Turf Talk From The Supentendent

Members,

October and fall weather are here and as a result we will be scaling back our course mowing schedule and greens verticutting and topdressing schedule. As we shift our maintenance to tree lines, the blowing of debris will increase to battle the leaves and pine needles falling and the occasional storm course clean up. We will be mowing the front nine greens less than the back nine greens which will grow hard until dormancy and or the first frost. When that occurs, we will mow the course out for the eventual last time of the season so all grass is even, and it will winter the same.

That is when we will need to be cognizant of parking at least thirty feet from the golf greens so as not compact the green surrounds and approaches. We do not have enough rounds yearly to come close to compacting or damaging the fairways and or rough. Compaction is a real issue in the wintertime because the grass growth slows significantly thus it cannot repair itself adequately. Please remain diligent where you park.

We will also remain on an aggressive rolling schedule until dormancy and then reevaluate the frequency depending on several factors at that time.

We will also be raising and cleaning sprinkler heads on the course so they can winter and be ready for spring fertilization of NPK.

Please fill in your fairway and rough divots with the green sand provided, once dormancy occurs, we will switch to white sand and if you are in a private cart, please stop and grab a sand bottle or two so you can fill in those divots. Also, you can purchase them from Amazon for a nominal price. Additionally, please repair ball marks on the greens if you make one and perhaps another one that was left by someone else. 

Fairways and Greens,

 Mike