GOLF MAINTENANCE AND AGRONOMY 


SEPTEMBER 2012

GENERAL

· September marks the beginning of a transitional period where primary focus shift from course conditioning and playability toward preparation for next year’s primary golf season. Monday September 17th Buffalo Bill Alumni tournament represented the final large group event.

· First week of September started off wet with 3 day of precipitation totaling 3.26” with Saturday 9/8 event total of 2.3”. As the month progressed, timely precipitation fell enhancing growing conditions coupled with cool average temperatures. During the latter part of September official start of fall, autumnal equinox, occurred September 22, where equal day and night occurs.

· As growing conditions shift toward more favorable root development and top growth declines, traffic tolerance and recovery will slow. Careful management during saturated soil conditions is vital in preparation for next season, where any damage will not heal over the winter months followed by slow recuperation as soil temperatures slowly increase during the spring months.


AGRONOMY 

· Sprayed greens nitrogen @ 0.19 lbs N/M on 9/3 (additionally applied fungicide application), 9/10 (nitrogen and fungicide application),

· Spray application of nutrients and fungicide on all Tees. Noticed some disease presence where an application of fungicide would help turfgrass recover during more favorable growing conditions.

· Reseeded practice tee and sand topdressed surface ensuring complete coverage for divot repair.

· Performed aggressive greens verticutting on 9/19 removing excess organic material at ¼”-3/8” level. Following verticutting, sand topdressing was applied to fill in open space. An additional sand topdressing to followed the 7days later 9/25. Applied 20 tons of additional topdressing sand to fill verticut lines.

· Core aerified using ½” tines greens collars and approaches 9/19 and 9/25. Focusing on high traffic areas where green mowers turn and approach slopes that have difficulty with moisture retention.

· Core aerified #11 green completely and partially #13 green. #11 green over the past summer started to decline with signs of algae development in the middle half of the green. Contributing to decline was minimal morning light specifically, small size of green and minimal pin locations, and low air movement with tall stand of trees on 3 sides. Moving forward manage #11 green with increased fungicide application in summer months, possibly raise mower heights, and continue to monitor for other solutions including supplemental air movement equipment.

· Core Aerified with ¾” tines all Tees 9/19. Dragged in cores to remove mineral material (thatch measurement at 1 ½” on some tees) and sweeped up remaining organic matter.

· Started sod repair in approaches and fairways where erosion from rainfall warrants sodding versus seeding. Also, addressing high traffic areas next to bunkers where damage occurs with fairways mower cleanup pass.

· Sand Topdressed Approaches normal rates 9/3, 9/21, & 9/28.

· Granular fertilizer application Green and Tee surrounds, and roughs @ 0.5 lbs. N/M 9/5 & 9/26.

· Verticut on course tees to 1” depth removing organic material, enhancing moisture and nutrient management, and contributing to a long term optimal characteristics.

MAINTENANCE

· Used #10 tee start more frequently to alternate mowing quality and attention to detail, allow for less interaction with guest while spraying fairways and approaches, and increase efficiency with topdressing limiting travel time and guest interaction.

· Started using triplex vibratory roller as an alternative to moving and use of Speed Roller. Speed Roll is a great tool when greens are dry and have no sand on them, but with moisture from dew, irrigation, and natural precipitation, we have noticed significant damage. Damage occurs when the drive drum starts spinning while transitioning to move in the opposite direction creating wear on the edge of greens and approaches.

· Bunker washout repair 9/9. Significant washout and sediment accumulations with unlined bunkers. With continued sediment accumulation from thunder storm events, increase drainage issues will develop.

· Stained all practice facility wood accessories with Landmark provided stain and UV product.

· Continued attention to Tee, Fairway and Collection area divot repair. Also, continue to allocate time to ball mark repair on greens, filling ball marks with sand.

· Completed repaired and sodded bridge on #6, leveled sub grade with clay and capped with sand to bridge level and sodded. Stripped sod from #9 tee surrounds where irrigation head will be switched to part circle and seeded with fescue turf.

· Prepared landscape area adjacent to employee parking lot for seed, removed existing wood mulch, tilled soil and leveled prior to seeded. This area will be similar to other tall grass areas found on site.

· Starting sodding weak areas in bentgrass approaches where soil erosion and traffic wear occurred. Simple and immediate solution.

· Started trimming down tall grass accents around bunkers in preparation for next year’s growth.

· Application of sand material along cart path edges in attempt to reduce wear damage from vehicles. With the addition of sand on top of native clay soils, the sand seems to prevent movement of soil when wet, as clay sticks to tire and feet making it difficult for turfgrasses to establish.

· Continued repair of cart path edges, adding sand topdressing to low areas where water accumulates, and areas of weak turf associated with vehicle traffic wear. Continue process through fall season with addition of seed.

· Stained all wood furniture and flag sticks using Messiner’s, manufacture sponsored product. Noticable difference in color. Additional different using foam applicator brush.

· Maintained consistent ball roll distance on green within a range of 10 -11.5 as measured with a standard stimpmeter.

· Mowing heights; Greens @ 0.110 – 0.100”, Collars @ 0.325”, Fairways, Tees and Approaches @ 0.325 – 0.375”, Intermediate Rough @ 0.75”, Primary Rough @ 2 -2.5”.


IRRIGATION

· Continued to level around irrigation heads in fairways where soil has settled creating dish bowl effect, holding water around irrigation head. Additionally, observing wet areas around many irrigation heads, possibly loose swing joints or small cracks leaking.

· Irrigation loop around #12 green valved off. Possible broken pipe, as agronomic activities and golfers lessen, we will address. Maybe contributing to subsurface dunker damage.

· Possible broken irrigation line for practice facility. Valved off until appropriate time this fall.

· Repaired (5) loose and or broken o-ring on swing joints.

· Communication between #11-15 holes damaged. Contacted JD Irrigation for repair assistance.

· Irrigation water pump to course and maintenance facility for washing equipment as of September 27 – 1,042,441gallons (majority of water used during the first part of the month). August usage 6,157,265 gallons.

· September water replenishment from municipal source 0.00 gallons.


OTHER / EQUIPMENT 

· No major equipment issues. Observing increased maintenance and repair items on aging equipment.

· Missing 9 bronze logoed tee markers. Replaced with painted rocks.


WEATHER (as recorded from Niagara Falls weather station)

· Mean Avg Temperature 63 (8 degree less than last month) – Max Temperature 88 (9/3) – Min Temperature 39 (9/24).

· Precipitation measured on site 5.39”. 9/3-0.36”, 9/4-0.70”, 9/8-2.3”, 9/14-0.65”, 9/19-0.5”, 9/22-0.8” & 9/30-0.25”.


NEXT MONTH (October) 

· Continue to shift focus to agronomic activities in preparation for next season.

· Mow down all tall grass areas especially focusing on green and tee surrounds.

· Solid tine greens creating 3/8” to ½” diameter holes without removing material. Followed by sand topdressing.

· Sand topdress Tees and Approaches.

· Continue core aerifying weak areas in fairways and roughs. Example fairway cleanup areas adjacent to bunkers and on/off areas along cart paths.

· Granular fertilizer applications to all roughs temperature dependent.

· Repair #3 rough cart traffic damage. Addition of sand base and sod along cart path.

· Continue application of sand along cart paths.

· Debris cleanup of deciduous tree litter.

· Continue with irrigation head leveling, repairing settled areas.

· Bring in course supplies; ball washers, trash receptacles, and water coolers.

· Prepare irrigation system for winterization.