Greens Aerification

What a spring!  I have been away from my blogger dashboard for quite some time, now.  So, I have alot to talk about in the upcoming posts.

The warm spring has given us the opportunity to aerify the greens much earlier than we normally do.  This spring we chose to deep-tine the greens with solid tines instead of core aerify.  Solid tines are simply a solid metal rod that is thrust into the ground by the machine.  This action displaces the soil and creates a cavity or channel for sand and air.  No material is removed in this process.

A step by step approach to this process is as follows:

1.  Topdress the greens with sand
2.  Deep Tine Aerify
3.  Allow the sand to dry
4.  Broom sand into aerification holes
5.  Blow off or pickup excess sand


Here Nick is brooming the sand into the aerification holes.  This will take many passes over the green to get the majority of the surface free of excess sand and all of the holes filled. 

The first mowing of the season

Spring has sprung in southwest Michigan. After a week of temperatures Ranging from 60 to 80 degrees the grass is greening up, trees are budding and flowers are blooming.

Normally, our first greens mowing is usually a week or two away, but we have to mow when mother nature forces us to. Fairways and tees will be mowed next week.

Winter Work: Post #4

Our winter tree maintenance program has been shortened this year due to the unusually mild winter.  I expected to start the project in the middle of January, but with above freezing temperatures and the risk of causing considerable turf damage due to the saturated ground we pushed the start date back.  Eventually, I was forced to start the project two weeks ago and what was to be a month of pruning and tree removal was shortened to two weeks. 

For the trimming we utilize a large aerial lift that weighs in at over 20,000 pounds.  Even though the machine is on tracks, which disperses the weight better than tires, damage to the turf can be done in wet conditions.  For this reason, we are limited where we can drive and what we can trim. 
 

During the two weeks we were able to accomplish a considerable amount.  An area of focus for us was in and around the new holes.  Particularly, holes 7 & 8.  A number of trees were failing to a point where they could present a hazard during a windy day.  The decline of these trees is normal after construction is performed in there rootzone.  Whether it is damage to their roots through compaction or root pruning some trees cannot handle the shock. 

We have saved as many logs from the trees as we can.  Currently, we are getting quotes from local lumber companies for the larger logs and we hope to have the smaller logs used for firewood.  The tops and small limbs have been piled up and will eventually be burned onsite. 

Here's the view as the sun rises from 60 feet up of #4 fairway after a small snowfall.  It was even prettier in person. 

Winter Work: Post #3

The third installment of the answer to the question:  "What do you do during the winter?" is a portion of what I do.

As the winter begins, I begin thinking about next year.  Formulating a purchasing plan for fertilizer and chemicals takes a number of weeks.  It all begins with evaluating what worked over the past year and where I would make changes.  Then I research new products, if applicable, to see if they would fit into my program. 

An example of my "Greens" program is above.  Using application dates, specific products and their rates all help me build a program that is organized and easily adjusted from year to year.  I also have individual programs for tees, fairways and rough.   

Eventually, I ask my fert and chem reps to bid on the products I would like.  From there I plug in the prices on the products and make sure they fit within my budget guidelines.

Hamlet Roofing Project

Due to the unseasonably warm weather, the contractor has chosen to start re-roofing the Hamlet.  Initially, the project was to take place in mid March, but with 45-50 degree days and no rain or snow in the forecast it was an easy decision. 

The shingles on the roof are the original from when the building was built in 1984 and were in desparate need of replacement.  As you can see moss was making it's home on much of the north facing sides.

The contractor hopes to be done within two weeks and so far the underlying plywood boards have been in excellent shape, so just the shingles and the underlying tar-paper have needed to be replaced.

Winter Work: Post #1

I often get the question, "What do you do during the winter?"  So, I thought this would be a good series of posts on the blog.  So, here is one of our winter jobs.

Every winter each piece of equipment is thoroughly gone through to prepare it for the following summer.  Preventative maintenance is the focus and we need to depend on the equipment during the summer.  This very important process is headed up by our Equipment Manager Paul Kniola.  Rob Lemon (in the pic to the right) and Nick Nate are there along with him inspecting each machine and replacing parts where needed.

Below Paul (pointing his finger) and Nick are working on grinding one of the many reels that we use to maintain the course.  This particular reel is from one of our walking greens mowers.

The grinder they are standing in front of is fully automated.  While the grinding of the reel is taking place the doors are closed, so the noise and grinding dust are limited.  After the reel is sharpened, the grinder automatically turns off.  This machine limits the exposure to not only the noise, but more importantly, the harmful dust that comes with the process.

 

Winter Work: Post #2

A sharp reel is very important to the turfgrass health. Similar to a surgical cut, if the end of the grass is jagged and uneven more surface area is availabe for a disease pathogen to infect the plant. So, for this reason, we focus on being able to cut paper with each reel before it is sent out on the golf course.

In order for a reel to cut paper it must be sharpened to a similar sharpness of scissors. As you can see in the pictures, the reel works very similar to a pair of scissors. The bedknife (the flat piece of metal) stays stationary as the reel spins. Each blade of the reel collects a few grass blades and cuts them as the two edges come together. 

This work is very precise and critical to maintaining a high quality of cut. This is reflected not only in the ball roll on greens, but also in the aesthetics on the course.  Paul, our equipment manager, does an excellent job of keeping the reels in top notch cutting condition throughout the year.