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.