5 Further Topics Of Discussion

    1.   The Natural Grass Driving Range Tee

          The tee will open for use on Wednesday, May 22nd. It will be mowed at 3/4inches and then lowered to 1/2 inch (our standard fairway height) until we lower the fairway cut to .450 inches for the LPGA event. This height change will occur around the beginning of August which is about the same time we will have to go back to the Turf Hound artificial surface. The grass tee will need several weeks to recover and be in good condition for the CN Canadian Womens Open. There is a trend in range use to configure your divot pattern for easier recovery time. Although I agree with the rationale I'm not going to go into the explanation and description at this time. I will soon post a link that describes all of the above in a much clearer fashion than I can here.

     2.  The Target Greens

          We have purchased a unique walking rotary mower that stripes lawns and by chance the Royal Mayfair Target Greens. What a coincidence. It also cuts quite low so that the target greens will stand out and give you the feel of hitting to an actual green site. As soon as the mower arrives we will insert the mowing of the targets into our maintenance practices. On a side note we will also begin to mark out and cut shorter turf areas around the the 2 new chipping greens. It will take time as we don't want to severely scalp the existing turf.

      3.  Fairway Widening

           The widening of sections of fairways on holes 3, 12 and 13 has begun. In addition we are also expanding the apron cut to the right of the 11th green in order to bring the water into play for short right shots as requested by our architect Ted Locke. For better or worse I like the concept too. We are presently mowing these areas at 1 inch and will slowly lower them to fairway and apron heights. As mentioned previously a slow drop in height will reduce unsightly scalping and severe yellowing of the turf.

      4.  Pro Paths

           I was going to wait until the LPGA agronomist visited the club before proceeding with establishment of the short cut walking paths from tees to fairways but I want them started now for your benefit. If a few need to be moved so be it however I think I have a pretty good idea of what to do. I also called Aaron Franceour (superintendent at Coloniale Golf Club and former assistant superintendent at the Royal Mayfair) for some advice. Aaron was at the club during the 2007 Open. I hope I spelled his last name correctly. Its easier to call him by his nickname: Frenchy.

Now last but certainly not least the final point of discussion: TOPDRESSING

        At the Royal Mayfair I believe there is no more important supplemental cultural practice than consistent bi weekly sand topdressing. I think it is the most important tool we have to establish the correct organic matter content (which will likely vary from any other golf course) that will allow for firm surfaces, assist with water infiltration rates and create a healthy root zone. Even more so than core aeration. Have no fear we will still aerate!! I know you are all glad to hear that. The timing of aeration is a topic for a later blog. We have worked hard on the greens over the last 2 seasons with very positive results. We now need to apply the same practices to our tees, aprons and fairways. Topdressing is more intrusive on greens than anywhere else so it won't have the same impact when applied to other areas of the course. Aside from the greens our goal is to get the other fine cut turf areas to another level not seen before at this golf course. Case in point: Keith Blayney and his staff at the Edmonton Petroleum Club have the finest tee surfaces around. We are close but further work is required. This is all leading up to the following. As members you are accustomed to our topdressing practices but now we plan on increasing the frequency of fairway topdressing too. In addition to the major application in late September we will also begin monthly light sand topdressing in June as part of a program to increase the quality of our Poa annua / Kentucky Bluegrass fairways. Although this August we will skip it for obvious reasons. The application will only take a couple of days as we now own 2 fairway topdressers.  The sand will be irrigated down into the turf canopy during the evening irrigation cycle. The improvement to the fairways will be slow but more noticeable as time goes on. My visit to the Vancouver Golf Club last summer was all the evidence I needed to increase the yearly quantity of sand topdressing. 

I hope you have taken the time to read this blog and as always, I'm available to discuss all matters concerning the course in person, over the phone or by email.

Wade