June Update

Sand based greens roots

The golf course has been open for about 5 weeks now and the turf care team is busy on the course. In the past few weeks we have aerated and overseeded all tee decks, as well as continue to sod where tree stumps have been ground down. Our cultural plan is in full swing on the greens as we have completed one verti-cut, with another verti-cut and topdressing planned for next week. I am very happy with the health of our greens as the roots on our front nine soil based greens are not much shorter than the roots on the back nine sand based greens. I attribute this to the deep tine aeration that was performed last fall and our improved fertility plan for the putting surfaces.

Soil based greens roots

The large amount of run off this spring, plus the heavy rains the past few weeks have taken their toll on the back nine cart paths. Much of our manpower has been put towards patching paths with 3/4 crush gravel and replacing eroded material with pit run. It is getting to the point where after a rain event I dread making the tour around the back nine to see what patches need to be made. This morning Andrew did the tour and found a huge hole beside the cart path between 13 and 14 that would almost swallow a golf cart. Andrew spent much of the day filling the dangerous hole with pit run and in total it will take close to 20 loads in the HD workman to make this area safe again.

Andrew working on the repairing the area

Much of the erosion and damage to playing surfaces is the result of the lack of subsurface drainage and limited flow in our drainage ditches. We are at the point where we can no longer continue to try and make these repairs in house and must bring in the equipment we need clean out the drainage so that no more bentonite is deposited on fairways. Our 18th hole is the worst as a lot of bentonite has washed onto the fairway due to the drainage being 80 to 90 % silted up. I am afraid the damage has already been done and unsure of if we will be able to repair these areas without stripping the surface.

Many culverts on the back nine look like this

Bentonite washed on the 18 fairway



Left side drainage ditch on 18 overflowing with bentonite

I am happy with the progress we have been making on most areas of the golf course, but the back nine cart paths have me concerned. Being the person responsible for the safety on the golf course I worry about the unstable nature of the cart paths. We must continue to add subsurface drainage, more road base, and geo textile fabric to our future cart path repairs. Just as we did to the 14th hole last season. Safety for our golfers as well as our staff is paramount and I will do everything in my power to make sure our cart paths are safe. I know if we continue to only be able to patch the paths, and another heavy rain event hits the course, we may have areas that maybe impassable.

Finally thank you to all the individuals that have stopped me on the course to let me know how much they have enjoyed playing the course this season . All the credit goes to our team and the pride they put into their tasks each day. I am fortunate to have a great crew where being "late" for work means not being there at least 15 minutes before our start time. Thank you to our team for making my life easier as we continue to work towards improving Dinosaur Trail Golf and Country Club.