Turkey Day Wrap-Up on the Golf Course

With Thanksgiving just a day away and the rain coming down pretty hard right, an update of work on the golf course seems appropriate.

Bunker work on the front nine began October 15th.  As highlighted in last months email flash, the bunkers are being rebuilt with some minor changes- sand is being gutted, the floors are being elevated to the appropriate depth for 6" of sand, drainage is being added and the faces are being resodded.  To date we have completed work on holes 1,2,3,4 and part of 7.  Following Thanksgiving we will be drill and filling the greens and then continue work on holes 7 and 6 with the goal of finishing by Christmas if the weather cooperates and it's been pretty darn cooperative so far so keep it coming!

Drill and Fill

The work that was performed on hole 3 provides a good example of the improvements we have aimed to make.  The bunker on the left was too far removed to the green and the goal was to moved it closer to the green by approximately 6-7'.  On the right hand side the bunkers the goals were two-fold- to create a better site-line from the fairway and to properly drain them and in particular the front right buker which severely floods after heavy rainfalls, often times turning the sand upside down.  Below are pics highlighting the work.

Left side bunker pre reconstruction- bunker floor moved to painted white lines

14" of accumulated sand buildup in bunker- should be 6"

Bunker being gutted

New shape outlined and right side moved in 6'

Drainage added

Drainage extended across approach to existing pipe

Drainage complete

Bunker outlined with burlap soil bags to help shape and stabilize the grass mounding

Before and after

Right side being gutted

Drainage being installed

Pre sod and sand

Completed right side

Front right pre rebuild after 2" rain event

Front right post rebuild after 2+" of rain

Pre bunker rebuilds

Post bunker rebuilds

Once hole 7 is completed we will move to hole 6.  On hole 6 we will try to recapture some of the approach that has been lost in to the last fifty years. If you look at the photo in the men's card room you will notice that the approach was at one time wider so that the bunkers were better incorporated into the hole.  Widening the approach will recapture this lost element to the hole.

Outline of expanded approach

While rebuilding the bunkers we have also been able to get all the fairways vertiquaked to a depth of 8+".  The below picture demonstrates what the verti-quake does.

The verti-quake slices into the ground with blades that form continuous lines down into and through the fairway.  As the machine slices into the ground creating 8" deep drainage channels it also vibrates causing a decompaction of the soil.

Post verti-quake

Depth achieved

Some of you who may have been out to play recently after we finished the process may have noticed some lifting of the turf in spots.  This was expected due to the aggressive decompaction process that takes place. The turf will settle back down into and through the winter.  No rest for this machine, next up... the rough!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 a

Late Season Aeration Update

Drill and Fill Update

Given the stretch of spectacular fall weather, the drill and fill procedure on the greens will be delayed until the week December 2^nd.

Some have asked a very logical question. After five years of continued improvements of the greens is it necessary to have to perform this procedure anymore?  The answer is yes and it’s synonymous to weight loss-a target weight is set, achieved through better eating and exercise and then maintained.  That is the state that the greens have achieved and just like it took a great deal of work to condition the greens to the height and speed they are now at, it takes the same discipline to maintain these conditions.

And just as weight loss takes place and you achieve a healthier, more active lifestyle, there are times when you can now afford to give in to those guilty food pleasures on occasion (ie- Chef Rob’s PB and J bars), knowing it will not affect you as adversely.  Same applies to the greens- five years of improvements have afforded us the flexibility to drill and fill later in the season and to rotate drill and fills every other year without any negative effects. However, the aerations, drill and fill and topdressing cannot be abandoned- it’s a way of life.

As you can see in the attached picture via aeration and topdressing, there has been a tremendous improvement in the top 2.5” of growing medium below the greens.  However, the subsoil is still very much problematic.  The dark color demonstrates its heavy, clay-like properties.  When rainfalls occur the water drains through the top 2.5” very quickly (at an average rate of 7”/hour) then hits the subsoil and drains at less than .75”/hour.  Drill and filling has and will continue to improve this rate of drainage in the subsoil through incorporation of sand into this layer, hence the continued need to perform this procedure. 

Frost

Undoubtedly one of the worst condition messages to have to put out and wait through- frost delays.  However, frost is on the horizon so please use the condition line throughout the late fall, the condition line will be routinely updated during these events. For an excellent video explaining frost damage, click on this link- http://www.usga.org/turf/articles/video/frost.html.

Keep the great fall weather coming!

Breaking down and Rebuilding the Bunkers

After a fantastic Fall Classic golfing weekend, just wanted to remind you all that tomorrow we will begin work on the green side bunkers.  As touched upon in the email flash about a week ago, the reason for rebuilding the bunkers is three-fold. The drainage in them is poor and/or nonexistent. The sand is very inconsistent because of inadequate drainage and years of silt and soil running off into them. The grass faces of the bunkers are very weak given the last 15+ years of hitting shots out of them and contaminating the edges with sand.

Poor drainage and runoff contamination

The goal between now and the early part of next spring (Mayish) is to finish rebuilding all the greenside bunkers on the front 9.  What does this entail?  1. Removing all the old sand. 2. Stripping all the old sod. 3. Re-countouring the bunker floor. 4. Repairing or in many cases adding drainage. 5. Rebuilding the grass faces. 6. Sodding and lastly 7. Adding a newer, better quality sand. 

A majority of 1 and 2 are already complete and 5, 8 and 9 are already complete. The reconstruction of the bunkers going forward will be in a similar process (see photos below).  To expedite the process throughout the remainder of the fall, we will make temporary greens on the hole we are working on.  As soon as the bunkers on the hole are complete the hole will re-open and the bunkers will be deemed ground under repair until spring.  Work will commence on finishing holes 1 and 2 first and we will then proceed from hole 3 going forward.  

This will be a huge improvement for playability and aesthetically for the golf course- one we are excited to resume in-house! We will provide some updates and photos throughout the process.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation in allowing us to temp the greens being worked on.  Attached below are several photos highlighting the process.

Sand and grass face/sand contaminated soil removal

Floor re-contoured pre-drainage installation

Drainage being installed

Drainage and sodding complete

Pre/post bunker complete

Aeration on the Horizon

It's getting close to "necessary evil" time at NHCC- aeration is on the horizon. 

Tomorrow afternoon, once the Clambake tees off, we will aerify the putting green in advance of the Labor Day Putting competition that begins Saturday, August 24th.

 On Monday and Tuesday we will aerify all the greens, approaches, tees and fairways. All of the above playing surfaces will be aerated to a depth of 3" 2-3" with holes ranging in size from 3/8"-5/8. The soil plugs that are pulled out of the green will be removed and the holes will be back-filled with sand that is swept into the holes. The areas will then be seeded and fertilized. 

The photo below demonstrates the importance of aeration in the stimulation of new root growth as we transition from summer to fall. 

       The red line illustrates the timing of              

       aeration at NHCC

The physical process of pulling cores allows for the removal of dead/decaying root mass, it relieves compaction, and it promotes increased gas exchange in the soil- chiefly increasing oxygen. This in turn promotes a healthier environment for summer stress recovery and root regeneration/elongation in the fall. These processes are essential in the production and storage of carbohydrates as the turf recovers from the summer and preps for winter dormancy.

Weather depending, we expect a 10-14 day recovery in all areas.

 As a reminder the course will be closed Monday, August 19th- Thursday, August 22nd to expedite the process.  Your patience, cooperation and willingness to allow for the course closure is greatly appreciated.

We're looking forward to a great finish to the summer and start to the fall with competitive Club Championship rounds in the month of September! Enjoy the rest of the summer, fall is a comin'!

The Tale of July

As evident over the past week, there has been a refreshing (and much needed) change in the weather pattern.  We have actually fallen into the sixties at night for five of the last seven nights- a welcomed changed from the oppressive heat and humidity during the first three weeks of July.  The cooler temperatures have made for both fantastic golfing conditions and allowed the course to "catch it's breath" from an unprecedented week of heat, humidity and wind that came to an end with a few tropical-like thunderstorms the week of July 15th.

The weather during the first part of July combined with a very active golfing schedule placed a great deal of stress on all playing surfaces.  But... Like any great heavy weight fight, you may lose a round or two but the key is to win the fight and we're doing just that!

The first three weeks of July yielded relentless heat and humidity as demonstrated by the weather data for July 5th-July 10th and July 16th-July 21st.

The combination of oppressive, heat, humidity and elevated nighttime temperatures exposed the greens surfaces to temperatures in excess of 100 degrees the week of July 5th and 105 degrees the week of July 15th. These temperatures not only stressed the playing surface up top but also below. 

 Soil temperatures from July 5th-July 10th did not fall below 74 degrees and peaked anywhere between 85 and 90 degrees.

Time of Day on bottom Soil Temp on Right for 5 and 6 green

For the week of July 15th-July 21st soil temperature reached 90+ degrees on almost every single day for a six day period.

Soil Temperatures for 5,6,10 and 17 green

Cool-season turfgrasses perform at their best from both a growing and playing standpoint when soil temperatures are between 60 and 75 degrees.  As temperatures approach 80 degrees, top growth and root growth is inhibited and at 86 degrees and above, root dieback occurs.  

This picture of 8 green demonstrates the root mass loss due to the stressful weather

In essence, for the better part of the month of July, the turf and in particular the greens, have been under constant stress.  The saving grace during heat waves like these is airflow and surface venting.  Airflow can reduce surface temperatures by up to 10 degrees at 6 mph.  Think of airflow across a green the same way as you would sitting on the beach. It is much more comfortable sitting on the beach in 95 degree heat with a 10 mph wind vs sitting on the beach in 95 degree heat with no breeze.  The same principles hold true for the turf.  Because the prevailing winds are predominantly out of the south west in the summer, greens that are exposed to these winds have fared well while greens that are not have struggled a bit- most notably 1 green and 3 green.  The south west airflow on these greens is blocked by Port Washington Boulevard rendering them helpless during the heat wave that we just experienced.

Greens 1 and 3

This blockage and stagnation of air has resulted in surface temperatures 7-10 degrees higher than a green with adequate airflow and full day sunlight- a green such as number 6. Thus, water that is applied to these greens during the day when it is needed most does cool the surface but it also sits there and does not evaporate as quickly as we would like.  This can result and has resulted in some increased compaction and sealing off of the surface impeding turf growth and essentially choking the plant to death.  

Despite the uphill battle with the weather, we have fought back through adjustments to our cultural practices- mowing heights have been raised by .05" to .115" on these greens and we have switched from wiehle rollers to solid rollers which are less aggressive and more forgiving on the turf.  

Wiehle rollers through the turf giving a more aggressive cut which accounts for better ball speed 

whereas solid roller will not comb through the turf

The slight increase in greens heights and the exchanging of rollers does result in a reduction in green speed but the temporary setback in green speed  is right now secondary to healthy, viable turf.  

Additionally, to subsidize the lack of airflow on one green, we have started using a fan (thank you Plandome) set up in the southwest corner of one green that provides the necessary airflow to keep the green cooler during the day. 

Fan on 1 green

The attached video demonstrates the fans effectiveness, take a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuVi5FN6lIM&feature=youtu.be

As we embark on the month of August, we have seen a return to some more "seasonable" summer temperatures and many of you have taken note of how well the golf course has weathered the storm.  However, the fight is not over and it takes times to recover from a stretch of weather like what we just experienced. Recovery is taking place and as long as the weather cooperates we will continue to nurture recovery in areas where it is needed.

Temperatures in the last five days have not reached 87 degrees

Soil temperatures actually dropped below 70 degrees on three nights and only reached 90 degrees on 1 day

Remember, we do not know what lies ahead weather wise but are certainly taking advantage of the welcomed reprieve. This does not automatically mean that green speeds will return to pre-July speeds and that everything will instantly recover. However, through core cultivation at the end of the month, seeding and smart watering, we are poised for a great finish to the summer and a fantastic fall!

High Tech Water Management

With the onset of the warm summer temperatures, oppressive humidity and elevated nighttime temperatures, proper water management is one of the most important aspects of golf course management during the summer months.

Over the course of the past four years, we have employed moisture meters to measure the soil moisture content of the soil below the greens.

Moisture Meter

These meters have two probes attached to a device that are inserted into the ground at a depth of 1.5-3". When inserted, the probes will read and display the moisture content of the soil, telling us the water content of the soil below. Using these numbers we can quantity how much water may or may not be needed. This has made for very precise and accurate watering of the greens in the last few years. 

In combination with these meters we are also now employing soil moisture monitors inserted into the soil that measure soil water content, temperature and salinity.

     Toro Soil Sensors

A cup cutter size plug is taken out of the green, the sensor is inserted and then then the hole is repacked with soil and the top of the plug. We have employed seven of these sensors- four on greens and three on fairways.

     Monitor being inserted

Vine video of monitor insertion- https://vine.co/v/hBQhuw1wLqD

The soil monitors relay information back to the central irrigation computer allowing us to track soil water content and temperature through the irrigation control system. These monitors are extremely beneficial in quantifying the amount of water the course receives after rain events and irrigation cycles. This allows us to be much more practical and efficient in determining when to water and how much to water.

Graph showing increasing and decreasing water content in 6 green. The orange line shows a dramatic increase during a 1/2" rain event at noon today, 7/1/13.

With the installation of the new irrigation system, fertigation, and now having implemented field sensors, we are now able to operate at a high level of precision and sophistication- all essential elements to proper water management. 

However, there are instances where technology cannot replicate or take the place of physical inspection of manual watering of the most important playing sufaces, the greens. As a result, no matter how sophisticated technology becomes, we will continue to physically hand water greens in the assurance of proper plant health, proper green speed and consistency from green to green.  

If you do see a staff member watering on a green during the summer, please wait until the green is finished being watered or you are waved on to play your shot.  Syringing during the summer months is one of those "necessary evils" that may inconvenience on the course for a brief moment in time but it has long lasting benefits to the health and viability of the greens throughout the summer.

Have a great 4th- god bless this great country!

Cart Traffic in Fescue Areas- a "no no!"

As many of you are aware, we have incorporated a number of fescue areas throughout the golf course over the past few years.

                    Left of hole 3

     Hole 17 natives in the background

These native areas have been established in an effort to enhance the aesthetic value of the course, to create a balance between maintained and naturalized areas and have made the course more challenging.

A topic of discussion that has not been addressed enough regarding these areas is carts driving into and through them. Posted on every cart is a sign that reads- please keep your carts out of the fescue areas (aka- the long grass). Cart traffic through these areas kills the grass thus promoting weeds to take over and it takes away from their aesthetic value.

      Hole 2 one day after stakes/ropes    

                       removed 

We do not want to stake and rope these areas as it is quite frankly an eyesore that detracts from the naturalized look of the landscape. So, please- keep your carts out of these areas and let others know the same!

 Enjoy the start to what we hope is a dry and sunny summer (minus the humidity!)