What A Difference A Year Makes.

One year ago we seemed to be plowing the parking lot every other evening and I was getting the snowmobile stuck trying to groom cross country ski trails. This December we are dealing with a very unusual weather pattern and a diminishing snow cover. Since the Grey Cup weekend we have had 3 seperate evenings where high winds ushered in very warm temperatures. To add to our angst it has rained as well. Throughout the province and the Radium area of British Columbia golf courses are experiencing varying degrees of ice formation or exposure to wind and the potential for dessication. Here at the Royal Mayfair we have not lost our snow cover but it has been greatly reduced since our first and only major snowfall in mid November. I have checked several greens and have only found patchy ice cover in a few areas. Most spots we have checked you can scrape off the crusty snow down to the grass with the toe of our boots. I can only say that at this time I am cautiously optimistic. There will likely be some damage but as to where and to what extent it is impossible to say without clearing the critical snow cover off the greens and that is not an option. In fact just walking on them to check will probably leave ice cover under the footprints. I've seen ice from the coyotes walking across the greens already this winter.

I don't profess to know everything but my years in the industry and past experience with ice and turf damage have led me to conclude that extended periods of "less than desirable" overwinter conditions are something every golf course superintendent is going to contend with in our province. There are steps to mitigate the damage but none are completely successful and some have even led to more damage in the long run. This isn't anecdotal either. I've used aerators on ice, used black sand to accelerate radiant heating, tried alternative heat sources and even used calcium chloride. That didn't work so well if memory serves me right. Basically my point is: our climate conditions are not conducive to removing ice and water in a timely, efficient manner that will guarantee survival of the affected turf. What is important is the response required in the spring to get the course (we all know that the greens are the main point here) ready for the membership and that includes whatever steps are required to repair damaged turf. Hopefully it isn't much or any at all. We just won't know until late March.

I was going to explain the mechanisms of ice damage and the possibility of using greens covers (similar to the Glendale) in the future but I will leave that for a later post. In the meantime:
MERRY CHRISTMAS To You And Yours From The Turf Care Team at The Royal Mayfair Golf Course.

Wade

It Never Ends

Sometimes I ask myself why I decided to become a golf course superintendent. Its an easy answer on a calm clear early morning in mid July. Nobody on the back 9, mowers have just gone through and conditions are pristine. The last few days in Edmonton have pushed those thoughts far away for now. It seems just when you think we can slow down after a long fall season of renovations along comes very warm weather and rain.

Rain in the winter on a snow covered golf course is never a good combination. Right now we have snow  but only inches of it. Some greens are well insulated, others are just a few nice days away from us having to remove the small amount of snow and reduce the possibility of ice formation. As it is there is a thin layer of granular ice/snow on every green at the surface. I can still see the turf plants if I scrape off the excess. There is no point removing snow if it isn't warm enough (at least 5 C and sunny) to melt whatever is left over. In fact I've had that turn to ice in the past. So now we wait. As of today I'm cautiously optimistic. Tomorrow? Who knows? Watch the video please. I will keep you posted.

Wade

Ski Trail Do's And Dont's

Its that time of year again for all of the nordic nomads. Mary Young and I went out today and laid down a trail for the season. I then went out and set the tracks. There isn't enough snow for a good track as the grass was exposed in many areas however I needed to get out there to discourage skiers from setting their own trails where I don't want them on the course.

Do:

• Enjoy the trail and the scenery.
• Give me feedback.
• Take pictures.

Don't:

• Get stranded (bring a cell phone if you have it).
• Ski on or close to greens and tees!!! Damage to turf may occur on these sensitive areas. Ice can form from a ski trail or footprints on greens and tees. Even the animals walking across greens at this time of year can cause ice formation.

Thanks for your consideration in this matter.

Wade P.

Season Ending LREP Update

 Winter has arrived. I can now give an accurate report on the status of the LREP. It should come as no surprise that the favorable weather conditions allowed CTC, Alpine Irrigation and The Royal Mayfair Grounds Staff the opportunity to accomplish more work than anyone thought possible given the scope of the project. We are all tired but excited by the changes and look forward to completion early next season. Once the entire practice facility and Tee House are finished we will have an outstanding addition to the club that the membership can be proud of. Before I review the work I would personally like to thank Ted Locke, our course architect, Gary and Brian from CTC, Dennis and his crew from Alpine Irrigation and last but not least, Eric and my crew. It has been my pleasure to be involved with all of them during these outstanding changes to the golf course. I would also like to thank the Capital Strategies Committee and our manager Mr. Wade Hudyma.  Wade and I have spent a lot of time "sweating it out" over this project the last few months. No pain, no gain they say!

Bunkers

• All the bunkers aside from the 3 at #11 green are finished and will be ready for play next spring. They will need adjusting and more sand added as we begin to maintain them. On another note the bunker boards on the front nine will be removed next spring.
• The bunkers have been changed at the 11th green but they are not ready. Drainage, more clay work, sodding and sand install remain.

Cart Paths

• The four areas are paved but the curbing remains to be laid down. It is much better to pour concrete in warm weather.
• There is quite a bit of landscaping to "tie in" the curbing and asphalt edges next season. It will not affect play and will be carried out by the grounds crew.

Haul Roads

• Once again we will have to renovate and sod some equipment routes. Many areas will be aerated, verticut and seeded. Recovery will not be overnight and getting lucky with weather will help as well.

New Tees

• The new back tees on #13 and #18 are ready for root zone mix and sodding next spring. Landscaping will follow.

Existing Cartpaths And Flower Beds

• Many of the gravel paths took a beating. Some flower beds were removed. Some were "run over". The northern side of the pond on #18 will require a major overhaul in terms of plantings and sod work. Maureen will have a lot on her plate next year but she's more than up to the challenge.

The 10th Hole

• The new tees are ready for root zone and sodding. Paving of the paths from the parking lot to the forward tee, sodding of all the surrounds and grow in is required for the month of May. The hole will play as a Par 3 until I am satisfied the hole can open and sustain continuous play. We have some unique ideas to accommodate the membership during grow in.

Short Game Practice Area And Driving Range

• Shaping approval by Ted Locke as soon as the snow is gone, drainage work, rootzone install, bunker work, topsoil cover and extensive sodding remain. A timeline for completion is dependent on how soon spring arrives next year. We will clear snow to help with the melt in April.

Retaining Wall On #18 and Lake On #10.

• The wall should be finished early next week. The green/collar will be sodded up to the wall next spring and the remaining water will be pumped in as well.
• The lake on #10 could not be completely filled this fall. There is still some important landscape work involving large Rundle slab rock to be placed next to the lake in two areas. We will top up the lakes when they are ready for more water. The rip rap will not usually be visible as the intended look has the turf leading down to the water's edge.

Tee House

•  I will defer to the Capital Strategies Committee for information on the progress of the new Tee House.

Time now for a little rest and then as the snow accumulates it will be cross country ski trail work. Mary Young will help us route the trails this winter. Mary's help will be appreciated as last year's trail may have been a little difficult for some. I guess the guy that made them should have had to ski them. More on this later.

Wade P.

Blue Bunkers, Crooked Pictures and LREP Update

Blue Bunkers!?!

• Don't panic. The color is from the dye when we sprayed fungicide on the surrounds. It is water soluble and will go fade away early next spring.

Crooked Pictures

• The golf course didn't tilt to the west. I was using the sideout view screen and obviously needed to look at my surroundings as well.

LREP Update

• All bunkers aside from the 11th green are completed. The warm weather today allowed us to work on the fairway bunker on #13 and finish the base off to our satisfaction. Great job Eric and my staff. Should get the sand in next week. On that note we will need to top off several bunkers on the B9 next spring. Easier to add sand than remove it.
• Pond fill on #10 is well underway after some river issues (ice, fluctuating water levels, idiots shutting off the pump at night. etc. etc.). Security from Garda is in place.
• Retaining wall should be complete by next Friday. The 18th green will need some TLC from us next spring. Just add another job to the list for next spring. Sigh.
• Irrigation is installed on the 10th tee and the driving range tee.
• Root zone mix will be moved to the 3 new tees next Tuesday. The weather will dictate if it gets spread and leveled.
• Very slim chance the pond on 18 will be filled. It will be snow fenced to protect the liner if need be.
• Paths were paved on 13/14 and 14/15.
• Short Game Practice Area is taking shape. Come down and take a look. End product will be first class.

All for now,

Wade

Work This week

We accomplished more than I thought we could before the weather turned cold last week. 3 acres of sod installed on #10 and more out in various locations on the back 9. The bunker complex and surrounding area on #15 right side was completed on Saturday and is ready for sod and sand. We will be able to sod it this week as Manderley Sod took 60 big rolls back to Fort Sask. to keep them from freezing solid by storing them inside.

The Week Ahead:

• Sodding at #15.
• Paving paths from 13 green to 14 tee and 14 green to 15 tee.
• Sodding the course side of #18 pond.
• Retaining wall work on #18.
• Sand installation.
• Short Game Practice Area and Driving Range work.
• Tee work on #13 and #18.

Lofty goals but we have to accomplish as much as possible before winter arrives. I will present a list of work to complete next spring when we are finished for 2011.

Wade

One More Week Then The Weather Goes South

A Brief Update On The LREP Progress:

• There are some major areas requiring sod work this week. Obviously #10 is a priority and that is scheduled for Tuesday until Thursday. The greens site and the fairway bunker complex on hole 12 should be finished by Thursday as well. The right side of #15 still has more finish work before sodding can begin.
• Wall construction on #18 pond is waiting for the builders to arrive on site. Hopefully this week.
• 2 more cartpaths are ready for paving this week. 13 green to 14 tee and 14 green to 15 tee.
• The Royal Mayfair Grounds Crew is right behind CTC installing sand where we can. As of Sunday we can only fill the right side bunker at 17 green. In the meantime we will sod any areas that become ready as each day goes by.

The weather is forecast to change dramatically by Friday. I hope its wrong but it appears we are in the final stretch for work this fall. The sense of urgency I have felt since September 6th has increased dramatically but the crew and I can only do so much when forces outside of our control dictate what we can and cannot accomplish. Keep your fingers crossed.

Wade

LREP Progress Report - October 26

Cart Path Paving

• Answer Asphalt completed the surfacing of the new paths yesterday. A marked improvement to the overall look in these areas. When the curbing is added, landscaping is finished and small convenience zones are laid down we will now have clean, long lasting, low maintenance cart paths.
• We will be starting 2 new paths this week. From 13 green to 14 tee and from 14 green to 15 tee. I have figured out haul routes that will leave the least amount of wear and hopefully we can rent some Dura Mat ground protection from an oilfield supply company.

Hole #10

• Sodding of the entire hole is scheduled for Tuesday November 1st. We estimate a total of 124,000 square feet or 2.83 acres of sod. That's 460 big roll units!! English Lawns from Vancouver (they have an Alberta base) will install the sod. They come highly recommended. The owner is known as "The Sodfather". That made me laugh.
• We will do what we can at the tee complex and the Short Game Practice Area before the really cold weather sets in. Fortunately this area should clear off first and dry up rather quickly next spring.

 

Retaining Wall In Front Of The 18th Green

• Construction of the wall should begin next week with completion around the 15th of November. That is a project that can proceed even if the weather does not hold up. Pond filling this fall is still an option at the moment. 

Bunker Renovations

• We are making good progress. CTC is nearing completion with fairway work on holes #13 and #15, greenside work on holes #11 and #12 and of course, the new fairway bunkers on #10. The Royal Mayfair Crew is sodding and installing sand as soon as CTC completes their work . I know I sound like a broken record but each nice day goes a long way at this time of year.

Stay tuned,

Wade

Points To Consider For The LREP Open House

Hole #10 looks like a mess

• Yes it does. But it will all come together quickly next week. The irrigation will be completed by Monday and topsoil arrives as well. Grading and final shaping will occur throughout and then big roll sod is scheduled for early the first week in November. 

The new cart paths from 12 green to 13 tee and from 15 green to 17 tee appear to be too wide

• Remember you are looking at the base. Actual paving width will be narrower and curbing has to be added as well. I will paint the actual width for the open house. Paving will be completed next week. I think they look great. Subtle grades will ensure water moves off the paths and curbing will be installed early next spring. We will then put the edges and slopes "back together". We may be able to get the paths from 13 green to 14 tee and 14 green to 15 tee done as well if the weather holds.

The equipment has beat up the rough, especially on #1, #17 and #18

• It looks worse than it is. With plenty of verticutting, aerating and overseeding most of the damage will recover over the 2012 season. Some areas will need sodding. The rough on 1, 17 and part of 18 are in rough shape. We will deal with it in the spring or maybe this fall if time permits. Point to consider: no fairways have been damaged aside from #9. 

The new tees on #13 and #18 will not be ready next spring

• Correct. We need to focus on getting the course back in play as soon as possible next spring. They can wait and be worked on while the course is open. When the gold tees are on those tee decks next season you had better hit it long and straight.

#10 looks easy

• Looks can be deceiving. There is no room for error anymore (par 4 vs a par 5). It is still risk/reward and demands some shaping of your tee shot. Many golfers will be hitting into a tight green complex with mid irons instead of short irons or wedges.

A lot of bunkers need sand installed

• Yes they do but that is a task that can be worked on even when it is cold and snowy (to a point). We will be attempting to fill all the bunkers. Even the new ones, which is a departure from last year's procedure. The erosion wasn't much of an issue last spring so we will just keep the new sand away from the edges to protect against that potential problem. It is better to drive the heavy equipment on frozen turf than to install sand in the spring and have to wait for the ground to firm up after the thaw.

I need a holiday :)

• After winter arrives that is.

See you Sunday,

Wade

Updated Course Information and LREP Design Changes

Course Information

• 1st winter fungicide application will be complete when the front 9 tees are sprayed on Tuesday.
• Fairways will be sprayed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Notification will be posted on the hole being treated and beyond that point.
• Greens will be rolled as required from now until the end of the season.
• Leaf removal will take priority on those holes being sprayed.
• Course closed October 30th. There are those that feel we should play beyond that date and there will "likely" be little or no ill effect on the course. There is no guarantee one way or the other. Why risk it? At this point in the season my greatest concern is doing everything we can to ensure the health of the course going into winter so that conditions are good for the beginning of the 2012 golf season. The winter weather is out of our control but many other variables are and now is not the time to gamble with them.

LREP Update

• Pond liner on #10 will be completed by Monday afternoon except for a small section next to the retaining wall.
• The retaining walls on #18 and beside the 11th green should be built by the end of the month and then we will fill the lakes.
• The entire 10th hole irrigation is being renovated this week. Once that is complete the final grading can commence and sod can be laid down. It is hoped this can be finished by the end of the month.
• The bunker renovations are proceeding pretty much on schedule even though it doesn't seem like it to the casual observer.
• The irrigation upgrades to all the back 9 greens are finished, tested and working. 
• Cart path renovation and paving from the 15th green to 17th tee will begin Monday.

Design Changes

• The 15th hole has seen a major change in bunker placement. Ted Locke has reduced the bunker complex on the right and added a new bunker in the left rough just ahead of the fairway drop off. Aside from the old bunker complex being a maintenance nightmare the addition of the left bunker will stop many shots from bouncing off the mounding and into the trees. It looks very good at this point. Come out and see for yourself during the open course tour next Sunday.
• The cart path at 12 green has been moved to the south of the green and will travel through the trees and exit at the corner of the back tee on 13. The right side of the green will now have more room to receive errant shots allowing a better recovery option. Again check it out next week.

All for now,

Wade

Fairway Topdressing and Greens Mowing

The fairways have been topdressed with sand once. We have now decided to go with 2 applications of sand this fall. The first pass was heavier than the second (which should be finished by late Friday). We have the use of a second fairway topdressing unit so we now have the time to add more sand than originally planned  This is an opportunity too good to turn down with the reduced play this week.

The front 9 greens will be cut on Thursday. Again with the lack of play and the wet weather we gave them a break. It is also very difficult to get a good cut when they are consistently damp. The sand sticks to the reel units on the mowers and tracks across the surface of the green. Also, the mowing height is raised as sand builds up on the reels (long story just trust me on this one) and cut quality is adversely affected. However we have reached the point where we now have to mow and just deal with the results.

LREP work has stalled in the bunkers, however there is plenty to do elsewhere. Focus for now is concentrated on #10, the pond on #18 and continued irrigation work around the greens.


Wade

Construction Update and Front 9 Notes

LREP:

• The woven fabric layer was installed in the pond on #18 today and the new liner will be laid down  over it on Saturday. The crew from Layfield as well as 4 temporary workers hired by us will work as long as possible to try and beat the forecast of rain for later in the evening.
• Irrigation upgrades are progressing nicely with less issues to contend with than last year. This will make recovery that much quicker next spring. Greens 13 to 18 are up and running. Alpine is currently at the 11th green and will move to 10 and 12 soon. There are some significant irrigation changes required on the rest of the 10th hole as well as the new practice facilities. These areas should be ready for upgrading by the time Alpine is finished with the greens.
• Its difficult to put a "percentage complete" on the progress of the bunkers but the work has been steady and consistent. As long as the dry weather holds this trend will continue.
• As the days pass by the wear and tear on the back 9 increases with equipment moving back and forth. The good news is that there are no haul roads across any of the fairways on the back (so far). The rough is in tough shape in some spots but it is easier to deal with than a fairway. The haul road in front of the 9th green will be repaired in the same manner as #6 was earlier in September. If there is any similar turf remaining from #10 it may be possible to change #1 and #9 (near the tee) as well.
• All I can say about #10 is that it doesn't look like a quarry anymore. The lake has taken shape, the new tees are roughed in and the trees have been removed around the tee house. A lot has occurred in the last 5 days.

Front 9 Notes:

• The greens are aerated and have been topdressed twice. To fill the large aeration holes properly we will have to topdress again next week. The weather isn't as warm and dry as it was when we aerated the back 9 greens and we have try and get them into some sort of acceptable condition for play. Not an easy task at this time of year. Thank you for your patience as we work around several restrictions.
• The fairway topdressing will begin on Monday. Back 9 first and then on to the front 9. It should take about 2 weeks to complete due to daylight and the frost that is sure to delay us.
• Leaf cleanup will be an ongoing, daily chore. Greens are priority with fairways a close second. Leaf rule in effect?

Pictures changed soon,

Wade

Aeration Update Part 3 and LREP Progress

Aeration:

The greens aeration will start on Wednesday evening (practice greens and a few on the front 9) so that we can get finished quickly on Thursday morning. It will also help us if there is frost to contend with. No more delays assuming it doesn't rain that is. Please be prepared for less than "ideal" putting conditions. The fairways will be solid deep tine aerated this week. Specialty Turf will begin either Wednesday or Thursday and be finished by Friday. We will begin topdressing the fairways immediately after the weekend. As we move into October fungicide applications will begin as well. I will post notification for what, when and where we are spraying. We can usually treat greens and tees without seeing golfers. Fairways on the other hand take several days and we have to be out there when conditions permit so please keep that in mind when you see the sprayer. Thanks.

LREP:

• Pond liner on #18 is being installed this week.
• Sand will be installed into any bunkers that are ready beginning today.
• Greens 17, 16, 15, 14 and 13 will have the new irrigation upgrades completed by Friday. That leaves greens 10, 11 and 12 for upgrades and major work on #10 in the next few weeks. 18 green was completed in 2010.
• Sod will be laid down around the 15th greenside bunkers on Tuesday.
• Cartpath prep work has begun on holes 15/16/17. 

Aeration Notice Part 2

Greens aeration has been postponed until Monday for several reasons with the warm weather being a major consideration. Shouldn't matter much as long as it doesn't snow next week. Enjoy one more weekend of smooth greens.

Wade

Aeration Notice

I have been sending out "aeration advisories" for some time now in the enews, my blog and through twitter (to all 11 of my followers). Thursday morning the front 9 greens will be core aerated and heavily topdressed. That will leave fairway aeration for the first week in October assuming all goes as planned with Specialty Turf and the weather.

The greens will no longer be in the condition we have been used to all season. The holes, sand and raising of the mowing height will be present a challenge for the remainder of the fall. We have used a larger aeration tine to remove more material (thatch) than any time in recent memory. Based on the speed of the aerator, the spacing of the holes and the size of the tine we will remove approximately 7.5% of material from the green. You will have to trust me when I say that is a significant amount for a single core aeration. Besides the advantage of removing more material than usual it allows us to apply more sand and get it into the aeration holes faster. However, it will take another topdressing on Friday to "top up" the holes. There is a long term gain here that will become more apparent in the future as the greens firm up and roll more consistently throughout a single golf season.

We will do our best to quickly get them to a point where the ball isn't bouncing along but that will take a few days. The warm weather will certainly help shrink the hole size but they will not close up this year. I actually prefer the aeration holes to be present in the spring as I think it helps with recovery and aids in moving water and air throughout the profile during an important period of growth and rejuvenation. Its been a good run but we need to prepare for winter and assure that we will have premium putting surfaces for the future.

Wade

Aeration Schedule For The Front 9

Unfortunately the time has arrived to aerate the greens, tees and aprons on the front 9. The back 9 was completed last week and as you can well imagine it went off without a hitch. No golfers always helps. Sorry, but I had to put that in.

The greens will be core aerated and topdressed on Thursday and topdressed again on Friday. We are punching larger holes than usual thus the requirement for the high volume of sand. Think long term here. This will go a long way to firmer, healthier greens (and all the other areas as well). Putting on the greens will obviously change for the remainder of the golf season but we will do our best to improve the surface as quickly as possible. Warm weather will definitely help matters. The tees and aprons will be worked on throughout the week as time and labor permits.

I am still working on dates for fairway aeration with Specialty Turf. It will likely be the last week in September. We will be solid tine aerating and then topdressing immediately afterwards with straight sand. A core aeration would be my first choice this fall but time and other "projects" have dictated otherwise. No harm as the fairways will still be opened up and approximately 450 cubic yards of sand will be laid down.

In addition to the LREP it will be a busy week at the Royal Mayfair and your patience will be much appreciated.

Coures Notes:

• The washroom on #3/6 was closed Sunday because the water ran all night and filled the septic tank and we could not get anyone to come down and pump it out. I'll be inquiring as to an emergency phone number for the future.
• We probably only have about another week before the leaves begin to fall in earnest and we will do our best to clean the course. It is a daunting task with frost delays and windy conditions but it is a little easier to concentrate on the front 9 and get to the back when time permits.
• CTC and Alpine Irrigation have made good progress with the dry weather. Alpine has 6 more greens to work on and CTC is close to installing sand on some of the bunkers. I will keep you updated as the weeks roll on.

Wade

Sod Repairs On The Front 9

• With the LREP work resulting in most of the 10th fairway being resodded we have decided to use some of the existing turf to repair some failed sod areas on the front 9 fairways. The turf is a perfect match for the sod patches on the 1st, 5th and 7th fairways as well as the haul road that did not do well on the 6th fairway.The small areas on #1 and #5 are repaired and we will be working on #6 tomorrow. I realize this is short notice but it isn't busy and the end result will have a much better finish look in the long term.We will also be regrading and levelling the haul road on #6 before we lay the new turf down. Cart traffic will be re-routed around into the rough for the remainder of the year.

• LREP is progressing well with the dry weather. Bunkers on holes 15 thru 18 are being worked on at present and the pond liners should be installed within the next 2 weeks.

Updates And Progress

Course Updates (front 9)

• Greens mowing height has not changed but with the end of the afternoon cut and rolling reduced, speeds have dropped. However they look great and are still rolling very true. They are not as firm as I would like but the hot weather and the start of the LREP has changed our irrigation practices slightly.
• We have had a couple of sprinklers stick on for an hour or so in the last week. One on the 3rd fairway and one today near the end of the 7th fairway. Thus the temporary water features you may have noticed in the morning.
• Greens will be brushed and lightly topdressed next week and core aeration will take place September 20th weather permitting.
• Fairways will be fertilized next week.

LREP Update

• Railroad ties have been removed from the pond on 10. Preparations for the new liner installation are well underway. The smaller pond on 18 is actually scheduled for liner installation first and work there will begin early next week after Ted Locke reviews the site on Monday morning.
• The bunker work is progressing well and the subgrade is actually better than we encountered on the front 9 (so far!). This has the potential to speed up the renovation in those bunkers that aren't full of rock and other debris.
• Alpine Irrigation is making a concerted effort to reduce or even eliminate the large tie in zones that ocurred on the front nine. The patches in front of #1 and #7 greens on the edge of the fairways are examples of what we are hoping to not have to deal with.
• The grounds crew has cut the new cartpath behind the 12th green through the trees. A good start that will free up more room for errant golf shots to the right of the green.

All for now,
Wade

LREP Update

I have posted a few pictures from work begun today on the back 9. The liner has been cut on the pond on #10 and the remaining water is draining into the ground. We made an attempt to capture the ducks today. It failed. We have a better plan for tomorrow morning. Stay tuned.

LREP NOTES and COURSE UPDATE

LREP

• The water in the pond on #10 is approximately half a meter from the bottom. We are going to cut the liner to allow the remaining water to drain down into the ground. The ducks are next on the agenda. Hopefully they walk up the ramp themselves.
• The pump will move to #18 very shortly.
• In addition to the back 9 the entire driving range and chipping green area will also close on September 6th.
• CTC will be utilizing the haul road that crosses #9 and then in front of #1 tee to enable them to access the back 9 from another direction in addition to the service road south of the clubhouse. This was planned even though we repaired the road on 9.

COURSE UPDATE

• Conditions are not ideal this weekend. We are very short staffed due to a variety of circumstances so our mowing routines have had to be altered. We did manage to cut the back 9 rough today (Sunday) but in my review of the course I noticed one of the bunker rake machines was leaving a groove behind. Apparently my operator was only looking forward this morning. My apologies.
• There is still some minor weed control left for the front 9 and the fairways will be fertilized mid week.
• The weather is forecast to be very mild this week so we will not be raising the greens height until the temperatures cool off. I'll keep you posted.
• Fairway aeration will be dictated by the availability of the aeration company. Specialty Turf is behind in their work due to golf courses cancelling spring work (rain related) and rescheduling for the fall. Green and tee aeration is still planned for late September on the front 9.

Important Course Update For Tuesday, August 30th

Pond Dewatering Update:

• The original plan to use our large water pump and to discharge the water into existing storm sewer locations did not work. The pump has a major seal leak and the storm lines cannot handle large water volumes.
• Plan B is currently being setup. We are renting a 4 inch pump, 2000 feet of discharge line and routing it down to the maintenance facility and from there we can deal with the water.
• Please take note that the shortest, easiest path for all involved (staff, golfers and vehicles) is to go around the west side of the clubhouse, behind 18 green, across the first tee, behind the 9th green and then along the 9th hole until it reaches the greenhouse and then it doesn't matter. We will build travel ramps for all parties involved. Hopefully we should be done in a weeks time.

Greens/Tee Topdressing:

• I forgot to mention in my last blog that we need to get back to our topdressing routine. Therefore we will be brushing, verticutting, topdressing, etc. on Wednesday morning. The tees will be done later this week, time and labor permitting.

Twitter:

• I have established a twitter site for quicker updates. It is: @MayfairSuper. I think. I'm going to get Matt to help me out here so that I can keep the membership informed as to the LREP progress and other course issues. Pictures as well. Hopefully this works out alright.

Wade

More Divot Chat And Notes For The Week

I have been asked to put sand/seed containers on some par 4's when the tees are moved up. Iron use in these situations results in more divots. Fine with me. My staff will fill these divots with the correct sand/seed mix the next morning. Everyday, every morning. Those of you that play in the mornings can attest to this fact. One of my "obsessions" if you will is a clean tee surface devoid of broken tees and ALL divots filled. A goal that is usually met.
 I have noticed that some tee divots are filled with sand/seed from the golf carts. Please save that for the fairways and rough divots. It is not suitable for our tees. You help us look after the fairways and we will look after the tee surfaces (on par 3's everyone can help out as the containers have the correct mix). Fair enough?

On The Course This Week:

• Fertilizing greens, aprons and fairways.
• Continued weed control on holes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
• Preventative fungicide application on greens and tees (early fall, cool season disease potential).
• Dewatering of ponds beginning late Monday.

Note:

• It is soon approaching the time of season when double cutting ends and we begin to raise mowing heights on the greens. My next blog will go into more detail as to when and why.

All for now,
Wade

Important Course Updates

Before the updates I hope both Member Guest Days will be well received by all the participants. My short time here at The Royal Mayfair has really illustrated to me what a first class facility the club is. The next phase of the LREP will only improve upon the "Royal Mayfair Experience".

On The Course:

• The ponds will be drained beginning Monday. I want a few more days to work out how we are going to deal with all the water. I also think we have enough time to allow for one more weekend of pleasant golfing conditions without a loud pump roaring away in the background. For those that may be concerned about the young ducks I'm working on a solution. Hopefully we can get them over to the ponds next door.
• If you remember earlier this season we were in the middle of spraying herbicides to control broadleaf weeds and knottweed on the fairways. The weather changed (rain) and the application window basically closed for the summer. It is now time to begin another round of control. The front nine will be treated over the next few weeks. The knottweed is beginning to take on its fall color (look for yellowish brown patches that are starting to show up) and now is the time to go after it. It is also a good time to deal with dandelions and such. Notice will be posted on the holes that are treated each morning.
• It is also the time of year to watch for frost delays. A few points I would like you to consider. The first being it is almost always colder down on the course than at your home or even in the parking lot. Many times frost will form after you have arrived for a round of golf. We keep a close eye on the temperature and years of experience allow us to make informed decisions about course closures. My second point is that we are just as frustrated by frost delays as you are. We can't get our work done and the work day is adversely affected. Especially on a weekend. So please have patience when we post delays.  Frost damage to turf is avoidable by staying off it until the plant has thawed.
• In advance of the LREP start date we will be doing some selective pruning and grubbing of tree and shrub lines as per Ted Locke's request. More to follow as we begin the work next week.
• Keep repairing ballmarks and fixing divots. I think the membership is doing a pretty good job of it actually. Please keep it up and thanks for your help.

All for now,

Wade

Course Updates

The weather has been reasonably pleasant lately and the forecast for next week looks promising. Sunshine and heat for the Member Guest events on Tuesday and Wednesday. Keep your fingers crossed. We will not be disturbing the greens, tees or fairways to any great extent for the next week. Only rolling, mowing and double cutting as usual.

On The Course:

• Small sod repairs on fairways and a few collars.
• Root removal on a few fairways (poplar roots run out very long distances).
• Aerating and topdressing the walkout area from #2 green to the cartpath (I know it was renovated last fall but it sees an incredible amount of traffic and will need continuous attention).
• Repairs to the old oil spill in front of #9 tee reds and the small fuel spill on #2 fairway.
• Aerating, overseeding and topdressing of various wear and tear areas that are not in play and mostly on the front 9.

LREP:

• The ponds will be emptied after the Member Guest next week. Our large (and loud) 6 inch water pump will handle the work.
• Eric and I have met with CTC to review the logistics of the work this fall. Our goal is to minimize turf damage after learning a few lessons last fall.
• We will begin some tree and brush removal in advance of the projected LREP start date.

Aeration:

• We will be core aerating the course in 2 phases this fall. The back 9 will be done first soon after it is closed. We will wait until early October to work on the front 9 in order to give any members that are  still playing some good conditions for a little longer than usual. I'm not worried about seasonal timing. The late work will not adversely affect the front 9.
• In addition to the short cut turf areas we plan on aerating as much of the rough as possible. I think its been awhile since the rough has been aggresively aerated.

Frost:

• Yes, frost. It is on the way. I will be posting some information in the near future. I know you have all heard the discussion in the past and I'm assuming some of you have your own thoughts on the matter but please read and consider the points I will present in a future blog and the September newsletter.

Thanks,
Wade

Information For The Membership

The last few days of very warm weather (overnight as well), high humidity, high dew point and the recent fertilizer applications have seen vigorous turf growth especially on the greens. More than I would prefer in terms of trying to keep greens speeds up. Missing one day of rolling or double cutting seems to set us back dramatically at times like this. I played Saturday afternoon and by the time I walked off the 18th green at 8:30 I was dismayed with the condition of the greens. They were very slow and bumpy. Thus my decision to cut and roll Sunday morning and double cut in the afternoon. Needless to say the greens were better Sunday. The last few days have further reinforced the requirements for 7 days/week double cutting (environmental conditions permitting) and the the use of PGR's (plant growth regulators) for 2012.

The mowing benefits are obvious. The use of PGR's will help restrict vertical leaf growth and possibly lead to small reductions in fertilizer use. Another issue we are dealing with is soft greens. The high thatch levels can result in hydrophobic patches on the greens and tees. Those are the purplish brown spots you may have noticed. We are using wetting agents and penetrants while hand watering to help deal with this problem. We also have to water more than we would like when it is this warm. Thus the softer conditions. Without going into too much detail it is my expectation that our current program of turf care should reduce future occurrences of hydrophobic conditions. Notice I did not say eliminate. Dry areas are a problem all golf courses must contend with from time to time.

On The Course This Week:

• Investigate as to the reason there is standing water in 2 areas in the rough on #17. There is no known irrigation line near these spots.
• Repair small blemishes next to some greens. Involves very minor sod work.
• Install a quick coupler valve at the 3rd tee for hand watering access.
• Continued course conditioning as required.

Note:
We will begin pumping out the water in the ponds after the Member Guest events in anticipation of pond reconstruction. The LREP start is almost upon us. Look for information from the Capital Strategies Committee to be available very soon.


Wade

On The Course This Week And Soil Reports

I would like to thank my staff for their efforts in preparing the golf course this past weekend. We had the  course right where we wanted it and then down came the rain. They responded with an extra push and got the facility ready after a pounding thunderstorm. A special thanks to some "older guys" Dave, Rick and Kim who managed to pump an incredible amount of standing water which then enabled me to allow carts on the course for Saturday afternoon.

On the course this week:

• Greens will be verticut on Monday and then mini tine aerated, topdressed, rolled and cut on Tuesday morning. They are in need of some relief from compaction and opening up the surface to aid in water and air movement. Disruption to the surface will be minimal and should help us get to September for a much needed core aeration.
• Greens, tees, approaches and fairways will be fertilized throughout the week. The rough will not be fertilized.
• A demo mower is being delivered to the course in the next few days and the first cut will be widened by a few feet. It will take a week or so for the cut to have the finished look I am hoping for.

The soil reports from the ISTRC have been emailed to me. The results are very encouraging and are further evidence (scientific as well) that we are on the right track with our greens maintenance program (and by extension our tees, approaches and fairways). I will post some results from 2010 and show the comparison to 2011 in an email to the entire membership soon. I believe the future bodes well for the overall health of our course as long as we do not deviate from sound, proven cultural turf maintenance practices. If you have any concerns or questions to date about the course please feel free to call me or email my office and I will get back to you.

All for now,
Wade  

Fairways, Rough And Some Course Notes

When I first arrived at The Royal Mayfair last September Ted Locke advised me that fairway widths were a matter of concern. I then discussed this topic with Robb James in the spring and we looked at a few areas on the course that needed attention this season. I widened a few fairways and redefined the perimeter of many others. I didn't however narrow any fairways. I did change the first cut mower and as a result it was narrower this year. We all know how thick and difficult the rough has been to maintain the last few months. Before I go any further be rest assured that changes will occur to make the fairways more conducive to membership play for next season. Does that mean they will all be much wider? No. All landing areas, bunker and mounding position and soil conditions will be given careful consideration before making any drastic modifications. As I have mentioned previously the time to make these changes is when the turf is not actively growing or in the spring.

Here's the plan for now. We have lowered the first cut height from 1.5 inches to 1.25 inches. We have lowered all other rough to 2 inches from 2.5 inches. No more fertilizer either. We only fertilized it once by the way, in late May. I have managed to get us a mower (on loan form Oakcreek Golf and Turf) similar to the first cut machine we are using now but with a wider cut. It should give us about an extra 16 inches. That doesn't seem like a lot but it will be noticeable. This machine uses reels instead of rotary blades so there will be a better quality of cut with less clipping clumps. If all goes well I will make every effort to have it in our inventory for next season. Lastly we will begin to modify the fairway and apron perimeters when the turf growth slows down in September. I hope this is a reasonable plan we can all live with.


On The Course:

• The greens will be sprayed early Thursday morning with a liquid fertilizer mixed with a preventative fungicide (Heritage -  to guard against a couple of common diseases that can show up on greens such as ours).
• We will be landscaping the tree line that is just to the north east of the first tee and west of the 9th green. This area is unsightly with the weed growth and such. A few more Larch, some dogwood and lilacs will make it look much nicer.
• Continued cartpath edging and small sod projects throughout over the next month.
• Preparations for phase 2 of the LREP (details to follow soon).

Good luck to all competitors in this weekend's Club Championship. It is our hope the course meets your expectations. In closing: I picked the pin locations for all 3 days and I'm sure I'll be hearing from some of you after the weekend :)

Wade

Course Update: Thursday, July 28th

Now that we've suffered through a miserable June and July maybe we'll get a warm, dry period of weather. At least the mosquitoes aren't as bad as in other areas of the city. Here is a short update to inform you of course activities:

• Greens, tees and collars were fertilized, verticut and topdressed this past week (greens were completed today). The rain altered our schedule again but after the greens were double cut this afternoon they were rolling very true and quick. The topdressing also helped firm them up. They will be rolled tomorrow (we may track a little sand until the 2nd cut).
• The areas just south of the 8th tee and the damaged rough left of the 9th fairway are scheduled to be sodded next Tuesday. That burned patch next to the warmup green has us stumped. It isn't fertilizer. It wasn't a gas spill. Maybe someone poured a hot drink out? Who knows? We will sod it when the shipment arrives for the previously mentioned work (if not sooner).
• The fairways have a few wet spots that need heat to recover. My staff did a wonderful job of removing excess water before too much damage occurred. Unfortunately there is only so much we can do. We will install more drainage when these areas dry and firm up.
• As the course dries and assuming the weather improves we will be using the blowers to break up and spread out the grass clumps that are all over the rough. The sweepers will go out as need be to assist in the cleanup.
• The tee blocks will be replaced next season. I will try to get a sample of a new style to exhibit. Our logo will be etched on the surface after a final choice is made. The wood tee blocks have run their course in my opinion.
• Finally, use the sand/seed to fill small divots on the fairways and in the rough. Please replace larger divots and sprinkle sand/seed over the repair as a final touch. Also refrain from using the fairway sand/seed mix on tee surfaces. Different turf requires different seed mix. The sand/seed containers on the par 3's are a very different mix and my staff will fill divots on the par 4's and par 5's (as well as the par 3's) every morning.

All for now,

Wade

Course Flooded

A short update:

The course was hit hard with the storm last evening and then steady rain from about midnight until 5:30 this morning. Easily the same if not more precipitation than the last heavy rain we dealt with a few weeks ago. The course is closed at present. The grounds crew is prepping for this afternoon and the first round of the Club Championship. We are setting pins and tees, mowing greens, raking bunkers (which have held up remarkabley well) and pumping water. The forecast is not good. The grounds crew and myself are dissappointed with the turn of events but there is no controlling the weather. I felt we had the course exactly where it should be the day before a major tournament. We will do our best to deliver the best possible course setup considering the conditions and forecast.

Wade

Factors To Consider When Selecting Pin Positions

Pin positions during a tournament such as the Club Championship are always a topic of discussion amongst the competitors. It is difficult to pick the locations when so many variables are involved. Throughout my career I've been involved with the Canadian Tour, the Alberta Golf Association, the Edmonton Golf Association and many club championships. I've probably learned a bit along the way and I'll admit I've made my fair share of mistakes (meaning hole positions that were too tough and bordering on unfair). Regardless I always look forward to the process and the feedback and it will be no different this weekend. The pins are picked and hopefully you all enjoy the weekend. The following bullets are my thoughts as I went about selecting the positions earlier this week.

So in no particular order:

• weather forecast (greens and fairways firm or soft?)
• greens speed
• turf conditions 
• length and difficulty of hole 
• size of green
• slope and contour around the pin position
• proximity of bunkers
• length of rough
• player skill
• 6 front, 6 center, 6 back per day (not set in stone)
• 6 easy, 6 medium, 6 difficult per day (this is subjective after all as I'm the guy making the call)
• a good mix of left, right and center positions to encourage a variety of shot making
• anecdotal evidence (which is pretty much all I have to rely on this year aside from my own experiences)

I look forward to hearing feedback from the membership and making whatever changes are necessary for "next time". Good luck to all this weekend and lets hope for pleasant weather.

Wade

Double Cutting, Canada Geese and The Waste Bunker on 5

When I first arrived at The Royal Mayfair I knew that double cutting of the greens would be required to maintain a consistent playing surface due to the presence of annual bluegrass (Poa annua). I remember deciding to mow only Monday to Friday and skipping the weekends based on the my inquiries as to how busy weekend afternoons would be. I have been measuring greens for consistency and speed the last few weekends (the rain hasn't helped though) to monitor how they slow down over the course of the 2 days when they only get cut once and rarely rolled. I've made a couple of observations. One, its a lot busier on  most weekends than I thought it would be. I should know better. Second, we need to double cut on weekends to better serve the membership and the guests you are bringing to the club. Unfortunately we are having enough trouble hiring staff for our regular maintenance let alone finding people that are willing to come in on weekends for an afternoon cut.

I'm trying to come up with a solution for August. Making sure we roll greens on Friday is very important and I think we can at least try to mow for one of the weekend days beyond the club championship weekend. In case you're wondering there will be no afternoon cut during the tournament. That would be changing the putting surface during play. We will cut and roll in the mornings as required to keep green speeds up and the surface consistent all 3 days. Next season we will be prepared to double cutting 7 days a week, conditions permitting.

Rumor has it the extra geese we have were shuffled over from the park in order to keep them away from the water during the triathalon. I was fine with our 1 goose and her 5 young ones. The other 30 or so can leave anytime. Apparently there is a goose wrangler out there who may be able to help out. They are molting their flight feathers now so we have to walk them off the property. It was also suggested we could lure them out to the gate next to 12 green ourselves and "give them back" to the park. Pied Piper like I guess. It won't hurt to try. If they are gone one day you'll know it worked. I would try my young border collie but she's just as likely to chase them into the water or go after a golf cart.

Some of you have asked why there are rakes at the waste bunker on 5. Good question and one I'm not sure I can answer clearly. The sand, being a little too soft, led Ted Locke to suggest we put some out there to help take care of some deeper footprints if a golfer feels the need to smooth the surface after playing out of the bunker. I'm willing to remove them if you feel it is warranted. Keep in mind we do send the mechanical sand rake through it daily. Feedback would be appreciated here (from other superintendents as well if you are reading this). Thanks.

On the course this week:

• Fine tuning for the weekend. There will be no topdressing this week however we will be brushing greens early in the week to help remove more turf when we mow them.
• Catching up on rough mowing to keep conditions consistent throughout the course for the weekend. Little or no rainfall would really help. 
• The seeded areas at #4/#16 and #17 will be in play by the weekend. As they are on the perimeter I feel they are ready for your errant shots.

Drainage Work And An Update On The Greens

Usually we can blame the weather for derailing the best laid plans but not this time. The greens and approaches will not be topdressed as planned because the sand that was scheduled to be delivered early today did not arrive. Millcreek Sand and Gravel had equipment problems resulting in a 24 hour delay for deliveries. Thus the work will be completed later in the week.

While on the topic of greens David Doherty, president of the International Sports Turf Research Center visited the club last week. The club will be retaining his consulting services for the scientific analysis of the soil physical properties of our greens and tees. His company and staff are utilized by some of the finest courses in North America including Augusta National, Pine Valley and Oakmont. It is one thing for me as your superintendent to present the issues facing our turf. It is another to have science and fact as backup. Soil samples from several greens will be sent to Kansas and his agronomist will be submitting a detailed report to us in August. These reports will follow up the 2010 results I presented to the membership last fall. We have a baseline established and now we can monitor the progress of our maintenance practices. Dave has also agreed to submit more of a layman's report that will be easier for you, the membership, to understand. What you should realize is that although the greens look great and play fairly consistent there are issues under the surface that need to be addressed and the sooner the better. We are on the right path and with the course being worked on this fall I see that time as an ideal period to introduce a management program for the future. Dave also met with Wade Hudyma to discuss the option of an informal seminar with any interested members to discuss the importance of an intensive aeration program for our fine turf areas. More information will be available for you as we move into the fall.

If you were on the course today you probably noticed our skid steer loader and a 12 inch auger drilling deep holes in low spots on some of the fairways. We are installing vertical drain columns in troublesome low wet areas that have really identified themselves during the consistent wet weather over the last week.
These columns assist in wicking water away from the surface and into the subgrade. If they don't drain the water quickly it is easy for us to remove the plastic drain cap, insert a suction line and then use a water pump to move the water somewhere else. They work well and many of these drains have been installed here over the years. We are using 2 larger 12x12 inch drain boxes on some troublesome spots on the haul roads that cross #1 and #6 fairways.

In closing it seems the rains are easing off, the course is drying out and we are finally able to get back to a regular mowing schedule. Lets all hope for a long run of warm, dry weather.

Wade

Here We Go Again

On Saturday I spent a good part of the morning roping off saturated fairways and posting signs to try and direct traffic for any power carts (medical only) that would go out for the day. Around 9:30 a.m. I gave up. After standing in front of the haul road sod on #1 and looking at water from tree line to tree line it was pointless to continue. I decided to trust whoever had a cart to drive with care to get around the course. When I got to #2 and stood in the soggy mess that is usually the landing area I began to question the sanity of golfers. When you are cold, wet and grumpy the mind wanders. Shortly afterward the real heavy rains began, we closed the course for the day and those heavy showers did not let up until later in the evening. I'm not looking forward to the early course tour Eric and I will make Sunday morning (today).


On The Course This Week:

• Once conditions dry out we will mowing fairways and rough to try and bring them back to the condition they were in last week. It'll mean a lot of clippings and our blowers going out to cleanup behind the mowers.
• Clean up of branches and such blown down on the course over the weekend.
• Alberta Arborists will be here Monday or Tuesday to assist us in bringing down the poplar on #3 and removing some high broken branches on #15 and #18. If anyone has noticed other "hangers" please let maintenance or the pro shop know.
• The greens and approaches will be verticut and lightly topdressed as soon as the greens firm up. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday morning. Let me state here that I appreciate the opportunity we have to implement this important cultural practice. The golf course has and will continue to see improvements by staying on this program.
• Continued repairs where required on the course. That includes small sod projects, localized aeration, weed control, etc.

NOTE: Mosquito repellant damages turf!! By last count there are 9 seperate yellow patches on the first fairway alone.

See you on the course,

Wade

Haul Roads, Rickshaws and Ballmarks

What do those 3 topics in the title have in common? Nothing. Anyway I would like to discuss some thoughts on each of them.

Haul Roads

• They are not doing as well as I had hoped but all is not lost. The sod that is in the rough is doing fine but that is a reflection of mowing height. The sod crossing the fairways had been cut down to fairway height for obvious reasons. Did we do it too soon? Perhaps but in my experience it has typically recovered given time. We did a good job of sod bed prep and we've been rolling, aerating, over seeding and topdressing as standard practice dictates. However, I do remember the sod being of poor quality (early season delivery) and we feel that is the main reason it is "behind schedule". It will be okay but it will take longer than anticipated to look better and play as it should. It might take until later in the summer or even next season before it is in very good condition. Assuming there will be haul road issues for phase 2 of the LREP we will be looking into securing better quality sod and maybe not pushing it to fairway height as quickly as was done this season.

Rickshaws

• The practice of walking with your rickshaw on narrow turf areas between bunkers and the greens is a hot topic at most clubs. My preference is that you do not do this if it can be avoided. It is extra wear and tear we do not need as these areas tend to be of poor soil quality at the Royal Mayfair. The next question (and a fair one at that) is, "How come golfers carrying their bags can walk there and we can't ?" I can only say that walkers tend to spread out more onto collars and greens therefore reducing their "footprint". Please help us out and go around the outside of green side bunkers. One thing I am certain of is that I don't approve of power carts in these areas or almost on the collars themselves. I've seen that here (and every other golf course as well) and it is irritating to say the least. I understand that some members have medical issues but........... enough said.

Ballmarks and Divots

• Just a friendly reminder to repair ballmarks on the greens. They won't fix themselves and if not repaired within an hour or 2 they'll become the dead brown spots we are all too familiar with. Our hole changers repair them in the morning as they see them but that is more to smooth the putting surface than anything else. As for fairway divots I prefer the divot be put back and then topdressed with the sand/seed bottles. If you are so inclined to just use the sand/seed please fill the divot hole and smooth it out. A half hearted sprinkle of sand/seed is almost the same as doing nothing at all. The maintenance department appreciates your efforts to help us keep the course in top condition. Thank you.

Thunderstorms are brewing as I write this blog. Lets hope things don't get too wild above the golf course tonight.

Wade

EARLY CANADA DAY FIREWORKS ON THE COURSE

Let me begin by apologizing if anyone got wet at 11 a.m. this Canada Day. The irrigation computer was set for 11 a.m. instead of 11 p.m. and thus some sprinklers came up 12 hours early. Let me assure you this is not the first time this has happened in our industry. I know of many incidents and stories of similar "accidents". I hope you can find some humor in the situation unless, of course, you got wet. If you did please accept my sincere apologies. 

While on the topic of apologies if any of the membership was caught in the bunker trimming traffic jam around the 11th and 12th holes on Friday, sorry. We had 2 separate crews doing the work and they came together in that area leading to too many staff focused on getting their work done. Unfortunately many of them forgot about their surroundings and the golfing membership. Eric did arrive on the scene to rectify the problem. Needless to say we had an impromptu staff meeting at lunch time.

On The Course This Week:

1. Tees will be verticut and lightly topdressed on Tuesday.
2. The sprinklers will be reorganized around the 8th tee in order to increase the watering efficiency. We are hoping to reduce the dry areas on the tee surfaces and eliminate the 2 "bogs"next to the tree line.
3. We will be root pruning the spruce trees north of the 12th tee complexes. A trencher will cut a 3 foot deep line next to the tees. It is our belief that the tree roots are a major reason the tees are constantly drying out and in need of almost daily hand watering.
4. The greens height will be lowered slightly and this should take us to our limit for the time being. It is my belief they are very close to an acceptable putting condition for a majority of the membership. They are quick, smooth and consistent. We are double cutting Monday to Friday and usually rolling M/W/F.
5. A granular insecticide will be applied to the greens late in the evening just before the irrigation system is turned on. It is called Merit and the insecticide is absorbed by the plant. When the tiny grubs feed on the roots of the Poa/Bent turf plants they immediately stop feeding and eventually die. It is best to go after the grubs rather than the beetles that are on the surface. It seems the double cutting is removing many of them anyway.

All for now,

Wade

THICK ROUGH, YELLOW RINGS AND NEXT WEEK

Once in awhile in golf course maintenance all the planets line up and "The Perfect Storm" hits you hard. The conditions in the rough right now are a good example. It is thick, growing non stop and wet. That usually results in upset golfers and maintenance staff that can't understand why they have to cut the same area they just cut 24 hours previously. Two weeks ago we fertilized the fairways and rough. Then you always hope for a little rain (in addition to irrigation) that will help release some of the nutrients. We all know what happened next. More rain in June than we have seen in years. In addition to the rain, the temperatures were just right for turf growth in the rough. To cap it off the long days of mid to late June mean lots of daylight and lots of growth. On weekdays we have had all our rough mowers out and even then it is difficult to keep up. Eric and I have been out after the staff has finished their day to get some extra mowing in as well. On weekends with reduced staff hours and our desire to stay out of your way on Saturdays and Sundays the rough has the advantage. It will slow down and we will catch up and all the clumps of clippings will back off. In the mean time try and stay on the fairways.

The yellow rings that are prevalent on the greens right now are a mild patch disease (Yellow Patch) that will ocurr on Poa/Bent greens that are low in nitrogen, thatchy and subjected to cool wet weather. It will stop activity when temperatures get above 21 C. We have not been able to put a granular fertilizer down to increase nitrogen levels due to the daily rainfall. We will be getting that done on Monday regardless of the weather. As for spraying a fungicide I would prefer to wait to see if conditions change. We sprayed a fungicide last week that prevented a different cool weather disease (Fusarium) from appearing and it usually helps control mild outbreaks of Yellow Patch. Not this time. So before I go putting a different, more effective chemical down we will wait a day or two. It is unsightly but should not affect the putting surface.

On the course this week:

• mowing rough non stop
• verticutting and topdressing approaches on Monday and Tuesday
• verticutting and topdressing greens on Wednesday followed by a roll and double cut before the start of Mens League
• fertilizing greens, tees and approaches
• finishing off minor repairs on collars and greens

What a week we just went through: flooding to pretty nice conditions in the span of 5 days. Never a boring moment. There are 2 more new pictures down below.

Wade

COURSE IS FLOODED - JUNE 20th

A quick update for the membership:

We all know its been very wet since last week. The frequent heavy showers we experienced all day Sunday didn't help matters and now on this fine Monday morning the course has reached its limit. While you were sleeping a heavy downpour began around 3 a.m. and it hasn't let up.  Eric and I did a complete course tour around 5:30 and every hole has large areas of standing water or streams running across the width and sometimes length of the fairways. You cannot drive a cart anywhere without pushing water. The good news in all of this is that the greens and tees have held up well. I have only seen standing water at the front of #2 green. But I would guess that everyone would be more concerned with the condition of the new bunkers. I only saw 1 bunker with water in it and that was on 7 fairway. There is very little wash out if any. All minor in my opinion. This storm was a good test and it appears that they have passed with flying colors (at least for now).

Unfortunately the course is closed for the time being. When we do get back out there we have a lot of work to do. Pumping water, repairing cartpaths, adjusting sand in bunkers and mowing the course. The turf will be long and unsightly on fairways and rough until we can get it back under control but we will not mow if turf will be damaged. The greens and tees have been cut daily so far (aside from today that is) so no worries there.

We will do our best to get you back out there but please have some patience as nature is running the show at present. Check out some pictures at the bottom of the blog.

It is now raining again (and hard) so who knows what we"ll see when we go back out.

Wade

HOW WEATHER AFFECTS OUR SCHEDULING

At the beginning of every week we strive to implement our plans for maintaining the golf course. Of all the variables we have to consider inclement weather tends to be THE major factor that leads to changes and reorganization of our schedule. This is just part of what we do as grounds managers. I'm going to go over what we had planned and how changes had to occur as the rains fell (and are still falling this dreary Friday afternoon).

1.) Mowing Changes

• We had planned to lower the fairway and greens height of cut on Thursday and Friday. The heavy rains led to the decision not to mow fairways on Thursday and I don't like lowering a height if the turf is longer than normal or too soft. Same plan for the greens except that we did keep mowing daily (and double cutting if it wasn't too wet). However I would much rather lower the height on firmer, drier greens so that will wait until our first chance next week. As for not cutting when it is too wet I would much rather deal with "shaggy" turf and some disgruntled members than damage the course just for the sake of mowing.

2.) Weed Control

• All bets are off until we are confident of several hours of dry weather from about 6 a.m. until around noon. The herbicide must be absorbed by the leaves of the plant to be effective and rainfall will wash off the treatment and run "off target". Therefore my hopes of finishing weed control on the fairways and rough by the end of the week are dashed. So we try again next week.

3.) Course Fertilization

• Now this one kind of had an opposite effect on our plans. A double edged sword I guess. When you put down 200+ bags of granular fertilizer you do hope for some added moisture to help with a partial release of the nutrients. A heavy rainfall last Friday evening, a warm weekend as a follow up (with little or no rough mowing as it is a weekend after all), some staffing issues on Monday then more rainfall and a restriction on just how much mowing we can accomplish without damaging the turf led to "US Open" conditions in certain areas of the course. Someone thought I had this idea of mimicking Congressional for the week. NO. NO. NO. We are out there doing our best to get the rough under control but I have a feeling it will be a little heavy by Monday morning. At least its healthy and green.

4.) Sodding Projects

• We prepared some areas of the course that needed new sod or old sod replaced on Wednesday and also picked up 3 pallets that afternoon. The forecast changed abrubtly that evening and now we are laying sod in less than ideal conditions or waiting a few days hoping it will dry up. If it doesn't we will then roll out the sod next to the nursery so it doesn't overheat and get back at it on Monday or Tuesday.

So there are a few examples of how we adapt to the weather. My staff on the other hand can't wait to get home and dry off. They all have course supplied rain gear but working in the rain is never ideal. Kudos to them for not complaining (at least not to me anyway). Oh well, most of them had Thursday off due to the long period of rainfall.

Lets hope for dry weather soon.
Wade

POA SEEDHEAD, IRRIGATION AND OTHER THINGS

In this blog 2 topics to discuss and a maintenance update for the week of June 13th to the 17th.

On the course:

• Greens will be verticut and lightly topdressed early Monday morning (as per the biweekly schedule: barring inclement weather or scheduling conflicts).
• Haul road sod that crosses fairways on holes 1, 2, 6, 7, and 9 will be aerated, topdressed and mowed down in height. It won't look too good for a few weeks but will recover. Its just something that has to be done so we can eventually send the fairway mowers over these areas.
• All the LREP sod areas are being aerated at present.
• Weed control should be complete by Friday if the rain stays away for a good part of the day. The knottweed is backing off and the dandelions are slowly fading away.
• Collar repairs as required.

Topic #1- Poa annua seedhead (scroll to the bottom for a good picture of Poa and seed head on the putting green):

If there was any question as to the presence of annual bluegrass (Poa annua) on the greens it should be answered by now. Each green has different populations and bio types of this particular turfgrass. Some varieties are vigorous producers of seed head and some aren't. Green #1 not so much. Green #16. Wow. How do you recognize the seed? That is the whiteish to brownish tinge you are no doubt noticing the last week or so. Not much can be done to stop this physiological response that occurs a couple times per golf season. Double cutting greens and rolling can help reduce any bumpiness that will affect ball roll later in the day. On that note please allow the afternoon mowers the few short minutes it takes to cut the greens and please do not hit up on them while they are on the green. I've been hit by a golf ball in the past and believe me, it hurts and it hurts bad. Oh and by the way. The fairways are also affected by varying degrees of Poa seed head as well. A good example is the 15th hole and about 100 to 150 yards out from the 10th green.

Topic #2 - Irrigation practices:

To get right to the point: Both myself and Eric believe that keeping the golf course on the drier side will lead to much healthier turf and more enjoyable playing conditions.  I'm talking about finding a compromise between too dry and hard and too soft and lush. I feel that for the weather conditions since we have opened the course has been irrigated correctly. Very little if any standing water, greens that are tending to the firm side and fairways that encourage some release forward after your drive comes back to earth. I know. Its been drier than normal. But when you have fairly good sprinkler coverage throughout it is easier to deliver on your promises. The heavy rains of July and August are still too come but hopefully by keeping conditions a little dry the course can absorb some of that excess moisture before it starts to cause problems. I am under no illusion that we will not have wet areas develop if nature decides to bring on more rain than we need at the club. I guess that helps identify future drainage requirements.

Enjoy the week.

Wade

On The Course This Week- June 6th to the 10th

The only thing going on the course Monday will be about 60 sponsor signs, 4 hole-in-one cars, hospitality holes and a lot of golfers hopefully enjoying a nice, sunny day for the Make A Wish Tournament.

Now for the rest of the week:

• The entire course is scheduled for granular fertilization. Shouldn't be of any inconvenience to the membership.
• Continued spraying of weeds. You might notice the knottweed fading on the 13th and 18th fairways. They were first treated about a week ago. Hopefully we will be finished spraying (round 1 anyway) by the end of next week. I only do a couple of holes/day first thing in the morning until golfers arrive on the scene.
• Tees and approaches will be verticut and topdressed on Wednesday and Thursday. Some problem tees may be aerated as well. Again, little or no inconvenience to you. Although if you are out ahead of the first scheduled tee time you will run into the grounds crew.
• Continued sand/seed on on the small spots on greens 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8. As well we will get that patch on 15 green fixed as I have been promising for awhile now. 
• Now that the sod is taking hold we will be aerating and overseeding the walk off area between the first green and the second tee and the large zone between the end of the second fairway and the front of the second green. Our plan is to be able to mow this zone to fairway and approach height as the summer progresses. 
• Top off the lakes as the liners are showing again.

Before I end this blog I would like to thank my staff for the effort they have put in over the month of May. They have come a long way in a short time. Is everything perfect? Nope. It never is but we are making good progress and they will be seasoned vets in no time. Eric, my assistant, deserves a special thank you from me. He works tirelessly and calmly during some "stormy weather". Builds character :)

Maureen's planting (with the help of all the girls on my staff) looks great and in a few short weeks we will see the flourish and color of all their work. 

That leads me to the topic of my next blog. I will be discussing my irrigation practices and why that deep, lush green color we all long for (including me sometimes) isn't always a good thing. Should be interesting.

Wade

Course Information You Should Know About

I'll cover 3 topics of some concern for me as well as a updating a few bullets from previous blogs:

1. Bunker Raking:  The staff continue to improve on their work in the bunkers. However, Eric and I see the odd problem at times. The hand raking of the smaller bunkers surrounding greens is looking pretty good. The larger bunkers and the others out beside the fairways still aren't up to par. The staff have missed a few, rake too fast, don't reorganize the rakes at times, etc, etc. We're working on it.
2. Fairway Verticutting: This seems to be a sensitive issue at the club however it is an important cultural procedure. It has the same benefits on fairways as it does for the rest of the course. It helps remove thatch, it stimulates growth and it assists in a better cut over time. I borrowed a fairway unit with verticutter reels rather than using the heavy duty machine purchased by the club last summer. That particular machine has worked great for the haul roads that weren't sodded. It's a good tool to have. In my travels yesterday I did manage to find a very good used set of verticut reels for our own fairway units that we will have from now on. I know its a little messy in spots but that will "go away" in a day or 2.
3. Tee Problems: The tees are under some serious pressure. Bentgrass gets very thatchy at higher mowing heights and the root systems tend to go sideways instead of down. That is why they dry out so quickly, even after heavy rains or irrigation cycles. To make a long, boring story short we will be treating them exactly like greens. That means bi-weekly verticutting and topdressing, aeration as required and a lowering of the height to produce a tighter, firmer and healthier surface. Takes time though and lots of supplemental (hand watering) moisture in order to get them through the summer without putting too much stress on me. Regular divot line filling by my staff on all the tee decks will help with their long term health as well.

Course Notes:

• Our dedicated sprayer had a breakdown on Monday and of course, the required part had to come form Calgary so any spraying of weeds, wetting agent and/or fertilizer was put on hold until today.

• Weed control on fairways and in the rough will be ongoing for awhile. I do a couple of loads a day until the wind picks up or golfers arrive on the scene. When you see the "Chemicals Applied Today" signs posted you will know we have treated that area of the course that day.

• Maureen and the girls are planting in the beds and they should be finished by Monday weather permitting. They beds will look great as usual and the added color is welcome to see.

• Greens and collar repair is ongoing and the bigger areas will be completed by Friday. Smaller areas we have been sand/seeding will continue as need be (weekly).

• I've noticed some fairy ring showing up and a few black beetles crawling around so its time to begin control treatments. I will inform the membership when treating for these 2 pests as it involves fungicide and insecticide use.

All for now,

Wade

    

          

The Week Ahead And Fairway Divots

The maintenance program of consistent, light topdressing on greens, tees and approaches has begun as you may have noticed. It is all part of our plan to establish firmer playing surfaces, reduce excessive thatch and mat in the profile and improving the overall health of the most important areas of the golf course. Other cultural practices are also underway for improved turf health but they are more subtle procedures (yet no less important).


Maintenance bullets for the coming week:

• Light topdressing of the greens early Tuesday morning (Monday will not work this time). Have my assurance that they will roll smooth and consistent for Ladies Day and that topdressing on Tuesdays will not become a trend.
• Double cutting of greens to begin June 1st (Monday to Friday as the norm).
• Aeration and overseeding of any haul road area that was not sodded (right side of #3 for example).
• Continued broadleaf weed spraying including a general application on all fairways to begin knottweed control (that bright green, tiny leaf plant invading any weak area of our fairways - usually a location where Poa annua is prevalent.
• Greens repair on #15 and #16. Spiking/sand/seed on smaller areas and some collars as required.
• Solid tine aeration of the chipping green as we move that surface to something more similar to the rest of the course.
• Establishment of a collar at the warmup green. We will be removing some of the bluegrass and adding a strip of bentgrass to give the same look as the practice green but obviously not as wide.
• Keep reminding my staff to quit scalping that new collar when mowing the practice green. Sheesh!! 

Fairway Divots

I have explained my thoughts on fairway divot repair in the upcoming June Newsletter. Basically I would prefer that any divot be replaced and then a light layer of sand/seed from the bottle be applied on top. It is the best of both worlds. It isn't just an unsightly divot left to fend for itself and its certainly not a mini bunker (a hole with some sand in it). Try it and you'll see what I'm getting at. I have considered all the variables and all the arguments for and against and this is what I believe is best for the Royal Mayfair and our growing conditions. Of course, if the divot breaks apart or ends up out of reach, by all means use your sand/seed bottle. That is much better than doing nothing at all. Loose divots that are not replaced "litter" the fairways and get chopped up and streak the turf during the next day's fairway mowing as well. Not good.


Comments or concerns? Let me know as I can't address your issues unless I know about them although I can hear it now, "Be careful what you wish for." Don't worry. Most superintendents have a thick skin including myself. Usually.

All for now,
Wade

Important Golf Course Notes

I have many topics to discuss but at the risk of losing your attention I will only touch on those issues that seem obvious to me and therefore probably the membership as well. Before we get to the course itself we should bring up the mosquito problem. Apparently they showed up in force after being blown in from outside the city's control boundaries. I do not want to spray any sort of insecticide that is non selective and would kill all other insects besides the mosquitoes. Remember there are beneficial bugs out there as well. We don't have the specialized application equipment anyway. The situation will improve assuming the weather stays warm and dry. Mosquito repellant kills turf so apply it on a non turf surface. Thanks for your help in reducing the green footprints surrounded by yellow grass we tend to see when the bloodsuckers are out.


At the risk of sounding like a broken record its LREP bullet time again:

• Haul roads were sodded today. I've definitely seen better quality sod in my time but the late start has affected the sod farms as well. Big Lake Sod Farm used a new harvesting technique and it was not without problems. I managed to negotiate a bit of a discount on the invoice. Water, fertilizer, sunlight and topdressing on our part and the sod will improve quickly. 

• Some of the sod we laid in the flagged areas has not survived. So many areas to attend to, dry windy conditions and weak sod didn't help. You might say I'm making excuses and you're right but the facts are the facts. The amount of sod we have spread out there is daunting. We will be going over the front nine again and should have the work completed by the end of next week.

• We have begun mowing the sod laid last fall. I cut it myself and noticed some ruts and depressions caused by settling and the installation of the sand this spring. We will aerate, roll and topdress as necessary after we get all the other sod established. Remember to bump your ball if necessary on all the sodded areas thus reducing the desire to curse my name or the project results. This grow in will take time so please be patient.  

Course notes and other observations:

• The tree on #17 has been removed. We will be planting in that area later this season.
• Dandelions are out and we will be spraying to control them early each morning over the next 2 weeks. Notice will be posted at the 1st and 10th tees. Unfortunately the herbicide (KILLEX 500) has a certain odor that cannot be avoided. Roundup will also be used in an attempt to control unwanted grasses in wood chip beds, rock gardens, etc.
• We will be spraying a fungicide next week to get a head start in an attempt to reduce the fairy ring problem that I have been told is an unsightly issue on our greens. I have researched some promising results out of the States. Unfortunately the best chemical control product is not licensed for sale in Canada.
• The tees and approaches will be verticut and topdressed next Tuesday and Wednesday. The procedure should not be much of an inconvenience, if any, to your round.
• The  rakes we ordered finally arrived and will be added to those bunkers that are short in numbers.
•  A club scrubber will be added to the 11th tee to match the other par 3's. If there was one there last year last year the mounting hardware is missing. It has been ordered. 

A couple of final notes for now:

•  Over the next week I will be adjusting the greens perimeters to bring down the aprons (or collar) off of slopes or away from the edge of some bunkers. I told Ted Locke my intentions and he is in agreement. That is step one to improving our collars that in my opinion do not look good at all.  Step 2 are some cultural practices to aid in water and air movement. The approaches need the same attention as well.
• Some greens sodding is required on #4, #15 and #16. We can't go there until we get the LREP repairs finished but it is next on the priority list.

In closing if you would like further explanation of anything mentioned above feel free to call me @780-203-4211. More to come in (including some divot discussion) in the next blog post.

Wade

The Week Ahead And My Pounding Headache

The following bullets will highlight major maintenance activities on the course for the coming week:

• Verticut and lightly topdress greens early Monday morning (thatch control, ball roll improvement, firmer surface)
• Haul road sodding scheduled for Thursday morning and should take 2 days to complete
• If the wind ever subsides fairways will be sprayed with a liquid fertilizer
• Greens and tees sprayed with a new wetting agent that will hopefully help with the numerous chronic dry areas (a symptom of excessive mat and thatch on both greens and tees)
• Get control of the rough (involves staff training)
• Continued repair of LREP work on the front nine including sprinkler adjustment
• Fill the lakes

About my pounding headache. I don't know if its from the mile long list of tasks that need to be completed, the amount of Diet Coke I'm drinking, the howling wind or a sinus infection but its starting to irritate me. On a positive note the city waterline was thawed by IVIS on Friday. It took 8 hours and approximately 800 feet of line to reach the 75 foot long block of ice and thaw it out. To make a long story short it was completed just in time  to fill our very low irrigation reservoir. As mentioned above we can now begin to fill the ponds as soon as we get some water volume back. 

I'm sure you are noticing a few deficiencies on the course. I know I have but with a new staff and Eric and myself stretched out,  some things will be missed and tasks will have to be prioritized in order of importance. The LREP work and staff training are primary reasons for a lack of detail in some areas on the course. Let me list a few things I've noticed and some you have brought to our attention. Some major, some minor, all important:

• Bunker rakes needing reorganizing or a lack thereof (we are waiting for an order of 50 that was supposed to be here Friday)
• No Kleenex in the course washrooms
• Tee markers too close together (I want 6 paces), too close to the back or front edge (I don't want to feel like I'm going to fall off the edge) or pointed in a less than desired direction. 
• Rough beginning to sway in the wind
• Bunker raking improving but not where we want it
• Major greens surface repair on #'s 4, 14 and 16
• Major tee surface repair on #4 tee gold
• Further course cleanup not helped by 4 continuous days of 50 km/hr winds

I could go on but I just want you to be reassured that as the season progresses and the grounds crew keeps making great strides forward (I'm part of the equation as well) conditions will keep improving. I realize we can't keep everyone happy but it doesn't hurt to try. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the golf course please contact me at 780-203-4211 or send me an email (wpeckham@mayfair.ca)

Wade Peckham 

On The Course In The Week Ahead

The following points will help clarify some of the work that will be ongoing and to give you advance notice of some important cultural practices that can now begin:

1. You may see the spray unit on the fairways over the next few days. We are applying a spring season liquid fertilizer. Completely safe to use and it will give the turf a quick source of nutrients.
2. The greens will be verticut and lightly topdressed early Monday morning (May 16th weather permitting). The cut will then be lowered as we begin to move toward an incremental decrease in mowing height. Remember that frequent light topdressing is a critical component to greens health and a smooth firm putting surface.
3. The haul road repairs will begin Wednesday May 11th. The major damage will be worked with a unique attachment (a specialized rototiller) and then big roll sodded next week. The other paths will be aerated/sliced and overseeded as they soften up from some much needed irrigation.
4. The myriad of small sod jobs will begin shortly. Priority will be given to glaring eyesores and the "trench" line of dead or dying sod surrounding the 3rd green.
5. When we have our source of irrigation water restored we will begin to fill the lakes. I cannot give you a definite day but only let you know that when you see the levels rise we have our water back.  A company (IVIS) that does work for both the city and several oil companies has committed to helping us steam the line once they have sterilized the 1000 feet of cable required for the task (hopefully by Thursday).

Look for a new video explaining my preference for fairway divot repair. Unfortunately I cannot afford an actor to replace me but don't let that turn you off of utilizing a great information source.

All for now,

Wade Peckham