Day 5

Just after a few days from planting the greens, you can see some positive signs of the new sprigs beginning to establish.  I would consider it a huge success if we can make it until this weekend without encountering any substantial thunderstorms.  These new sprigs are quite prone to washing with heavy downpours.  Once we get past day 8 or 9, that threat will become less and less.   

Planting of the greens

Putting Green

17 greens were planted on Thursday June 20th and the remainder 5 were planted the morning of the 21st.  The picture above is of our putting green on day one.  The sprigs were shipped from Texas in a refrigerated semi-truck and arrived quite early this past Thursday.  A crew of 6 were responsible for shaking the sprigs on all 22 of our putting surfaces.  I liken the process to a landscaper pine-strawing a planting bed.  Once the green is sprigged, we then cover them with sand and begin the watering process.  It is critical we not allow the sprigs to dry out, so frequent watering will be evident over the first week to ten days.  In just a few short weeks from planting we will begin mowing and establishing them as fine-cut putting surfaces.   

New Pond Bank

#10 Pond Bank

The bulk head removal on #10 pond bank is complete.  We are now in the finishing stages of grading and laying sod.  The grade matches up well with the remainder of the pond.  In a couple of weeks you will not even notice that anything was ever done.  I am very pleased with this new look, and hoping that future improvements to our pond edges will consist of this method.

Fumigation

Over the past couple of day tarps were pulled over all putting surfaces and the greens were fumigated.  This is an important step in our conversion process to insure a sterile planting environment when the new ultradwarf is planted.  These covers will be removed the end of this week so we can make final preparations before the sprigs are planted next week.

Driving Range

With just a few days under our belt, the driving range is taking shape.  Once completed the range will add nearly 50% more teeing area.  The practice chipping area is also getting a face lift.  A new elevated green along with a practice bunker will be built to greater mimic conditions one might find out on the course.  Below you can begin to see the bunker taking shape, as well as the elevated green on the other side.

And so it begins

This week begins the first process in our greens conversion.  Unwanted bermudagrass has contaminated our bentgrass putting surfaces.  This bermudagrass is not the same as what will be planted in a few weeks.  In order to insure total eradication of all unwanted grass, we are taking all precautions possible.  Here some of my staff are making spot applications of those contaminated areas.  This process will be replicated a couple times before the entire surface is treated.   

2013 Member/Guest

2013 Member/Guest has no come and gone.  What a great stretch of weather we had for the 3 day event.  The golf course showed off its' beauty as only it knows how.  A special "thank you" goes out to the Golf Course Maintenance Department in the preparations leading up to the event, as well as the daily set-up and  conditioning.  My staff spends numerous hours with the little details, making sure no areas are overlooked.  Great job guys!