Course Update 8/30/18

It was another week of wild weather, from thunderstorms Sunday morning that flooded the course, to heat indexes in the mid-90's Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and back to thunderstorms last night that dropped over 1" of rain.  We're up to 4.74" of rainfall this month, when our average is 3.23".  6 staff members worked 9 hours today repairing washouts and raking bunkers to get them playable, while another 6 staff cleaned up sand and gravel that washed from the drain lines in fairways.  With all the moisture expect greens to be softer and rolling a tad slower than normal.  We also need to protect the fairways so don't be surprised if several holes are Cart Path Only throughout the weekend.

Course Update 8/23/18

It was another week of wet weather, and unfortunately the drainage contractor wasn't able to work due to the soggy conditions.  Our average rainfall during August is 3.23", and as of today we've received 3.29".   Even with 8 more days remaining this month, I am optimistic that we'll see more dry days versus rain days.  We're used to dealing with stretches of wet weather, but it seems to negatively affect the turf more in late summer and throughout the fall due to shorter days and the lower angle of the sun.  This also happens to be the time of year we look at heavily shaded areas to determine what trees need to be removed and formulate our plans for the winter.  The pictures below were taken recently and illustrate the need for tree removal in order to provide more sunlight and airflow for better playing conditions.

Lakes 8 blue tee.  The turf on the right side of the tee is in much better condition since removing most of the trees on that side 2 years ago.  The thin turf and soft conditions on the left side of the tee clearly indicates a problem caused by the dense trees left of the cart path.  This is one of the areas we'll be working on this winter.

Grove 3 green/approach looking down from the cart path.  This picture was taken around 10am and leaves no doubt about why there is weak turf on the front of the green and most of the approach.

Another angle of Grove 3 green/approach

Course Update 8/16/18

The drainage contractor was unable to work this week due to multiple rain events and wet conditions.  Next week's forecast looks drier and we anticipate being able to resume work on Lakes 1 and 3, and Orchard 8.  Unfortunately, two of the rain events were very intense and washed some sand and gravel out of the drain lines that the staff has been cleaning up.  We reused as much of the material as we could, and the contractor will top-off the drain lines with the sand/soil blend upon his return.

Speaking of wet conditions, the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh is reporting that as of 8/15, total precipitation so far this year is 9" above normal for the region.  Keep in mind that their readings are taken at the Pittsburgh airport, so there's probably some variance in the amount of precipitation we've received.  Being that far above the yearly average makes me think we'll have a dry fall.

Drainage Project 8/9/18

The contractor was able to work on Monday and Tuesday of this week before getting rained out the past two days.  Drain lines were installed in Lakes 9 fairway, just short of the green, along with Orchard 8 lower fairway, also near the green.  If you recall from last year, both of these areas were re-sodded as a result of significant turf loss because the excess water had nowhere to drain to.  We received almost .75" of rain the past two days and these areas traditionally would have had standing water.  Thanks to the new drain lines these same areas were mostly dry!

The next areas scheduled for new drainage are the right side of Lakes 1 fairway and rough, along with the beginning of Orchard 8 lower fairway.  As of Tuesday evening, 2,400 feet of drain line has been trenched and installed thus far.

Trenching on Lakes 9 fairway short of the green

Trenches on Lakes 9 fairway ready for pipe and gravel

Needed a short drain line in the depression on the right of Lakes 9 fairway

Backfilling the trench on Orchard 8 lower fairway in front of the green

Course Update 8/2/18

The past several weeks have been very busy leading up to the Men's Invitational, and I want to thank my staff for their hard work and dedication.  The course is in phenomenal shape and we are in a much better place compared to last year!

It was a short week due to the Invitational, but the contractor was able to install drainage on Lakes 4 and 8 fairways, while the maintenance staff continued sodding fairway spots on Orchard 4 and 5 fairways.  Sodding the fairway spots is a tedious process and requires someone with a meticulous eye to get it right.  It's not just throw some sod down and call it good.  First, the area is surveyed and we determine if drainage needs to be installed, or can we raise the depression but not cause an adjacent area to become water-logged.  If we determine that installing drainage isn't necessary, the outer edges of the depression are cut and pulled back, then a sand/soil mix is added and compacted so the new sod is equal to, or slightly higher than the surrounding turf.  The final step is to install the new fairway sod, roll smooth, then topdress with sand to fill any imperfections.  The goal is to make sure water will not lay in those areas for an extended time which originally led to the turf loss.  While out playing, please be aware of areas with the short, green and white stakes.  They identify recently laid sod that needs time to root before it's subjected to golf and cart traffic.  These areas should be treated as mandatory ground under repair.

One of the low areas on Orchard 4 fairway that did not require drainage

Same area on Orchard 4 fairway after raising the grade and sodding

New drain line at the end of Lakes 4 fairway that always stays wet

New lateral drain line on the left side of Lakes 8 fairway before the fairway bunkers

New drain line on Lakes 8 fairway in the swale before the dogleg that was holding water

Found the old drain line on Lakes 8 fairway while trenching the new line.  Notice the compacted soil on top of the pea gravel that kept water from draining off the surface and into the pipe

Drainage Project 7/26/18

Work continues on the drainage project and the contractor recently finished working on Orchard 4, 5, and upper 8.  After finishing Orchard 4 fairway, we had the contractor install a drain line in the left rough near the cart path that is always wet.  A significant amount of water comes from the 5 tee area and funnels down across the path into the rough.  The new drain line runs parallel to the path and will catch all of the water so it can't reach the rough.  Once that area dries out enough we will strip the worn turf, add soil and raise the grade to the level of the path, and install new fescue sod.  On Orchard 5, earlier this year the maintenance staff installed two new drain lines, but there was a small area at the very beginning of the fairway we couldn't get to.  Well, the contractor took care of that for us and you may have noticed the end of the pipe runs through the rough almost to the cart path.  This new line will also catch a significant amount of water that comes through the swale before the fairway.  On upper Orchard 8, the left (lower) fairway always seemed to stay wet and required close to 400 feet of drain line.  Our goal is to catch the water in the rough and keep it from running down the fairway.  I wasn't surprised to see all the rock, hard clay, and tree roots that came up while trenching.  Those items are not conducive to good draining soil.

In addition to the contractor performing drainage work, the maintenance staff spent a couple days finishing up the "big dig" next to the silver tee on Lakes 1.  All the old, non-functioning drainage was removed and replaced with a new catch basin and pipe.  Then the cavity was backfilled with gravel and a sand/soil mix was spread on top to allow for better surface drainage.  Turf-type tall fescue sod was again used due to it's quick rooting and other desired attributes, and should be ready for foot traffic in a couple weeks.  So far the area is dry and the drainage is working as it should given our recent rain events.

Trenching along the cart path on Orchard 4

Backfilling the trench on Orchard 5

Trenching on Orchard 8 upper fairway.  The thin turf at the edge of the fairway is a clear indication of turf that remains saturated for extended periods

Backfilled trench on Orchard 8

Installed a lateral line on Orchard 8 to catch water coming from the fairway bunker and left side of the hole

The "swamp" on Lakes 1 prior to excavation

Numerous drain lines were installed over the years but nothing was working

Almost finished removing the mucky soil

The finished product that should be ready for foot and mower traffic in 10-14 days

Course Update 7/19/18

Greens:  The dry weather has allowed us to keep the putting surfaces in excellent condition and the turf is very healthy.  You've probably seen us spot watering to cool the turf and replenish soil moisture.  Expect the greens to get a little quicker as we "tune them up" for the Women's and Men's Invitationals.

Tees:  Most of the tees are holding up well given the amount of play and recent weather.  A few have more thatch than we'd like, but we have a plan to address that this fall.  In the meantime, we're spot watering every day and rotating the markers to other tees to vary the wear patterns.

Fairways:  I've been most impressed with the condition of the fairways this year.  Spring aerification provided much-needed decompaction and improved surface drainage, while some minor tweaks to our agronomic program greatly improved turf health.  In recent years with similar weather, the fairways would have significant dry areas and be visually un-appealing.  This year it's the complete opposite!

Drainage Project:  New drain lines have been installed on Orchard 1 fairway and rough, and Orchard 4 fairway.  The contractor is getting ready to install drainage in Orchard 4 rough, left of the fairway near 5 tees that always stays wet.  In addition to the drainage project, the maintenance staff has been raising and sodding the low areas void of turf so surface water will be diverted to the new drain lines.

Trenching on Orchard 4 fairway

A laser-level is needed when trenching to ensure that water will flow where we want it to

One of the collection basins on Orchard 4 that wasn't working.  Sometimes it's easier to remove the old material and start over

Raising a low area (bird bath) on Orchard 1 fairway

The finished product.  Please do not hit from any area marked with green/white stakes.  These areas have been recently sodded 

Drainage Project

The drainage project started this week on Orchard 1.  The project addresses the areas in the fairways and rough that hold water and as a result, experienced turf loss last summer.  The process begins by cutting a trench 15" deep by 4" wide to remove the hard clay and any old drainage pipe that is not working.  Once the trench is cleaned out, 3" perforated pipe is installed and small, pea-size gravel is backfilled around the pipe.  We use 3" pipe because it keeps the trench width narrow, but still carries a large amount of water.  The gravel will fill the trench to within 2" from the surface, then a blend of sand/soil will be occupy the remaining space.  The sand/soil mix holds just the right amount of water for healthy turf growth, compared to straight sand that dries out too quickly.

We plan to install drainage on the following holes:
Lakes 1, 7, 8, 9
Orchard 1, 4, 5, 8 (both upper & lower)
Grove 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9

The trencher removes the material and conveys it into a trailer

Filling the trench with pea-size gravel

Backfilled trench prior to adding sand/soil blend

The gravel gets dumped into this custom made hopper that rides over the trench and backfills as it moves forward

Using the material handler and conveyor to place sand/soil blend on top of the gravel

Installed a 12" basin at the beginning of Orchard 1 fairway on the left side where water usually collects and kills the turf

Needed an excavator to dig through the tree roots and install an outflow pipe from the basin to the creek that runs between Orchard 1 & 5

Bees in the Bunkers

Some concerns have been mentioned about the "bees" that invade our bunkers every year. They are actually Sand Wasps (Bembix species) and surprisingly pose no threat to humans.  Keep in mind that our staff maintains the bunkers daily and we are constantly disturbing them. NOT ONE STING!

Sand Wasp (Bembix species) burrowing in the sand

For a few weeks every summer we have little friends make homes in our sand traps. These fast fliers are officially known as the Bembix Sand Wasp. They dig numerous burrows in cool, moist sand (ie- bunkers) to lay their eggs. Juvenile wasps, known as larvae, emerge from the eggs where they remain in the sand and grow into adults. Adult females congregate together in large numbers when making nests to bait their prey. The higher populations of larvae in nesting sites attract flies, beetles, caterpillars and grasshoppers. These insects are captured by the female wasp and taken back to the burrows to be fed to the growing larvae.

The existence of these insects in the bunkers is a nuisance to golfers, but beneficial to the course as they help to control the population of flies and detrimental turf beetles by preying on them.

The greatest concern for golfers is that they will get stung by these wasps when entering a bunker to play a shot.  Studies have proven that this particular wasp is not aggressive and of no harm to humans.  Both male and female wasps will not sting humans unless they are stepped on or smashed between your hands.  When approached by a human the sand wasp will initially swarm, looking for food, and then go back to their burrows to protect their larvae.

Course Update 6/28/18

Greens:  Mowed every day (weather dependent), and double-cut on the weekends and for member tournaments.  Greens are sprayed every week with low rates of fungicide, plant growth regulators (pgr's), and fertilizer to maintain healthy turf and keep new growth to a minimum.  We can usually mow 3-4 greens before needing to dump the buckets that collect the clippings.  We recently applied a wetting agent (surfactant) that helps water move into and thru the rootzone.  Wetting agents break the hydrogen bonds in the water molecule and the reduced surface tension allows the water to soak into the rootzone faster.  We wanted to be prepared for spot watering with the return of hot, dry weather.  Golfers won't notice a difference in the turf, in fact the greens tend to roll faster after applications of wetting agents because less moisture is held near the surface.

Tees:  New this year we have one staff member dedicated to tee service.  Their job entails wiping down the divot boxes and keeping them filled with divot mix, keeping the hole monuments clean from bird droppings, refilling/maintaining the 6 divot bottle stations throughout the property, cleaning the 3 course restrooms, collecting trash and other debris, and filling divots.  The tees still have the same amount of divots, but I've noticed the divots are filled more often and filled correctly (see the post about divots from two weeks ago).

Fairways:  They have great color and dense, healthy turf heading into summer and held up well given the amount of rain we've received this year.  More hot weather is coming for at least the next week, so you may encounter the staff spot watering or running irrigation heads during the day.  That is how we cool the turf and keep it from wilting.  We continue to sod the smaller depressions void of turf and the larger areas will be addressed with the drainage project that is starting soon.

Bunkers:  1.33" of heavy rain fell yesterday afternoon and last night that made a mess in the bunkers.  Most of the staff spent the entire day pumping water and repairing washouts.  More time will be spent in them tomorrow to finish everything for the weekend.

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