Thursday, May 18, 2017

May 2017, Continued

Last week the agronomy department completed the spring aerification of greens.  The entire process went smoothly and the greens have responded well.  In anticipation of aerification, the agronomy department applied a fertilizer product to the greens in order to facilitate recovery and promote growth.  For the next week or two, you can expect greens speeds to be slightly slower than usual, and will increase as the fertilizer tapers off and growth slows.  Overall, we are pleased with how the greens have responded and recovered.



On May 15th, the department applied a transition chemical to all overseeded surfaces, and should start seeing the ryegrass slowly taper off in the next 3-6 weeks.  We will begin fertilizing fairways and roughs next week to encourage bermudagrass growth and recovery, and will be ongoing for the next month or two.  Due to the hot, dry conditions we normally find in late May and June, we can expect an increase in water use to ensure the health and recovery of the bermudagrass base until the summer humidity picks up in July.

Reconditioning of well 2 located inside the pump house began last week, and will be ongoing for the next week or two.  Upon inspection of well 1 located south of the property, it was found to be in good working condition with acceptable energy use and water level recovery.  Upon inspection of well 2 however, it was discovered that there was severe corrosion and decay of the column pipe and shaft, decay and degradation of the pump itself as well as an estimated 90% blockage of the perforations along the inside of the well wall.  This is not entirely unusual considering it has never been pulled or inspected since it's initial installation in 2001, although all these conditions resulted in a well that was far less efficient than required.  Work to be done includes chemically cleaning and brushing the shaft walls to open up the wall perforations, new column pipe and shaft, a new, more energy efficient pump as well as reconditioning the motor that drives it.  Once complete, we should have a cleaner, more efficient well site to deliver irrigation water to the property.  





Beginning the last week in May, FNV Landscapes will begin trimming all oleanders on property.  This is to help maintain their shape and size, and will be completed again around overseed time.  Starting the first week in June, construction will begin on a wall that will surround 10 black tee.  It will look identical to the walls installed around 1 and 3 tee last summer and will allow the black tee to expand as well as clean up the look of the area. We are also installing a drain pipe along the cart path side of 10 over to 18 to help facilitate moving water from the basin on 10 after rain events.  The first section on 18 was completed this week.

We've been getting a few questions in regards to some of the patches and weak areas that have shown up around some of the greens and would like to address it.  In late March, we applied a chemical to these areas with the goal of eliminating any poa annua that had shown up over the course of winter and spring.  The intention was to be proactive in managing the poa, minimizing the potential for it to migrate into our green surfaces.  We previously used this product before in test plots throughout the course with success, but unfortunately it didn't translate as well when used this time.  The poa was indeed eliminated, but included with that was our overseeded rye and in some locations, the bermuda base as well. While certainly not ideal, the effects are temporary and the bermuda will recover given time and patience.  We have increased fertility and water to these areas to promote recovery, and do not anticipate any long term effects.



Some damaged areas are already showing significant bermuda recovery.