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