Summer Challenges and Fall Opportunities

What a crazy summer it's been!  Looking back not too long ago to early April, the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 led us to believe there may not be a golf season.  The threat at the time forced myself and the other Club department managers to re-evaluate our approved budgets and find ways to save the Club money in the event we were shut down to only essential services for the season.  Fortunately by mid-May, golf was given the green light to get ready to open.  However, there was still the fear of a potential shutdown which forced us to continue cautiously and limit spending to help offset any revenue short falls.

Seeding vs. Sodding on #10 and Driving Range Tee Renovations

Over $75k was saved in the decision to seed the tees and fairway on #10 and the tee deck on the driving range vs. sodding.  The 10th hole was re-opened for play mid-July after being played as a par 3 since the beginning of the season.  There has been concern from members regarding crabgrass on #10 fairway.  Crabgrass seed naturally contained in the native soils on #10 unfortunately germinated and flourished during the favourable hot, dry conditions throughout June/July.  No pre-emergent grass killer could have been applied earlier this spring prior to the fairway seeding this season without harming the emerging bentgrass.  Fortunately, next spring a pre-emergent herbicide can and will be applied to kill any emerging crabgrass with no harm to the established bentgrass which will transform it from our worst to our best fairway!

Crabgrass on #10 Fairway

The driving range tee was seeded with low-mow Kentucky bluegrass and periennial ryegrass instead of sodding which saved $30k.  Seeded low-mow bluegrass will ultimately make a superior driving range tee turf vs bentgrass, but is very slow to establish. Members need to be patient for this year and give the turf the time it needs to grow in for next season and for now enjoy the newly installed top of the line EZ Tee mats for the balance of this year.

Seeding Recovery on Ice-Damaged Fairways

Ice Damage on #5 Fairway May 12, 2020

Ice Damage Recovery on #5 Fairway Sept 25, 2020

Turf recovery on the ice damaged fairways this season was an ongoing challenge.  Much of the damage was recovered by seed which saved a tremendous amount of $$ towards any lost revenues.  The busy course in June coupled with the extremely hot, dry weather added to the challenge.  After our second go around with aerating/seeding later in July once the hot weather broke, we staked and roped all the areas from cart traffic which really helped on the recovery.   The majority of the fairway damage has now recovered (as seen above) other than the extreme low spots which are getting raised with topsoil and sodded by our staff from our turf nursury through September/October.  The fairway drainage project was just approved through the Board last week for holes 2, 5, 6 and 7 which begins this fall and will help prevent this occurrence in the future! 

Current/Upcoming Projects

#12 Tee Surrounds Right Rock exposed

Rock behind #15 Green being exposed

In an effort to reduce garden maintenance costs and enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, the formal garden right of #12 tee was removed and the natural rock was exposed and fescue grass seeded.

Behind #15 green, the natural rock face in being exposed and the grass behind the green will be extended upward to reduce the invasion of weeds and saplings in the area.

Upcoming Maintenance

• Tees will be aerated over next couple of weeks
• Fairway sodding will continue over next few weeks
• Greens will be deep-tine aerated on Thursday October 15th.