Pasatiempo Golf Club Maintenance

Lighting it Up!

2011-11-16T09:37:00.001-08:00

The 6th-7th-8th corridor of Pasatiempo is a stretch of the golf course that is nothing to brag about. From an architectural standpoint, the trees that line this area of the golf course completely ruin the intended architecture. The 7th hole is a short par-4 but the tee shot is visually intimidating as a long line of massive cypress trees create a tunnel vision effect in ones mind. For several years, most tree work in this area has been delayed or pushed back. However, the aging trees have created a significant shade issue and a potential safety issue with many broken limbs. From a playability standpoint, the low hanging limbs were impacting golf shots and making the short par-4 play much more difficult. During the week of November 14th, the golf course was closed due to aeration of greens, tees, and fairways. It also was an opportune time to complete a massive trimming project in this area without having players to work around. 24-cypress trees were limb up 50-feet and the lateral growth was removed. This has dramatically changed the view from the tee, the overall playability of the 6th and 7th holes, and has substantially increased the amount of sunlight affecting the 8th green along with the fairways in this area. No trees were removed during this phase of the project, but there is the possibility of taking some trees out in the future to really improve this area of the golf course.

View from the 7th tee prior to the beginning of the tree work. Notice the amount of the shade impacting this area along with the "tunnel vision" effect.

The 8th green complex with shade covering the green. Once the tree work is done, the goal is to dramatically increase the amount of sunlight affecting this green.

Late afternoon view of the tree work that has eliminated a "wall" of green and will allow much needed sunlight to hit the 8th green during the winter months.

Day two of the thinning and trimming process. Notice the two trees on the right side that were not done. More sunlight...more air movement...better turfgrass and better playability.

They're Baaaaack !!

2011-10-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that it was over a year ago that a herd of goats arrived at Pasatiempo. Their goal was to restore the rugged look among the canyons traversing throughout the golf course. Throughout the past year, we had an extended rain period that saw more rain fall in June than in January. This allowed substantial regrowth in the 10th tee canyon along with the 18th canyon. Beginning on October 25th, this 5-acre area will be hit again with half the crew we used last year - about 75 goats and the timeframe will consist of about two weeks. The other barancas that the goats wandered through last year did not experience such strong regrowth and we will evaluate following the rainy season if they will need to be brought back again during the fall of 2012.

View from the 10th Tee prior to the Goats in September 2010

View from the 10th Tee following 2-weeks of having the goats eradicate the non-native species

2011-10-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

Check out this link to hear what others are saying...

The Pasatiempo Experience

5 Years in the Making

2011-09-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

View of the 9th Green Complex during Spring 2009 with landscaping behind MacKenzie Clubhouse

View of the 9th Green prior to installation of new bunker

An original pair of bunkers rested behind the 9th green when MacKenzie designed the golf course back in the 1920's. Over the years these bunkers were filled in and the area was landscaped. Additionally, a cartpath directing players to the 10th tee eliminated the furthest left side bunker. During the renovation of the golf course in the 2000s, these original bunkers were supposed to be put back to match the original design. There was no way to eliminate the cartpath to add a bunker and the club elected not to remove the necessary landscaping for the other bunker to be built. In the winter of 2009 the maintenance staff took out all the overgrown landscaping below the clubhouse and converted this area to native grasses. Jim Urbina, who has been instrumental throughout the restoration process came on-site on September 12th and carved out a new bunker on the back left side of the green complex. MacKenzie's vision was to alter the depth perception from a player's approach shot from the 9th fairway.

Current view of 9th Green Complex with the addition of new bunker

Venting Greens

2011-08-19T06:22:00.000-07:00

Wednesday we "vented" the greens, which is another way of saying we used a small solid tine aerification to give the greens a little mid-summer breather. At this point in the season our native soil push-up greens tend to get a little "tired" and stressed with the drought season in combination with all of the traffic they receive. By venting the greens we are able to provide much needed oxygen to the root zone which makes the grass plant healthier, while minimizing the impact on the putting conditions. The process included sand top dressing, solid tine arefication with 1/4" tines, brushing, rolling, and watering in that order. When we were finished with a green you could barely tell anything had been done.

Irrigation Adjustments

2011-08-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

We are now just over a year removed from the completion of a completely new irrigation system. We've made it through most of the major "tweaking" that goes along with the installation of a new system, which allows us to get much more detailed in the adjustments that we are making. Starting tomorrow we will be taking the makeshift tool shown in the picture above and begin measuring the degree arc of every part circle sprinkler head on the golf course, and then inputting those numbers into our central irrigation database.

Having more accurate data in the computer instead of just labeling every head as 180 degrees will give us the ability to know to a much greater extent how much water is actually going out on the course. It will also help us maintain much better irrigation uniformity, especially on and around the greens, creating more consistency throughout the course.

Junuary?

2011-06-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Rain and drizzle during a very rare early June storm

June has been a very odd month in terms of weather. We are accustomed to the extraordinary micro-climates in the Bay Area where it is 58-degrees at the coast and scorching to well over 100-degrees a few miles inland. Typically, the golf course falls in the middle of the two extremes, making it one of the most desirable climates in the world with 70-degree weather dominating the forecast. However, turfgrass likes consistency and when it goes from rainy at the beginning of June...to hot...back to cool and foggy, the grass doesn't know if summer is coming or going. It is rare to receive rain during the month of June. You have to go back to 1964 to see the last significant rain event for June...after that the last time this area recorded over 2-inches of rain in June was back in 1884!

This random, inconsistent weather can create undesirable response in turfgrass. For instance, earlier in June the green surfaces were eliciting extreme seedhead production. As we approach the end of June, the greens are fairly "clean" following the application of a product that stops seedhead production. The annual poa will develop seedheads as a stress response, especially if it has been cool, then a spike in heat. The seedheads most often affects the late-afternoon players as the "puffing up" of the poa can create bumpy greens and green speeds that are slower than desired.

While we do not experience many of the summer weather extremes as other parts of the country, we still have issues and the most recent forecast has rain expected on the 28th or 29th of June, officially allowing us to rename this month as Junuary.

Intense seedhead production on the 18th green in early June prior to an application of Proxy / Primo

Mowing and Rolling

2011-06-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

Over the past several months we have been using some very interesting research that is being done by Dr. Rob Golembiewski at Oregon State University to manage our green speeds. For those of you that don't know Pasatiempo has some of the most severely sloping/undulated greens in the U.S. (original Alister MacKenzie design), and we are simply unable to manage the greens for daily play at anything faster than 10.5 on the Stimp meter and still maintain fair hole locations.

Dr. Golembiewski's research, which is a replication of similar trials that were done at Michigan State University on bentgrass, has shown that you can attain viable green speeds while mowing less often and at a slightly higher cutting height than what was previously thought. Currently we are mowing four days per week (at a cutting height of .120") and rolling seven days, while targeting the higher volume play days to mow and roll in combination. By keeping this schedule we've seen improved consistency from day-to-day with speeds ranging between 10' and 10.5' most days, and slightly higher on the days when we mow roll in combination. As the summer progresses, we also expect to see all of the obvious benefits of mowing at a higher cutting height (i.e. reduced damage from our local nematode, reduced disease and water use, better wear tolerance, improved density, etc...).

#3 Cartpath Update

2011-06-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

After a week of hard work by the maintenance staff, the cartpath on #3 will finally be open. Although the concrete was poured on Tuesday morning, it took several days for the concrete to "cure", and be ready for regular cart traffic. During the past week we had several of our guys out there making sure all of the shaping and sod work was done to our standards. The finished product looks great, and should improved the look and playability of the hole substantially

Review and History of Pasatiempo...

2011-06-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

Click on this Link to Read the Course Review by Author Robert Fagan

Now...Let's Get This Straight

2011-06-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

Existing cartpath and the Outline of where new cartpath will be located.

The big storm of March 19th not only took out the tree adjacent to the 3rd green, it significantly damaged the cartpath that circled around that massive tree. Losing the tree was great from an architectural standpoint as the MacKenzie bunker complex is no longer hidden from view at the main entrance. Another side benefit was the straightening of the new cartpath to go right through where the tree used to be. This eliminates the awkward curvature of the previous cartpath and significantly increases the playability from the right side of the green complex. Does it make the hole easier without the tree? Not sure how a 235-yard uphill Par 3 is easy to begin with...

Project began on Tuesday June 7th with the pouring of concrete to occur on Monday June 16th.

Side view indicating just how close the old cartpath was to the bunker complex.

90-Degrees...

2011-05-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

That one object is situated perpendicular to one another.

10th Fairway showing undesirable cart traffic patterns

As turf professionals we have enough to worry about instead of being rules enforcers. It should not be that difficult to follow this age-old rule...to drive across the fairway, hit a shot, then drive back across to the cart path. The idea is to avoid driving up and down the fairways creating a dizzying effect due to an overload of tire tracks. In short, the "90-degree rule" minimizes the time a golf cart spends rolling over the grass, while still allowing convenience for golfers. If anyone has had any luck in adequately controlling this issue please comment...

9th Fairway as viewed from the Clubhouse. Cart traffic patterns clearly show disregard for the 90-degree rule.

Trees a Crowd

2011-05-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

120-year-old Coastal Live Oak tree that split and quietly fell during the March 19th storm

How the wide open, right side approach shot appeared after the oak tree was lost

The first two of three oak trees added to the right side of the 14th fairway

During the March 19th storm, we lost seven trees total when the intense wind and rain storm ripped through the golf course. Losing the massive 120-year-old coastal live oak along the 14th fairway was a tough. Not only was that tree there before the golf course was ever built, but it is had impacted shots for many generations. With that tree gone, the right side of the fairway had no protection. MacKenzie intended shots to play from the left side and the angled green complex clearly identifies his intention. Looking over several pictures from the 1930's, there were (3) trees that stood on the right side of the 14th fairway. When the final soldier fell, it was time to bring back the design intent. Three coastal live oak trees were transplanted in the same location as in the 1931 aerial photograph indicated.

Third tree added to frame the right side and bring back the original design of the 14th hole

Ghost of MacKenzie

2011-05-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

A view from the 2nd fairway showing how the 3rd green complex looked in 1929

Photo taken two years ago with the massive Monterey Cypress adjacent to the right side of the 3rd green

Following the March 19th storm the cypress was severely damaged and was completely removed

Turf managers know the problems trees can possess on the ability to grow healthy grass. Architects know the fine balance between trees and turfgrass. Dr. MacKenzie never intended a tree to be planted adjacent to the third green and felt that the severe green complex would be a fair enough test for the 235-yard uphill par 3. The massive monterey cypress tree that grew on the right side of the green complex impacted shots for nearly 50-years and MacKenzie intended the right side to be a bail out area. If you hit a shot that landed under that tree or had to hit through it, up to the third green, you almost guaranteed bogey. The ghost of MacKenzie roared through on the night of March 19th when a massive wind storm took out the majority of the tree. It was so severely damaged that the decision was made to remove the remaining stump and limbs. Upon driving through the club entrance, one is now made aware of the famous MacKenzie bunkering as it is no longer hidden by the cypress tree. From an architectural standpoint and a turfgrass manager standpoint, we all agree that this was a good thing. The third hole is now more reminiscent of how the green complex looked in 1929.

Native Revival

2011-05-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

How the Native Areas look following the rainy season and heading into a period of no rain and no irrigation.

From a distance the native areas look like a full meadow, but up close are more open with bunch-type grasses that still allow players to find there ball and play shots from.

It has been quite some time since the last update on the native grass program at Pasatiempo. This project has been a test of patience for not only the membership, but also those of us who have developed and implemented the strategic plan. When first researching the project, we felt that within 3 to 5 years, there should be a significant stand of native grasses. In January of 2010, the first areas were seeded with our native grass seed and following that rainy season, there was decent germination, but the look during last summer was less than desirable to most. Amazingly, many of the grasses and small tufts hung on during the summer with no rain and no irrigation. Once the first rains hit in October of 2010, the grasses began to show life and following a December that recorded over 15-inches of rain, the natives really took off. Overall, there was an abundance of rainfall throughout this past rainy season and the areas that were seeded in January of 2010 are well ahead of the original 3-5 year plan. A tremendous difference from year one to now and we look forward to many of these grasses going dormant and showcasing the golf course with their dramatic golden brown seedheads.

Our "First Day of Spring"

2011-03-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

We came in Sunday morning to discover that the first day of spring had not been too kind to us. Due to a combination of several days in a row of heavy rain, and unusually strong winds for this region of the country, we lost two trees completely as well as large portions of several others. Although the golf course is totally saturated, our staff is working hard to put the golf course back together, and push forward with our preparation for the fast approaching season.

Aerification Progress Report

2011-03-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

One week removed from core aerifying the greens with .600" tines, we've seen excellent recovery. The greens should be pretty close to normal by the end of this week, and the fairways, although soft, should be looking good as well.

As soon as the fairways are done we will be starting the tees and approaches. This part of the process should be pretty quick and painless. Our target for completing the entire course is Thursday of this week, and if the weather holds, we will have no problem meeting that time frame.

In the thirteen years that I have been in the industry, I've never seen the aerification process go better than it did here this season, and it's definitely showing in the quick recovery of the golf course.

Tree Removal Behind 18 Green

2011-02-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, shade can be a major issue when it comes to maintaining healthy turfgrass, especially on putting greens. After much evaluation, we decided to remove the large Douglas Fir tree behind the 18th green to help improve the overall health of the putting surface. The following are some pictures to help illustrate the issue.

2011 Golf Industry Show Recap

2011-02-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

The GCSAA Golf Industry Show is always a great opportunity for networking, continuing education, and keeping up on the latest and greatest in the world of turf management. Although it always turns out to be a long and very intense week that makes me feel a little like I’m back at school, it’s great to be able to connect with so many industry professionals, as well as get caught up on the current trends throughout the rest of the country and around the world.

My week started off with an eight hour class on green speeds which was taught by Mike Morris, the superintendent at Crystal Downs in Michigan, and Dr. Thomas Nikolai from Michigan State University who has done several decades of study on the subject. Tuesday was spent in a four hour class on managing cool season turfgrass root systems, and a four hour session that covered such things as environmental water quality and conservation, the benefits of sand top dressing, and new technologies to deal with Fairy Ring fungus on putting greens. Wednesday and Thursday were two full days spent at the trade show making contacts with vendors and other industry professionals to find out if there is anything new that can progress our operation at Pasatiempo. Friday ended up being more education in the morning with a session on major tournament preparation, and another session hosted by the U.S.G.A. covering various issues and innovations from around the country. On Friday afternoon I had the privilege of sitting in on a session in which Paul had been asked to speak on some of the economic benefits that we have seen from our native grass project as well as our work with goats.

So as you can see my week was very busy, while at the same time, extremely beneficial and educational. Overall I view this as one of the most important weeks of the year for our department. Not only do we get the opportunity to further our education, but the networking and informal meetings that occur throughout the week are invaluable to our operation at Pasatiempo.

2010 Year in Review

2011-01-08T06:31:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's hard in this industry to remember all of the things you have to do on a daily basis, let alone throughout an entire year. At Pasatiempo we have had an incredible year, completing several major projects, while making huge advancements within our daily golf course operations as well. The following is a condensed list of some of the maintenance department's accomplishments during 2010:

1. The installation of a completely new Toro irrigation system. This project started in the fall of 2009, and the last truck pulled off of the property in June. Over the summer we spent most of our time making small adjustments and fine-tuning the system, but the overall improvements that were made are immeasurable.

2. The transition of 25 acres of maintained turf over to native grass meadow. Although the grow-in process for our native grass areas will be ongoing for many seasons, we have completed the seeding process, and can now focus our efforts on the establishment phase of the project.

3. The renovation of our practice area and driving range. This was a project that was accomplished in conjunction with the installation of the irrigation system, and was completed toward the end of the irrigation project.

4. Operation Goat. This fall we brought in 150 brush goats to clear 11 acres of canyons throughout the back nine. This ended up being a very successful event by not only helping us to accomplish the goal of restoring of our canyons to the more natural look they had when Alister MacKenzie originally designed the course, but was also successful in drawing huge interest from the local community, golfing community, and our membership.

These are just a few of the major events that occurred at Pasatiempo over the course of 2010, and I'm sure that I'm forgetting something. I would like to thank our staff for making these projects a success by way of their hard work, and I would also like to thank our members and guests for their understanding and support over the past year.

Managing For Playability

2010-11-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a great short video that explains the move toward managing the golf course for playability rather than purely for looks.

http://www.gcsaa.tv/view.php?id=321

Winter Has Arrived

2010-11-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

It looks like winter is here in full force. We've seen rain totals of almost 3" over the past five days, and we are well ahead of our normal rainfall amounts so far for the year. Along with the rain, record low temperatures are being forecasted over the next several days. As usual, our staff will be doing everything that they can to keep the golf course conditioned at the highest level possible; however, certain operations will be limited due to the inclement weather.

Hey, Where'd You Goat...

2010-11-19T14:16:00.000-08:00

With unusually warm fall temperatures, we apologize to those of you who have been anxiously awaiting an update on the goat project. We have been very busy keeping course conditions optimal despite the late season growth surge. The herd of brush goats is still on property, still munching through years of overgrowth. As has been mentioned before, it is truly amazing what they have accomplished and pictures cannot due the project full justice. Over the past several weeks, the goats have been busy working on the canyons parallel to the 13th, 14th, and 16th fairways. It is interesting to note that many of our members did not realize that a significant canyon separated the 13th and 14th fairways. It was so overgrown that most people thought it was a grove of trees. Likewise, most people did not realize the depth of the canyon that can now be seen from the 16th tee. Many projects in the golf industry require patience, this one has been one of the few that offers instant gratification, and a dramatic change to the appearance of the course. Just as important, there is more air movement and more sunlight reaching these areas that during previous winter periods were shady and wet.

View from the 13th Tee looking into overgrown canyon

Current view from the 13th Tee with the 16th Fairway now in view

View from the 16th Tee prior to the arrival of goats

Current view from the 16th tee. Amazing change to this area of the golf course in which air and sun moving through have created a much more dramatic landscape!

Thanks to Our Excellent Staff for a Great Season!

2010-11-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take some time to acknowledge our outstanding maintenance staff. This has been a long year that has been full of challenges and transitions. Most of our staff has been here for over fifteen years, and they are all professionals at what they do. They take a lot of pride in doing their best to provide our players with outstanding playing conditions on a daily basis. If you see them on the golf course please take time to acknowledge them, and thank them for their many years of service and hard work at Pasatiempo.

Way to Goat!

2010-10-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

As our maintenance crew aerified fairways, tees, and approaches over the past two weeks, our other "crew" has been diligently working on restoring the rugged look to the canyon below the 10th tee. Although pictures document the work being done, it is hard to describe just how much overgrowth the goats cleared out in less than two weeks. Amazing!

View from the 10th Tee on Friday - October - 8th

View from the 10th Tee on Thursday - October - 21st

View from the front of the 10th fairway looking back toward the tee

The Brush is Greener on the Other Side of the Fence

2010-10-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

The goats were excited to work in the 18th canyon and the difference it has made is stunning. Now the real work begins as the remaining canyon sites are loaded with years of lush green overgrowth. We have been pushing these guys to eat as much as possible on 18, but they knew was was lurking on the other side of the fence and so to the 10th they go...

Very excited herd of goats ready to tackle the 10th Tee canyon

Just in Case You Missed it...

2010-10-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

18th Canyon prior to the arrival of the brush goats

Last Friday our new workforce finished their work on the canyon near the 17th green and 18th tee. It is quite a sight to see the progress on a daily basis and probably even more impressive to see the before and after.

18th canyon as it looks now

Goats/Dogs at Work

2010-10-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

Since their arrival the goats have made some really good progress. In only a week we are already starting to see many of the natural features of the baranca on #18 being revealed.

The first couple of nights there was a little barking from the two dogs that are inside the fence to protect the goats, but that is believed to be attributed to the deer, and has subsided since both the deer and the dogs have gotten used to each other.

So far only two people have gotten a zap from the electric fence that surrounds the goats, and thankfully both were able to laugh about it shortly after it happened.

Who Let The Goats Out!

2010-09-28T20:23:00.001-07:00

The arrival of brush goats to Pasatiempo is official!

For several months we have been working with a company out of Santa Barbara (Brush Goats 4 Hire) and hoping they would be able to help us in an innovative attempt to restore our canyons and barancas into a more rugged and natural appearance.

The first trailer of our newest staff members arrived Tuesday morning and most of them sprinted down the canyon eager to begin munching on anything green.

Update on Our Native Grass Program

2010-09-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

The native grasses that were seeded in January and February are doing quite well. The blend of six-grass types were selected because of their drought tolerance along with their shorter growth habit and while they may look like a weed patch right now, they are doing what they are supposed to. Keep in mind that these grasses have not received any water since the last rain fell in May. The main goal with our conversion to native grasses is to reduce the need for unnecessary inputs throughout the course, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability and conservation of our natural resources. By eliminating 25-acres, we will save approximately 15,000,000 gallons of water per year, which translates into an economic savings of $110,000. This figure does not account for the reduction in fertilizer, emissions from mowing equipment, and labor that will accompany the reduction in water. Currently, these areas may not look appealing and what you may have expected from “native grasses,” however the finished product will look very natural, aesthetically pleasing, and serve as a dramatic complement to the classic Alister MacKenzie design.

2010-09-09T16:53:00.000-07:00

Alternative Brush management

175 BRUSH GOATS TO ELIMINATE OVERGROWTH IN BACK-9 BARANCAS

Over the years there have been various approaches to control the weeds and overgrowth in the canyons and barancas. None of the approaches will be as efficient and “green” as the goats that will be brought on to our property later this month. As we look to restore the look more common during the MacKenzie era, one of the features that has been lost is the stunning, rugged definition of the canyons. Throughout the years, the steep, jagged edges have all been covered up by extensive overgrowth. During the week of September 20th, we will introduce goats into the canyons to begin the extensive cleanup. There is a long list of benefits with regard to using goats instead of manual labor. Some of these include:

Significantly cheaper than using our manual labor to clear out the barancas
Reduce the need for spraying harmful chemicals
No heavy equipment damage or noise
Goats can easily traverse steep, rocky and difficult terrain
It will add an entertainment factor for our members and guests
Goats break down plant material, whereas our crew would still have to drag it out and chip it
They are very quiet cleaners and you will see amazing progress each week

The goats will be enclosed in areas that will be surrounded by solar powered electric fences. Great Pyrenees dogs will be with the goats to protect them and will only bark if they feel the goats are threatened. A herdsman will be within contact or onsite 24/7 and the goats are expected to be here for about 7-weeks. This is a tremendous undertaking, but the restoration to the canyons along with the elimination of unnecessary overgrowth, will ensure that this club project will be talked about for many years to come.

Summer Disease Update

2010-07-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

Depending on the weather conditions, this can be a tough time of year for disease pressure in our region. A couple of the diseases we are currently seeing on the course are Southern blight and anthracnose.

We've seen Southern blight come in on some of the green surrounds over the past few weeks. We are not currently concerned about the presence of this disease due to its location (in the roughs). We are managing the situation by close monitoring of the progression of the disease, continued overseeding of the affected areas with resistant turf species, and proper irrigation management.

We've also been seeing some anthracnose pressure on a few of the greens (most notably the back right of the first green). Our management of this disease includes fungicide applications every ten to fourteen days, very close monitoring of the progression, as well as cultural practices such as sand top dressing, maintaining a mowing height above .115", and proper irrigation management.

NCGA Area of Emphasis: Agronomic Principals and Practices

2010-07-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

Cultural Practices – At Pasatiempo we feel that plant and soil health are the keys to growing great turfgrass, and that proper plant and soil health is achieved primarily through good cultural practices. We aerify greens with 5/8” hollow tines twice a year, and use a Planet Air or bayonet tines every six to eight weeks to relieve soil tension in between spring and fall aerification. Like the greens, we use hollow tines to aerify fairways and tees each spring and fall, and knife tines throughout the rest of the season to break up surface tension and increase water percolation.

Top dressing is done on a light and frequent basis (every two weeks accompanied by a verti-cut) throughout the year on the greens, and we apply sand to the fairways five to six times per year.

Proper fertilization and water management are two of the main contributing factors to our cultural program. We use a “spoon feeding” method of fertilization on greens, tees and fairways, with spray applications scheduled every 10 days on the greens and every 21 days on the fairways and tees. We also conduct several granular organic fertilizer, and soil amendment applications on the fairways and roughs to help build up the biological profile of our soils.

Our views on water management have been discussed at length in previous blog posts, but with our new irrigation system in place we now have the ability to be much more efficient with how we water the golf course. We are now able to put the water where it is needed rather than having to overwater certain areas in order to keep other areas alive. This will have a direct affect on the rest of our cultural program, and will allow us to maintain a firm and fast playing surface while keeping the turf healthy at the same time.

Chemical Use – Pasatiempo has been Audubon Certified for over a decade, and therefore we have a major focus on our environmental impact. This is a constant consideration when we evaluate our chemical use. All of our disease management is done on a “spot and treat” basis, and our thresholds are relatively high considering our level of maintenance. Due to our climate we don’t have the intense disease and insect pressure that other areas of the country face; however, we do see fusarium patch in the cool months, and yellow patch, waitea patch, and anthracnose in the warmer season.

Behind the Scenes at the 2010 U.S. Open

2010-06-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

Although most avid golf fans have the four days of the U.S. Open marked on our calendars from the beginning of the PGA Tour season, few of us have had an opportunity to experience our national championship from behind the scenes. This past week at Pebble Beach I had a chance to spend some time volunteering on the maintenance staff, and got a chance to see the operation from a totally different perspective. Participating in an event of this magnitude was not only a great experience for a young turf manager, but has been a career goal of mine for many years.

Contrary to what players and television commentators may have said, the golf course was in perfect shape for a U.S. Open. The U.S.G.A. and Pebble Beach superintendent; Chris Dalhamer felt that the golf course was exactly where it needed to be to present the toughest test of golf to the best players in the world. Greens were extremely firm and fast, and several areas of the course had been manipulated (i.e. shaving bunker edges and coastlines down to fairway height, and shifting fairways to change the players line of play into holes) to bring the various design features more into play.

Probably the most impressive thing to witness was the management of the irrigation. The golf course hadn’t been watered with the irrigation system for over two weeks, and the only water that was put on the golf course was done by hand watering. This is not only the most efficient way to apply water to turfgrass, but also provides the ultimate control of where the water is applied. This technique gives the superintendent the ability to provide the firmest playing conditions possible while still keeping the grass alive. (Please note that NBC did use green filters on their cameras, and the golf course was much browner and wilted than it appeared on television.)

The U.S.G.A. mandated that the fairways be mowed all one direction from tee to green to make the fairways seem even faster. While this is probably the most inefficient way to mow fairways, it accomplished exactly what the U.S.G.A. wanted, and made the shaved bunkers and coastlines even more of a factor.

While the greens were fast (pushing 14’ on the Stimp meter) the amazing thing was how fast and firm the approaches were (Stimping at over 12’). This allowed for shots to be landed short of the greens and run up more like a links style golf course. Players were also putting the ball from several yards off of the green due to the extremely tight lies on the approaches.

An event of this caliber is not easily achieved and should not be expected for daily play. For this event there were a total of over 100 volunteers from around the world, consisting of superintendents and assistant superintendents, which brought the number of total staff for the week to nearly 140 professional turf managers. Especially for this event Pebble Beach had 12 interns with college degrees on staff. We were working split shifts with the first shift beginning at 4 a.m. and the second shift not ending until 10 p.m. All told this event has been planned over the past six years and culminated over the four days that we all saw on television.

This was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I feel that I have learned many things about what it takes to provide true tournament conditions. I now have a better understanding of the vast amount of detail and focus it takes to produce an event of this stature, and it makes me want to strive to provide event better conditions for our members and guests on a daily basis.

NCGA Area of Emphasis: Irrigation and Water Use Efficiencies

2010-05-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

As we all know by now; we are currently installing a new irrigation system at Pasatiempo as part of our move toward environmental stewardship and improved course conditioning. The old system was extremely inefficient and unreliable, and with the increasing focus on water use and efficiency in Northern/Central California, we didn’t have many other options than to upgrade. The irrigation installation company (Leibold Irrigation) has completed all but two holes of the golf course, installing all new mainline, lateral lines, wiring, heads, and satellites. As we move forward we will be spending the remainder of the irrigation season working with representatives from Toro’s irrigation division to adjust sprinkler arc and angle, nozzles, and run times to create the most efficient and affective irrigation system possible.

We will also be using the latest technologies in irrigation to manage our irrigation system as well as our turfgrass. These technologies and innovations include individual head control, iPhone/iPad applications, new Toro VP satellites, and sub-surface drip irrigation around our bunkers. Although the new system and innovative technologies will be a great improvement it will, by no means, eliminate the need for “old fashioned” techniques such as hand watering and daily course monitoring. As most of our readers also know we have eliminated almost 30 acres of what was once irrigated turfgrass throughout the golf course and replaced it with native grasses that will be completely un-irrigated, which will be a major factor in reducing our overall water use.

Currently our water supply is from the city of Santa Cruz, and consists of extremely valuable and expensive potable water. Our system is under constant pressure from city mainlines that enter the golf course in three different locations. Our plan for the next two years is to install a pump and mixing station to accommodate the use of recycled water from the city of Scotts Valley. Although this will be less expensive and provide a good use for water that otherwise would be piped into the Pacific Ocean, we will be faced with new challenges including increased salt levels in the soil that accompany the use of recycled water which can lead to many different issues in turfgrass management.

Due to my extensive irrigation background, along with the training I have received since coming to Pasatiempo (hands on experience with the installation of the new system, Toro Site-Pro training, etc…), I feel confident that I will be able to assist in the implementation of our new irrigation plan, and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

Pasatiempo Golf Club to host Northern California GCSA Field Day

2010-05-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

Members of the Northern California Chapter of the GCSAA will gather on Thursday, May 6 at the world-renowned Pasatiempo Golf Club for its 2010 Superintendents Field Day. This educational experience entitled Water Conservation: Pasatiempo's Viable Response to Water Rationing will provide an in-depth look at an Alister MacKenzie-designed golf course that has been environmentally elevated through its irrigation efficiency model and historically enhanced through a masterful restoration that spans nearly two decades of dedicated work.
According to Host Superintendent Paul Chojnacky, the course retains its premiere status while managing water resources through an impressive reduction of maintained turf and improved technology. Twenty-five acres originally maintained as turf, are now designated for drought-resistant native grasses. "While Pasatiempo has always been considered one of the most revered courses in America, today it also serves as a model for managing water resources," stated Chojnacky. "We've been able to improve our environmental standards through well-planned conservation measures, while still providing an exceptional on-course experience, as originally intended back in the 1930's by course architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie and club founder Marion Hollins."
Efficiently managing water is crucial, not just to Pasatiempo GC but to most golf course operators and superintendents throughout California. According to GCSANC event Co-chairman Rodney Muller, the field day will span a variety of topics including the site's rich history, an overview of course restoration and renovation efforts, a close study of water management and efficiency measures, culminated by an on-course tour guided by industry experts. Immediately following lunch, field day participants will have an opportunity to tee it up on this spectacular semi-private course.
"This field day is timely as our association members seek workable solutions for water reduction," said Muller. "Pasatiempo serves as a fine example through its use of strategically-planted native grasses coupled with its improved water-monitoring technology. Attendees will also view some of the finest restoration work ever conducted on a MacKenzie-designed course."
Event speakers include Host superintendent Paul Chojnacky, Jim Urbina (Renaissance Golf Design), Ryan Wilson (Toro Irrigation Products), Michael Bova (Davey Tree), and Todd Eckenrode (Origins Golf Design). Sponsored by Toro and Turf Star, Inc., and co-chaired by Ali Harivandi, Ph.D. and GCSANC director Rodney Muller, this educational experience is a collaborative effort between the Northern California Chapter of the GCSAA and the University of California Cooperative Extension.
The event has the support of the following committee members: Steve Agin, Brian Bagley, Thomas Bastis, CGCS, Gary Carls, CGCS, Jon Christenson, Craig Faris, Gary Ingram, CGCS, Pearce Kaner, Gary Otto, Mike Souza, Dave Wilber, Matthew Wisely, and Craig Zellers.
For more information about Pasatiempo GC visit http://www.pasatiempo.com. For more on Toro visit: http://www.toro.com/ and for the facts on Turf Star visit: http://www.turfstar.com/.
The Northern California Chapter of the GCSAA (GCSANC) is dedicated to serving its members, advancing their profession and enhancing the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. This is evidenced through its support of the Environmental Institute for Golf, Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, California Alliance for Golf, The First Tee, and Doctor's Orders: Play Golf. For more on the GCSANC visit: http://www.gcsanc.com.

NCGA Area of Emphasis: Special Event/Tournament Preparation

2010-05-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

We recently hosted the Western Intercollegiate Golf Tournament at Pasatiempo. This is one of a handful of premier collegiate events in the United States, and definitely one of the top events on the West Coast. This tournament has a storied history with Phil Mickleson and Tiger Woods being just two of the names on the long list of well-know PGA Tour players who have competed in this event over the four decades that it has been held at Pasatiempo.

Last year the conditions were extremely difficult with the winning score being several over par (which was mostly due to the green speeds being upwards of 12 feet on the Stimp Meter). This year the goal was to keep the presentation of the golf course difficult yet extremely fair for all of the teams. Due to the extreme undulations of the Alister MacKenzie designed greens, we knew that the key to maintaining the integrity of the event was going to be by controlling the speed of the greens.

This year our plan was to keep the green speeds at around 10 to 11 feet on the Stimp Meter so that the scores would be more representative of the talent of the players rather than let the golf course run them off the property again. We accomplished this by not lowering the cutting height past what is normal for daily play (.115), and only single rolling during the days of the event. We did come in and mow the greens in the evening prior to the start of the event due to excessive growth rate that was a result of the late-season rains that we have been having in the Santa Cruz area this Spring. The greens were double verti-cut and top-dressed one week prior to the start of the final round, and mowed and rolled for four days leading up to the start of the event.

Because our goal at Pasatiempo is to provide tournament conditions on a daily basis there wasn't really many things that we did differently from our daily maintenance routine other than some minor detail work that we focused more on during the week leading up to the tournament. We had started burning in our fairway mow pattern several weeks before the event (a dark/light block pattern that can be seen in the picture featured at the top this blog), and other than that there were just minor adjustments that were needed on the maintenance end of the operation to prepare for this event.

The set up for the tournament was set two weeks before the first round by myself and our head golf professional; Ken Woods. We set four hole locations based on historical tournament data and used white paint to mark the locations. On the days of the event we had two of our staff cutting cups and myself supervising the set-up and using hole-in-white to paint the cups. The only thing out of the ordinary was that we had to cut two locations in each green on Saturday. Because the players were playing 36 holes on Saturday and were started in a "shotgun" format, there wasn't any time in between rounds to cut the new locations, so the players were instructed to move the flag stick to the new location after the completion of their first 18 holes.

In the end we had a very successful tournament with coaches, players and tournament officials very happy with the golf course. The winning team was the 4th ranked Oregon Ducks with a team total of 12 under par, and the 6th ranked UCLA Bruins coming in second with a total of 6 under par.

Practice Facility Renovation

2010-04-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

Yet another phase of our ongoing project has begun. We started the renovation of our practice range and chipping area almost a week ago. Our previous facility was the last area of the golf course that hadn't been updated to match the restoration which has taken place throughout the rest of the property over the last decade. Our goal is to not only make the area more functional for use by our teaching professionals, members and guests, but to also bring the same themes to the practice areas that we are incorporating on the rest of the property (i.e. native grasses, flowing undulations, and short mowed chipping areas).

We eliminated two out of the three practice bunkers and re-shaped the green surrounds to make room for more short-mowed chipping area around the practice green. While before there was only about 200 square feet of short-mowed chipping area there will now be approximately 10,000 square feet.

We started the process on our driving range about three weeks ago by spraying the grass out with Round-up. The shaper then came in and tilled the soil so that it would be easier for him to shape using the bulldozer. We changed the shape of the driving range surface to allow for better surface drainage as well as the installation of new target greens. We sodded the target greens by using material that we saved from the existing driving range tee. After the removal of the sod from the teeing area the shaper was then able to begin the leveling process.

The final touch will be a bio-swale that will run in front of the artificial tee and to the right side of the grass teeing area to help add a landscape element to the tee as well as act as an attractive alternative to a drainage ditch. The bio-swale will be un-irrigated and will be a mix of native grasses, sand, and rocks.

Progress Report

2010-04-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since our last update regarding Pasatiempo's move toward water conservation, so there are several things to cover. The new irrigation system installation has been completed on the front nine and everything is programed and running by our central control. This is a huge relief considering to the 80 degree weather that is fast approaching. Holes 10, 17, and 18 are completed on the back nine, and they are getting ready to start pulling laterals and installing heads on number 11.

We have finished spraying out areas for future native grass conversion throughout most of the back nine, and have hydroseeded about four more acres of new area over the past two weeks on holes 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The first areas we seeded several months ago on holes 1, 5, and 6 have really started to progress with the warmer temperatures and we now have six to eight inches of growth in the native grass areas that border these holes.

We've also completed the relocation of the 9th forward tee out of a future native grass area into line with the rest of the 9th tee complex. We were able to use the sod from the existing tee and transfer it over to the new location once the prep work was done.

Creating a Natural Flow

2010-03-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

Next week we will begin a project in which the forward tee at the 9th hole will be relocated. The new tee will be moved immediately to the right and it will be in direct line with the other teeing areas. The distance from tee to green will remain the same at 420-yards. This will accomplish a more architecturally sound teeing complex in which the green island in the middle of native grass will be eliminated. This will also take out the unsightly mounded tee and obtain a more natural appearance to this area. Moving the tee further to the right will prevent players having to carry the native rough. Carts will not be allowed to drive up to the new tee, but a walk path from the existing cart path will provide foot and pull-cart access.

New Technology at the 2010 Golf Industry Show

2010-03-02T08:26:00.000-08:00

After attending this year's G.C.S.A.A. Golf Industry Show in San Diego, California I returned with the realization that our industry is a group of innovators on the forefront of the sustainable movement. All of the major companies were showcasing their versions of either hybrid or completely electric equipment. The "big three" equipment companies (John Deer, Toro, and Jacobsen) were all displaying some form of their new environmentally sustainable mowers, rollers, etc.

Some of the smaller companies are even further ahead of the curve with products such as a fully robotic greens mower that allows one operator to be raking bunkers, hand watering, or whatever else may need to be taken care of while the mower mows the green on its own. While the innovative equipment was obviously the highlight there are also advances being made by chemical and irrigation companies to become more environmentally sensitive as well. Toro and Rain Bird irrigation are both introducing new operating systems that will make irrigation programming and operation much more efficient, one of which is Toro's Lynx system which we will be installing late this summer along with our new irrigation system.

Overall I feel that the Golf Industry Show is a great opportunity for anyone in the golf maintenance industry to further their education and awareness with regards to new innovations and technologies in the interest of becoming more environmentally conscious in our day-to-day lives as turf managers.

Our Native Grass Blend

2010-02-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

One of the most frequently asked questions’ lately has been with the native grass hydro-seeding project. What does all this native grass stuff mean?

The goal and strategy of the club is to create world class conditions in keeping with the fine tradition of a MacKenzie course. As the price and availability of precious water resources continue to drive our operation, we are eliminating nearly 30-acres of previously irrigated turf. This will be a major change in the appearance of the golf course and many clubs especially in California will be faced with the same adversity, they must cut water and other costly maintenance practices that are required to keep a golf course wall-to-wall green. This process will take time to evolve, and many areas will look barren for the first few years. Native grasses are vastly different from the turfgrass species that we maintain on a daily basis. They take time to grow, and several years to fill in an area. The expectation for these areas cannot be set too high for the first several years, otherwise everyone will be disappointed. Every golf course is different in regards to growing conditions, soil types, seasonal changes, etc. Therefore, when someone asks what these grasses will look like, it is hard to explain.

Our specific seed blend will react differently here than other areas of the country. We have spent a tremendous amount of time researching specific native grasses. We have selected six species that will help achieve our goal of creating native areas that will not become so thick that they cannot be played out of, will provide a wonderful habitat for wildlife, significantly reduce costly maintenance inputs including water, and help return the course to a more traditional links-style course. In speaking with our seed company, they have helped to identify one golf course that has planted a native grass blend similar to ours. The following pictures are from this course and these pictures were approximately three years following seeding of the native grass blend.

Keep in mind these grasses will not be watered during the summer months and will be thinner that what they appear in these pictures. Our intent is to be able to play from these areas and for them not to eat up lost balls.

Creating a Minimalist Look

2010-02-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

Area surrounding the 7th tee as it currently appears. All
landscaping plants will be removed, including the wood steps
and rubber matting. The area will then be sodded with
ryegrass to create a simple blend from the 6th green to 7th tee.

In keeping with our club strategy of creating a minimalist look along with keeping high environmental standards, the landscaped areas throughout the golf course will undergo a transformation. No longer will we change out the annual flowers and plants each spring and fall as we look to blend the native grass look into these locations. The landscaping surround the 7th tee will be completely removed including the one-step staircase. This “buffer” between the 6th green and 7th tee does not fit with our goal of creating uniformity throughout the golf course and it currently looks out of place. With the native grasses assuming these locations, there will be less maintenance, little or no water required, and the seasonal changes in the grass varieties will offer a dramatic character to the golf course. The most significant change was the removal of all non-native blackberries and rosemary surrounding the #2 tee hillside and facing Clubhouse Road. This was a major eyesore that has been seeded with our native grass mix and will now blend in better with the appearance of the course.

Previous view from Clubhouse Road looking up to the 2nd
teeing area. This was a major eyesore and the first
impression of the golf course. All rosemary and blackberry
plants have been removed.

The current view of the 2nd teeing area following
hydroseeding of the hillside with native grasses.

El Nino Wreaking Havoc

2010-02-05T11:54:00.001-08:00

Over the past week we have witnessed fairly dry weather for the most part, despite the nearly two-inches that fell last night. With the break in the rain the maintenance crew has been able to catch up on most of the mowing and clean-up following the ten inches of rain that fell during the last half of January. One area that remains an issue is the bunkers, which we oftentimes forget are hazards. Due to the vast amount of damage that was caused during our last series of storms, as well as the ongoing sub-surface irrigation installation around the bunkers they are not in as good of shape as during the prime golfing season. For our golf course maintenance staff it becomes a “catch 22” because when we rake the bunkers the sand becomes fluffed up and much more mobile, therefore eroding more severely when it rains causing us to have to spend valuable time and resources in repairing these areas only to watch them wash away with the next rain. However, when the bunkers are not raked as often they will become compacted by the rain and somewhat unsightly. As the irrigation installers make progress on the subsurface system, and we feel that we will not be wasting time or resources, and the maintenance crew will follow behind the irrigation crew and edge, cleaning, and then add new white sand to the bunkers as we prepare for the upcoming season. Moving forward, you should recognize improvements in this aspect of the golf course’s maintenance program, primarily based simply on the optimal weather that accompanies the spring season. Rest assured that we are doing our very best to produce a high quality product on a daily basis for our members and guests while at the same time responsibly manage the funds and resources that we have available to us with regard to the bunkers.

Irrigation Installation

2010-02-04T06:37:00.000-08:00

The white trenches in this picture represent the location of the sub-surface drip irrigation system that we're installing on all of our bunker noses to keep them watered in the most efficient way possible while minimizing unwanted over-spray onto other playing surfaces as would be the case with larger "pop-up" style irrigation heads. We've fabricated a special blade that attaches to a string trimmer which has made the trenching portion of the installation process much more stream-lined, and saved us many hours of labor. Following installation of the drip tubing we fill the trenches with sand and then apply divot mix in order to re-grow the turfgrass which completes the process.

In the case of this picture we had logistical issues with trying to complete the installation of lateral irrigation lines on the third tee and keep the hole open for play at the same time. We ended up having to move all of the tee markers forward to a temporary tee until the rest of the tee complex was done being worked on. Other challenges have included the issues of saturated soil from the heavy rains over the past several weeks and extremely undulated terrain which have, at times, made it difficult on the equipment and the turf.

The main-line installation has definitely been the most obtrusive part of the whole process; however, when they are done the only evidence of them being there is the fresh sod work. The main-line trench in this picture is about eight feet deep and a muddy mess but the contractor did an excellent job of putting it all back together when they were done.

Hydroseeding Native Grass Areas

2010-01-29T16:04:00.000-08:00

As stated in previous updates one of the main projects on the golf course is the establishment of native grass areas to eliminate the need for unnecessary water, fertilizer, and chemical use, as well as enhance the golf course from an architectural standpoint . We have made significant progress with this project in spite of inclement weather during the early portion of the week. Several areas on the golf course are very distinguishable where native areas are to be, these include: holes 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9. Applying the seed involves a blue/green material called hydro-seed which is a mixture that includes water, wood fiber mulch and our native grass seed mix. Our major request at this point is that you help by not entering the newly hydro-seeded areas which are all marked by stakes and ropes. There are stakes and ropes in place around most of the areas that we have sprayed out to prepare for hydro-seed. These areas are extremely wet and muddy due to the nine inches of rain that we have gotten over the past two weeks, and consequently very slippery. We also ask for your cooperation in staying out of these areas to avoid any possible injury that may occur if you were to fall due to the wet conditions. These areas ARE NOT out-of-bounds and can be played out of if necessary. However, to enhance the success of establishment, any unnecessary walking or cart traffic should be avoided.

The installation of the irrigation system continues to make headway throughout the course. The irrigation contractor has experienced a long two weeks with poor weather conditions; however they have managed to make progress on installation of the sub-surface (drip system) around the bunkers along with tying in all the pipes that go under roads and cart paths. The subsurface irrigation on the bunkers is complete on holes 2 through 7, and they should be close to having the rest of the front nine completed by the first week of February. The next hole that they will be installing larger pipe and sprinklers on will be number 2, so we ask for your continued patience with the extra people and equipment on the golf course. Thank you all for your continued interest, understanding and support with regards to our many golf course improvement projects.

El Nino Has Arrived

2010-01-22T08:53:00.001-08:00

Looking over the past several years of below average rainfall data, this season was shaping up to be similarly just as dry. Given the hype of “El Nino” we anticipated a wet and wild winter with plenty of rain and numerous after-storm cleanups. With the exception of the significant, yet very rare October storm that dumped nearly 6-inches of rain on the course in one day, the rainy season has not lived up to expectation…until this past week. Since Sunday afternoon, the golf course has received 5.75-inches of rainfall, with more expected throughout the early part of the weekend. While the conditions are soggy and this may seem like a lot of rain, we are still well below normal due to a drier-than-normal November and early December. We need several more inches just to break even for a normal year. Then we would need more rain on top of that, just to put a dent into the drought that has been experienced over the last three years. The course has not been playable during the majority of the week with high winds and occasional bursts of thunder and lightning and the maintenance crew has focused on removing debris from the course and cutting up large branches that fell from trees. No significant damage occurred from the onslaught of storms and no trees were lost. Several bunkers throughout the golf course washed out during the first round of heavy downpours and with more rain expected early next week, the crew will focus on mowing areas where equipment can safely access. Bunker work will begin following next week’s rain as the replacement sand will be loose and not compacted enough to withstand another shot of heavy rain. We appreciate your patience as the crew prepares the course for the best possible playing conditions and while it may be frustrating not being able to play this past week, the rain is a tremendous benefit that we need more of in the coming months.

One of the most frequently asked questions’ concerning golf course etiquette is what to do with fairway and rough divots… Are we better off replacing the divot or just filling the scar with the sand/seed mix that's provided?

2010-01-21T15:38:00.000-08:00

If the divot has some soil attached and hasn't been blown into a hundred pieces, it will heal quickly if it is replaced immediately. Be sure to replace the divot and step on it to establish contact with the soil below. If the divot cannot be replaced, then the sand/seed mixture should be used in the scarred area. Golfers who take the time to replace a divot properly or repair divot areas help keep the fairways in good condition for their fellow golfers.

As we head into the winter months, the divots will hold together better because of the wetter conditions. Therefore, replacing the grass divot is preferred over using the sand/seed mixture. The grass divot will not dry out as easily this time of year and will heal quicker than trying to get the seed to germinate.

It is also important to recognize how much sand/seed mix is placed in a divot area. The “more is better” approach does not work when filling divots. Divots that are over-filled become mounded then compacted. When the mowers run over the mounded divots, they become increasingly larger bare patches due to the scalping. This is more common on teeing areas and can easily be avoided by not using as much divot mix.

Overfilling divots leads to scalping

Sub-Surface Bunker Irrigation

2010-01-16T19:13:00.000-08:00

As part of the new irrigation system we are installing subsurface irrigation to all bunkers on the golf course. This technology allows the bunker edges, noses, and surrounds to be watered more efficiently.

Numerous features include:

1) Keeping the sand dry and thus improving playability
2) No wash outs caused from excessive overhead watering
3) Can water at any time of the day with no disruption
4) More efficient use of water as it directly impacts the root zone
5) Reduction and possible elimination of labor needed to hand water noses
6) Significant reduction in costly surfactants and chemicals applied to “hold” water in the soil
7) Eliminates the use of maintenance-intensive pop-up sprinklers around all the bunkers

This new technology will benefit the property and significantly improve bunker edges and surrounds.

Winter Golf Course Conditioning

2010-01-15T10:34:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest challenges in golf course maintenance is creating consistent playing conditions on a daily basis. The goal of the maintenance team is to create consistent conditioning year-round and keep in mind there is much more that goes into the science of maintaining quality turfgrass other than just watering, mowing, and fertilizing. Factor in the curve balls that Mother Nature throws our way (rain in the winter, hot spells during the summer) and conditioning can change significantly from one day to the next. The winter months can be the most challenging as one might come to play on a 70-degree day only to find carts restricted to path, fairways soggy in spots, and greens that putt slower than normal. The golf course consists of a living plant and weather plays a major factor in the conditioning of the golf course. While we are mowing the greens at the same height of cut as we did during the summer, they play differently due to fluctuating weather events. You may remember that several weeks back the greens were too fast due to consecutive days of frost and afternoon wind. Those two extremes inhibit growth, dry out the putting surface and create lightening fast greens…again even if we are cutting at the same height as the summer. During the past two weeks the golf course has benefited from favorable weather conditions, causing a growth spurt especially in the grass around the greens and bunkers. There is a lot of grass out there right now, but that indicates the health of the course is optimal and the maintenance team has been working diligently to ensure the course is kept playable throughout the winter months.

Warm-Season Grass Eradication

2009-10-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

Considering the recent rainfall, one would expect all areas of the golf course to be brilliantly green. While that notion holds true throughout the majority of playable areas of the golf course, there are several areas that have remained brown and barren. And these areas will remain brown in the coming weeks even if there is rain. This is part of a strategic plan, since the grasses that germinate following rain storms are the varieties that we are trying to eliminate prior to seeding them with our specific native grass blend. Once an area is considered “clean” (i.e., following a rain event, nothing germinates) then the area is ready to be seeded with the native grass mix. The grasses that will be planted in these areas will be a bunch-type or clump-style grass, which means they grow as individual plants and are not sod-forming like the rest of the grass throughout the course. From a distance these areas will eventually look full and resemble a native meadow appearance. Up close, there will be bare areas between the clump grasses where players should be able to locate their golf balls. Currently, there are a few areas throughout the golf course where the native grasses are ready to be seeded. Once all the materials are obtained, we will do this with a hydro-seeding unit. This machine mixes seed, mulch, fertilizer, and water and then is sprayed out as a liquid material. The newly seeded areas will be very distinct as they are a bright sea-green color. This seed/mulch material helps to germinate the grasses quicker and “seals off” the surface to resist weeds and other grasses from growing.

Additionally, there are a few areas throughout the golf course where unwanted grasses are growing in the fairways and rough. These grasses have been sprayed out and are now very visible against the green turf. This are not gas/oil spills, nor is it an infectious disease, rather we are eliminating the undesirable Kikuyugrass and Bermudagrass species from the golf course to improve conditioning and consistency. These grasses naturally turn brown during the winter months as they go into dormancy when exposed to cooler temperatures. Spraying these grasses out now greatly reduces their chance of coming back next spring and it allows the maintenance crew to overseed the areas with the appropriate grass type. While these areas are brown for now, once the seeds germinate, they will eventually convert back to playable green grass.

Golf Cart Etiquette

2009-10-23T14:43:00.000-07:00

With last week’s rain and the ensuing cleanup behind us, the golf course conditions have improved considerably from the drier summer conditions. All areas of the golf course benefited from the impressive rainfall last week and the maintenance crew has been busy trying to stay on top of the fast growing grass. You will probably notice a lot more grass clippings out there than usual and this is a good sign that the golf course will be healthy heading into the winter months with a dense stand of grass.

There has been plenty of play throughout the golf course over the past week or two and it looks to be busy heading into the first part of November. With the increase in play, it will be imperative that golfers properly take care of the golf course. The fairways and rough areas benefitted tremendously following aeration when carts were restricted to the paths. While we realize it is aggravating to stay on the path at all times, there are simple guidelines to follow to help keep the golf course in optimal condition. Many people think that small golf cart tires cannot cause too much damage and turf stress. However, golf carts induce a great deal of compacted pressure and are extremely stressful to turf. Please click on the link below to see the impacts of golf carts on the fairways. As we head into a more consistent rain pattern, there will be days where carts are on the path only. We make these decisions to help preserve and protect golf course conditioning. You will notice new signage just off the fairway to instruct carts where to travel. These signs will rotate periodically to spread out wear and compaction, but will always be kept a considerable distance away from green complexes. The approach areas of the golf course should be treated as a green surface as they are a prime area for shot-making. This rule applies for pull carts as well. Under no circumstances should carts ever come anywhere near a green surface.
Click on Link to Learn More About Golf Cart Ettiquette

Importance of Course Ettiquette

2009-10-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

The greens, tees, fairways, and approaches responded very well to the recent aerification and optimal weather conditions over the past few weeks. Most areas of the greens have completely healed and the quick recovery was evidence that these “finicky” greens were in need of the beneficial aeration process. Over the next few weeks the greens will continue to be sand topdressed with a non-invasive type of sand. This sand absorbs into the surfaces much better than previously used sand types and will benefit the greens by smoothing out the imperfections. The cooler weather at night should help to firm up the green surfaces and the optimal health conditions should allow the green speeds and playability to be favorable for all groups.

As the fall season typically brings us the best weather of the season, there will be plenty of play throughout the golf course in the coming weeks. With the increase in play, it will be imperative that golfers properly take care of the golf course. Most members can attest that although being cart-path only for the past 17-days was a nuisance, the fairways and rough have benefitted tremendously. It may seem that those small golf cart tires cannot cause too much damage and turf stress. However, keep in mind that golf carts create a lot of compacted pressure and are extremely stressful. Respect the 90o Rule for driving onto the fairways as this will be vital for keeping playing conditions at their finest. Avoid driving back and forth over an area to look for balls and never drive straight down the middle of a fairway. These simple steps will help protect optimal playing conditions for everyone. Likewise, on the green surfaces there has been a decrease in golfer participation in fixing ball marks. This is the number one rule for golf course etiquette and if a ball mark is not properly fixed within impacting a green, it may not heal for two to three weeks. Fix your ball mark and while waiting for all players to reach the putting surface, find another ball mark to fix. Take pride in golf course etiquette and it will make a noticeable difference in the playability and presentation of the golf course.

HOW TO PROPERLY FIX A BALLMARK