Dear Members,
November is here and the tournament season is behind us. Unfortunately hosting member events in late October makes it a challenge to get the heights of the grass to a sustainable winter height due to temperatures falling overnight. When this happens, the grass is not growing aggressively, and it takes much longer to recover from the stress of golfers and lowering temperatures. Effective Monday the 26th of October we will have stopped mowing the greens and start allowing them to come out of growth regulation, long enough to get the Tifeagle grass to a sustainable mowing height that I feel comfortable the greens will winter well. To combat the height inconsistencies and bumpiness during the growth period, we have committed to rolling the greens daily, Monday- Friday.
Additionally, what this does for us is allow our staff to focus on pre-emergent herbicide treatments, fungicide treatments for our greens to prevent Spring dead spot in fairways and greens as well as prevent winter weed issues and keep our greens healthy and growing. Please keep in mind that grass does not stop growing in the winter, it slows down dramatically.
Although in the big picture the back nine greens renovation went very well, we are still nursing the sodded areas and weak areas due to washout and greens expansion on the back nine greens. There are so many factors that affect growth. Regardless, we will continue to push all our greens to be exceptional. As each season passes, they will continue to respond by becoming more turgid due to hydration and denser.
Effectively after the Member-Guest Tournament all practice range golfers will be on mats only. PLEASE do not hit balls off the grass on the top of the range tops. We need at least six months to grow the damaged grass back, so the range top is pristine for the new golfing season. We will be filling in divots on the practice range in November as well as par three tees.
P.S.- Please keep carts at least thirty feet from the greens, especially when dormancy arrives. This time of the year compaction is real.
Until next Month: Fairways and Greens
Mike
