Tee Construction Progress

We are renovating problematic tees on holes #2, #4, #11, #14, #18, and the practice facility.  DST Sports Turf Construction has Removed the Existing Tif-Sport Bermudagrass, Laser leveled to a +/- 1/4" Grade, and began laying new Celebration Bermudagrass.  Sodding should be complete this week as the weather continues to cooperate.

Removing the existing Tif-sport on #2.

Laser level grade to +/-  1/4".

#2 Tee after final grade and ready for new Celebration sod.

Sod farm was not able to cut/deliver any sod last week due to heavy rains.

Celebration Sod being Delivered for the Tees.

Celebration Sod installed on #2 Tee.

Consistent Rain Events call for Consistent Course Clean-up

Beginning, July 8th and ending today July 22nd we have received 12.5 inches of rain. The majority of these rain events have been very heavy.  For example, the golf course received 2 inches in one hour on Friday July 18th. These rainfalls make our regular maintenance practices difficult to complete as we have to prioritize course conditioning, cleanup, and mowing. When rainfall is that heavy it will cause debris to wash up from the turf canopy and flow with the water towards drains and off of slopes (Picture #1 and Picture #2).  As soon as the conditions allow, usually with-in 24-48 hours, clean-up and removal of the clippings is complete.  

 Debris on #3 fairway from Friday's (7/18) Rain

Debris on #3 fairway from Today's (7/22) Rain

 Severe bunker washout on #5 greenside

Flooding rain on #1 fairway

Rain water collects around drains (#8 fairway)

South Florida Thunderstorms

The weather pattern over the last 2 weeks has delivered several severe thunderstorms. During two of these thunderstorms, lightening strikes have been of major concern and caused damage.  The lightening traveled through our irrigation system causing significant damage to multiple components in multiple locations.  We completely rebuilt the Irrigation satellite box on #10 and replaced several major components in multiple boxes throughout the remainder of the course. Repair costs are in excess of  $5,000.  We are fortunate to have an excellent Toro Irrigation Service Center (Hector Turf) that supported our efforts on-site twice this week.  Currently, the system is operating 100%.

7-16-2014 Looking back at #1 Fairway

Lightening damaged this Irrigation component

Replacement component

Tee Construction

Frenchman's Reserve will be renovating problematic tees on holes #2, #4, #11, #14, #18, and the practice facility.  DST Sports Turf Construction will laser level and re-grass from the TifSport to Celebration Bermudagrass.  Celebration Bermudagrass has proven to withstand daily play/traffic while maintaining color and vigor throughout the winter.  See each phase of the construction below.

Tee Complex Contruction:

1. Spray 2 Applications of Round-up to prevent TifSport contamination in the new Celebration Bermudagrass. These applications will be made over the next few weeks prior to the construction work.  The treated tees will be visibly "Blue" from the application and begin turning brown over the next 4-5 days.  
2. DST Sports Turf Construction will cut & remove the existing TifSport from the above mentioned tees. 
3. Roto-till the tee surfaces to prepare for Laser Leveling.
4. Laser Level the tee surfaces to +/- 1/4".
5. Sod the tee with Celebration Sod. 

#18 Tee Before Construction

Step 1:  Spraying to remove the existing TifSport on #2 Tee

Step 1 Complete:  #11 Tee

The final product will be a level and consistent teeing surface.  As each phase is completed we will update on the progress and what to expect on the course.

14 day Aerification Recovery Update

14 Days after the course was aerified, the healing process is well underway. The majority of the playing surfaces have healed completely.  We are very satisfied with the aerification process, how the course is healing, and producing a healthier/sustainable turf for everyone at Frenchman’s Reserve.

#2 Green 14 days post aerification

Area still recovering but minimal impact to ball roll.  We estimate that these areas make up 10% of the surfaces.

Close up image of #2 green

#12 Fairway 14 days post aerification

2014 Golf Course Aerification

The Goal of our Aerification Program is to impact 10% of the Tif-Eagle Putting surface.  Additionally, Core aeration of Tees, Approaches, and Fairways were completed.  Our staff aerified an average of 13 Acres a day in conjunction with multiple mowing schedules and clean-up processes.  

To begin, we verticut the Greens 4 times followed by 2 mowings to clean-up.

The Toro ProCore 648 aerifies and collects the material.

Material that was collected from #16 Green. This material needs to be removed by hand and is very labor intensive.

We purchased this Toro ProCore 1298 to complete the fairway aerification program.  Additionally, we used 2 Toro ProCores to aerify around the drains, yardage plaques, and irrigation heads to assist in the fairways. 

Rain slowed down the clean-up processes on Thursday and Friday.  This extended our clean-up efforts through Saturday 5/31. Currently, 14 days Post Aerification, the course is recovering very well and is in very playable condition.

SUMMER AERIFICATION SCHEDULES

The long term health of putting greens depend on maintaining sand as the primary growing medium. When organic matter accumulates the physical benefits of sand are diminished and putting green physical properties decline along with the health of the turf. Core Aerification allows oxygen exchange for the root system, improved water infiltration with-in the profile, organic matter removal, and ability to maintain sand as the primary growing medium.

Our Scheduled Aerifications are; May 27th-30th, July 7th-11th, and August 4th-8th. The practices performed during these dates are very important and are planned in accordance with the growing conditions of the turf. The turf needs to be vigorous and capable of growing at a healthy rate in order to recover from the processes that follow.

GREENS:
• Verticut Greens
• Topdress Greens with Sand
• Disrupt 30% of the Surface area through Core Aerification Annually
• Brush sand to fill in holes
• Roll with a 2-ton Roller
• Brush and Blow for the best presentation possible

TEES & APPROACHES
• Topdress with sand
• Core Aerify
• Drag cores and clean-up debris
• Roll with 2-Ton Roller to smooth the surface

FAIRWAYS
• Circle-cut to manage grain
• Core Aerify
• Drag cores and clean-up debris

Below is our recently purchased Toro Procore 1298, a Fairway Aerification Unit, providing a significantly improved process in the fairways.