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