The Difference Between Seeded Fescue and Sodded Fescue

In the center of this picture, you will see where we sodded a tree stump in the native area on #4 hillside.  This entire area was killed and seeded several years ago and you will see how the area around the sod is thin and playable, yet the sod is thick.  This too will thin out with lack of rainfall, heat and the use of growth regulators/herbicides.  Until then, we must be patient and we will do what we can to make the areas playable in the meantime.  Again, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

Not All Native Area Weeds Are Bad

This is milkweed, located to the left of the entrance driveway.  While it is a weed, it does produce flowers and they are beneficial to monarch butterflies.  We usually leave these alone and let them flourish.

Hydraulic Leak on Several Greens

What started out as an important maintenance practice turned into a nightmare.  We started verticutting greens yesterday and this morning and during the verticutting, a hydraulic seal blew out on one of the reel motors.  There was no way the operator could see the leak as grass was covering the green after each pass.  Once we started to blow off the greens and clean them we noticed the leak and immediately stopped the machine.  The greens effected were #3 bottom photo, #5 middle photo and the 7th green.  We usually do this practice several times per year and this time it caught up to us using a 15 year old machine to do it.  The lines will turn yellow but will not effect putting but will be unsightly.  There is little we can do now, as the heat of the oil is what yellows the turf so now we will have to wait it out.  We will do our best to get these areas back to normal.

Another Invitational in the Books

The final morning prep for the Invitational goes off without a hitch.  Many thanks to my crew who had to get water off the course late Thursday morning in preparation for the noon tee times and then worked until 9pm last night and be back into work at 4:30 this morning.  Mother Nature did not cooperate on Thursday but gave us 2 great days on Friday and Saturday.

Invitational Practice Round Going To Be Wet

3/4" of rain fell this morning on top of almost 3/4" from Tuesday evening and the golf course was soaked.  By the time the rain stopped at 10:30 we had standing water everywhere and had to have the course ready for the first groups off 1 and 10 at noon.  We were able to get all bunkers done, greens rolled twice and mowed once.  We are hoping to have green speeds back in line for Friday and Saturdays rounds.

Fescue Starting to Mature

During our renovation the past 12 months, we have been adding fescue to tee banks, bunker banks and bunker edges.  The benefit of doing this is a huge savings in labor, water, pesticides, fertilizers, equipment and also adds a more natural classical look to the golf course.  The drawback is balls will find an area occasionally and fescue sod the first few months will be very thick until the heat will thin it out.  The only thing I ask is that we be patient for this season so we can go in and start thinning it out this fall and next spring.  The benefits far outweigh the negative of slow play and eventually once the cool damp weather comes to an end, they will brown up and thin out.

It Must Be Time For the Invitational

After yesterdays nice rain to take care of our dry areas, looks like we are going to get hit again tonight right before the practice round for the Invitational.  The good news is the weather looks great for Friday and Saturday and lets hope we get spared tonight so we can have greens firm and fast.