Bermuda summer

With the recent heat we are seeing a lot of the poa simply melt away. As I have said before, it is extremely difficult to grow an annual plant perennially. The silver lining in this process is that it makes space for the existing Bermuda to fill-in. We have seen a better growing environment for Bermuda this summer than I can ever remember. Heat and humidity are key to good Bermuda growth. With timely fertilizer applications and judicious watering, we hope to encourage the Bermuda through the end of summer and into fall.

Note the Bermuda filling in where the poa has died

Native Areas

At last months Green Committee Meeting we decided to start mowing high play native areas at our regular rough height. During the summer months these areas grow very fast, making for a maintenance nightmare, as we are unable to keep up with mowing them. In using our rough units to cut these areas we will be able to maintain them on a much more consistent basis, saving some labor as well. While the lie might not be the best, our hope is that you will at least be able to find your ball.......

A New Threat

If the drought, poor water quality and inefficient irrigation system wasn't enough, we are now seeing a new threat in the form of Black Turfgrass Ataenius. These little buggers can be quite destructive to the poa in our fairways; feeding on the roots resulting in irregular dead patches. We will be making an insecticide application on Monday to rid ourselves of this problem.

It's hard to believe that fairways 1-5 were completed just two weeks ago. Rooting is at about 1.5" - 2" and plant density is improving almost daily. Although not to our desired height, we are mowing three times a week. Next week we will begin spiking, rolling and fertilizing to help push the grass along. Before the end of the month we hope to topdress to smooth the surface and fill the seams.

Unfortunately, the poa in some of our fairways is starting to decline due to drought, disease and salts. Try as we might, our efforts to save these struggling areas usually ends in failure as the fickle poa is too weak to recover. However, considering that we were seeing these conditions last summer in the month of June gives me a little bit of peace of mind.   

Project Update #4

We were able to get a fairway mower on the new sod yesterday, cutting holes 1-3. Although the sod came in a little inconsistent, we are seeing good rooting on all the holes and everything will even out with time. Our goal is to mow all the new fairways on Friday, opening for play Saturday. Please keep in mind that we are mowing holes 1-3 and 5 at a much higher height of cut as we allow the sod to tack-in. Once firmly established we will slowly reduce our height of cut to match the other fairways. Carts will be restricted to the paths for the next several weeks as we want to minimize wear due to traffic.

Project Update #3

West Coast Turf began to install sod on Monday (7/27). As of today, we have grassed the fairways through the third hole and are on schedule to finish Friday afternoon. A few areas in the rough (i.e. #2) will be finished by the end of the week as well. Completed holes are being watered twice during the day and once at night to keep moisture readily available to the new roots. Expect to see the new sod go a little off color for a short period of time as it acclimates to its new growing environment. I am already seeing some rooting and expect the sod to be fairly well tacked in by this time next week.

New (white) roots showing after 3 days

Project Update #2

We are in the third day of phase 1 of our Fairway Project and everything is progressing very well. Below is a photo log of the progress thus far.

Putting the final touches on #1, almost ready for sod

Hand work complete on #2 , ready for amendments

Final few passes on #3, hand work is next

Pre-strip aerification on #5