Irrigation Reservoir Work

Our irrigation system is supplied by water in our reservoir.  As our system runs water sent out onto the course is removed from a large pit in the pumphouse.  The pit is supplied new water by a pipe that runs underground out to the bottom of the reservoir.  At the end of the supply pipe is a self-cleaning strainer.

The self-cleaning strainer keeps fish, leaves and other debris from entering the pumphouse pit.  As the pumps run, water is sent through a 2" supply pipe down to the strainer which then is sprayed out  through a series of nozzles inside of the strainer screen.  The spraying action makes the strainer turn and also removes any debris that may build up on the outside of the screen.

The plumbing for the supply pipe has been an issue in the past and was again this past summer.  The numerous connections were not holding up and blowouts were happening.  We chose to reroute the supply pipe and install a High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe in place of the existing PVC pipe.  The advantage of the HDPE pipe is that it is relatively flexible and can follow the contour of our pond bank down to the strainer, thus reducing the number of connections.  

To do the project we had to remove all of the water from the reservoir, replace the supply pipe and replace any worn parts on the strainer.  Water was then pumped back up to the reservoir via our entrance pump.

 Before.

After.

Year End Lunch

Every year the majority of the crew gets laid off in late October/early November.  So, on "layoff day" we go to the casino buffet to celebrate the year.  The time also gives me another opportunity to thank the crew for their hard work and dedication.  While there we feast, gorge ourselves with delicious food and then wonder why we ate so much......

Thanks again guys!!

#9 Green Bank

In the 90's the mounds behind #9 green bank were added and with the addition a few maintenance issues developed over the years.  The green slopes from front to back and as rainwater surface drains down the slope a pool of water always developed on the back right portion of the green after a hard rain.  The pooling was due to the mounds creating a damn effect.

The slope of the mounds were also very steep and were always a challenge to mow.  As the years passed bentgrass began to dominate the bank's surface.  At green or fairway height bentgrass does well but when grown at rough height bentgrass has a tendency to become weakly rooted and "leggy", laying over itself creating mats of turf.  So, as our mowers attempted to mow the bank the poorly rooted turf would rip and peel up leaving unsightly damage.  

Considering the before mentioned issues the Greens Committee decided to make a change.  Over the last 2 weeks the crew and I softened the mounds behind the green, added a drainage inlet off from the collar in the back right and sodded the entire green bank.  The end result is a manageable slope, a well drained green surface and a grass that will hold up to mower traffic.  The area will also play better from a chipping standpoint due to the new grass' consistency.

Below are some before and nearing completion photos.

2016 fw Edge Sodding Project

This fall we continued our fairway edge sodding.  If you remember, 9, 14,15 & 18 fw edges were done last year and have created a nice definition between the fairway and rough.  This year we continued by sodding the fairway edges on 2, 11, 12 & 17.

The staff and I removed the old fairway edge with a big roll sod cutter attached to our tractor.  Dan Kaiser and his crew then laid the new Kentucky Bluegrass sod that we purchased from Red Hen Turf Farm.

Below is a picture of us removing the old fairway edge.

 
  

Greens Aerification

Last week the crew and I finished aerifying greens.  Each fall we bury the greens with a heavy amount of sand, let the sand dry, "deep-tine" aerify with 3/4" solid tines, and then hand broom in the dried sand into the aerification holes.

The process works well when we have good drying conditions, such as abundant sunshine and a little wind.  Under those conditions the sand dries enough that it doesn't stick to each other and works into the holes easily.  Conversely, when the sand is damp it bridges over the holes and refuses to work into the holes making for an unproductive day.

Greens aerification days are labor intensive and the crew works hard to get the job done.  Fortunately, we have a great group of employees who, every year, do the task asked of them without complaint.  Thanks again guys!

 

Verticutting Tees

Last week the crew finished verticutting tees.  The machine being used to do this has blades that spin around on a shaft.  Each blade then cuts a linear groove in the turf removing accumulated thatch.  The removal of excess thatch helps lessen disease pressure, helps with water penetration and maintains a firmer playing surface.  

After the tees were verticut in 2 directions there was a substantial amount of thatch to be picked up.  Sand topdressing was then applied.

Drainage Project

Dan Kaiser and his crew started on our fall drainage project yesterday.  Over the next two weeks he and his crew will be installing drainage into the areas that were damaged during the repeated rain events in August.  

Many of these areas are bowl shaped, "bird baths" that do not drain.  These types of issues are common on old courses such as ours and drainage installation and/or reshaping of those specific areas are the only answers.  

2016 Grounds Crew

Since starting here in August of 2002 I have had the opportunity to work with a great group of guys.  Each year the dynamics of the crew changes a little.  Some years more than others.  This past year I was able to retain most of the crew and I only added 3 new faces.

Each year's crew is a little bit different, but I have to say the guys I have this year have to be among the best I have had in my 14 years.  Everyone one of them care about the course, work well together and seem to enjoy being here.  Hard to ask for more than that.  Thank you for your hard work guys!

Front row:  Alex Lincoln - Asst. Superintendent (2nd year), Klay Hobson (2nd year), Zac Adkins (2nd year), Dallas Galanda (3rd year), Bailey Rank (1st year), Andrew Menke (1st year), Joe Lewicki (4th year), Rob Lemon - Facilities Mgr. (16th year), John Maximoff (14th year), Joe Lovison, (4th year).

Back Row:  Eric Rank - Director of Grounds (14th year), Nathan Stanage (2nd year), Forest Galanda (6th year), Dayton Siewert (2nd year), Cody Galanda (4th year), Carl Ardissono (5th year), Paul Ardissono - Crew Foreman (6th year), Paul Kniola - Equipment Manager (12th year), Mike Petro - Entrance/Range Specialist (12th year), Rick Varner (1st year), Darrell Chitty (14th year)

Fairway Gypsum Application

Every year we spread gypsum on our fairways per recommendations made by Mavis Consulting.  The gypsum breaks down easily after a few passes with a steel drag mat and a few minutes of water.

The trick is actually getting it out of our spreader.  The material is a consistency of a damp, heavy flower and requires some "coaxing" to get it out of the spreader.  The picture below shows Carl doing just that.

Gypsum is important for a number of reasons.  A few of them are:

1. It's a source of calcium and sulfur for plants. 
2. Gypsum improves soil structure.  Flocculation, or aggregation, is important in the soil profile for plants to have healthy roots.    
3. It also improves water infiltration into the soil.  

Fairway Topdressing

Our fairway topdressing program at the club is in full swing and this year marks the first year for all the fairways to receive sand.  The newly added fairways to the list include 1,2,3,7,10,14 & 18.  

The program is in various stages and the picture below shows the effect the sand is having to the soil profile.  For example, 4 fw is in its 3rd year, while 4 approach has been getting topdressed for 5 years.  The sand accumulation is dependent on how often we topdress and how heavy the application of sand was.  Initially, 4 approach, 10 approach and 6 fw were aggressively topdressed with a number of heavy applications of sand spanning the first 2 years.  Our current program on all of the fairways is much lighter so the sand accumulation in those profiles will be slower.  

May Newsletter

Hello Everyone.  I hope you all had an enjoyable winter.  Spring is here and the grass is beginning to grow even though the past week or so has been unseasonably cold.  The current forecast for next week does show a welcomed warming trend. 

The second and last phase of the tee project was finished last fall and the tees have grown in nicely.  Both 16 and 17 Tee complexes have seen a major change and will be a nice improvement both in aesthetics and functionality.  The new tees on 17 are open for play, while the rough around the tees is still growing in.  While the grow-in process is going on in the rough please stay on the older grass or the path.   

16 tee rough was sodded last fall and is doing nicely, while the tee tops are still growing in.  Currently, the tee markers are on the temporary tee to the right.  I anticipate with normal May weather the new tees on 16 will be open by mid May. 

18 tee is also in the grow in phase and should be open for play by mid May.  The forward or red tee top is currently waiting for more sod to be added to it from the back range t/sod nursery.  Last year we harvested from the nursery what we could and had to stop because the sod was falling apart.  My hope is that between then and now the grass on the nursery will have matured enough for sod harvest. 

11 tee complex is also open for play.  We have a bit of tidying up to do in the form of better defining the rough/native line and then a few miscellaneous items around the perimeter.   Otherwise, the new shape of the tees will blend in well with the new tees on the rest of the course. 

Each winter the staff and I manage the trees on the course.  Last year was no different and trees that were either weak, dead or dangerous were removed.  Additionally, trees that affected turf growing conditions were either trimmed or taken down.  The decision to remove a tree is never taken lightly and with help of the greens committee touring the course each fall we have been able to implement a management plan that is well thought out and effective.

The Grounds Staff and I look forward to seeing you on the course and, as always, please repair your ballmarks, rake the bunkers and replace your divots.  With your help, we can continue to make Chikaming a great place to play.  Thank you!!

For more up to date information please visit our blog at:  www.cccturf.blogspot.com

Eric Rank

Director of Grounds

Winter Work

Every winter the crew and I tackle a number of things to make work go more smoothly during the growing season.  One of our annual winter projects is tree management.  Below Paul Ardissono and Mike Petro are clearing and chipping brush from behind the range tee cart path.  The area they're working in will soon become new parking for golf carts.  The proposed area will provide spaces for cart parking while the membership makes use of the practice facilities.  

A long standing idea of mine has been to install additional irrigation during the winter months.  A tough task considering it's winter.  But this year I bought an insulated ice fishing shanty.  It pops up in less than a minute and with the help of a little propane heater the person inside is warm and cozy to work with his hands adding quick coupling valves to existing sprinkler heads.  

A major benefit of doing this work during the winter is the lack of water in the lines.  Every fall we blow all of the water out of the lines so the water in the lines doesn't freeze.  If left to freeze the pipes would burst and shatter from the expanding frozen water.  A disastrous scenario. 

These pictures were actually taken on a warm day around 45 degrees, but Forest Galanda (in the pictures) has used this setup in temps in the 20's and been very comfortable.  

Tee Project 2015 - Completed and Our First Mowing

I forgot to post this last fall.  Sorry.....

After a few rain days the tee project was finally finished  a few weeks ago (The week of September 28).  11t was a big change and we chose to sod the tee tops with shade acclimated sod from 18t.  As you can see below the 3 new tee tops are strikingly different.

View from the new 11 blue t.

18 red and yellow were also split into 2 tees.  The yellow tee is considerably larger than the other yellow tees on the course in anticipation of using the back portion of the tee for an occasional white tee placement.

The tees on 16 and 17 were mowed for the first time this week.  Each tee top has been covered and the grass under the covers is growing quickly in current weather.  As the temperatures drop the covers will help prolong the growing season.  On a sunny day the temperatures under the covers can be as much as 10 degrees higher than the outside air.

Storage Building

Last fall the crew and I began building a new storage building.  A 3 sided shed or "run in" shed".  The shed will be a great addition to our storage buildings for it will store all of the large and miscellaneous items that have been sitting outside all of these years.  Replacement costs of these items range from $400 to $40,000.

The time and money spent to build this new shed will be well worth the investment in the long run.  Also, because of the location, I believe the building will help reduce noise traveling from our maintenance facility to the course.  

Sodding

I forgot to post this last fall. Sorry....

Last week (The week of October 12th) we started a sodding project that focused on undesirable grasses in the immediate rough perimeter of a few of our fairways.  9, 14, 15 and 18 fairways were earmarked as the worst for having bentgrass in the rough next to the fairway.  Bentgrass does well below 3/4", but as it begins to grow above 1" it begins to become thatchy and puffy.  As the summer heat arrives these areas begin to suffer and die out.

Our solution involved sod cutting a 30" wide ring around each of the four fairways.  The sod cut from the ring was removed and either composted or saved if it was determined to be of good quality and free of bentgrass.  Dan Kaiser and his crew then laid new Kentucky Bluegrass sod around each fairway. 

In areas where the bentgrass extended outside of the 30" initial cut we extended our sod cutting/removal to include these areas.  Any sod that was saved from the initial first ring cut was then laid in these areas.