- 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.
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