Babying Fairway Expansions

 

The fairway contouring started in the summer of 2025 when we scalped down future fairway lines.  Here is the old 1st hole, which is now our 9th hole.  We basically scalped it from 3" to 1" in one mow, then got it down to 1/2" within 2 weeks.  Over the next 6 months, we sprayed out the rough grasses, leaving only some bent and poa.  We also seeded in some bentgrass to help fill in voids.

Fast forward to August 2026 and it is starting to look like a fairway, but the poa is under extreme stress right now after enduring 5 heat waves, drought and now a lot of rain.  Most likely some bacterial wilt going in on there as well.  The funny part is LaBar had to remove a rock from the fairway and sodded with bentgrass.  Look at how well the bent is and the poa is struggling.  This expansion will be fine by summer of 2027 and it takes a good 18 months for the grasses to get acclimated to being managed differently.