What's Between 10 Green and 18 Tee?

With summer in mid swing, fall is right around the corner. Fall conditions not only bring great golfing weather but also the perfect time for projects to be done on the golf course.  In addition to continuing to renovate bunkers, we would like to expand a few of the greens to allow for added pin locations throughout the playing season. Dating back to 2009, the establishment of a sod nursery began between 18 tee and 10 green with the intended purpose of using this area for future projects such as greens expansions.

Area between 18 Tee and 10 Green mowed at rough height as of 2011

First cut following spring aeration May 2014

In order to take the area from rough height down to greens height we needed both time and aggressive cultural practices.Taking the area from rough height to fairway height was fairly simple- the difficult and time consuming change has been taking the nursery from fairway height down to greens height. In 2011, we began dropping the height of the nursery closer and closer to greens height without killing the bent/poa mixture that we had established in the prior two years.  In addition to beginning the height descent from .5" to .105", we became more intensive with the agronomic practices on this green so that its upper profile will best match the existing greens. As of the start of this season, the green has been managed at greens height and will be suitable for use in the future.

Top: Plug from #10 Green
Bottom: Plug from sod nursery
Soil profile in the top 2" shows that the sod nursery is beginning to have similar characteristics as regular greens

Sod Nursery ready for action!