Tee House, #6 Green and Ice Skating

The Tee House construction continues to progress with the services to be installed by directional drilling in the near future. By services I mean the sewage, water, power, natural gas and communication connections. Windows are scheduled to be installed soon as well. The picture below is from December 19. The picture is a mirror image though due to my lack of computer skills

We will be clearing the snow off the ice on #10 in the early January. It is in rough shape at present so we will have to flood the surface for a week or so before it can be "tested" for skating. The ice was still unsafe to be on as off the past week. The predicted cold weather over Christmas season should create safe conditions.

We have been monitoring the air temperatures under the large bubble wrap and ice shield covering the 6th green. Temperatures have been fairly constant at -1.4 to -1.2 C. Probably the same as every other area on the course. The 20 or so inches of snow cover acts as a very good insulator to hold in heat radiating from below the surface. We have been blowing in fresh air under the cover approximately every 10 days (just to be sure). The following video shows the snow rising and cracking along the air tubes and rising a few feet on the front half of the green. When the blowers are shut off the forced air diffuses laterally under the ice shield as the weight of the snow cover pushes the tarp back down.The next time out I will peek under the edge of the cover where we are blowing the air in and see whats up under there. So far so good.

Wishing all of you Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Wade, Eric, Dave, Ian and Maureen

On The Course In December

Yes there is actually something going on out on the course. As follows:

• The ski trails are being groomed as conditions warrant. We are getting positive feedback so unless we hear otherwise the trail will remain as set. I think we're learning. I'm going to hit the track myself  to see if I can get around without collapsing.

• ArborCare Tree Service will be pruning  select elm and poplar trees over the next week. Unfortunately the lift truck will interfere with some small sections of the ski trail. We will reset the track after they have completed their work. In the meantime please avoid the truck and the workers by skiing around the site if necessary. Sorry for the inconvenience but winter is the only time we can deal with the elm trees as per City bylaws.

• The Tee House construction is well under way now that the concrete floor has been laid down. I will post progress pictures beginning today.

• The greens were cleared of the initial snowfall as previously mentioned and as of now they are covered with approximately 16 inches of good snow cover. Keep snowing and stay cool is the hope for the next few months. The 6th green (covered with bubble wrap and an ice shield) is being monitored for CO levels and temperature. Our twice weekly checks show the temperature staying at -1.4 C. Good for now.

• A few members have inquired about skating on the pond at #10. We plan on trying to clear and then flood a section in January. The ice should be thick enough by then. I will follow the City Of Edmonton's lead on this one. I'm on ice a lot but inside where its fairly predictable. Its been awhile since any of us have prepared outdoor ice so it will be a work in progress. Learning for next winter we hope.

All for now,

Wade 

A Difficult Fall - So Far.

A lot has gone on regarding the weather and our golf course since my last blog posting. Before I review the last 2 weeks I am glad to report that all the 150 yard spruce trees were picked up by the membership, the Tee House work is well underway and we will begin laying down cross country ski trails later this week. Remember to stay away from greens, tees and the pond slopes. If you follow the track we lay down there will be no issues. Hopefully the trail isn't too difficult this year. We are trying to avoid steep slopes and sharp turns. Your feedback is welcome as we can always change the route if need be.

If you recall the weather conditions in late October it was very cold and the golf course froze hard. It then snowed about 6 inches around the 26th of the month. That amount of snow in late fall was nice to see but was worrisome. That worry being a warm spell or the threat of rain. The rain came first and created a 1/4 inch ice layer on top of the snow. That was fine, we could live with that as there was plenty of light, air filled snow underneath. Last Friday the game changed. It rained that evening and then it rained again Saturday. On Sunday the temperature shot up well above the freezing mark. Enough was enough. We decided to remove the degraded crusty snow off of the putting surfaces. It was easier said than done. It took 2 days using 2 snow-blowers, shoveling behind them and removing patchy ice that was present, either form animal tracks or melting snow. By late Tuesday all the greens and collars were free of snow and ice and standing out as islands surrounded by white. Unfortunately there is nothing we could do about the fairways and some tees. Not too worried about the tees but some low areas on fairways had standing water under the crusty snow. That will freeze and probably kill some turf depending on the variety of grass in these areas. Difficult to guess right now. Another issue may be the snow we moved off to the sides of the greens. It is hard and heavy and may damage some surrounds due to ice buildup. Considering the alternative I can live with that.

Going home late Tuesday we felt a big sense of relief as the greens were looking good. However, the forecast for freezing rain at the time tempered the mood. Fortunately that didn't occur. I am happy to say the heavy snow we just received is exactly what we needed. The greens are now protected with a very good layer of snow. We are not out of the woods yet but it is going to take very warm weather to cause damaging ice formation. Can it happen? Maybe, but I'm going with the odds of winter being here to stay.

I know I mentioned a video of the covering process on 6 green. I thought of it after we finished. Too late. Maybe next year. I will eventually post a link to Greywolf Golf Course where they have  a good video of the procedure. We are monitoring the temperature underneath the cover/bubble wrap and it is below zero. All good for now.

In closing I thought I'd mention we still have some split wood available for pickup. Call ahead (780-203-4211) as it may go at anytime.

Wade

What's Happening On The Course?

Since my last post the weather has done an about face and pretty much shut down the 2012 golf season. Unless the temperatures rise dramatically next week I think it is safe to assume we will not reopen. However, you never know.

Good news on the paving. Answer Asphalt has finished their work as planned but the curbing and finish work will have to wait until next spring. We are doing some prep work before the ground freezes too hard so that we have a head start next year. 2 extensions to the existing asphalt at 13 tee and 15 green did not get started but we will take care of those small areas next spring as well. One note to consider. The section of path that leads down beside the first tee and then splits toward #18 will be paving stone instead of asphalt. It will be a tight fit stone that matches the colors we are using on the course.

On the winter preparation front we finished blowing out the irrigation system late Friday and finished the final fungicide applications on the course Saturday afternoon. It was a very hectic few days but it felt great to get it all done. We didn't know what was to come this week and as it turns out we made the right choice to complete the work and not wait for a possible return to warmer weather.

The 6th green will have the bubble wrap, venting and non permeable tarp installed in due time. I want the surface completely frozen so that plant respiration is at it lowest rate before being covered. Throughout the winter we will monitor oxygen and carbon dioxide levels under the cover and blow in fresh air if necessary. In my preference I hope we have a cold, snowy winter so that the other greens are well protected. We will  post a video of the installation process on the internet that may help you understand the procedure.

The 150 yard dwarf spruce trees have been removed from the course. They are root bagged, in the maintenance facility and available to the membership for free to pickup anytime. They were removed as required for the LPGA tournament next summer and the holes are being back filled and sodded at present.

Lastly but not least we have planted 5 trees between the short game practice area and the back of the 10th tee and cut down the driving range greens so they look more like real targets. If it warms up we will remove sod on the perimeter of the greens and lay down a thin layer of bunker sand to make them look more realistic for next season.

All for now,
Wade

Course Update - Paving and Winter Preparations

If you have been out to the course in the last few days you will have noticed intensive work by Answer Asphalt on the remaining back nine cart paths as well as the first tee and the 9th green. They have been working from dawn to dusk and the paths should be ready for paving next week providing the weather cooperates.

Regarding the washout issue behind the 9th green we were able to replace the cracked concrete drainage  with plastic storm pipe after Answer removed the old asphalt for us. We also made a change at  #11 that will improve the look and playability of the hole to the left of the green. The path has been moved into the spruce trees and the old path will be sodded up to the tree line. No more railroad tie curb and an extra 10 feet of turf to hit from should you end up left of the bunker.
It is too late in the season to pour any concrete curbing but Curb Craft will be here first thing in the spring to complete their work. We will follow up immediately with soil back filling, step install and sod work. The paving stone side outs for the ballwashers and benches will be the final step.

The irrigation system was scheduled to be blown out today and Friday but due to circumstances beyond our control we will have to continue the process into the weekend. My apologies but the company that we rent from did not deliver the compressors until Thursday afternoon.

As soon as water is cleared from each hole we will be sending out the sprayers to treat the fairways with winter protection fungicides. High winds and threat of rain may dictate otherwise but if you do see the notification signs or the sprayers please keep in mind that chemicals may be on the turf and you should wash your hands after your round. Call me at 203-4211 if you have any concerns or questions.

 I hope you get a chance to get out soon because it looks like the weather is turning for the worse. Lets hope it warms up again so we can all stay out on the course for another week or so. I will be posting a blog outlining our test for covering and monitoring the 6th green so look for it in the next week or so.

All for now,
Wade

This Week Will Be Busy

The course aeration is complete aside from the rough which we will be solid tined throughout October and early next season. The back nine greens need a day or two of brushing, blowing and mowing to match the front nine due to the delay we experienced last week. Overall I am very pleased with the results even though the holes and some sand will be present into next spring. Well worth it in order to maintain good putting surfaces for the entire month of September.

The Tee House construction begins this week as Kellerdenali will be on site by Wednesday. Access to the 10th tee will not be affected but caution will be required when travelling on the cart path. A portion of the parking lot will be fenced off for the construction company and their equipment.

At the same time Answer Asphalt will be arriving on the golf course later this week to begin paving the remainder of the back nine paths as well as next to the first tee and around the 9th green. Their trucks, excavators and paving equipment will be present and in operation while we are open so please be mindful of their presence.

Towards the end of the week as the weather improves the first winter fungicide application will go down on greens, tees and approaches. Notification will be posted on both nines. If you would like further information on the product we are using please call me @ 780-203-4211. Fairways will be treated next week and will require 2 or 3 days of fairly decent weather to complete the task.

Finally we will be giving the greens, fairways and rough one more mowing cycle to keep the turf trimmed for remaining play into the last half of October. And of course, leaf cleanup will be ongoing for what seems like forever. Also please excuse the condition of the bunkers as they are not up to our usual standards. Time is running out and we need to concentrate our efforts and remaining staff in other areas.

AERATION UPDATE

The weather last night and today has resulted in a postponement of the back nine greens aeration. Besides being too wet around the perimeter of the greens it would be asking a lot of my staff to work in these conditions and to get the most out of their efforts. The greens themselves, being sand based, wouldn't be too difficult to clean up but we are also aerating collars and some areas of rough close to the greens and that would result in mud. Moving equipment around with our close proximity side banks would also result in skidding and control issues.

Wednesday is the first round of Men's League playoffs so we will wait until Thursday to finish the back 9. We can then use the time tomorrow to take care of the golf course in terms of course setup, some mowing and more leaf cleanup. The high winds late Monday  messed up the leaf situation and brought down a few trees.

Back to the aeration. We used a 5/8 inch hollow tine and it punches a pretty big hole in the turf. However we are removing a decent percentage of organic matter as recommended by Dave Doherty of ISTRC. Unfortunately it is difficult to completely fill the holes with enough sand in one topdressing application with the  equipment at our disposal. That is why we will be topdressing the greens again after the sand has settled into the holes and the turf surface (which happened after last night's rainfall). Therefore if conditions permit the front nine greens will be topdressed again on Wednesday morning. This should help with playability. Keep in mind that the holes will not completely close up for the remainder of the golf season. The growth rate is too low in October.

Other areas of the course will also see some additional topdressing in the next week or 2 as well. This is all part of our regular topdressing program for tees, approaches and now fairways. The applications will be light and non intrusive.

If anyone has questions or concerns regarding our aeration/topdressing program this month please feel free to contact myself or our General Manager, Mr. Hudyma. Short term pain, long term gain. We've all heard that line but in this case it has significant meaning. Thank you for your patience as we complete the aeration process for 2012.

Wade

August Leaf Color Change On Many Of The Large Poplars

Many of the membership have approached me in the last month about the obvious early leaf loss on many of the large poplars on the golf course. I had a theory and did some research on the subject. Without going into great detail I then called Verna Mumby of Mumby Tree Services. She is our professional consultant that knows the trees here better than anybody and a well respected voice in tree care throughout Western Canada.

It is as I suspected. Basically nothing to get too concerned about. I'll list the variables in point form and then detail Verna's thoughts.

Consider the following:

• Poplar roots span out across many of our fairways.
• The fairways were subjected to many flood events this past summer thus the root systems had a very healthy supply of water in many locations.
• The poplars are the tallest trees on the course and were subjected to the high winds associated with the many thunderstorms we had in June and July.
• Temperatures were quite warm as well.
• Northwest poplar are not usually susceptible to conditions such as Bronze Leaf. That disease is more common in Swedish aspen and columnar poplars. Our poplars are so large they can generally "brush off" many diseases, blights, insects, etc.

All of the above can lead to early leaf loss. Many of you noticed what appeared to be a mold or fungus on the leaves on the trees or on the ground. Keep in mind that when the leaves are changing color they are basically cut off from life support. They are dead or dying and decomposition is underway, hence maybe some fungus or mold. 

If you have read all of the above and understand things to this point here is where it all comes together.

Trees spend most of the summer building up energy to survive the coming winter. A large part of that energy is used in the production of new buds (usually in August) for the next growing season. Once those buds are ready the tree begins the process of leaf removal. That usually occurs a few weeks later than we saw this season but the poplars had their buds formed earlier than usual (in late July) due to the above mentioned points. They were well fed, healthy and ready to "shut down" in late August instead of early to mid September. Not all the poplars responded in the same manner. Environmental conditions across the golf course are varied so the timing of leaf change and loss will also be varied. Just as we are seeing at present. Verna believes we have nothing to be concerned about.

I hope this blog topic has been informative and put some minds at ease. I know the poplars looked great before the early leaf loss began so I'm optimistic that things are alright.

By the way, we are topdressing the last 3 fairways today and that finishes the aeration process in 6.5 work days. The great weather helped even though there were a few hiccups and a few muddy fairways on Tuesday. Thanks for your patience over that last couple of weeks.

Wade

Aeration Update And Frost Reminders

The warm weather we are experiencing is a double edged sword. Its great for aeration but it also means the golf course will be booked solid. We have decided to finish the back nine fairway aeration/topdressing, aerate #1, and possibly get #2 aerated as well. Topdressing will be spread where required tomorrow morning and then we will stop work until Monday. It will be too crowded for us to work efficiently and you, the membership, can play the course for the next 4 days uninterrupted by the equipment. It also gives us a chance to catch up on leaf removal, mowing and bunker work in time for the weekend.

Frost will now occur any morning with temperatures in the low single digits. Remember that the temperature will drop right at the moment of sunrise so frost can appear later than you think. Also, down in the river valley it can be much cooler than in at your place of residence so don't be surprised if there is a delay when you arrive for your tee time.

I hope the changes we made at the bridge on #18 meet with your approval. I think it looks great and blends in well with the new look of the lake and the wall next to the green. We are now trying to get samples of dark green synthetic turf to install on the walkway to give it an even better look and feel. This might take a week or two.

Wade

Mowing Changes, Aeration Schedule And Bridge Work

It is fortunate for us that the turf has really started to slow its growth rate, as usual for this time of year. With reduced staff numbers it is now a little easier to keep the course groomed. One more complete cut of the rough and we should be able to manage to keep things under control for the rest of the golf season.The staff will be mowing the entire course over the next 2 days before we begin fairway aeration on Monday.

 In the last few days we have managed to get the tees aerated and topdressed. They will be rolled tomorrow to smooth them out and mowed on Friday after some of the sand is watered  into the turf canopy. Aerating the tees is more time consuming than the greens so it is good to get this task over with. With the purchase of a fairway aerator this past April we will not be contracting out fairway aeration. The fairways have been solid tined for the past 2 years so this fall a core will be pulled and thus the process of cleanup will be longer and unfortunately a little untidy especially if the weather doesn't cooperate. As each fairway is cleaned of plugs sand topdressing will follow soon afterwards. It should take around 10 workdays to complete the fairways. The rough will be solid tined as time permits into October. The approaches on each hole will be aerated at the same time as the fairway. Greens aeration is scheduled for October 1st and 2nd.

You may have noticed some work on the walking bridge in the last few days. We are preparing a flush outside edge on both sides so that we can install a synthetic brick facade on Monday. The top rails will be capped with a similar look to the wall in front of the 18th green. The weathered, warped wood look just didn't fit in with all the new work. Until the bridge is either replaced or removed I think this will be a good fit.

My next blog will detail more cartpath paving and some project work on the driving range that will all begin in early October.

Wade

An Apology And A Request

Wednesday Pin Placements

I would like to apologize for some of the pin placements on Wednesday. It was unintentional and would not have happened if we were blessed with a full compliment of staff. For what its worth here is the explanation. 

The long and short of it is that we have lost around 60% of our summer staff. That means we retrain others in tasks they are unfamiliar with. Like all other golf courses at this time of year. Wednesday was a busy day for us as we were completing a full mow of the course, venting and rolling greens and working on fairway drainage. We had a staff member fairly new to course setup change pins later in the morning after he arrived from his morning classes. He put a few pins where they shouldn't have been considering the greens speed and the extra rolling following the venting. That happens. Unfortunately I didn't get around to check on his decisions because I was busy on the course as were Eric and Dave. The earlier start to Mens League lost us some time as well. I could go on but whats done is done and we will ensure that pins are checked in the future (as they were all summer). We also reviewed course setup again with the remaining staff so they are aware of course conditions and all that revolves around it. Again, my apologies.

Fairway Divots

Many members are asking me what's with all the big fairway divots lying around and who's responsible. The divots are all over the place because many golfers do not put them back and as for who is responsible, it isn't the geese or the coyotes (joking). We are a golf course after all and divots are a fact of life but there are steps everyone can take to help clean up the fairways.

I know I sound like a broken record but this is what I would like to see at The Royal Mayfair:

• If the turf plug is large (and most are especially with the wet conditions of late) please return it to the divot hole.
• Sprinkle some sand/seed ON TOP of the turf to help with regrowth. I've noticed many repairs with the sand underneath. I applaud the effort but that doesn't work very well. Again, on top not under the turf plug.
• Use the sand/seed if the turf plug is small, breaks apart or ends up in a pond. When you do use the sand/seed please use enough to completely fill the divot hole.
• Let your guests know as well. What they do at their home club doesn't necessarily apply here.

I will post a picture or 2 of some divot repairs on twitter with some text accompanying them.

A big thanks for your help in keeping our fairways cleaner and easier to maintain.

Wade

Venting Greens and More This Week

I neglected to mention in my last blog post that the greens would need to be vented before the core aeration in October. This week is the ideal time to get it done as there are no major golf events to be concerned with. Venting, if you recall, is punching very small holes in the green surface to increase gas exchange in the profile. The gas we are most concerned with is oxygen. We usually topdress immediately ahead of the aerator but time did not permit us to do so last week. It will not matter as keeping the small hole open for a day oy two will actually allow more oxygen exchange to occur. Each green will be rolled and cut right after it is vented. We will do as many each day without interfering with play so it will likely take 3 or 4 days to finish. This is the 3rd time we have vented the greens this season and there is usually no change in the putting surface.

On The Course This Week

• greens venting
• solid tine fairway aeration in a few areas requiring compaction relief
• drainage work where soft areas were prevalent on fairways this summer
• growth regulator and wetting agent application on greens
• daily leaf cleanup

Note:
We have had our staff numbers cut down as school resumes. Some day to day changes in mowing and bunker work will have to accomodated. September usually heralds slower turf growth so we will be able to reduce mowing frequency on fairways, tees and approaches without much effect on presentation. Bunkers on the other hand will not be raked everyday. It is a very labor intensive task so we will be doing more touch up work instead of full raking in the coming weeks.

All for now,
Wade

September Maintenance Changes

We all know that the arrival of September brings changes and cooler weather, especially in the early mornings. That means frost. From this date forward we can have a frost delay at any time even if the day is very warm. We don't like frost delays, you don't like frost delays but for the turf it is one of the signals to begin preparing for winter. Following myself @MayfairSuper or the Golf Shop @RoyalMayfair will give you the most up to date information regarding frost delays (or anything else grounds related as well).

Before I list some of the changes and work ahead for September I would like to discuss some concerns that have arisen in our Green Committee meeetings. The first concern is ball mark repair and fairway divots. Personally I think the membership does a good job of greens repair so I'll leave that one alone. The fairway divots on the other hand need attention. Ask anyone on my crew and they think I'm a little fanatical about divots. I strongly encourage you to replace divots, especially large ones. It covers a large hole on an important playing surface and keeps the fairway looking clean. There is nothing worse than chunks of grass covering a fairway during the day. Yes we will clean them up eventually but your help has an immediate effect on presentation. The fairway mowers chop up the big turf pieces which are then turned  into little pieces that are spread all over the place. Not pretty. While visiting the Vancouver Golf Club last week I asked their superintendent, Dave Kennedy, if they had a divot issue and he said his members are fanatical (there's that word again) about divot replacement and the use of sand/seed bottles. We can do the same. Please replace the large turf divots, spread some sand/seed ON TOP OF NOT UNDER the turf plug and carry on. If you can only use sand/seed make sure you fill the divot hole. Sprinkling a little sand to cover the dirt is only window dressing. It does nothing to aid in regrowth or to assist following players when their ball rolls into a divot hole however rare that may be.

The second issue is pull cart traffic too close to greens. We would like to see less traffic in narrow areas between greens and bunkers and between the 18th green and the pond wall. We will be marking some of the affected areas with white line paint. If you notice them please alter your route in the future to go around the back of a bunker to help alleviate compaction and reduce wear and tear in these spots.


Maintenance Notes:

Aeration dates: Tees - Sept. 11 and 12
                           Fairways - September 17 (approximately one week including topdressing)
                           Greens - October 1 and 2

Double Cutting: The last day for the afternoon cut will be this Friday. Rolling will continue.

Height Of Cut: The mowing height on greens will be raised late next week. This will be a gradual process as we prepare for winter.
            
Removal Of 150 Yard Pines: The LPGA requires the removal of the pines. We will remove them this month and sod the spots so that it isn't done at the last minute next year and the repairs aren't as obvious. At this time the plan is to replant the pines for 2014.

Replacement Of The Colored Fairway Yardage Plates: This is just a notice that we will be installing brass markers (1 foot in diameter) with our logo and yardage (200, 150, 100 and 50 yards).  No color just brass. Very classy looking.

Wade

On The Course In The Weeks Ahead

TOPDRESSING

• Good news on this front for everyone, especially Ian our equipment mechanic. There will be no topdressing on greens, tees or approaches until after August 27th. Over the next 2 weeks these surfaces will only be brushed and verticut as we prepare for the Championship Weekend. However we will be solid tine aerating and topdressing #10 fairway as we keep improving this new hole. In addition to #10 the 2nd and 9th fairways will see another light application of sand as we continue our test of a more frequent intensive management program for all the fairways in the future.

SHORT GAME PRACTICE AREA

• Some positive progress on the netting. In order to reduce the stress (mental that is) of drilling into a service line or our 6 inch water line we have decided to hydro vac the 5 holes we need to install the foundations for the steel support posts. This decision was also dictated by the fact we couldn't auger holes if we wanted to. The ground is basically rock and tree roots as Eric found out when we tried to auger a test hole. The holes will be completed on Tuesday, sono tubes inserted and concrete poured a few days later.
• The net is ordered and will be shipped out of Vancouver to arrive on Tuesday. After the poles are solidly in place the net will be installed.
• The turf is currently being mowed at 1.25 inches. Oakcreek Golf and Turf has graciously supplied us with a mower we can dedicate to this area so the turf height can be lowered further. Our other rough mowers are required on the course at different mowing heights.

PAVING STONE PROGRESS

• The service areas Dave Quinn has been working on look great. They are neat, tidy and eliminate more gravel. We will also be using the same brick on the 2 walking paths between the 12th green and the 13th tee. That work will continue this coming week. My wish would be to replace the plastic garbage containers with something more natural looking (read that as wood construction) for next season. The ballwashers will be placed on pedestals in order to move away from the permanent posts.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Fungicide application Monday morning on greens. As August progresses and the nights cool a pesky disease (especially on Poa annua) can quickly emerge in shaded areas of the golf course. 
• We will be using a camera feed into the stormwater drain line under the path behind 9 green. We repaired a crack in the old concrete line but it's obviously broken further back. 
• The U of A will be testing and monitoring (with trail cameras) a goose control option very shortly. They will be setting an artificial swan in the pond on 10 and placing a model coyote on the shore. The coyotes we know about but swans are very territorial and aggressive towards Canada Geese. I am also looking into a turf treatment for next season. Apparently the geese get a non harmful stomach ache when eating the grass. Their eyesight picks up a different color spectrum than ours as this treatment has a distinctive color to them. Eventually they associate the irritation with the turf. Who knows? 
• More rocks will be added at 16 tee to give it a more natural flow on both sides of the path and in the flower bed. Right now they look piled up. More bark chips will be added on the corner as well.
• Drainage sumps will be drilled as problem areas dry out. The end of #13 path is a prime example.

Wade 

Everybody's Getting Frustrated

Back up a couple of weeks if you will. The weather was great, the course was "firm and fast" and life was grand at most of the Edmonton area golf courses.  I'll make the assumption a majority of our members were happy if not satisfied too. 10 to 14 days later and the level of discontent is reaching the boiling point. I'm frustrated, my staff are frustrated and I know you are frustrated as well. Touring the course and watching conditions deteriorate is discouraging. However there is nothing any of us can do about the recent heavy rains. We are saturated and it is going to take more than a warm day or two to firm up. There are no magic solutions or superintendent secrets to improve the present situation other than closing the course and keeping all traffic off until it dries. Of course that is not going to happen. 


So now is when I have to make unpopular decisions. Cart use has been curtailed, low lying areas are beyond pumping without more turf damage, my staff can't drive in a straight line without hitting soft turf, there are ropes and signs everywhere, etc. etc. But this has happened to all of us many times before and it will happen again. I have faith in knowing conditions will improve and we will once again set our sights on presenting a premium golf course. Until that time we carry on to the best of our abilities in very trying circumstances. As for my decisions I have made I stand firm. I only have the best interests of your course in mind. Not having conviction in your thoughts and actions only causes confusion and frustration. Can I be flexible? Absolutely if the rationale is sound. Do I have to go against my desires at times to accommodate the membership? Of course. I'm in the happy business. These are difficult times but my profession is full of challenges and I always meet them head on. 


I encourage anyone to call me if you want to vent or discuss matters of concern. A face to face talk or a chat on the phone can go a long way in calming rough waters. In closing I would like to express my sincere thanks  to all of the membership for your understanding when we have had to close the course or restrict power cart use. Today is shaping up to be a sunny pleasant Friday. Enjoy your round, your meal or have a good practice session at the range. I know what we'll be doing. Mowing, mowing and more mowing.


Wade

Introducing "The Turf Care Team" And Some Other News

• This week will see the introduction of a group of young junior members that will traverse the course from #18 back to #1. They will be identified by their uniform, a white hardhat, sand/seed pails in hand and a certain course superintendent as their chaperon. They will be filling divots, fixing ballmarks and handing out cards with "Course Maintenance Tips". This is an initiative spearheaded by our manager, Mr. Wade Hudyma, to encourage and foster course etiquette. Please be aware of their presence on the course and I will do my best to keep them organized and still while you play your shots and putt on the greens.

• I'm sure we all know how wet the course is so I would ask that when driving power carts please do your best to avoid puddles if present. Be mindful of low spots that may appear dry but are still soft and vary your entrance and exit points near all cart paths. Its times like this when the benefits of a hard surface path become obvious. The month of July is not yet over but the City has surpassed last year's rainfall totals by 25mm and we are approximately 50mm above the historical average for the month. I don't have the numbers but our totals are significantly higher than the City Center Airport readings of 131mm to date.

• Maureen is removing some damaged perennials at the Golf Shop and we will be planting some tress to block off the old path from 12 green to 13 tee. She has also begun to plant hops along the fence line at 12 green so that we can eventually remove the green coloured covering screen. After the trees are in Maureen will reclaim the inside corner of the new cart path that used to be the exit to 13 tee.

• Alberta 1 Call arrived to do the locate for the new posts behind the practice greens. They didn't send a senior locator who could do the required work. The person they did send explained why. I then got frustrated with the explanation and the fact I had to reschedule another locate. We are calling in a private company and paying a reasonable fee to get it done sooner than later. 

Wade

On The Course This Week

We have received approximately 150 mm of rain in the last week or so and more is on the way. The course has come through in pretty good condition thanks in large part to how well the course drains, the efforts of my staff and the fact I have been able to hold power cart use in order to mitigate damage in all the low lying wet areas. Thank you to the membership for your patience and understanding when a call is made to restrict power carts or to close the golf course. Unfortunately there are small areas that just won't dry up and also some minor damage that will be repaired when we dry out.

When fairways are this wet and lush the size of a divot tends to increase dramatically. It is now more important than ever to replace it or fill the divot hole with enough sand/seed mix. I have picked up some huge divots in the last few days and saw attempted repairs that just aren't fair to the players following. If a ball rolled into some of the divot holes I'd swear you'd have to take an unplayable or risk breaking your wrists :) .

Alberta 1 Call was scheduled to locate utilities for the new netting poles on Thursday but they never showed up. I called Friday for an explanation and they are inquiring of the locate company and rescheduling another visit. Nothing can happen until then.

On The Course:

• We will be venting and topdressing greens on Tuesday. We probably won't finish before the first tee time arrives on the scene so we'll finish up early Wednesday morning. This is the second venting this season. It will not affect ball roll as the greens will be rolled and cut immediately following. Venting opens up the surface to allow more oxygen down into the root zone. More oxygen is very good!!  
• Topdressing fairways 2 and 9 as a test for more frequent applications of sand throughout the summer. It will not be as heavy as our fall application. We will spread it and then float it in with a drag mat. This all hinges on weather. Excess rainfall will delay the process until a later date. We have been topdressing 10 fairway throughout the summer so look for a similar "feel" while hitting shots.
• Lowering the height of cut on #10 fairway from 3/4 inches to 5/8 inches on Wednesday. 
• Work will begin work on the service areas next to the new asphalt paths this week. We are installing paving stone similar in look to the path at the 6th tee. These areas will be large enough for the bench, the ballwasher stand and garbage containers. Our desire is to replace the plastic garbage containers with new wood containers. We will bring in a sample later this season.
• The driving range tee is open for use when conditions permit. It has only been about 5 weeks since it was sodded so we need to proceed with caution. When the weather is adverse we will be back on the artificial surface until we feel the natural surface can sustain the traffic. Also, assume the range will be closed every Friday morning until around 8 a.m. The Golf Shop does a "clean pick" every Thursday evening. Friday morning we mow the entire range and complete a major divot repair. If the weather doesn't cooperate we will change the day and then send out a notice.

All for now,

Wade

My Thoughts For What They're Worth And Other More Relevant Notes

As I work on this blog entry on a Sunday evening I'm watching the rain continue to fall. The entire staff was scheduled to work this evening in order for us to get some extra prep work done for the Member/Guest events beginning on Tuesday. I'm also fretting over losing an entire day of mowing as well. I decided to bring them in tonight anyway and get some of the "dirty work" (for lack of a better term) completed. Weed whipping, pruning, general cleanup, etc. They all showed up and not one of them uttered a word of complaint. At least within my earshot. In fact most of them seemed very upbeat. I'm proud of them and it shows their commitment to the Royal Mayfair and the desire to see a successful week of showcasing the facility. However I'm sure they'll be less than cheerful when we end work at 8:30. Monday will be a very busy day as we pump water, readjust the bunker sand and hopefully get some extra  mowing done in addition to all we had planned otherwise. By the way they all have rain gear supplied by the club.


I've had 24 hours to reflect on the Score Magazine Top 100 ratings. I'd be lying if I said it doesn't matter to me that we were removed from the list. It stings a bit and the ego is bruised. But as my wife so eloquently put it: I look after The Royal Mayfair Golf Club for the members, not the readers of Score Magazine. I came back to the club late Saturday, went for a tour, checked the speed and roll of a few greens and generally felt very pleased with what has been accomplished over the last 2 seasons. So on that note I congratulate Blackhawk and Northern Bear for their rankings but tomorrow is another day and we carry on. For myself, The Royal Mayfair is #1.


On The Course

• The short game practice area turf height of cut will be lowered slowly over the next month in order to eliminate the risk of scalping as we develop conditions that reflect the golf course. The greens height will stay as it is for this season but will match the golf course in 2013.
• The driving range grass surface will open for regular use on Tuesday. We will move back to the artificial surface if required. Those requirements being aeration, topdressing or possibly after heavy rains. The goal however is to use the turf as much as possible.
• Beginning next week we will be testing the process of lightly topdressing fairways. The thought being what can we do to increase the health and playability of our fairways? Yes they are in excellent condition but we would like to increase the maintenance frequency to bring them more in line with the greens and tees. We picked  what I consider to be 2 fairways that have different issues. #2 is a fairway that sees a lot of traffic in a tight area. #9 is a fairway that has some minor drainage problems. The practice of frequent, light topdressing has many benefits over the one heavy application we put down on the fairways in the fall. We also want to measure the inconvenience, if any, for the membership. Stay tuned.

All for now,

Wade

Course Update Following Thunderstorm

The course is currently closed due to flooding from the torrential rains that fell in a very short period early this morning. We are pumping water with all pumps in use but it will take some time to catch up. There are holes that are very difficult to traverse even if walking.

The bunkers have held up very well. Of course there are some minor washouts with the rightside bunker at 18 green requiring pumping and major sand adjustment. That is to be expected considering its location. Heavy runoff from the slope above the bunker overwhelms the design and drainage performance at times.

We can mow greens and tees and we are doing course setup for play when we reopen. We are also doing our weekly bunker trim but the crew will not be blowing out the grass clippings and other debris until later in the day.

As for the possibility of power cart use today I am very skeptical at this point. It will all depend on how firm the turf is once we clear up the standing water problem. These types of rains tend to run off surfaces quickly and collect in low areas without really soaking in. Contact the Golf Shop for further updates and I will use twitter for those members that follow me.

Wade

On The Course and Introducing PGR's

On The Course This Week:

• Continued cart path tie in work.
• Bunker sand adjust and required edging from Wednesday until Friday.
• Core aeration and topdressing of #10 fairway and approach.
• Install 2 sprinklers to account for lack of irrigation coverage on #2 approach to assist with improving turf health in this area.
• Greens verticutting and light sand topdressing early Wednesday morning (weather permitting).
• Greens height lowered to .110 inches on Friday (if we can topdress on Wednesday).
• Continued planting bed work on #13 and #16.
• The first application of a PGR on the greens and a test area on #2 fairway.

Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) Use At The Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

An important tool we as turf managers have for maintaining fine turfgrass is the use of plant growth regulators. In this case, Primo Maxx which is widely used throughout the golf course industry. Without getting too complicated this product will be sprayed on all our greens, in regular intervals, beginning today. We held off on the use until now because of winter damage recovery required on some of our greens. Trinexapac-ethyl (Primo Maxx) reduces the amount of grass clippings by regulating turfgrass growth rates. It also has several other important benefits such as improving density, color and in the case of Poa annua, keeping those annoying seed heads much lower and tighter in the turf canopy.

The major benefit as far as I'm concerned is assisting in the maintenance of green speed. When we have greater control of growth rates combined with our mowing and rolling practices it is easier to deliver consistent greens speeds throughout the day. With the desire for firmer, faster putting surfaces Primo Maxx can only help. There may be some temporary yellowing on the greens until the turf gets used to the applications but it will be applied within our liquid nutrient program so it may not be too noticeable if at all.

As we monitor the results there is very good chance we will be applying this product on tees and fairways in the future. On a side note this product has been mentioned as one of the more important innovations in the history of turf management. The use of PGR's is an important and welcome addition to our maintenance practices here at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

All for now,

Wade

Heading Into July Already

Its hard to believe that July is quickly approaching already. We have been so busy that the days have flown by. I don't think that perception will change anytime soon though as there is plenty to do out on the course. Before I list the "week ahead" I would like to express a thank you to my staff.  It has been a grind at times with all the sod work to date and more to follow as we work on the new path edges and repair the haul roads. However the 90th Anniversry celebrations were a welcome change to our day to day routines. The new flags (for Saturday and Sunday), the new tee markers, the bbq's, the member functions and finally the beautiful fireworks display really brought home to me the unique atmosphere at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club.  The centennial celebration will be a sight to behold I imagine.

On a side note. You haven't really experienced fireworks unless you are right down in the launch area. Wow!!

On The Course:

• Continued cart path tie in work
• Maureen will be starting work in the new beds soon. 
• Topdressing tees this week (day to be determined)
• Some spot core aeration on some approaches ( the 14th approach for example is a good starting point as witnessed by that stubborn sod patch we cannot keep alive)
• More greens repair
• Fungicide application on greens (weather conditions are prime for a few diseases to pop up)
• Install of the Turf Hound synthetic turf at the driving range on Tuesday right after the 8:30 shotgun

Note: We will be installing the turf from the west to the east. I have no idea how long it will take but as we progress towards the fence line we will be able to open sections as we go. The Golf Shop will keep you informed.

• Weed control along the east fence line of the driving range
• Netting work at the short game practice area
• More haul road work
• Dave is building a new sand/seed bottle holder for the 13th tee which leads me to...................

FAIRWAY  DIVOTS. 

Another reminder to please replace your divot and use the sand/seed for a light topdress afterwards. It did not look good out on my tour this morning. The fairway mowers chop up the turf plugs and that doesn't look good either. Thanks for your help.

All for now,

Wade 

The Week Ahead And Other Notes

Next Week

• Continued tie in work and sodding along the new asphalt paths 
• Continued cart path leveling and gravel addition
• Greens will be vented (very small holes), verticut and topdressed early Monday morning. If we cannot stay ahead of the first tee time we will finish up on Tuesday morning.
• Aeration and overseeding where required in the rough to improve some of the walk off areas and compaction from CTC work over the last 2 years.

Service Areas

• Once tie in is complete we will return to install paving stone "side out's" for the ballwashers, benches and garbage containers. 

Planting Beds

• Maureen and I have reviewed her plans for the new beds next to the 11th green and the practice green. We have also discussed her ideas for the 13th tee and the large bed at #16 tee. She now has the time to begin planting and it will look great (over time). Because we plan to put an emphasis on perennials it will take a season or 2 of growth before they really fill in. I can tell she is excited to get going judging by how animated she was while we were out there. She is also going to do a little work at the bridge on 18. Stay tuned.
• She will also be planting hops alongside the exposed fencelines near the 12th green and along the path to #13 tee. Keep an eye out for her work at the old path as well.

Yardage Markers

• I have dropped off the information at Behrends Bronze for new brass markers on #10, #13 and #18. Once they are manufactured they will be installed immediately. Keep in mind they aren't made overnight.

Turf Hound Synthetic Turf

• As of today the shipment is moving through Montana and should be delivered to the Club on Tuesday.   We will pick a slow time and install at that point.

The New Tees On 13 and 18

• They are almost ready. We should have them open for the anniversary weekend.

All for now,

Wade

The Cleanup Begins

10th HOLE OPENING

Before I discuss what lies ahead for the remainder of the LREP we are happy to announce that the 10th hole will open as the newly designed par 4 on Friday June 15th. I only ask that expectations reflect the fact that the entire hole aside from the green has really only had 5 weeks of grow in time. The fairway sod was laid in early November and the tees were completed on May 17th. You will notice a few warts here and there but we will take care of these areas in the weeks ahead.

It is very important that ALL fairway divots are replaced and the sand seed is then used as a light topdressing. Those using power carts must  use caution when warranted. For example: after a rainfall there will be some wet areas that develop and they need to be avoided. Please abide by our cart control measures. There may be times when power cart use will be restricted to rough only. Please do your part to ensure the continued improvement to the hole throughout the summer.

The fairway height of cut will be lowered slowly over the season as the turf matures and fills in. It is hoped we can be down to our normal 1/2 inch mowing height by mid August. The permanent fairway markers at 200, 150, 100 and 50 yards still have to be installed and the new brass plates for the tees are to be manufactured soon. Yardage discs for each sprinkler have been ordered as well.


PARKING LOT CLEANUP


Now that CTC has left the property and the major work is completed it seems there is a rush to clean the parking lot. I'm in a rush as well but we have to take care of some issues before we can bring in a company to sweep and wash both lots. First and foremost we have to cleanup our area north of the lower lot first. It is a mess of mud, gravel and sand. If it is not cleaned up it will be tracked by vehicles up to the main parking lots. The lower lot requires a good scraping on our part and the upper lot needs all the debris shoveled away from the curbs and out into the open for the sweepers. The cleanup company can then visit us during the night to bring our lot back to acceptable standards. Line painting and curb repairs will also be carried out after the lot is clean.

COURSE CLOCKS


The clocks from Prestwick are in and will be at the warm up green, the 6th green/7th tee and at 14 tee as by Golf Shop request. The old clock at the warm up will go to the range and I am getting brass plates made up with our coat of arms to be attached to each clock. They aren't Rolex's but they look nice.

All for now,
Wade

The End Is Near!!

I am very pleased to report that CTC is scheduled to complete their work this coming Friday. Even with the poor weather they have been able to get back to work in the afternoon. Most of their remaining tasks involve installing topsoil beside the new cartpath on #10 and some minor drainage work. We have been covering the topsopil in the lower parking lot to keep it dry.

The lake on #10 will be filled by the end of the day with a similar look to #18 as the end result. For now. The cartpath work and curbing is complete. We should be able to have the remaining sod work completed by next Monday. The new synthetic driving range turf is being shipped out to us from the USA on June 11th. We will install it as soon as possible so that you can use it and get a feel for it when we are not on the natural surface. On that note: we envision opening the Short Game Practice Area and the driving range tee in about 2 weeks. Until that time please refrain from hitting any practice shots from these areas.

The 10th hole, in its entirety, should be open by the middle of next week. There will still be work to finish the tee area off completely. Ballwasher, garbage container and bench service areas will be added in the coming weeks. They will be situated on paving stone "sideouts" next to the asphalt. You will notice painted areas on #10 as well as the other paved tees on the back 9.

The haul road repairs will begin next week. The entire stretch from the east side of #9 to the west side of #1 will be renovated and big roll sodded. The turf across #9 will be low mow fairway sod (same as the driving range tee). We will also be big roll sodding from the edge of the path at #3 tee to #18 tee and from the 17th green entrance west down the rough for approximately 30 to 50 yards.

The cart path tie in work will begin once we are finished the haul road work. We will tackle one hole at a time and do the job right  and not rush to finish it all too quickly. that way we can be assured of a quality looking result.

On a final note. We all look forward to getting back to concentrating fully on the golf course and all the small things that have piled up and are in need of our attention. My next blog will have more to do with the course itself and less to do with the LREP.

Wade

Everything Went According To Plan. Almost

My last blog outlined the work that would be ongoing these past few days including today. We installed the short cut sod on the range tee, sodded most of the short game practice area and completed the work behind the 11th green. We also did some sod work at the 13th and 18th tees. Answer Asphalt began work on Wednesday. They cored out the new cartpath, laid down the base and today paved the path. They almost made it to completion without incident. But it was Friday and we had scheduled a BBQ for our staff beginning around 1 p.m. A well deserved perk for all of us. Eric had kicked me off the organizing committee and was cooking up a storm when one of the tandem trucks snapped a water line next to the path close to the practice green.

Now these things happen so even though we were upset and frustrated with the timing we got it repaired within an hour. The main issue that affected the membership was that the broken line happened to feed the drinking fountains and the course washrooms. The line had to stay isolated and not turned back on. The repair is under the asphalt (no option to move it) so we needed to make sure it would set firm and leave no chance for leaking. I decided that we would wait until early Saturday morning to turn the line back on. We need to flush out any debris that might have entered the line. Small particles can disrupt the fountains and also the toilets in the washrooms. If you notice the closed signs still up tomorrow morning please be patient as we have to prepare the course for play as well as try and get the range open for 8 o'clock.

Time to discuss the driving range. In order to head off some confusion here is the situation. First off please keep your expectations to a minimum. The range itself was only sodded 7 days ago. We will get some temporary flags out on the target greens in the next day or two. As the weeks progress we will cut down the target greens so they have some definition. New flags and various target markers will be setup and regular mowing will commence.

The new grass tee was sodded on Wednesday. Therefore please DO NOT step on or hit from the turf. It is not ready for use.

The Turf Hound hitting system has not yet arrived from the USA. I have been reassured it will be shipped soon. Without going into it here we are being told there was production issues and that we are next to be supplied.

You will notice the temporary mats we have managed to secure are not up to your standards. This is my fault. I made the mistake of selling our old mats 2 months ago not imagining delivery of our new tees surface would take so long. Please use what we have setup. It isn't perfect but they will serve the purpose for a week or two. My apologies. Lesson learned.

A few more points before I close:

• Please stay off the new tees on 13 and 18 as they are not ready.
• We will be sodding the remaining pond edge, the old bunker on 17, some sidebanks at 13 tee, and more of the practice area on Monday.
• CTC has some finish work on both sides of the new cartpath at #10. Curbing is scheduled for Sunday and Monday. They can then finish some tie in to the cartpath and we can then finish the sod work. Finally!!
• I will be touring the work (project) with Bryan from CTC on Monday to review and discuss any touchup required before we can say we are finished.
• Ted Locke will be visiting on Wednesday for a look as well.

All for now,
Wade

P.S. Not checked for errors in grammar and structure.

2 Very Busy Days Ahead

The next 2 days will see a substantial amount of work at the short game practice area, the 10th hole and behind the 11th green. The range tee surface is being sodded today with a low cut sod from Manderley. CTC is in the finishing stages of their work and Big Lake sod will be delivering 30,000 sq. ft. of big roll sod and 12 pallets of small roll for our staff to install at the short game practice area, around the perimeter of the range tee, behind 11 green and out on #17 (the old bunker) and around #18 tee. To make matters interesting Answer Asphalt called me at 4 o'clock yesterday and asked if they could come in a week earlier than expected to begin the paving work at the 10th tee, etc. The more the merrier. It is controlled chaos out there today. The paving should be completed by Friday and hopefully we can get the range open for Saturday. But only if everything goes as planned.

The curbing will be installed next week with the extra netting required behind the 2 new greens in place by June 15th. That should coincide with the opening of the 10th hole as projected. The fairway was aerated yesterday and will be topdressed for the first time next week. It will take all summer for us to bring it to a surface that is up to the Club's standards. Lowering of the height will not be rushed so expect less than ideal turf conditions for some time to come. The temporary tees used will be aerated, overseeded and topdressed and should come back just fine.

A few final notes. The haul road repairs are beginning. We have decided to power verticut, aerate, overseed and add compost to recover large areas. It is our belief that they will come back and look better than the dark green Kentucky bluegrass strips. Again this will take some time. Other roads will require major renovation and sodding. I think we all know where. Some renovated road sections will need sodding as well. An example would be the exit off of #18 tee. We are also close to adding more water to the lake on #10 and bringing it to a similar level as #18. The corner of #11 will see Maureen and Christianne planting ornamental grasses, shrubs and other ground cover.

I will start listing the fit and finish work at a later date. Now I have to order more sod for the final work in a few out of play areas. When we are finished I will be post a tally of just how much sod has been installed on the course since the fall of 2010. Think acres.

All for now,
Wade

Getting Close And On The Course This Week

LREP

• Driving Range is being sodded today and tomorrow.
• Driving Range Tee is scheduled to be sodded on Wednesday. The weather last week set back delivery of the final root zone mix by 1 day. 
• The SGPA is scheduled to be sodded on Thursday and Friday.
• Paving and curbing on the course is finished. Tie in work will commence once the main LREP work is completed.
• Paving and curbing of the the 10th tee area is scheduled for the week of June 4th. The range may need to be shut down at various times throughout the week but that is to be determined later.
• Capping soil installed at the old bunker on #17 today and Monday.
• 2 large sumps have been installed in the 10th fairway to alleviate a water holding issue.
• Boulder work next to the practice green completed Monday and Tuesday and then the lake on #10 can finally be filled.
• Aerator/fountains will be installed in the lake on #10 after the electrician updates the control system in the clubhouse as we are adding another aerator between the 11th green and the practice green.
• Sodding, sand install (#11 and the 2 bunkers at the SGPA) and more sodding (Ughhh!!) here there and everywhere.
• I'm sure I've missed something................................

On The Course

• Knottweed control is once again underway with 2 more fwys (13 ,15) requiring a complete spray and a few others requiring spot spraying. Application notice will be posted at the appropriate tee as usual. 
• Broadleaf weed control (dandelions, clover, etc.) is a also ongoing, mainly along tree lines.
• Double cutting of the greens will begin June 4th, possibly sooner if the Poa annua in our greens really starts to flourish with the warmer nights forecast for this week.
• Continued spiking and overseeding of the weak areas on greens, 2, 6, 8, back of 9, and 18.
• Sprinkler edging, rough fertilizing, treeline trim and bunker trim throughout the week ahead.

Wade

Timely Reminders And Weed Control Update

REMINDERS

• Please repair your fairway divots. While fertilizing fairways on Tuesday I noticed that many divots were either not repaired or in need of a little more attention. At the RMGC please replace intact divots and then sprinkle the sand/seed mix over the repair. If your divot has disintegrated or ended up in a pond please fill the divot hole with enough sand/seed so that the repair is level with the surrounding turf. Replaced divots stand a very good chance of recovery in our climate so that is my preference. Doing your part will help keep our fairways smoother, cleaner and easier to play golf from.
• Please repair ballmarks. Generally I feel our club does a good job of repairing ballmarks. However it seems we all flip a switch when we get to a green that isn't in perfect condition. It is even more important on a green that is recovering.
• Cart traffic. Always a contentious issue, the driving of golf carts in close proximity to greens is a double edged sword for us. I realize some members need to be closer than others but please use some discretion. Regardless of the reason a cart does not need to be more than 10 yards from a green. Please do not abuse the privledge.

I don't like "policing" the above as I feel we all know the game and its requirements. In the past I used to get quite upset and bothered by lack of care and attention (the fairway divots still  drive me bonkers). But when it is being brought to my attention by all invested parties at the Club it is my job to remind everyone that this is your course and pride in your facility is reflected in how you help us look after it.


WEED CONTROL

• The weed control program implemented last spring has greatly reduced the knottweed on the fairways. We sprayed again last fall and we will be treating some specific fairways tomorrow and Friday. Holes 5,7,12,13,15,17,and 18 will be sprayed. It is a difficult weed to control but increasing the health of the fairway turf will go a long way to reducing the chemical use required at present.
• Dandelion control took a huge step forward last year as well. That is a never ending battle. We want to treat obvious showcase areas in addition to some zones in the rough in and along tree lines this year. After an initial spray in the next week to 10 days we will wait for the fall season to revisit the issue. Now and September are the best time of year to control most broadleaf weeds be it here or on your home lawn. Although I would encourage alternative methods on your property that don't involve pesticides.

One more quick note. We will be verticutting and lightly topdressing the greens on Thursday morning. In addition, greens 2, 6 and 8 will also be vented and overseeded (again) to help with recovery. We did manage to get the tees completed on Tuesday with the rain washing in the sand nicely.

Wade

On The Course This Week

Quick Notes

LREP

• CTC will be finishing off behind the 11th green, spreading root zone material on the new driving range tee surface and spreading the remaining topsoil at the SGPA. This is all assuming the weather cooperates.
• Sodding of the driving range target areas is scheduled for later in the week but if it rains as forecast it will have to be delayed until next week.
• The RMGC turf staff will be sodding tee sidebanks at 13 and 18. We will be using seed and fiber mat on the 2 steep slopes west and north of the 18th tee. It is too steep to sod efficiently. Maureen will be planting a row of shrubs behind the 18th tee as well. More on her work later.
• Curb Craft should be finished the curbing on the course by late Wednesday.
• Paving, curbing, etc. at 10 tee is scheduled to be finished before we open the hole for normal play.

On The Course

• Fairways and rough fertilized Tuesday.
• Liquid  fertilizing on the greens both Tuesday and Friday as we are using some quick release foliars to help with recovery on a few greens and improve the color on the rest. We will adjust our mowing frequency on the greens that will have extra fertilizer applied to them.
• Tees will be verticut and topdressed on Tuesday. Greens on Thursday.
• Wetting agent applied on greens and tees especially if it rains on Wednesday (good time to do it).
• Fountain/aerators hopefully in the pond on 18 by late Friday.
• Sodding, sodding and more sodding if weather permits.

Wade

LREP AND COURSE UPDATE

It has been a very busy week for both CTC, Alpine Irrigation and of course the RMGC Turf Care staff. We are grinding it out to put it bluntly and I won't comment any more at this point other than to say writing this blog is cutting into my sleep. Please consider the following:

• Some of the sod will need to be replaced or be given time to recover from an unsuccessful install. It may look bad (11 green south surround for example) but it is recovering. With so much sod down and more arriving daily some of it is sure to be missed in terms of enough water, etc. 
• The bentgrass sod has been installed on all the new tees and practice greens. This sod will be given much more attention than the Kentucky bluegrass as it is much more sensitive to stress.
• The range is ready for sodding.
• The new practice tee and SGPA should be ready for sod by the end of next week. I wish it could be sooner but the scope of the work is beyond a simple explanation. It must be done correctly the first time and that has meant some delays.
• A truck from Arbor Care that was not supposed to be on #15 caused the ruts in the new rough. I just came upon the scene as it was happening and it took all I had not to lose my cool. It is being repaired and is just a hazard of construction. One of many.
• In addition to working on the LREP we also have to groom the course as is expected and rightfully so. If we are missing something let me know and we will take care of it quickly.

On Saturday morning we are going to sod approximately 600 sq. ft. on the right side of the 6th green. I'm sure you are all asking, "Why on a Saturday?!?!?". We have some extra bentgrass from the LREP work. We have the use of the big roll installer thanks to Big Lake Sod farms but they are picking it up Sunday morning. So we need to go now. We should be done by 8 a.m. I'm sorry for the timing but we have no choice and as a benefit a large area of damaged turf will be repaired. A big positive.

One last note. We removed a large poplar early last week. It was located just to the north east of the 7th tee. It looked fine but it was rotten internally and in danger of falling so it was removed (on advice from Mumby's tree Service).

Please excuse any errors in grammar. Sleep is more important. All for now.
Regards,
Wade

LREP Notes And Course Updates

The remainder of the week and the following one promises to be one of the busiest since the project began. At least for the RMGC grounds staff. Obviously we have a golf course to look after and that has its own set of both routine and unique procedures during May and beyond. We also have LREP work to complete. There is sod on the ground and around 2.5 more acres to be installed in the next 10 days. I don't want to see rain as it will hold up the project but if it did rain it would definitely help with keeping the sod healthier. We have irrigation but we are also open and it is very warm and extremely dry. So if you are out on the course and a sprinkler is in your way please allow it to function and be aware of its rotation so that you don't get wet. We will do our best to minimize the interference with your round of golf.

LREP Update

• sodding the new tees and greens on Thursday
• sodding the tee and greens surrounds on Friday
• work continues behind the 11th green ( new bunker and surrounds shaping)
• some drainage work to collect surface water at the short game practice area
• driving range target green prep in advance of sodding next week

On The Course

There is some spotting on the greens from the fertilizer we used last week. Besides the dark green dots here and there, no harm done. There is also a patch at the back of 10 green that has gone backwards but it appears to be non natural. It has straight line borders and defined angles. Turf decline shouldn't look like that. We are trying to figure out what happened. It is recovering albeit slowly.

• spike seeding and plugging the problem greens
• liquid greens fertilizer application on Thursday
• installing new micro irrigation (think residential here) on the north edge of the pond on 10 in addition to a power wire for the pond aerators that had been cut during the excavation
• bunker trim (edges and surrounds)

Wade

The Great Frost Delay Of May 13, 2012

The title of this blog may seem to make light of what led to a 40 minute delay to tee times this morning but I was stumped for a short title. Before I begin a detailed explanation I want to make one point perfectly clear. My second assistant David Smith made the correct decision in calling a frost delay. Of this there is no debate. There was frost in the rough, on some fairways and on the greens surrounds. No matter how nice it felt standing on the warm up green there was a significant temperature difference down on the course. As you will read circumstances and procedure led to a slighly longer delay than was necessary and for this I take full responsibility as the Superintendent.

It was decided on Saturday that David would organize and supervise the Sunday maintenance program. Eric needed a much deserved day off and I would come in approximately 45 minutes after our 6 a.m. start time in order to allow David his own time with the staff.  When I arrived at work it was a little chillier than I expected, the staff was on the course (I could hear the fairway mowers) and I was looking forward to getting some of my own work done that has been put off due to a certain ongoing project. I went out to paint some fairway perimeters and check on the weaker greens. While out and about I noticed some patchy frost here and there but didn't make anything of it. Not enough to worry about. It was just before 7 a.m. so I wasn't looking for golfers on #1 or #2. I eventually noticed a sprinkler running on 14 tee and it wouldn't shut off. For the next 30 minutes I was trying to solve the problem. At this point I had to return to the maintenance facility for tools and as I crossed in front of the first tee I noticed a crowd of golfers milling about and no one on the course. It finally hit me that there had been a forst delay. You know that sinking feeling we have all felt? I had it. I immediately called the Golf Shop and opened the course.

I then contacted David to inquire about the extent of the frost situation and at what time the staff were able to get on the course (6:30 a.m. and even then they were working around some lingering frost). David proceded by the book. He kept the time we needed to stay ahead of the first tee time (which for us is one hour) and adjusted the day accordingly. Unfortunately a frost delay in mid May on Mothers Day requires some non lateral thinking. That comes with experience. Experience I have.The above mentioned circumstances dictated that I wouldn't be able to help the Golf Shop deal with an upset group of golfers and to assist David in the follow up after making a frost call. Simply put I never expected to see frost after a warm Saturday.

Again I fully support David's decision but that decision needs to be followed up and supported. By that I mean not just estimating an appropriate time to end the frost delay and then heading out on to the course and assuming the norm. In the future David will contact me if anything is amiss. It doesn't mean I will rush to the rescue but I want my assistants to deal with the circumstances as I would. In this case after making the call and realizing a mid May frost call is far different than one in late September, his presence would be required in the Golf Shop or around the warm up green. Not exactly an easy task but one that is required at times. Believe me, if I had clued into the delay sooner I would have been up there myself. It wouldn't have been the first time I have faced an crowd of pissed off golfers. Pardon the english. Its also unfortunate the Golf Shop staff felt abandoned. I am the course superintendent but my desire is to see all departments cooperating and functioning smoothly so that the membership gets the service and attention they deserve.

The day has ended. Monday will be here in a few short hours and another busy week will begin. For those that were affected this morning please accept my apologies. I have spent all day concerned with the content of this blog and would like to now move on. If anyone wants some one on one time with me feel free to email or call. I will post another blog for the "week ahead" tomorrow.

Wade 

This Week At The Royal Mayfair Golf Club

On The Course

• The range netting has been repaired but Mark from Netex has confirmed what I suspected. The entire system is need of major repairs. That includes the netting, posts, cables and most of the anchor bolts. He will be forwarding advice and a quote to the club at which time we will review our options for the future.
• The front 9 greens will be verticut and topdressed on Tuesday (the frost delay today has pushed it back until tomorrow).
• The greens height will be at .125 inches by Wednesday and the first Men's League event.
• Fairways will be sprayed with a liquid fertilizer today and tomorrow.
• Greens and tee surrounds will be fertilized with a granular product.
• Cleanup continues as required. We now have poplar debris falling off the new buds to deal with.
• Widening/making perimeters of fairways and by extension the first cut of rough on holes 7, 9, 14, 15, 17 and 18.
• Bunker work will continue on the back 9 over the next week or so.

LREP Work

• Sodding on #18 and #11 throughout the day on Tuesday.
• Sand install at #11 green should hopefully be completed by the start of Men's League.
• Driving range mat platform/deck will be built this week. Turf Hound mat system to be laid down following completion.
• The actual range itself will have the new irrigation done by the end of the week and sodding of the target greens and the new natural grass surface should be finished by the end of next week.
• Rootzone and capping soil installation on the 10th tee and the SGPA is ongoing at present.
• Work behind the 11th green will still be occurring after the green opens. Everyone will need to exercise caution in this area.
• Many areas on the back 9 will be roped off so please keep power carts off as directed.
• Curbing on the new asphalt paths is scheduled to begin later next week.

We are opening the back this week but it is a work in progress. Expectations among the membership will vary.

Some of you will be pleased and surprised, some patient and some disappointed. I understand that. Please keep in mind the amount of work we have accomplished to date and the constraints we have had to work under. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Once the big picture is taken care of my staff will be working very hard on the "fit and finish" throughout the summer. I will of course keep you informed at least weekly of all projects big or small that remain.

Thank you for your patience and understanding to date and in the future.

Wade

Course Update: The Past Week And The Next Few Days

We have made significant progress on the golf course, CTC and Alpine Irrigation are working unhindered by weather and we have our irrigation system up and running. The announcement concerning the LPGA returning to the Royal Mayfair has been made which has officially ramped up my anxiety level. Of course I have known about the planning for awhile but its for real now. Here are my thoughts in point form (for what its worth):

• As I've stated in the past my goal since coming to the Club has been to deliver the finest conditions possible for you the Membership. It is an ongoing process that is subject to various factors both good and bad.
• Aside from mowing frequency and some minor modifications to the fairway and rough outlines I want the best female golfers in the world to play the same course conditions that you, the members, would experience in any other week in August. A lofty goal but very satisfying if you reach it. We'll do our best.
• This tournament will showcase our facility to many eyes besides the current membership. Sounds like a pretty good marketing tool.

LREP Progress

• CTC is presently installing root zone mix and capping soil at the 10th tee and the new practice greens.
• Large boulders are being placed behind the elm at 11 green.
• Alpine is installing new irrigation lines on the Driving Range. The old ones were damaged by the changes made out on the range.
• Sodding will be completed around the pond on #18, the right side of #11 green and around the bunker left of the green on Tuesday.
• The platform for the new artificial turf surface is being built at present. Google "Turf Hound" and visit their website to get an idea as to what we will be using when not on the natural turf.
• Sodding on the range (target green area) will be scheduled next so we can start using it sooner than later. 

Front 9 Maintenance

• Greens 2, 6 and 8 were verticut, aerated and overseeded. Unfortunately as smoothly as the last few days have been it is a mess on those 3 greens. The light rain and equipment malfunction led to poor results. We should have them cleaned up and re cut by early this afternoon.
• Bunker work continues throughout the course as does cleanup on the back 9.
• Sprinkler adjustment (arc changes) will be ongoing at the green sites today and tomorrow.

Wade

Course Update For The First Week In May

After a "soft opening" due to the usual weather that occurs when you need warm sunny conditions the weekend was very pleasant. It was good to finally get the front 9 open. I'm hoping that the back 9 will follow in some manner, way, shape or form in the next 7 to 10 days. We will spend the next week cleaning up as we did on the front 9. The amount of debris from last fall and overwinter is always a daunting task to remove. My staff did a great job on the front so I expect nothing less on the back. The big difference out there will be the evidence of construction and some major changes on several holes. I will review the Back 9 in a blog later this week.

The irrigation system will be pressurized beginning Monday morning. Once we are holding pressure (and repairs, if any, completed) we can begin more intensive management of the turf. The greens will be verticut aggressively, a light sand topdressing will be applied to smooth the surfaces and overseeding/plugging will have a significantly higher success rate.With soil temperatures rising we can also modify our nutrient program. Fairways will be fertilized with a foliar application and some granular will be going down on greens, tees and aprons as well.

The mowing height on the greens will be lowered on Monday. They are, at present, set higher than normal due to the weather. We also had to be careful of shocking the bentgrass that really took off under the greens covers earlier last week. The Poa that is healthy should also start to grow but it will require warmer temperatures, especially at night, to really get going.

Over the next week you will notice white paint lines on the perimeter of the holes. These lines will be guides for the fairway mowers and modification to fairway widths. Now is the time to widen fairways. Hopefully any changes meet with your approval. The goal being to make your round more enjoyable. We will also be reducing the amount of rough fertilizing unless certain areas require it. I'm looking for a middle ground here. Not too thick but still healthy. The color will not be that "lush green" of last summer unless it rains for an extended period. I also believe our fairways will look that much better as a result with the contrast in colors.

The 18th hole should be back in play by the end of the week. The weather delayed progress on #11 for a few days but all materials required to complete the work are here and CTC will be able to get back to work on Monday morning.

If you have any questions or concerns and would like to discuss matters with me please call my cell at 203-4211 or email me at  wpeckham@mayfair.ca.

All for now,
Wade

LREP Update And Course Condition News

LREP Update

• CTC is close to finishing their required work around the lake and in front of the retaining wall on #18.
• The Royal Mayfair staff has reconnected the irrigation line behind the wall and will now be installing root zone mix and sodding the area between the wall and the green.
• Sodding of the lake surround on #18 is scheduled for next week.
• When the green site is completed we should be able to reopen the hole and CTC will then concentrate their efforts on the green site at #11.
• Alpine Irrigation has completed the irrigation work on the new tees, the range tee and the short game practice area.
• We are waiting for a quote from Alpine to replace the irrigation lines on the range itself as many of the laterals were damaged during construction. We cannot tell what is damaged until the water system is pressurized so it may be easier just to replace all the lines with HDPE. If that is the case then all of #10, the practice area and the range could then be directly connected to any new future irrigation system work elsewhere on the course.
• Capping soil, root zone mix work and sodding for the entire area at 10 tee and the range will be ongoing beginning next week.
• A communication from the Capital Strategies Committee will be issued shortly. Part of it will consist of "Question and Answer" section to hopefully address some concerns that may arise when the back 9 is finally opened.

Course Conditions Update

The May newsletter will have a more detailed account of what has occurred with the greens coming out of winter. I'm fairly certain that most of the membership have not experienced these conditions in recent memory. When Poa annua has encroached upon greens to the state we are in now the risk of damage increases dramatically. If it isn't ice problems, it could be disease pressure. If not that it could be low temperature kill or early spring crown hydration followed by below zero temperatures. Aside from stripping all the greens and resodding with creeping bentgrass different overwinter management techniques will need to be considered. Food for thought. In the meantime:

• We will let the greens continue to grow and greenup before we make any sodding decisions. After touring the course today I would prefer to allow an "assisted" recovery in order to maintain consistent putting greens after they fill in. Sodding large areas will result in a variable surface for several years to come. I realize this may not be a popular plan of action but I believe it will yield the best results.
• Bunker board removal and edging is ongoing as conditions permit. The waste bunker on #5 will not have any rakes present. A true waste bunker is rake free.
• We are still in the process of leaf and debris cleanup on the front 9. Some tee and greens surrounds will be worked on in over the course of the next few days.
• The irrigation system will be pressurized beginning Monday.
• The course washrooms and water fountains will be turned on in a week to 10 days. In the meantime 2 portable washrooms and a wash station will be positioned behind the 6th green. 

All for now,

Wade 780-203-4211 (cell)

LREP Startup And Facing Change

Before I discuss the "Facing Change" topic here is a brief update regarding the LREP work.

• Alpine Irrigation is marking out the remaining sprinkler locations on the short game practice area today and tommorow. On Friday they will begin the actual work, continue installation Saturday and Sunday and carry on into next week.
• CTC is moving equipment in at present and will begin work at #11 and #18 green sites in the next 2 days. It is still not dry enough in spots but they will work around these areas. The ground is now firm enough to bring in the large boulders/slabs that need to be laid in place on #11 before CTC can really get going.
• Ted Locke was here on Tuesday to make a few small design changes that will allow CTC to begin moving in root zone mix and capping soil. Sodding will follow.

Facing Change
I'll get right to the point. Our greens are no longer predominantly creeping bentgrass and our fairways are a combination of Kentucky bluegrass and annual bluegrass (Poa annua). This change occurred slowly over the last 2 decades. We are a different golf course today. The greens are different and the fairways are different. These changes require different turf management practices. Mowing heights, topdressing frequencies, double cutting, rolling, fertility and pesticide rates, etc. must be modified to adapt to our existing turf conditions.

However, with the change in turf type, comes changes in how we try and get our course through the winter and spring seasons. One option is to resurface the greens to creeping bentgrass. Bentgrass isn't perfect (what living organism is disease and stress free?) but it gives the best chance of good spring and late fall conditions. This is a whole different debate for the membership to consider in the future. Right now we have to manage what we have. There are so many things that can go wrong with annual bluegrass over winter and through spring that I won't even list them. There are techniques and tools being used to tip the odds in our favour but they are not 100% tried and true. We now need to investigate and possibly implement some of these techniques. Fortunately the wheel doesn't have to be reinvented here. There is considerable research and ongoing practices on Alberta courses to help with any changes we will make moving forward.

One change I have implemented this spring is the use of greens covers for the first time since the greens were converted to bentgrass. These covers allow both air and water to move through to the putting surface and also increase the temperature underneath. This will get the turf into a more active growth phase and finally show us just how much grass (especally the Poa) is really healthy and what is not doing so well. Here I have to thank Brad Eshpeter and Redtail Landing Golf Course for lending us their covers. We have nothing of our own. That needs to change. Even with pure bentgrass greens they can be of assistance during a cool, wet spring. Just like the one we are experiencing right now. So that is the question moving forward. What changes can we make to get this course through the winter in the best condition possible? Just a final thought to consider. If the club does decide to convert the greens back to creeping bentgrass in the future there are management techniques and new products that are successful in keeping Poa encroachment at bay.