Tree Care

The trees on the golf course have been neglected over the years.  Many of them have large amounts of dead material in the canopy, as well as hang very low to the ground.

Our goal is to visually make the trees and the golf course more appealing, while improving the playability of the course.

The entire month of September we are working on tree care with a rented high lift. We will not finish the entire course in this time, but plan to continue this process annually.

 

Sand and Seed Party

I wanted to thank all the members who came out to help fill divots on Friday evening.  We had a great turnout, with about 40 individuals helping fill tee and fairway divots.

In total, we used almost 2,000 lbs of sand!  Thanks again for helping maintain our great golf course.

Soil Moisture

In our efforts to maintain consistency from green to green, we often use a soil moisture meter.  This tool consists of two 3" probes that are inserted into the soil and provide a digital reading of the soil moisture.

The goal is to have the soil moisture consistent throughout each green, with all the greens being as close as possible.  This will result in similar firmness and green speed throughout the course.

The moisture meter also aides in our watering practices.  The level of soil moisture is a good indicator of which greens need more or less water and specifically which areas of the greens.  This helps pinpoint areas to hand water, before the turf appears stressed.

Below is a photo of the soil moisture meter.

Putting Green Maintenance

There are obviously many practices applied to putting greens to create a good putting surface.  One very important maintenance practice that we we implement every 3 weeks, is verticutting and light sand topdressing of the greens.

Verticutting is a process where a mower equipped with vertical blades, rather than cutting reels, goes over the entire green.  The vertical blades are set at a depth of 1/16" below the mowing height.  These blades help remove thatch and old leaf blades in the turf canopy.  They also assist in standing up the grass blades, allowing a good cut on the green.

Immediately following verticutting, a light topdress of sand is applied to the entire green.  The sand is then drug into the turf canopy.  The sand assists in keeping the greens smooth, uniform and maintaining a firm surface.  A consistent program including these two important practices ultimately results in a much smoother, truer putting surface.

Below you will see a green that has been verticut.  Notice all the material on the surface that has been removed through this practice.  The second photo shows the green lightly sanded, following verticutting.

Summer is here!

The golf season is in full swing and summer is here, now that the fourth of July has passed.  One criticism that I often heard from members upon my arrival here at Shadow Hills, was the summer playing conditions.  Many members expressed that the fairways were over watered and very soft.

I believe that the golf course should play fast and firm in the summer time.  To achieve those playing conditions, there will be areas that are dry and brown.  Our antiquated irrigation system does not afford us the capability to have efficient coverage and consistency.  In other words, if everything was perfectly green, conditions would be soft and we would have numerous wet spots.  At least half of the year Mother Nature keeps the golf course too wet and green for us, forcing winter rules.

We are currently replacing nozzles in fairway sprinkler heads to improve coverage and working to eliminate problem areas where the turf is drier then desired.  Hand watering will also be implemented where necessary. 

Enjoy the bounce and roll out there!

Billbugs

Billbugs are weevils (commonly called snout beetles) that belong to the family Curculionidae that commonly infest high-cut turfgrass species. The bluegrass billbug, Sphenophorus parvulus Gyllenhal, is the most frequently encountered billbug.   Damage to turf is caused by the larval stage of this pest, as they burrow down through the grass stem toward the crown and roots. Destruction of turf roots, especially during periods of drought, will kill the entire grass plant. Billbug damage usually first appears in mid- to late June.  

Below is a photo of a Bluegrass Billbug in the larvae form and the second picture is the damage to turf that the billbugs can cause.   We are currently treating for billbugs in various areas throughout the golf course.

Audubon Certification Achieved

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses is an award winning education and certification program that helps courses protect the environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf.  By enhancing the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency, and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations, the program serves an important environmental role worldwide.

To achieve certification with the ACSP, implementing and demonstrating environmental practices in the following areas are required;

*Environmental Planning
*Wildlife and Habitat Management
*Chemical Use Reduction and Safety
*Water Conservation
*Water Quality Management
*Outreach and Education


The certification effort was led by Assistant Superintendent, Jake Witherspoon.  His time and efforts are appreciated and the golf course maintenance staff looks forward to continually maintaining the golf course in an environmentally friendly manner.