Native Areas

Native Areas

Last year the grounds committee in consultation with the Board and in conjunction with the Master Plan decided to develop several areas of the golf course that are generally not in play by allowing native grasses to grow naturally.

This was done for several reasons.

First, allowing these areas to grow naturally means we don’t have to use limited resources (both financial and physical) maintaining areas that are generally out of play.  It also lessens the amount of chemicals we use.  Additionally it promotes the wildlife that inhabits these areas.

These native areas also provide definition to the holes that they border giving perspective where previously there was none.

We realize not every feature of the golf course will please everyone.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and where one looks for it.  And these decisions were not made in a vacuum.  They were meant for the betterment of our golf club and enjoyment for all.

It would be nice if these changes were viewed with that understanding rather than backbiting and causing controversy for all.

Painting Stairs

Fred and Stan are painting the steps to #15 forward tee.

Green Speed

Can you name at least ten things that affect the speed and consistency of the greens?  How about 20?
1.   Mowing frequency
2.   Height of cut
3.   Rolling
4.   Green size
5.   Drainage
6.   Moisture
7.   Shade
8.   Air flow
9.   Environmental stress
10. Growth regulators
11. Annual bluegrass seed heads
12. Fertilizer
13. Labor force size
14. Labor force training
15. Budget
16. Soil type
17. Turf species
18. Thatch layer thickness
19. Golf event calendar / schedule
20. Maintenance procedures like; aerifying, topdressing, verti-cutting, venting, hydrojecting, etc. 

Deep Tine Aerification

Aerifying fairways using solid tines, fractures the soil allowing for water and air to infiltrate the soil profile.  Compacted soils play havoc when trying to grow healthy turfgrass.  I've found aerifying in late June, early July the soil is  much harder to penetrate, the sod will lift as the tines are coming out of the ground.  The lifted sod will need rolled down and watered for proper healing. With good weather deeptine fairway aerification takes approximately 1 week to complete.