Course Update....Another Week with Mother Nature!

Memorial Day weekend provided us with some excellent weather that served some major benefits with the recovery of greens.  The new bentgrass seedlings really started to grow and spread laterally helping to fill in the ice damaged areas.  Tuesday following Memorial Day was very productive as we were able to get a lot of work done but unfortunately that evening 2.2 inches of rain flooded the course.  Another case of 1 step forward and 2-3 steps back which has been the norm this Spring.

Bentgrass germinated and starting to spread laterally filling in the voids



Productive day with needle tining greens prior to the 3rd round of seeding

2.2 inches of rain fell and set the plan off track

6 green with a river running thru it

15 fairway was "boat only"

Wednesday was pretty much spent pumping water and trying to get the course cleaned up and ready for the next day.

Thursday the crew did an excellent job and got all the ice damaged areas on greens seeded and topdressed.  With the weather now on the warmer end of the spectrum as compared to the 2 previous months, the recovery process should move at light speed in comparison.  Most greens are about 85% recovered with a few of the greens significantly further behind but still much improved.

Dimple tining damaged areas to incorporate the seed for good soil/seed contact



Completed area with seeding and topdressing

The new front Range Tee height of cut has been lowered to the Intermediate height and should be ready for use in a couple weeks.  Next week I hope to get aerification and topdressing completed.

Mowing the Range Tee to Intermediate height

Range tee with an early morning irrigation cycle

I will update things next week with hopefully the opening of the tees at 2,10, & 16.

Course Update...Memorial Day Weekend Preview!

 

Course has taken shape even with the curve balls Mother Nature keeps throwing at us

It has been a Spring to remember with many ups and downs but it seems Mother Nature does have a few days of great weather planned for the Memorial Day Weekend.  All greens will be open for play beginning Saturday as well as the opening of the 12th tee box.  The progression of the greens recovery from the ice damage has far from went as planned but we are starting to see more and more improvement each day as the weather has warmed the temperatures closer to the growing conditions needed for the new seedlings to mature.  The constant below average temperatures has not served us well in the recovery process but I am convinced that is all about to change as we transition into late Spring.  The third round of seeding the damaged areas on greens will take place next week as well as the seeding of the damaged fairway areas.  A few greens are less than ideal from a playability stand point but you can't help but notice all the germinated seed in these areas and the improvement that has been achieved even with Mother Nature working against us.

A few new items at the Range area are installed so please take notice.

Please be advised and adhere to the range rules

Simple to follow and will aid in the safety of golfers and allow the range tee to not take any undo abuse.

Safety bells have been added on both 8 & 11 to warn golfers at the range tee you are entering the area.

Please stop hitting range balls if you hear the bell.  Golfers are entering the area so please put your practice on hold until they clear the area.

New Tee Signs are installed and looking great

New Range tee is coming along great

Tee Signs are hung and we have begun to lower the height of cut on the new range tee sod.  Progress!!

The storms earlier in the week put a lot of extra work on our plate as we had just gotten things back on track from the wet week prior.  Needless to say we are in a great place course conditions wise as the weekend is here.



Flooded areas of the course required the trash pumps

9 Bridge was impassable but the crew braved the raging rapids of Butterfield Creek to get the fallen tree cleaned up

Bunkers needed some TLC to get them playable once again

The end game of having the course ready for the weekend is complete!

Except for the Maple Tree whirly birds as they are beginning their annual flight

Have a great holiday weekend!



Michigan State University to Begin Research

 

**PRESS RELEASE**

 

MSU Turfgrass program to acquire low-temperature growth chamber for turf research

CONTACT: Mariah Montenegro, montene1@anr.msu.edu, 517-884-7080

MSU Turfgrass program to acquire low-temperature growth chamber for turf research

EAST LANSING, Mich. ‒ Polar temperatures combined with ice this past winter left turf areas in mid- through southeastern Michigan with a large amount of winterkill damage. The destruction is seen on putting greens and other turf areas. The harsh winter weather has had an impact on the turfgrass industry resulting in potential business losses.

“Golf course superintendents not only have to resolve the issue of re-establishing the greens by purchasing seed, fertilizer and covers, but they also may lose revenue from golfers not playing the course, and also losses in food and beverage sales,” said Michigan State University (MSU) AgBioResearch scientist Kevin Frank.

The turfgrass industry faces the challenge of the best way to solve the current problem and to prevent similar damage in the future. Because of limited information on winter damage, the MSU Turfgrass team and board members of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF) have agreed to obtain a low-temperature growth chamber to help investigate new findings.

The MSU Turfgrass team consists of nine faculty members focused on research, extension and teaching in the areas of turfgrass science that include golf courses, athletic fields, home lawns, sods and commercial properties. The MTF is a nonprofit organization that supports MSU research for better turfgrass maintenance methods.

“The partnership between MSU and the MTF is very strong and effective,” said director of MSU AgBioResearch Doug Buhler. “Together, we are able to promptly respond to this major industry issue and provide scientific insight that will help golf course superintendents throughout Michigan. It’s another example of how industries have come to trust and rely on MSU for research solutions to meet their needs.”

Emily Merewitz, AgBioResearch scientist, said there is a great need for research facilities, such as this growth chamber, to support research on extreme weather tolerance of cool-surface turfgrass species.

“A low-temperature growth chamber can imitate harsh winter conditions in a controlled setting so that researchers can investigate topics such as ice damage, cold acclimation and de-acclimation, and other issues related to winterkill damage year-round.”

Based on this research the MSU Turfgrass team and the MTF hope to identify ways in which superintendents can minimize winterkill injury in the future. 

Have a wonderful Memorial Weekend!

Course Update....Weather Once Again Dictates Progress & Not In A Positive Way

I am running out of adjectives to describe 2014 but one thing is for sure, 2014 will be remembered for a long time & not in a good way.  The struggles to the beginning of this golf season have been well documented and as the window of opportunity that Spring brings quickly washes away; I have come to the conclusion that 2014 is going to be a real battle.  The development of the new seedlings has been slow with the below average temperatures which could lead to underdevelopment of the new plant prior to the summer heat.  It can bring overwhelming thoughts at times as I try to adjust/adapt to the ever changing weather.  We have done all the right things and given the effort needed but this proves that Mother Nature dictates the success of things as the environment is a major component in the health of living plants.  All that being said, progress has been made and brighter days are ahead.



With the colder nights and chance for frost covers have been put back on recovering areas

On Wednesday, we pushed the envelope and got all the greens, tees, & fairways mowed getting things somewhat under control.  Also, with the colder weather, we covered the damaged areas on greens to protect these areas from the well below nightly temperatures.  These areas will remain covered until more moderate temperatures return.  All greens are open for play with the exception of 7,8,10,& 11.  The other greens will have partial covers but portions of the greens are open.



Flooding conditions in some areas while other areas were just fully saturated

Over the past 7 days we have received over 4 inches of rain with still more looking to fall from the skies today.  A lot of labor hours have been lost and numerous tasks not completed due to the overly wet, rainy weather.  None of the additional seeding of greens or fairways was able to get started & it has been a crap shoot with keeping up with mowing the fairways and rough.  Bunkers have been wounded severely from all the rain and we will need some dry conditions to get the course tamed once again.  The crew is ready to tackle the task at hand and hopefully it can start tomorrow if conditions allow.

Typical bunker conditions following heavy rain events

Flooded conditions

Saturated conditions limiting mowing of the rough

Tire tracking throughout the course limiting normal maintenance

The rain has had one positive affect.  The sod at the new range tee is beginning to root & we haven't needed to water it.  Hoooray!!!

Dodging the rain drops, a few crew members mowed the new sod for the first time at the New Range Tee

The new tee sign post have been installed this week and beginning next week all the new tee signs will be hung.  A little clean up of the crushed brick area surrounding the tee sign & bench and things will be looking good.

New tee sign at #1

Lastly, I wanted to point out something that we usually don't see in normal years.....Poa Seed Heads!!

The sea of white shows all the seed produced by Poa Annua on a green

Here is a closer look at all the seed production on a fairway

In normal years we apply a combination of growth regulators that suppress the production of seed.  Unfortunately, these products were not applied this year based on the fact that we had so much turf recovery & reestablishment to achieve after the ice damage from the terrible winter.

I will update you next week and hopefully it has some good news & weather to go along with.

Course Update and Week in Review

Summer has smacked us in the face these last 2 days and what a change it was as the temperatures nearly hit 90 degrees yesterday followed by a welcomed warm rain.  These are some key ingredients that we have been missing the past month as we deal with the recovery process.  The cover shuffle of taking off and putting on the covers has been a lot of extra time and effort but the warmer temperatures has allowed us to leave the covers off.  Based on the forecast, the covers will remain off until next week as it seems the warm weather may retreat a little later next week.

The positives from our recovery efforts are quite evident as you can see the seed germination that has taken place in the damaged areas.  While I would have much preferred better weather in April, I am pleased and optimistic considering the hand we have been dealt by Mother Nature.

Seed germination is the slit seeded lines

After evaluation earlier today, we will be opening up greens 3,4,5,13,&16. Greens 7,8,10, &11 will remain closed and be reevaluated next week.  There is still much needed recovery on all the damaged areas but the decision is being made to allow our beautiful course to be enjoyed while also limiting the risk of not achieving what we hope to be a full recovery prior to the summer heat.  Damaged areas are marked around the outer edges with white dots.  Please limit your foot traffic to only retrieving you golf ball and putting into a playable area.  If you are coming onto a green, please walk around these areas as again to limit the foot traffic.  Thank you in advance.

The white dots surround the damage area.  Please limit foot traffic to ball retrieval only!!

The addition of another front range tee was completed yesterday.  Kudos to the crew for pushing hard to get the job done before the rain.  I am proud to have these guys around me as it doesn't matter if it is recovery, renovation, or general maintenance........they always get it done.

Irrigation installation & leveling of the front range tee



Low mow bluegrass sod installed and testing coverage of the irrigation coverage

I would expect the sod to start rooting in the next 7-14 days and from there we will start to lower the height.  Once the sod is established and at 1 inch mowing height it will be opened and used for irons only.  Hopefully this will all take place in the next 3-4 weeks and we can begin to enjoy this welcomed addition to the practice area.

Augering the holes for the new tee sign posts

The tee signs should be installed within the next 2 weeks.  The new sign posts will be installed next week and then the new signs will be hung the following week.  It sure is nice to check things off the list of "things to do."

Dimple tine spiking the damaged areas on greens to incorporate more seed

Very little disturbance to the turf but very effective in seed to soil contact

While I am happy with the seed germination & recovery we have gotten so far with the horrible weather in April, I wanted to get more bentgrass seed into the damage areas now that the weather may be in our favor????  This whole recovery process has been frustrating to say the least but I have to believe May will speed up the process and get the course back to its normal playability and beauty. I will keep you posted next week with any and all progress made.



Course Update...With Some Good News & A Few Tidbits!!!

It has been a rough spring to say the least due to the havoc caused from last winter and at times hard to find any good news to bring you but today is a little different.  Yesterday we were able remove covers, mow greens, fertilize, evaluate progress, & replace covers.  I am happy to say, even with the less than ideal weather; their is progress being made in regards to the recovery of greens. 

Bent grass seed germinating where we slit seeded

With it being May 1st, I am a little disappointed in the progress from a calendar date stand point but I am really happy based on the poor weather we have experienced throughout the month of April.  The covers has aided greatly in the recovery process and that was evident yesterday while inspecting all the greens.  The difference in recovery from covered and non covered greens is significant and will allow us to begin opening some of the greens for play.  Beginning on Saturday, 9 holes with greens in play are to include 1,2,6,9,12,14,15,17,& 18 as well as the putting & chipping green while the remaining 9 holes will be playing to temporary greens.  Greens 2,9,12, & 17 will have portions of the green covered so please stay off covered portions other than to remove your golf ball and put back into a playable area.  While this is a far cry from having the course back to normal, it is movement in a positive direction and efforts will continue to expedite the recovery process.  Hopefully the month of May will bring more favorable growing conditions as that is the key ingredient missing in the recovery equation.

This scenario is obviously something I hope to only see once in my lifetime but I am extremely proud of the extra efforts taken by the Grounds Staff, my professional organizations such as the CDGA & MAGCS and their efforts to share/gain information, & the membership in the patience it has shown.  This is a fluid situation that will continually be evaluated & amended as recovery allows.  It is a fine line between allowing the recovery to take place & pushing the limits of allowing play.  The story and outcome are still being written but the hope is for as full of a recovery as possible prior to the prime golfing months of the summer.

The new tee signs and mounting posts have arrived.  I am hoping to begin installing the tee signs as soon as next week if the weather will be so kind as to give us some dryer conditions.  The new tee signs will be a great addition to the course and can't wait to see them on the course.

Beautiful new tee sign

The addition of a new front tee box at the range has been put on hold for this week with the wet conditions we have experienced all week.  Irrigation has been installed & rough grading is completed so we just need 2-3 days to get the finish grade completed and sod installed.  Fingers are crossed that work can be completed next week.

Considering the circumstances, I am very pleased with the overall conditions of the course.  The recovery process on greens and fairways will be the main focus and all efforts will continue to be given.  Course updates will continue to be given weekly or as new information becomes available.