Overseed 2016 Cont.

The ryegrass is up and beginning to fill in nicely.  We are currently getting our first mow on fairways, tees and approaches this week and will continue that process moving forward.  Greens are also being mowed daily and continue to show improvement.  Cooler night time temperatures should also help moving forward.  

Projects continue, with tree trimming progressing nicely. We are currently working through the back 9 and should be finished up within the next week or so.  Desert cleanup and trimming is also making progress, currently working through the front 9.  With a little over 5 weeks before we open, there will be a big push to get trees wrapped up, deserts finished, bunkers repaired along with a host of detail projects necessary to open.  All of this is in addition to the increased mowing that will be required now that overseed is up.  Needless to say, it is going to be a very busy month for the agronomy department in the lead up to a December 1 opening.

The putting and chipping green area is starting to come together.

Jorge getting a mow on 16 green.

Jose Tamayo getting the first pass on 2 fairway.

Overseed stand is looking good after the first mow on 18.

Guillermo getting the first pass on 1 tee.

Salvador getting a mow on 6 approach.

Juan taking a moment from chipping to pose for the camera.  The chipper we recently purchased has been an immense help getting through the tree trimming.

Jose Elias trimming trees on the left side of 13.

Tree trimming complete down the right side of 12.

Desert cleaning progressing down the left side of 4.

Overseed 2016

Overseed has begun here at Pinnacle Peak Country Club.  The agronomy department spent last week scalping and prepping the golf course in anticipation for seeding that was completed Monday.  After a summer of intense cultural practices, the fairways were healthy and the process took all week, but the course was complete by Friday afternoon.  Monday was a long day, but the staff pulled together and completed seeded on the entire property in one day. Heavy water can be expected over the next couple of weeks as we get things to germinate and grow in.  We will begin to focus on detail-oriented projects from here, including trimming the remaining trees and desert landscape, as well as clean and groom the desert areas.

Jose working on scalping the green surrounds.

Multiple vacuums helped clean up the debris left by the rough mower around greens.

Filemon getting the first pass on fairways.

After the first pass, the debris was blown into a windrow and vacuumed up.

Francisco working on the second pass on fairways.

Again, after the second pass the debris is blown into a windrow.

Juan working on vacuuming behind the second pass on fairways.

Beautiful morning to start scalping number 18.

Juan and Salvador cleaning up the final pass on 18 fairway.

It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.  In this case, that someone is Filemon.

Number 1 complete and ready for seed Monday morning.  Colors will be inverse before long, with ryegrass in the fairways and dormant bermudagrass in the rough.

The walk seeding crew getting loaded up with more seed on #3.  Many miles were walked Monday.

Expect heavy water over the next couple of weeks as we get the seed to germinate and fill in.

G.R.P. Update 9/21/2016

The construction portion of the project is winding down here at Pinnacle Peak Country Club. With the exception of a few last details, Landscapes Unlimited has completed work on site and has pulled their operation out.  FNV Landscaping is still on property, having just finished the cart path repair and extensions, as well as some landscape beds around the practice facility.  Moving forward, FNV will focus on continuing an update to the landscape around the practice facility house and begin to trim all oleanders on property.

The agronomy team continues to finish up projects around the golf course, and is beginning to focus on mowing and preparations for upcoming overseed.  The tentative schedule is for preparation and scalping to be done the week of October 3rd, with seeding scheduled the following Monday and Tuesday, October 10 and 11.  These dates are tentative and may change slightly dependent on schedule and weather.

The greens grow-in is progressing nicely, with greens currently being mowed every other day and continue to be fertilized as needed.  Mowing frequency will increase shortly and the heights will begin to be lowered as conditions and fall weather permit.  Overall, we are pleased with the progress we have seen.

Greens and collar ready for a mow on #5 late last week.

Juan Tamayo mowing the putting green.

Juan, Mario and Guillermo getting a mow on greens this morning.

New landscape bed along the wall between the practice and the parking lot.

New landscape bed on the corner of 18 green and the staging area.

Finished cart path extension between the practice house and 18 green.  Two new trees have also been added as part of the landscape upgrade in this area.

Improved spillway leading off the course behind 3 tee.

Adding soil to the tee surround on 16 to help tie-in the new cart path extension leading to the black tee on #16.  Sod is scheduled to be installed later this week.

Cart path re-routed around one of our mature eucalyptus on #7.

New rock channel leading from #7 behind 3 green and 4 tee.

Finished retention on 5 tee.

View from the ladies tee on #5 of the turf removal and retention expansion.

View of the retention from 5 fairway looking back toward the tees.

New arroyo complete that separates 7 tee and 4 fairway.

Reshaped and expanded retention between #4 and #7.  This should help keep normal rain events from depositing excessive silt on 4 fairway.

G.R.P. Update 9/6/2016

Construction is beginning to wind down, as all greens have been completed and seeded.  Landscape's focus is now on the drainage project on #4 and #5.  The large retention area has been widened and deepened to include the turf area around the ladies tee on #5.  This should allow the sediment brought onto the property via the spillway on Pinnacle Peak Road to slow down and settle out.  As the retention fills with water, a large concrete overflow box will be installed to allow water to move through a 12" pipe that was placed under the turf directing the water into the swell between 7 tee and 4 green.  The turf has been removed in the swell to create an arroyo that goes from the black tee on 7 down to the secondary retention located in front of the tees on 7.  This second retention was also widened and reshaped to direct water in one direction going across 4 fairway. Here is a second opportunity for sediment to slow down and fall out before flowing into a second concrete overflow box that will be installed to move the water through another 12" pipe installed under 4 fairway and off property.

While large amounts of water will still flow above ground through the arroyo and across 4 fairway, this will help direct the slower rain events away from playable areas, mainly 4 fairway, and minimize the damage we receive when these large rain events occur.  It will also help cleanup, as we can now pump water through the pipes instead of across turf when repairing the damage. This should be a huge improvement to the area and help keep excessive sediment off of turf areas, which has been a reoccurring problem in the past.

Grow-in of the greens is coming along nicely.  The practice area, which was seeded first, was mowed for the first time today. 10-16 and 3-7 are being rolled every other day to promote smoothness. These greens should also be ready for first cut within the next week or so.  All greens are on a fertilizer program that will continue to encourage growth.

Putting green filling in. First cut was yesterday.

13 green almost ready for first cut.

Newly shaped and sodded transition from 8 green to 9 tee.

Reshaped retention right of 4 fairway. Notice the 12" pipe leading under the fairway on 4.

New arroyo between 4 fairway and 7 tee.

Reshaping the large retention on 5 tee.

Reshaping and extension of large retention on 5 tee. The front of 5 fairway was slightly raised to help keep sediment and water off of turf in this area.

Looking back at 5 tee at the large retention.

Preparing for the cart path extension between the driving range house and 18 green.  This should now ease congestion in this area, allowing for two carts to pass.

G.R.P. Update 8/26/2016

This week Landscapes Unlimited finished filling 1,2,17,8 and 9 with greens mix, and is currently working on 18.  1,2,17 and 8 have had sod installed around the perimeter and are scheduled for seeding today with the remaining greens (9,18 and nursery) scheduled for mid-next week. Landscapes completed the renovation and extension of tee space on holes 16 and 2, which also had sod installed yesterday.  They have begun the last major project of the renovation, which is addressing the flood and drainage issues on number 4 and 5 tee.  Currently, a crew is removing sod right of 4 fairway in preparation for work next week.

The agronomy department continues to repair weak areas around the course, which should wrap up next week.  A "bio barrier" was installed around 6 green to help prevent the large amount of roots in the area from encroaching into the greens cavity. During core-out it was discovered that the roots inside the greens cavity on 6 was extensive. The area separating 8 green and 9 tee was also stripped and reshaped, which should improve aesthetics and freshen up that area of the course.  A large velvet mesquite was installed behind 18 green to help soften the area as well as provide immediate shade for golfers exiting 18 green.  

18 green being filled with greens mix.

Final grade work being finished on 16 tee, where the tees were leveled and combined.

The area between the tees was built up and softened, and the black tee top raised 12 inches. 

Finished tee complex following installation of sod. 

Retention area on 4 is being stripped in preparation for next week.

Example of some of the roots located inside 6 green.

Root barrier installed around 6 green.  The little dots in the fabric contain a slow-degrading herbicide which prevents roots from penetrating the fabric. The barrier was installed 19" deep.

Back-filling the trench that contains the root barrier.

The new mesquite required the big guns be brought out to transport and plant.

Finished planting of mesquite tree behind 18 green.  Should help soften the area and provide immediate shade for golfers exiting 18 green.

Salvador Medina getting the first roll on the practice greens today.  Once smoothed and filled in a little more, we should be able to get our first cut.