November Update

The golf course finally got a skiff of snow last week and about 10 cm last evening. Its been very pleasant up until now considering the time of year. The greens were all covered during the first week of November and fresh air has been blown underneath the tarps several times already. It has been warmer and humid underneath the covers compared to the air above. However the last few nights have been cold and it is now frozen underneath the covers. Snowfall amounts will influence temperature fluctuations and how often we will need to vent the greens throughout the winter. So for now we'll continue to vent the greens every 5 to 7 days.

This fall we also staked and roped off all of the covered turf to keep wayward cross country skiers away from the greens. We now have a few deer residing on the property and the rope might keep them back as well although they aren't as much of a concern as the skiers would be.

• The washroom site at 14 tee is prepared and waiting for the building to be installed. It is being designed off site, taken apart and then moved here for final installation a few weeks from now. Next spring the interior work will be completed by Dave Quinn, the outside perimeter will be landscaped by Turf Care and Val will plant various shrubs, grasses and flowers for effect.

• At present Turf Care is doing some required pruning on the course and giving Ian's (our equipment mechanic) area of the Turf Care facility a thorough cleaning while he is away for a week. The concrete floor will be washed and painted as will all the steel benches and shelving.

As of the 24th there is not enough snow to lay down cross country trails. The weather is forecasted to warm up considerably as well. We'll keep the membership updated as to ski trail work when conditions improve. Feel free to venture out on your own until that time but please stay away from all tee complexes and green sites.

Aeration Update

The greens were completed last week and that is it for core aeration and topdressing on the golf course. The short game practice area will be aerated and heavily topdressed towards the end of the month to allow for practice to continue until closer to closing.

We typically do not post a closing date for the golf course but we will not stay open beyond the end of the month. If the weather holds I envision the last day of golf to be Sunday, November 1st.

The size of hole we punch and the amount of dry sand we use at this time of year does not lend itself to good putting conditions from now until basically the middle of next May. We remove a high percentage of organic material in October and the low growth rate of turfgrass at this time of year results in a very small amount of recovery. That is fine. I believe the open holes in the spring allow for some minor drainage of standing water (if any), better penetration of applied irrigation and good oxygen exchange as the weather warms and the turf begins to grow. Another important consideration is that the greens are basically kept in top condition from mid May until early October with no significant interruption in play for the membership.




Finished product. Holes filled which is great but also a lot of sand on the surface. We have stopped mowing by this time of year, the excess sand will not get removed and it can eventually work its way down into the profile.

 

On Tuesday morning we will be bringing in a contractor to perform a deep aeration of 18 green. We have been having some trouble with root growth beyond a few inches since we resodded the green in April of 2014. On the surface it appears fine but there is a layering issue underneath that needs attention. The machine used will drill down 12 inches, remove the existing material in each hole and then replace it with our topdressing sand. This will hopefully allow better root growth in the future. Going forward, if we see positive results this technique may be used on other greens. Visit the following website for a YouTube video of the process: www.westernrootzone.com  It is a very slow process that will take around 3 to 4 hours to complete. The green should be back in play before the first golfers arrive on scene.


Notes:

• It's been 2 weekends in a row of extremely windy conditions that has stripped almost all the leaves off the trees on the golf course. Turf Care did a nice job of cleanup last week but its back to square one on Tuesday.
• It is now time to begin applying protective fungicides on the golf course. You can assume that the sprayer will be out on the course almost every weekday from tomorrow until the end of the month depending on weather conditions. Please do not put tees in your mouth and make sure to wash your hands after a round of golf. These fungicides need to go down now. Waiting until we close is too late and bound to result in freezing temperatures or a snowfall that will end all activity on the golf course. We also need time committed to installing all the covers on the greens after we close as well.

Last weekend.





Aeration Update And Other Topics

It was warm and very dry all summer so it stands to reason that as soon as we began the long, time consuming task of fairway aeration that it would begin to rain and not really letup. To make matters a little more difficult it doesn't dry up quickly at this time of year. I guess on the other hand the moisture is sorely needed in the Edmonton area. We have finished aeration and topdressing on fairways 11, 12 and 13. Hopefully the work can resume tomorrow. On a more positive note Turf care did manage to get all the tee surfaces cored and topdressed last week when fairway aeration had to be suspended. Another reminder that greens will be aerated on October 5th and 6th.

The silvery thread moss that is on the greens in various locations has been treated with "Quicksilver" in August and mid September. It is a difficult weed to eradicate so more applications of this selective herbicide will be applied next season. In combination with our topdressing program, a review of our nutrient levels on the greens and hopefully less watering requirements next season, we should be able to drastically reduce the presence of this troublesome organism. It isn't really noticeable to the untrained eye until it is sprayed then it turns black as the chemical takes action. The turf has already begun to reappear in these spots and we are also spiking and overseeding now to aid in recovery.

Dew worms have seemed to come out of nowhere after the dry summer and recent rains. Their castings as they come to the surface leave small dirt mounds that get flattened by the mowers and interfere with turf growth. They aren't a problem on our sand based greens as the sand irritates their skin. However the approaches and fairways are heavier clay loam soils and the worms have flourished. We waited long enough but have now had to treat the approaches with an insecticide (spraying chemicals was a last resort) to knock the worms back. More applications will be necessary and likely also required on certain fairways in the future.

Course Notes

• The holding tank for the washroom on #14 will be installed by  S.A.C. Septic Solutions in the next 2 weeks.
• James Allen Construction is in the process of obtaining the timbers for the building itself and will begin construction of the washroom in the near future. It will match the facility on #6. Landscaping work will occur next spring.
• The steps on #1 tee will be reset later in October when it isn't as busy on the golf course.
• We were going to wait on the paving stone work at the washroom on #17 but have decided to get started this fall and finish up next May.
• Over the next few weeks cart path entrances and exits will be resodded as needed. This will be a never ending process due to the our tight and limited power cart access issue. 

 

Fairway Core Aeration Update

Turf Care will begin fairway core aeration, cleanup and topdressing on Monday, September 14th. This procedure is necessary in order to keep modifying the root zone under the turf. It is not anywhere near what is required to keep maintaining high quality fairways especially during extremes in weather, be it drought or periods of excessive rainfall. This season has been a struggle for us even if you haven't noticed. Our cultural programs and the monthly light fairway sand applications we've  been performing for the past two seasons are only a start to what we hope will be much better conditions in a few years.

This is a tedious, long process that will take the better part of 5 to 10 days to finish. Nice dry weather will shorten the work. Rainfall and even cloudy cool weather will mean delays and unfortunately some messy conditions at times. There will be muddy shoes, pull cart wheels and dirty power carts to contend with if it gets too wet. Afterwards approximately 300 metric tonnes of sand will be spread on the fairways so expect some "different" conditions out there for the remainder of the golf season (no different than last September).

We are committed to removing excess thatch and changing our root zone from a heavier clay type to more of a sand based surface. Why? Better drainage, smoother surfaces and a healthier growth environment for the type of turf on our fairways. The same philosophy we live by for the greens, tees and approaches.

First step is core aeration.

We'll use the greens aerator to core the small area around sprinklers which is in dire need of aeration as evidenced by the dry summer. These areas have typically been neglected as the big aerator cannot get too close or potential sprinkler damage can and does occur.

2 sweepers will be used to remove the heavy soil cores. We want as much soil as possible removed and replaced with sand so that the profile modification can continue.

300 metric tonnes of sand is here for the topdressing that will follow cleanup.

• There may be some damage to the turf at times. Have no fear. Turf Care will deal with it.
• It will be muddy early in the day (and if it rains) so delays are to be expected at times.
• The tractors will not be stopping so we need everyone to get along out there. Exercise caution and patience please.
• Lets hope for some pleasant weather.



Fall Preparations

A busy August is over and preparations for winter have begun: at least procedures and changes you as members might notice. Our cultural practices and efforts to maintain high quality, healthy turf have been ongoing throughout the season. This is critical as we approach October.


Beginning today the height of cut on greens has been raised by 10% and further increases will occur as the weeks pass. The mowing schedules across the board have been modified to reflect a lower growth potential as the days get shorter and the nights cool off. Fairways, tees and approaches will be mowed less frequently and greens may be rolled instead of cut depending on daily events and the weather.


Of course it is time to consider aeration dates as well. We have vented greens monthly and September will be no different. However on October 5th and 6th the greens will be cored, heavily topdressed and noticeably bumpy for the remainder of the golf season. Nine holes will be closed each day as we work on the greens. Our philosophy is to give the membership the longest run of quality putting surfaces starting from mid May (when the holes have healed from the previous fall aeration) until the end of September.


Fairway aeration will begin on September 14th. This is a long arduous process that will require a week of continuous work assuming the weather cooperates. Wet weather will only lead to a huge mess. The topdressing that follows will be considerably heavier than our light summer applications. We have many more seasons of work (and hopefully an updated, modern irrigation system in the near future) in order to improve the root zone under the fairway turf. It is obvious after the hot, dry summer that our soil conditions are less than ideal out on the fairways (and rough for that matter). Tees and approaches will be aerated following the fairway work.


On the project list:

• We will begin the construction of the new washroom at 14 tee in the next week.
• There is some tree work to undertake that will open up the sides of the par 3 tee decks. Maples and spruce have encroached over the years and with our smaller tee surfaces we need that area along the sides back.
• On #9 we have surveyed many golfers that play from the gold tees and from those conversations we will be removing several large branches high on the right side. NO Poplars are being removed.
• The large stumps in the tree line to the left of 2 green have been removed and the area will be shaped and seeded.
• The steps at #1 blue and white will be reset to match the gold tee.
• The Turf Hound mats at the driving range will be evaluated for wear and tear and be replaced as need be over the winter.

The leaves are turning and falling sooner than usual. The drought this summer is partly to blame but it is September. The blowers and sweepers will be on the course daily so please have patience with the Turf Care staff as these machines are loud and bulky. They may not notice you for a few minutes so lets keep everyone safe out there.


Enjoy September and what is typically a very pleasant month to play golf in the Edmonton area.

Late June Course Update

The hot extremely dry weather persists although we are receiving some light showers today. A welcome relief for those Turf Care staff that have been hand watering over the last week. The golf course is showing the effects of an old irrigation system, some areas of poor soil and a turf type (Poa annua) that doesn't like temperatures at +30 C. It's difficult to resist the urge to overwater but we are doing our best to keep conditions from getting too wet. In some spots it is unavoidable and in many areas it will get dry, firm and brown (I feel there is nothing wrong with that). I actually like the look and it always greens up eventually. That being said we are using roller base sprinklers in areas that are really suffering. This is a last resort practice that has been used infrequently over the past 5 seasons.


An example is this high traffic area to the right of 3 green. Even though it has irrigation coverage it requires supplemental water from roller base sprinklers in periods of drought.

The project work on the front nine is coming to a close. The last paving stone "side out" will be installed at 2 tee. Steps will also be added leading to the back tees as the slope can get slippery and damaged during rainy periods. A pin oak has been planted in this area as well. A burr oak has also been planted to the back right of 9 green. Next season we plan on installing paving stone around the washroom at 17 and on the walking path from 8 green to the asphalt cartpath. The following pictures are a few examples of Dave Quinn's fine work:

 

 

 

 

This obviously is not paving stone but a mule deer doe that walked past myself and staff member Neal Roberts (he took the great photo). She then proceeded through the bunker and over to the flower bed at 5 tee and we encouraged her to move on before Val saw her munching on the greenery.

 

 

 

June Update

We are well into June and still in need of a good soaking rain. Although we have had a few showers last week the very dry weather is exposing the flaws in our 25 year old irrigation system that is tasked with watering the tees, fairways and rough. The greens sprinklers were upgraded a few years ago and  are performing fine. Any issues with dry surrounds has more to do with the quality of soil on the side banks. The lack of pin point control when applying water is obvious as is the failure of the sprinklers due in large part to decades old technology and changing demands put on short mowed grass that will meet today's standards in turf care. You may have noticed areas of stress around many of the older fairway sprinklers. The picture below shows how the distribution of water is affecting turf quality. We can no longer obtain replacement parts for these sprinklers. Installing new sprinklers is one of our solutions but it too is creating uniformity problems as this new sprinkler may be paired with an old one. We are applying wetting agents and will be spot aerating over the next few weeks to help the turf in these areas.

Worn out unavailable replacement parts and old technology cannot keep up with the type of turf we maintain at The Royal Mayfair

The first fairway has been widened on the left and right sides to increase the width of the fairway before the fairway bunkers by approximately 12 to 15 feet depending on your landing area. We will wait for feedback before any more increases in this area.

The teaching area is almost ready for daily use. The artificial mats are in place. There is electrical power for the computers and the canopy will be rolled into position on Wednesday morning. The natural turf in front of the mats will not be ready for a few more weeks.



The new turf at the driving range is not ready for use yet. We are hoping to have it open by the 20th of June. It still needs an aeration and more topdressing as well as more uninterrupted growing time as it is being mowed just above our fairway height. Continued mowing will tighten up the turf canopy over the next 10 days.

Other Course Notes:

• Greens will be verticut, topdressed, vented and rolled today and tomorrow. Back 9 this morning and front 9 early Wednesday.
• Fairways will be lightly topdressed next week. It should only take a day or two depending on the weather.
• More rainbow trout will be stocked in the 10th pond on Thursday morning.
• As the cleanup from the paving project comes to a close we can redirect out Turf Care staff to some areas in the rough that need attention. Tree line weed control, tree line trimming and new wood chip areas all need work to bring them up to standards that I feel are not where they should be. 
• Dave Quinn is back full time next week and the paving stone "side outs" will be completed soon. He has been picking away on a part time basis and the work he has done so far looks good.



A Very Early May Update

April showers were lacking in Edmonton this spring but we did receive some welcome precipitation late Saturday afternoon. A long period of using the irrigation system is always helped out by natural rainfall that "perks" up turfgrass with a flushing of minerals that accumulate over time. That is a very simple explanation of why turf always seems a little greener following a rain event.

The golf course is coming along very nicely with minor turf damage from overwinter and spring. It is obvious that we'll need to reroute the cross country ski trails so that we can try to eliminate any set back to our fairways. I knew this would eventually occur but the membership that uses the course in the winter will now see why changes are in store for the winter of 2016. There are also two small spots of ice damage on #15 and #17 greens that will be repaired or spike/seeded in the next week. The greens that were covered with the bubble wrap/impermeable tarps came out great. The testing of this procedure is finally over. The covers for the remainder of the greens have been ordered and will be in place this fall.

As mentioned in the last blog there is considerable renovation work underway next to all the new paved paths. The good news is that the warm weather in April has allowed the curbing contractor to finish their work this past Friday. Turf Care has also been able to begin the edging work and sodding should begin soon. We didn't think we'd be able to get started until early May. My thanks to the limited number of staff that have prepared the course and managed to begin project work in advance of the remaining team that will be arriving this week. The driving range tee surface work will begin Wednesday (weather permitting) with complete closure of the range for an entire day and then some early morning closures for fine tuning and sod installation. That notification will be sent out by email tomorrow.

The road across the 9th fairway will be the last area repaired because Answer Asphalt still needs to add the extension to the path at the bottom of the first tee. Winter arrived before this 30 foot section could be started. They will be in later this week to pave that section.

The first tee attendants from the Golf Shop have been explaining why the sand seed containers are no longer on the golf course and have been encouraging member focus on repairing fairway divots instead. So far so good for all involved including Turf Care. One consideration: please use your sand seed bottles for fairways only. Don't worry about the tees. Turf Care is filling divots on all tees every morning and the seed in the bottles is specifically mixed for fairways only.

These bins are no longer in use on the par 3's resulting in a cleaner less cluttered look.

If you look closely you can see the faint outline of the past winter's ski trail at the start of the fairway. They are more pronounced on fairways 9 and 17.

The irrigation startup in April went well and Turf Care has been fine-tuning sprinklers over the past 2 weeks.

Val and Helga are cleaning beds and getting ready for planting season which is still a few weeks away.

An example of the edging repairs required and some truck tracks that will be renovated.

The crew from Curb Craft working at #8 tee early last week.

One last note. There are still some of the old benches down in the Turf Care area. They're free to any member who wants them. They are heavy and a standard sized truck can accommodate 2 in the bed or 4 if stacked. Please call my cell (available through the Club) to arrange pick up.

See you on the course and whoever is unlucky enough to be golfing with me in the Men's Opening this coming Saturday.

Wade and the Turf Care Team

Getting Close

As you can see from the following pictures taken late Monday afternoon we still have some snow to melt before we can open. In addition the adjacent areas near the remaining snow are still quite wet. The weather this week will likely work in our favor allowing Turf Care to get into those spots and prepare the course for an opening date of around the middle of next week.

 

 

At present we are blowing and sweeping from tree line to tree line on those holes that are dry enough for the equipment. We plan on starting the irrigation system early next week so in the meantime we are tank watering as need be. We won't begin any aggressive work on the greens until we have that dependable water source. It is still early and the predominately Poa annua turf on the greens and fairways must be treated carefully with a minimum amount of stress applied to the surfaces at this time of the season. Basically keep it alive, push it along as the weather dictates and wait for the warm weather that is sure to arrive.

 

We have a fairly long list of small projects to complete beginning next week. The curbing contractor will be on site Friday to begin curbing where required on the front 9. The new cart paths need soil and sod work along all the edges. Precast steps will be added on several tees in addition to all the paving stone work required for the benches, ballwashers and trash containers. The natural grass surface at the driving range will be replaced and renovation work is needed to repair the heavy truck damage across a few fairways. We envision a very busy month of May.

 

A final note regarding the geese. The wildlife control company has requested that nobody disturbs the nests (that we know of) on the golf course. That includes the couple that have returned to the water feature. They are using deterrents and will also be relocating any nest they can find when all the eggs are laid and the birds begin to sit. Its about changing the patterns and behavior of these returning pairs. No birds will be harmed. Keeping them away from the clubhouse and reducing the population on our property is the ultimate goal.

 

  



Early April Update

More of the golf course is becoming exposed with each passing day. The sun is strong and melting will occur in open areas even if temperatures are near the freezing mark. However as you can see there is still considerable snow cover along many of the tree lines. As conditions dry Turf Care will be able to get out and begin the cleanup required every spring. No matter how tidy we get the course in late October the harsh winter months bring down a lot of branches and leaves seem to appear out of nowhere. The parking lot needs a thorough sweeping (planned for this Friday) and the clubhouse area requires cleaning as well.

 

 

Course Notes:

• Battle River Wildlife Management will be on the property over the next few months. They have been hired to help us control the Canada Goose population and will be using various methods to reduce the number of birds residing on the golf course. They have all the Federal permits required to legally do what is required.
• The natural grass surface on the driving range tee will be stripped and resodded later this month. The range and all practice facilities are scheduled to open this Saturday the 11th, weather permitting.
• If you feel like walking the course and checking turf conditions please remember to stay off the grounds if it is frozen or covered in frost. Damage can and will occur if there is any disturbance at these times.
• The golf course has come though winter in good condition. There are small areas of ice damage on fairways: low spots that held standing water during mid winter melting. The tee surfaces are in excellent shape and the greens look good aside from a few spots of ice damage that are mostly on the perimeter of a few sites. Any snow blower scars or ice damage will heal as growing conditions improve.

 

Hole #8 is still almost completely covered.





The Green Jacket covers will be removed from 6,8 and 18 on Wednesday.

Still amazed at how effective winter fungicides are in controlling snow mold.

9 green and rough surrounds looking good. Notice the border where fungicide application stops in the rough.

#12 looking back towards the tees.

12 green and approach. This is the general look of all the greens aside from the 3 that are not uncovered yet. We'll know more on Wednesday.

Late March Course Update

This update has been a long time coming. Since the last blog posting in mid January the golf course has gone through a roller coaster of weather events. Aside from the usual snow and cold weather the months following were punctuated with warm spells, more days of rain than past winters and some fairly heavy snowfalls. We stayed away from the surface of the greens due to the uncertainty of the weather and the worry that any disturbance might lead to unnecessary turf damage (recall the footprints and damaged section on 2 green last season). We did pull turf samples and bring them into the green house in early March and they responded well. The one green I was very concerned about was the putting green. Just by the nature of its location ice formed and water settled in a few low areas. How do we know? It was cleared off and fully exposed before the heavy snowfall we saw last weekend. It was in far better condition than last year but there is some ice damage on the south edge of the green.

We had cleared the snow off all the greens except 9 and 12 by last Wednesday. We decided to leave them because temperatures were forecasted to drop for a few days. The unexpected 20cm of snow happened to provide a pretty good insulating cover for the exposed greens. We have cleared 9 and 12 and the pictures below show the conditions as of Wednesday afternoon. As you can see we have a long way to go. Keep in mind it is still March and we have entered a very unpredictable time of year.

The Putting Green after the snowfall last weekend

12 Green after a few hours of exposure



9 Green late Wednesday

As you can see we aren't in any position to give the membership a totally accurate update. Needless to say we have our fingers crossed and remain positive. The bentgrass on the greens and tees is of little worry for us. It is and will be fine. Of course we are now a Poa/bentgrass golf course so our concern at present lies entirely with the multiple varieties of Poa annua that exist on our greens. The question remains as to how each biotype will react to the past winter and the uneven weather conditions during March and April. When all the greens are clear and the turf begins to respond to warmer weather we will update the membership further.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January Update From The Royal Mayfair

 

 

 

 

Its January 20th and the weather is very nice for this time of year especially considering where we live. In checking the weather records, this month is almost a carbon copy of 2014. Fortunately our snowpack is considerably deeper so the potential for ice formation on greens has been lessened. For now. The short days, our location in the river valley and less wind than last January are also helping out. I love the weather but if it would cool off so the daytime highs are just below zero that would be ideal. We continue to blow fresh air under the 4 covered  greens every 10 to 14 days. This is the second stage of testing with the Green Jacket ice shield/bubble wrap system. The first 2 years it was one specific green. This winter it is three other unique green sites and how they turn out that will dictate our plans for covering all the greens. I know I sound like a broken record but we cannot depend on the typical winters that were the norm a decade ago. 

 

In the meantime our Equipment Manager, Ian Scott, continues to service and refurbish our large fleet of machinery so that it will be ready for spring. The rest of the Turf Care department is busy with other small projects, parking lot maintenance, grooming the ski trails and keeping the skating rink in good shape. Our continuing education is ongoing during February with major turf conferences in Calgary and San Antonio. Val, our horticulturist, is busy in the greenhouse preparing for her first full season and she is excited for changes that will be coming.  I'm dragging myself away from some old school way of doing things as we are planning to implement a digital job board/task tracking system that will greatly increase the efficiency of our department. It should also appeal to the younger generation of turf care staff that are being hired.

 

 

The picture below is the new groomer we purchased through funds donated by The Royal Mayfair Ski Club. Notice that it sets 2 tracks for a more "social experience" but from what I've heard it's great for passing slower skiers. For those that are wondering the long track is 5K and the short track is ~2K in length. During this trend of warm days and cool nights we will not be grooming unless absolutely necessary. From our conversation with skiers, yes they are icy and quick in the morning but they are softer and slower in the afternoon.

 

 

 

I'm not a skier but the trails look good to me. We will venture out and check the loop for wear and tear in the next few days.

 

 

If skiing or skating isn't your cup of tea remember that the simulator is set up in the Golf Shop for lessons and play throughout the winter months. Mike Belbin is seen here keeping his game sharp. Book a tee time and order some food from the Clubhouse.