Snow Day

The golf course is open for play today.  Most of the snow is gone, however we did have a frost delay this morning.  Check out the video and pictures below and see how much snow we had on Tuesday.

Snow Day 11/23/10

Video Captured by Assistant Superintendent Jerry Waite

       

Frost, Soil Samples, & Projects

It was 29 degrees (Fahrenheit) at 6:00 am this morning, so this video seemed appropriate.  The video quality is pretty rough, but the message in the audio is good.

Frost

The hole 3 bunker project should be completed next week.  The moss and tree roots have been removed from the east side of the bunker bank (right side in the photo below).  The entire area has also been re-shaped to match the original design.  Sand has been added to the bunker to bring it up to the proper level.  Aeration cores and seed will be used to re-establish turf.

Soil samples were collected for analysis this week.  They will be analyzed for pH, CEC (cation ion exchange capacity), organic matter, and various nutrients.  The results of the soil analysis will help shape the fertility planning in the future.  Samples were collected from various greens, tees, and fairways.

The use of traffic control stakes is critical this time of year.  This is mainly due to wet conditions combined with slower turf growth.  Ropes will be used in a few areas to keep cart traffic away, but in general the appearance and ease of moving our green stakes is the preferred method of traffic control.  The goal is to vary traffic enough so that turf will remain in all areas.

Brush and debris clearing between hole 3 and hole 4 was started this week.  Brush, low lying tree limbs, dead trees, and downed limbs will be removed in order to make the area more playable.  However, if you are looking for the best angle to the green, hit the ball in the fairway.

The weather during the last week has been less than desirable for golf.  There has been 3.74 inches of precipitation over the last week (11/14/10 - 11/20/10).  The daily high temperatures have dropped about 10 degrees.  The precipitation total for the year is up to 65.79 inches.

Unique Drainage Techniques

Many golf courses in Western Oregon and Western Washington will be working on drainage projects this winter. The approach to drainage depends largely upon the type of soil you are working with.  Soil conditions are generally unique to each golf course.  A typical drainage project would involve excavating a trench, while making sure there is proper fall. Depending on compaction and the amount of rock, this can be very time consuming and physically demanding, especially if its done manually.  Next, some type of subsurface piping surrounded by drain rock would be installed.  This is following by sand capping and replacing the sod.  Additionally, the project would require tapping into an existing drainage system, or draining it to a pond or some other acceptable place.

Since Sandpines sits on a sand dune,  consistent aeration and topdressing generally keep our drainage projects to a minimum.  Over time we do get areas that become soft and hold water.  When this happens our drainage techniques are quite unique.  Often, a cup cutter is used at maximum depth to make holes in the soft area on roughly 12 inch centers.  These holes are then back-filled with native dune sand, which we have plenty of on site.  Upon completion, the area usually dries up within a couple of days.  Along the same lines, sometimes a post hole digger is used to create the holes.  These holes are also back-filled with native dune sand.  There are times when a more traditional looking trench  is made, using a sod cutter.  After the sod is removed, organic matter and any layering are removed.  Then, native sand is back-filled in the trenches before replacing the sod.  No piping or drain rock is used.

These processes work because of the ease of digging in sand, but also due to the fact there is no subsurface drainage needed. Water drains freely once its through any organic matter accumulation or layering.  These drainage projects are completed rather quickly and cost little or nothing other than labor, since no piping, drain rock, or sand is purchased.

However, in years when the water table is high, there are a few places on the golf course where the ground water comes up and fills a couple of bunkers and lower lying areas. Thankfully, these areas are few, and this does not occur every year.

This week we are working on various small drainage projects throughout the course, using the unique drainage techniques previously discussed.

Jerry (assistant superintendent) is currently working on the bunker right of the green on hole 3.  He is removing the moss on the bunker bank and will use aeration cores and seed to reestablish grass in that area.  The project is similar to the one completed earlier this year on hole 6 fairway bunker.

The weather has been pretty unpredictable over the past week.  There has been beautiful days filled with brilliant sunshine.  Cloudy days with cold rain.  Then of course, we have had days mixed with both.  Last weeks (11/1/10 - 11/7/10) precipitation total was 2.99 inches.

Fairway Top Dressing

Fairway top dressing was started at the end of last week.  It should be finished this week barring any equipment problems.  Continued top dressing will keep thatch diluted and keep the surface firm.  Other benefits of top dressing fairways include reduced disease incidence and improved turf health.

The aeration of the driving range tee was completed last week.  This should provide a better surface to practice on next spring.  The tee has been in need of aeration, but has fallen off the "to do" list a few times in lieu of on course projects.

Last week, a drainage ditch was installed left of  7 green.  During periods of heavy rain, the left side of the green holds water.  The drain was installed just outside the collar to reduce the amount of water that runs onto the green.

Upon completion of the drain left of 7 green, the focus was shifted to the approach.  The approach on 7 has developed a wet soggy area.  A deep tine aerator (demonstration with a local equipment distributor) was used on this area a couple of years ago.  It worked well, but the results only last so long.  The area is located on the left side of the approach, and the project should be finished this week.

The greens are continuing to heal from aeration, and the weather has been great for it.  Unfortunately, the weather has also been great for Microdochium nivale, the pathogen responsible for the Microdochium patch disease.  This disease is also known as Fusarium patch and pink snow mold.  The pathogen thrives in wet conditions with temperatures in the mid 40's to low 60's (Fahrenheit).

Precipitation measured for the month of October was 6.07 inches.  This brings the total for the year to 57.71 inches.