thankfully the season is near the end so we have a few months to get the course back to where it belongs.

Once the leaves started to fall....they came down in a flury.

This area was cleaned 2 hours before this photo.  What the heck??

Get home from Idlewild and there are leaves asking to be cleaned up at home.  Kiddy up!!

Leaf season ended last week when we finished the course but comes with severe storms that brought alot of tree debris.  Timber!!!

Tee Renovation Summary with Time Line For Opening

Cell phone enhanced photo really brings out the color.  Beautiful!!!

The tee renovation project has been a success to date.  The great weather after completion & seeding gave the tees a great start.  We were able to get the tees mowed 4 times before the end of the season and that has aided in conditioning the tees towards 2014!

Rough shaping of 10 tee

Rough shaping the tees while trying to save existing sod

 The sod from these renovation tees was used to sod the range tee.  Nothing can go to waste as a penny saved is a penny earned.

Tee mix was added to the rough shaped tee.  The mix is used for the growing medium for the tee.

Laser leveling is done to ensure the playing surface is level and will allow surface drainage.

Laser level

Adapting/adding to our irrigation system to allow for proper?? coverage of the new tees.

 

Bluegrass sod staged for installation

10 tee with sod installed

Grounds crew installing 14 pallets of sod in the rain.  Kudos to a fantastic crew!

12 tee with bluegrass sod installed

Seeding & Fertilization of new tees.  Blended two Bentgrass varieties.

 

Irrigation of newly seeded tees to keep seed moist & allow germination.

Germination of the seed!

Some knuckle head thinking the tee was open!  Duh!!!

Roping off tee to prevent knuckle-headed-ness!

Mowing the newly seeded tees.

The new tees have been put to bed along with the rest of the course.  The necessary fertilzations & plant protectants have been applied to keep them safe throughout the long Chicago winter ahead.  If the 2014 spring season cooperates....the tees will be open Memorial Day Weekend!!!!

Computer Issues....So Playing Catch Up!

Running & running!

Sorry to everyone for the delay in my postings on the blog.  Since mid September, the computer in my office has been down for the count.  While I am a savy person, sometimes it is hard to find time to go through the task of finding & correcting a computer issue.  Long days with long hours are the norm for the golf season & anyone and everyone that takes the responsiblity of being a Golf Course Superintendent understands this without complaint.   When  the season comes towards the end, it is time to give back to family activities so that is my excuse for not resolving the computuer issue sooner & I am sticking to it.

Running & running but sometimes finding it hard to catch up!

While the computer issue is still not resolved, I am going to find time via my laptop at home to catch everyone up on things that happened these past 2 months & try to bring some knowledge along the way.  Expect daily posts until things are caught up. 

AERIFICATION, RENOVATION, & THE FALL GOLF SEASON!

Fairways in all their beauty

2013 FAIRWAY AERIFICATION

The aerification of fairways will be delayed until the week of September 16^th due to the renovation work scheduled to begin on Monday September 9^th.  On Tuesday September 17^th, the front 9 will be closed and on Wednesday September 18^th the back 9 will be closed.  Weather permitting, the completion of fairway aerification should be completed by Thursday September 19^th.  There is a possibility that a few back 9 fairways will be completed next week if time allows.

Renovation prep work @ 10 tee

10 tee prep work showing some signs of progress.  Need new light pole???

Installing new trees & landscaping around the 10 tee complex

Tree spade moving trees to the course from the tree nursery

The past few weeks has allowed us to get a lot of things done.  Prep work for the renovation of the the tees at 2, 10, & 12, moving some trees to the course where we have lost trees and/or bunkers, & installing new landscaping around the clubhouse/10 tee complex.  Also, aerificaton was completed on the collars/approaches & tees along with the fertilization of fairways.  All this while maintaining the beautiful property known as Idlewild Country Club.

Pro Core aerifying collars & approaches

Core Harvestor cleaning up the cores

Topdressing the approaches

Finished product. 

Aerification of Tees



Spreader truck preparing to fertilize fairways

 Fall golf season is in full affect and some might say it is the best time of year.....I do!! Job tasks like aerification, fertilization, & topdressing are solid building blocks for the the 2014 golf season and fall is the time we use to prepare for the future.  While this might has some affects on the short term turf quality; it has numerous positive affects the pay dividends in the future.  The proper timing to perform these tasks is now so please bear with us as we accomplish these very important job tasks. 

Who would take a divot on a green?  Shaking my head.

Sunrise & Daylight is at a premium during the fall

Lastly, fall brings a later sunrise so please allow us to perfrom our daily maintenance tasks efficiently.  A start time for course opening is established to allow the course to be set up properly for everyones enjoyment but this takes time and daylight.

Regards,

Kurt Sams, CGCS