Heartland Green Industry Expo and Education Conference

Rob and I recently attended the Heartland Green Industry Expo which was held at the Overland Park Convention Center.  Conferences like these are extremely beneficial as we get to hear about the latest products and equipment, receive continuing education credits, and see nationally renowned speakers.   My personal favorite was listening to Pat Finlen, Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) from the Olympic Club.  The Olympic Club is located near San Francisco and it was host to the 2012 U.S Open. His photos and presentation were unbelievable. Bud White who works for the United States Golf Association (USGA) was also very informative.  It was a GREAT two day Conference.

New Synthetic Turf Range Tee

Our new Synthetic Turf Tee was installed the end of October.  In the past when we close the Rye Grass Tee Golfers were only allowed to hit from the mats at the back of the tee.  We now have the latest and greatest synthetic turf available, so tee it up and hit away.

September Accomplishments

It has been a while since I have posted and I wanted to get you all up to date on some of what we have been working on in September.  Also, I wanted to tell you all how happy I am that the summer of 2012 has finally ended.  In fact, while I am posting this, we are having our first frost delay of the fall.

September Accomplishments

• All thin turf areas in the rough that were damaged from the drought were overseeded with a slit seeder, we used a total of 2000lbs of a tall fescue blend.
• Range tee was shut down for the year to overseed with Rye Grass.
• All putting greens were aerified, fertilized, and topdressed
• All Zoysia turf was fertilized with a 5-10-31 to harden them off for the winter.
• All putting greens were also treated with a pre-emergent to prevent annual bluegrass.
• As you can see in the photos above we tilled the soil along the cart path of 7 River course, then we scraped the excess soil so water can drain off of the cart path and we planted a fescue turf.
• Sprayed all rough on the Rock course with a herbicide to kill broadleaf weeds.

Cart Path Drainage

There are several spots on the cart paths that hold water from sprinkler run off.  So to prevent puddles on the cart path like the photo below, we used the sod cutter and cut out some stripes of sod, then took out some of the soil and replaced the sod, thus resulting in proper drainage.

 

Hole #6 on the Rock

It has been a while since I have posted so let me catch you up on some of what we have been working on at HOA.

Before photo 6 Rock

After photo 6 Rock

The above photos are on hole 6 of the Rock course.  The putting green on 6 has been weak this year and I believe it is caused by a lack of air movement.  So to help air circulate better we cut some trees/brush and installed a fan.  We have temporarily closed this hole to overseed the green. I hope to have it open by the second week of September.

Sprinkler Troubleshooting

sprinkler with clogged nozzle

sprinkler operating correctly

sand and rock in nozzle

Another week of extreme heat and no moisture.  When the turf is only getting moisture from the sprinklers it is easy to tell which sprinklers are working correctly.  We have been finding a lot of the sprinkler nozzles are getting clogged with tiny bits of sand causing the sprinkler to not evenly distribute water.

Maintenance update

This week we vented the greens for the second time this summer.  We also verticut, and lightly topdressed them with sand, then sprayed a liquid fertilizer and fungicide on them.  During the heat of the day you are likely to see us on the greens with a hose cooling the turf.  I understand that it is no fun having to deal with maintenance workers while you are trying to play but this is a necessary task to keep the turf healthy.  Your cooperation is appreciated.

2012 Drought

Week 20 we are still dealing with the extreme drought.  In the photo above you can see the pond on #7 has completely dried up.  During this period it is extremely important to follow the golf cart enter, and exit locations.  For example keep the golf cart completly on the cart path until you reach the enter post and once you get to the enter post drive directly to the fairway (zoysia turf), then go back to the cart path once you get to the exit post.  Please DO NOT drive carts in the rough(fescue/kentucky bluegrass mix).  The cool season turf (rough) does not have irrigation and by driving on it under extreme drought conditions could kill the turf by breaking the plant at its crown.  We are trying our hardest to keep the course beautiful during this time, your help is appreciated.

Afternoon Greens Syring

Sorry this is so late, we are about to start week 22 as I am typing this. It has been an extremely hot and dry summer so we have been busy keeping the Bent grass cool with afternoon syringing. During week 19 we finished spraying all the Zoysia turf with an insecticide to control several insects/grubs.  The University of Missouri diagnostic lab has received several zoysia turf samples infected with a billbug grub which prompted the early application of insecticide.

HydroJect

Week 18:  In attempt to cure the hydrophobic greens at the 1st Tee we used a machine called a HydroJect. This machine injects water into the roots about 4 inches deep.  It is a slow machine but we feel we had good success.  Also during week 18 we have been noticing Goosegrass popping up in a few areas, and because there is not a herbicide to kill the weed we are using knives to remove them.  In the bottom photo you can see Muncy and Herb removing them on No.1 Tee on the River Course.

Where is the Leak?

Week 17 we sprayed Greens at a preventative rate of fungicide.  This time of year we will be spraying them every 14-20 days with a fungicide to prevent any disease breakout.  We also sprayed an insecticide on them.  There have been many reports from local Universities stating that insect damage is expected to be extreme this year.  Week 18 I hope to get all the Zoysia turf treated with insecticide (weather permitting).  The photo is of an irrigation break that took a lot of digging to find.  The far hole is where the water surfaced but the near hole is where the break actually was.  It was a frustrating break but it is now fixed.

Problem Tees Plan

Aerifing problem Tees

Now that the temps are in the high 80's and 90's it is a  perfect time to push the Zoysia turf.  Zoysia turf loves heat and sunshine and some of our problem tees are in the shade much of the day (#1, and #9 on the River Course and #2, and  #8 on the Rock Course).  So every 2-3 weeks we will be aerifing these tees with a solid tine and we will also be pushing the fertilizer.  Hopefully by Fall we will have a healthy stand of turf.

7 River Course clean up

#7 River Tee Before

#7 River Tee After

Week 15 was another very busy week.  We aerified all the greens with a bayonet tine.  June, July, and August are the three months when venting the greens is extremely important, so we plan on aerifying the greens with a venting tine once during these months.  The benefits are huge and they do not interfere with the playability of the course.  Also this week we fertilized, verti-cut and topdressed the greens as well as sprayed a wetting agent, preventative fungicide, preventative insecticide, and a growth regulator.  All the Zoysia turf was also fertilized this week with just over 1 pound of Nitrogen/1000sqft.  To top the week off we cut down overgrown trees by #7 yellow tees on the River Course.  Now you have a clear view of the fairway from the back tees and I think it looks so much better.

Planting Annual Flowers to the Beds

#8 Rock Tee

Week 14 we finished applying pre-emergent to all the cool season turf.  The product that we use is a fertilizer plus pre-emergent, (13-0-5 with Dimension). Also during the week we planted more annual flowers on holes 6 and 8 on the Rock Course.

Tom Watson and the K.C. Junior Clinic

Tom Watson on the range for the K.C Junior Clinic

Week 13 was a preparation week for the Kansas City Junior Golf Clinic.  All the shrubs around the clubhouse were trimmed and more annual flowers were planted.  We also sodded #2 Tee box on the Hill Course and started to apply our last application of  pre-emergent to the cool season turf.

Blue River Flood

Blue River Flood

Pumping Water out of Bunkers

Annual flowers planted on Rock course

The first and second pictures are a result of 4 inches of rain in 2 days.  The water did recede quickly and there was only minor damage.  Due to a soggy course we were unable to mow so we planted some annual flowers.  The photo was taken between number 4 and 7 on the Rock Course.  Also during week 12 we put down our last application of goosegrass/crabgrass pre-emergent, Insecticide, Fungicide, and 12-0-0 foliar fertilizer all on the greens.  Oh and we fixed more irrigation leaks on 4, and 9 on the River course.

Irrigation breaks and new equipment

Hole in sprinkler riser

Our new blower

I know I sound like a broken record when I say this week we fixed irrigation but its the truth and from what I see there is a lot more to go.  In the photo you can see a hole in the pipe and thus a lot of standing water around the chipping green.  It was fixed with a pvc pipe and the area should now start to dry out.  We received a few more pieces of new equipment including a new greens mower and a new pull behind blower both are huge assets to the course.  Also in week 11, Rob and myself have been training staff members to mow greens, fairways, tees, and approaches.  Because it is no fun golfing around loud equipment our goal is to get all the short grass mowing done before play.

Mulch Fresh Up

New Tee/Approach Mower

Mulch work before photo

Mulch work after photo

Week 10 we fertilized (18-2-18) the greens with just over half a pound of nitrogen per 1000 spft. We continued to fix irrigation leaks and also freshened up the mulch areas around the clubhouse and driving range tee. Also during week 10 we received a new Tee and Approach mower (Jacobsen 1900D).

New Native Areas

Gutter Cleaning

Photo of New Native area 

During week 9 we sprayed the greens with a wetting agent.  This will help to move the water in the soil and create less dry spots.  We also sprayed another preventative treatment of fungicide.
The top photo is of crew members cleaning the gutters on the shop.  They were packed with debris and trees were even starting to grow in them.
The new native areas are marked with red flags, PLEASE do not drive golf carts in these areas.

Two Pins

This week we started to put Two Flags per green on the River Course.  Our goal is to encourage golfers to play 18 holes.  For example the front nine you tee from the blue markers and hit to the blue pin, then the back nine you play from the yellow markers and hit to the yellow pin.  So far the golfers I have talked to think it is a great idea.  We also are now putting 8" cups on the Rock Course, it will be fun and different and should help beginners to make a few more pars and birdies.
Also in week 8 we sprayed broadleaf weeds growing in the new native areas and fixed several more irrigation breaks.

Spring Aerify

Toro ProCore in action

Crew members cleaning up

No. 2 after the first mow

All greens were aerified during week 7.  This is a task no one enjoys but is extremely beneficial. They were then topdressed with sand to fill the holes and fertilized. Also in week 7 we mowed all the Zoysia Turf for the first time this season and you can see in the photo they striped up nice.

Pre-Emergent

Week 6 was a busy week. Temps were in the mid to upper 80's.  We applied all cool season turf with a Fertilizer/Pre-Emergent and sprayed all the Zoysia turf with a fungicide to prevent Zoysia Patch.  The photo was taken from 6 Green on the Rock Course.

Fertilizing before the Rain

This is the only picture to describe week 5.  Due to several inches of rain the Blue River was full.  Luckily before all the rain we were able to get some fertilizer on the greens.  We put down an Ammoniacal Nitrate fertilizer which will get the grass growing rapidly just in time for aerification and hopefully the holes will heal quickly. Monday April 2nd is when we hope to begin aerifing the greens.  Also in week 5 when it wasn't raining we began mowing rough for the first time this season, and we also sprayed a pre-emergent, and fungicides on the greens.

Spring Cleaning

Topdressing greens

Muncy the new Bunker Artist

Roberto trimming the ornamental grass 

This week we charged up the irrigation system. Since doing this we have found several leaks, so most of this week was spent fixing irrigation valves and sprinklers.  Thursday the 15th was the first day of work for Muncy and Roberto and they are proving to be a huge asset.  Roberto trimmed up all the ornamental grass on the driving range and behind the greens of # 6 and # 7 on the Rock course.  Other tasks included topdressing greens and cleaning up around the clubhouse.  Next week we will continue to fix irrigation and fertilize greens.

Clubhouse bushes before

Clubhouse bushes after

Finding Valves

Sprinkler valves before photo

Sprinkler valve after photo

Rob Vertical Cutting the Greens

During week 3 we went through the entire river course and found irrigation valves and edged them.  As you can see in the photo this was not an easy job because most valves were completely covered with turf, some several inches deep.  In week 4 we will charge up the irrigation system, and because we found all the valves, if we have any issues it will now be easy to isolate the water.  Also in week 3 we verticut the greens two different directions.  There was excessive thatch on the greens and this process removes the thatch and allows for a true, smooth roll.  We then put a light topdress of sand on them and sprayed a light application of iron. In the bottom photo we did some bridge repair work.  All posts are now straight and we put a fresh coat of black paint on them.

Bridge work after 

Bridge work before

Zoysia Pre/Post Application

Week 2 we finished spraying the pre/post emergent on the zoysia turf.  We used a walking sprayer so we could get the small areas around the greens and tee boxes also the perimeter of the fairways.  In the bottom photo you can see the blue tracker outline by the green and fairway perimeter.  In the top photo you can see we trimmed back some trees along the wall of  #8 tee area on the Rocks course.  It was overdue and now you will have a clear shot at the green.