Tree Work

The recent plunge in temperature has resulted in frozen ground that is ideal for tree work, so we're taking a break from drainage and picking up where we left off last winter.  Removing trees can be a contentious issue, but recent trends show that selective removals have significant results when it comes to improving turf health and playability.  The majority of our work is removing underbrush and undesirable trees such as locust and sumac, but we sometimes have to remove oak, maple, cherry or elm trees if they're too close to greens, tees or fairways.  These species have shallow root systems that will out-compete turfgrass for water and nutrients, all while blocking sunlight and airflow.

Trees are also removed for safety reasons, and we've been proactively removing trees that are in decline.  Visible damage to the trunk, especially around the base of the tree, is an indicator of a potential hazard.  Also, dead branches at the very top of a tree indicate a problem.

Click here for a recent article from the USGA about trees and their effect on turfgrass.

Shaded putting green turf will always be lesser quality
compared to turf that receives full sun.

Rotting heartwood makes trees weaker and more likely to come down in storms.

Thin turf under a dense tree canopy.

This tree only had minor indicators of poor health, but was clearly in decline.

Maintenance staff removing brush and undesirable trees near Grove 9 green.

Course Update

The recent stretch of mild weather has allowed us to continue the drainage projects on the Orchard course.  We're currently working in #5 fairway and have installed 130 feet of pipe thus far, with another 30 feet to finish installing before Christmas.  That brings the total drainage installed to 210 feet.  Unlike the drain line on #6, the two sites on #5 did not have existing drainage and it makes sense why we experienced problems with the turf in those low areas every year.  Since there wasn't sub-surface drainage to remove the excess water, the soil remained water-logged and the turf died due to a lack of oxygen.  By using a combination of sand over gravel in the drain lines, we ensure that water can easily drain from the surface which results in better playing conditions and healthy turf!

Ready to start digging on 5 Orchard fwy

 

Bryan & Justin digging around existing basin to connect new drainage

Installing new 4" pipe & gravel

Installing 12" basin to accommodate future drain lines

Drain line ready for sod near 5 approach

Gray clay only 2" below the fairway surface allows little to no water drainage

Winter Work

Just about every year, turf professionals everywhere get the same question: “What do you do in the winter?” Understandably, golfers sometimes assume that winter is “kick back time” for golf course superintendents. After all, not much golf is being played in the northern half of the country. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Winter in the northern half of the country usually brings a change of schedule – and some relief – from the day-to-day grind of the golf season, but there still is much work to be done. Often, winter  is “project time,” allowing superintendents to focus more resources on accomplishing bigger, more disruptive projects at a time when grass doesn’t require mowing and golfers won’t be bothered. Tree work, drainage work, and a myriad of other projects all can be done in the late fall and winter – provided the weather cooperates. When the weather doesn’t cooperate, there's snow to plow, and parking lots and sidewalks to treat. Just as it does in the summer, the weather presents its own set of challenges during winter and outside work on the course can be a battle against the elements. Additionally, course accessories like ball washers, tee markers, and benches need to be cleaned and painted, future projects planned, equipment maintained, etc.

In addition to on-course projects, several opportunities for continuing education take place during winter. The turfgrass management profession is dynamic and the development of new products, techniques and research constantly occurs. Therefore, it's important to continually learn about new advancements within the industry. Turfgrass research projects are constantly underway at universities across the nation. The information developed from that research is published and presented at turf conferences and meetings, so attendance is critical. There are many educational opportunities during the year, but the winter turf conferences are among the most important for turf professionals. Furthermore, educational conferences provide time to obtain certification credits and allow superintendents to network.

Hopefully you get the idea; a superintendent’s work is never done. So, while the occasional winter vacation may take place, winter is definitely not “kick back time” for golf course superintendents. Winter means changing schedules and shifting priorities while always striving to improve professionally so the job can be done more effectively.

Click here to find out more about winter maintenance activities

Justin giving the breakroom a much-needed cleaning

Randy prepping a tee mower reel for sharpening

Winter is the ideal time to perform extensive equipment maintenance & repairs

Snow Mold

This week we made a winter fungicide application to greens, tees and fairways to protect the turf from snow mold.  The chemicals used specifically target the disease and are formulated to last up to four months given moderate weather variations.  The ideal application period is when the turf has stopped producing new leaf tissue and the ground is not frozen.  Frozen ground limits the plant's ability to absorb the fungicide which results in reduced disease control.  The weather forecast also moved our timeline up due to the sub-freezing temps and snow/rain events expected over the next 10 days.  In total, we sprayed 53 acres of turf with a chemical cost of $15,000.

There are two types of snow mold that negatively affect turfgrass, pink and gray.  Gray snow mold is associated with long periods of snow cover and pink snow mold can occur with or without snow.  Gray snow mold is much more destructive and can kill large areas of turf, while pink snow mold typically attacks leaf tissue and does not harm the growing point (crown) of the plant.  In southwestern PA we use a fungicide that targets both pink and gray snow mold since we don't know what the weather will be like during the winter.

Pink snow mold infection on a fairway.  Notice the pinkish hue around
the outside of the infected patches.