Winter Prep.

Last week we finished spraying our final fungicide application of the year.  This application is made to prevent snow mold from forming during the winter months.


We also applied a granular fertilizer application this week on all the fairways and tees.  The fertilizer was comprised of Ammonium Sulfate, Muriate of Potash, Boron and Manganese Sulfate.  We applied a similar fertilizer blend to the greens as well.

The Leaf Monster is here....

Over the past two weeks leaves have started falling and this past Thursday the leaves were raining down. 

A New Fountain?

Last week we finished aerifying the greens.  This fall we chose to deep tine the greens.  This process is performed with a machine that pounds 3/4" wide x 10" long, tines into the ground.  As the tines go into the ground the soil is displaced and a hole is left.  The hole is then filled with topdressing sand. 

Well, as we were aerifying the edge of #11 green, we hit an irrigation pipe just off the collar of the green.  The result was a geyser or fountain.  Very pretty, but not at all what we wanted. 

What is even more disturbing is that this was the second time this had happened to us.  It also happened on #1.  The pipes around the greens are way too shallow and, as we have found out in previous years, the fairways have some areas with shallow pipe also. 

Fairway Verticutting

Over the past two days we have been verticutting a few of our fairways. This process uses spinning, circular blades that are aligned along a shaft. As the shaft spins, the blades cut through the thatch/turf mat. The blades cut any grass blades that are laying over and also remove a large amount of thatch material. The end result is healthier turf and less grain (grass laying over).

Black Spots on Greens

You may have noticed the black spots on a few of our greens.  These spots are actually patches of moss that is dying.  We recently sprayed a product that will hopefully remove these eyesores.  It looks very promising so far. 

Cart Path Removal

Kaiser Landscaping has begun the process of removing the asphalt paths on the course.  As they remove the material we will come behind and grade the old path smooth.  Sometime after we will edge the old path and place a layer of pea stone down.  Viola!  Our new path. 

6 Fairway Topdressing

Last week we started the topdressing and aerification process on 6 fairway.  This fall we are trying a new approach.  We will topdress and aerify one half of the fairway one week and complete the other half of the fairway the next week.  While the process is going on you will be able to place your ball on the portion of the fairway that is not disturbed. 

We will do this process again sometime in the month of October as weather permits.