Golf Course Aerification

The Golf Course will remain closed through Thursday June 6th for our first scheduled aerification. 

Based on the physical testing completed of the greens profile we have an accumulation of organic and fine material in the top 3-4" of our profile.  To penetrate this material it has been recommended to affect 30% of the surface during this summers' aerification closures.  Below illustrates the practices that were accomplished to improve our Tif-Eagle Putting surfaces during the upcoming golf season.

We began our aerification by Verticutting the Greens up and back on the same pass in two directions.

We followed the verticutting by mowing the green up and back on the same pass to cleanup all of the clippings.

Then we began topdressing Greens before we aerified the putting surface.

Attached to the machine is a Turf-Pride Core Collector (Black Box).  The Turf Pride collects all of the cores and deposits them on the edge of the green.

Once the surface has was cleaned following aerification we utilized a Graden "Deep Verticutter".

We cleaned the surface once more and topdressed again to smooth out the surface. 

We will continue to work in the final topdressing and roll the greens to smooth out as much as possible prior to Opening on Friday, June 7.

Audubon International

Frenchman's Reserve is proud to continue its Partnership as a Certified Audubon Sanctuary with Audubon International.  The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses is an award winning education and certification program that helps golf courses protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf.  By helping people enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency, and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations, the program serves as vital resource for golf courses.

Audubon International Web Site

Venting Greens

Monday and Tuesday we ventilated our Tif-Eagle Putting Greens.  Frequent venting creates small channels for water movement, air movement, and deeper rooting in the sub-surface of the greens.  Air and water movement are required for our Tif-Eagle Greens to remain healthy and provide a quality putting surface.  Below, see the detailed process of ventilating our Tif-Eagle Greens.

Above Ricardo operates the Toro 648 equipped with solid tines.

The results of the solid tine application provide channels for air and water movement within the soil profile.

Following the solid tine all of the greens are rolled to ensure a quality putting surface.

Below the red line is before rolling the green.  Above the line is after rolling the green.

Fertigation

Frenchman's Reserve is equipped with a fertigation system.  Our fertigation system allows us to apply measured amounts of fertilizer through a night time irrigation cycle.  The system is designed to inject liquid fertilizer into the irrigation lines and then delivered to the turf through the irrigation heads throughout the course.  This provides the turf essential amounts of nutrition each night the irrigation system is scheduled to water.  We replaced several check valves but now the fertigation system is operating normally.   

 Above is the Team performing a Diagnostic test and Troubleshooting the Fertigation System.

This is the Bulk Delivery of Liquid Fertilizer that will be injected through the system.

The Liquid Fertilizer is Transferred into two 1650 Gallon Fertilizer Tanks inside the Pump House.

Now we have the capability to fertilize while Irrigating the Golf Course.

Irrigation Main Line

This week we experienced a main line failure in #18 Fairway.  Due to the main line position and how deep it was located in the ground (over 4 feet) a large hole was dug out for the repairs.  We were able to complete the repair Friday and the area will continue to dry and level following a few topdressing applications.

Above, is the failed coupler that caused the 6" Main Irrigation Line to leak.

In this picture the two new couplings are positioned with new 6" pipe to complete the repair.  We drove rebar in the ground around the fittings to ensure they would not move when the irrigation pipe flexes during normal operation.

Following the repair the hole was filled back in and compacted.  The sod will be level over the next two weeks by topdressing with green sand.  This will encourage the area to recover and provide a smooth surface moving forward.

 

Overseed on the Tees

Why did we overseed the Tee's and why do they look splotchy in areas? 

This has been one of the most prevalent questions we are asked.  Other than immediately around the Flag stick, Tee's receive the most isolated play on the Golf Course.  We overseeded Tees to ensure proper turf coverage for the Golfing Season.  To date we have experienced a very warm Winter.  This has allowed us to focus on Bermudagrass health throughout the property.  In order to ensure a healthier Bermudagrass turf canopy in the Spring, we have been maintaining Bermudagrass all winter.  We have not re-seeded any of the areas on the tees, as we did not want to add additional competition to the Tif-Sport.  Transition will be smoother since the Bermuda is healthier and actively growing without additional competition in these areas.  The more competition we add the longer it will take for the Bermudagrass to respond this Spring.

The Blue Arrow identifies healthy growing Bermudagrass.  The Red Arrow identifies remaining Rye grass on #2 Tee Box.

This is on the Practice Tee.  Again, you can see where we have hit balls there is no rye grass remaining and the Bermudagrass has grown in.  We did not reseed with rye grass since the temperatures favored Bermudagrass Growth.

This Focus on Bermudagrass health has left the tees splotchy in appearance.  However, this will provide a much more healthy Bermudagrass Teeing surface this Summer and is our first step in preparing for optimal turf conditions next Golf Season.  The goal is to have a healthier Teeing surfaces next year and rely on Overseed only for our practice areas. 

Spring Pre-Emerge Application

This week, we made our first pre-emergent application to the Tees, Fairways, and around the Greens.  Oxadiazon 2G was blown into the turf canopy using a "Dry Sprayer".  Oxadiazon 2G is the smallest granule available, provides the most uniform spread pattern, and improves coverage for a more consistent weed barrier.  Another important note, Oxadiazon does not affect root growth.  Weather patterns last fall did not provide the best growing conditions following the last aerification.   We have taken advantage of the unusually warm Winter to begin turf grass recovery throughout the Golf Course.  It is important that we can pre-emerge Tees, Fairways, and around greens without adding additional stress to the Bermuda grass Turf.

Southeastern Turf grass Supply applied the Oxadiazon 2G through specialized equipment.  The Applicator used a Pink Foam to mark where he applied on the course.

Above you can see the particle size and the coverage following the application.  The Oxadiazon 2G are the "Salt Like" speckles on the Irrigation head.

Vertical Mowing Greens

February 13th and 14th we completed a routine verticut on the Greens.  Verticutting removes lateral growth and encourages up-right growth from the turf.  To provide a true putting surface we want to encourage the plant to grow up-right and not lay over.  The cutting units are set at -1/64" below zero and we cut up and back on the same pass to ensure a smoother surface.  At this setting (-1/64") playability is not affected by the process.  During the summer, this process will be more aggressive and completed during our Tuesday Closures to minimize the impact during play.  Verticutting is one of the several routine processes to ensure a True and Consistent ball roll on our TifEagle Greens.

 Juan Pablo completes a Backtrack pass on #13 Green.

This is the material following the Vertical mow.  The lateral growth has either been cut and removed or lifted for the greens mower to remove.



Above is following the greens mower.  Some of the lines are visible but do not affect ball roll.

Weed Control

Annual Poa is a major weed problem that we see late November thru early March.  Since Annual Poa is a grassy weed, it requires selective removal from the bermudagrass turf.  Selective removal means, a product is applied that will remove the Annual Poa without harming the Bermudagrass turf. 

 This Plant has not been treated.

 This is 3 days after treatment.

This is 7 days after treatment.

A Change in Color PART 2

Above is the picture taken February 4th in The previous post below: A Change in Color

This picture was taken February 11th. 

As we discussed the TifEagle greens are healthy and producing quality playing surfaces.  The temperatures have warmed since February 4th which has again produced the color change that we see above.  We hope to have seen the last of the cool weather and look forward to improved growing conditions for the turf.   

A Change in Color

This Picture was taken on January 9th on #17 Green. 

This Picture was taken on February 4th on #17 Green. 

We had average nighttime temperatures of 65 degrees for January.  Through February 5th, average nighttime temperature was 50 degrees.  This temperature difference causes the change in color that we see today.  As the nighttime temperatures continue to warm, we will see a color response in the greens.  The TifEagle Greens are very healthy and continue to produce quality playing surfaces. 

Leveling Irrigation Heads

We will continue working #18 Back leveling irrigation heads in the Fairways, on the Tees, and around Greens.  Raising irrigation heads is the first step to improve Distribution Uniformity.  Distribution Uniformity is the measure of how uniform water is applied to an area and is useful when determining the watering requirement for a specified location. 

You can see above flow from the nozzle is disrupted by the surrounding turf.  This causes unwanted wet areas around the irrigation heads following a night cycle.  Once the head is leveled we will achieve proper distribution uniformity and healthier turf.

This head has been properly leveled and does not affect flow from the nozzle.

This is why the landing area in #7 Fairway remained wet and soft.  Now the heads have been leveled and  it will begin to dry out and play more firm.

Golf Car Traffic

How bad can traffic be on the Golf Course?  Below are site specific pictures that detail how it affects turfgrass at Frenchman's Reserve and a recent USGA article addressing traffic concerns.

Traffic Patterns off #3 Tee

This picture identifies the most common traffic patterns we see on the Golf Course.  This is where 75 percent of the traffic exits the path following the tee shot on #3. Notice the healthy green turf isolated around the drain just off the path?  Most traffic will avoid the drain and go around.  This leaves the turf immediately next to the drain healthy and green, while the higher traffic areas turn yellow and thin.  We will continue to use green stakes to disperse traffic and reduce the wear on these locations.

Traffic Patterns In front of #1 Approach

This picture illustrates cart traffic at #1 approach where carts exit the fairway to the path.  Notice the healthy approach and just before the yellow, more thin portion, of the fairway where traffic exits.  We will continue to move the cart traffic signs in the fairways to allow recovery in these locations.

Below is the Link to USGA Regional Agronomist where he discusses Golf Car Traffic on the Course.

http://gsr.lib.msu.edu/article/white-buddy-11-30-12.pdf

Bunker Sand Re-Placement

In 2012, we received over 75 inches of rainfall in Palm Beach Gardens.  We are still facing the effects of these rain events in 2013.  Currently, we continue to add sand to bunkers throughout the property to replace the contaminated sand that must be removed following these heavy rainfall events.  Below you will see the progress in the bunkers.

Bunker Silt After 1.5" Rainfall

Christian and Ricardo adding new Sand

Finished Product