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Post Date: Friday, October 1, 2021 |
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Hello to all,
I would like to give an update as to the state of the golf course
here at Laurel Ridge. We are now entering fall, as is apparent by the crisp
morning temps and the amount of foggy morning we are seeing. Temperatures, I’m
sure, are going to “rollercoaster” over the next month as we transition to
October/ November weather trends. Let me start off by talking about the greens.
The greens went through aerification with a core being pulled
out this fall. They were then broadcast with soil amendments and a very
aggressive fertilizer that reduced heal time and has thus far given a nice
response. Hopefully everyone can tell I am continuing to topdress them almost
weekly to firm the surface back up as they are still softer than I would like
them to be. We have dropped the height of cut and will continue to drop it to a
predicted height for October, giving greens a little more speed. Disease is
still pressuring at this point, so more applications of fungicides and
insecticides will be used to ward off any lingering pests.
The tees are still in rough shape, but a plan is now in place for
getting them to a more respectable condition. Here’s the steps:
1. All tees will be aerified using a 1 inch core
puller
2. All tees will be given the proper amendments they
are lacking.
3. All tees will be interseeded to establish new
growth
4. All tees will be sand capped using our greens
mix
What has happened to the
tees is the soil has become too acidic for this variety of grass to grow
strong. Adding amendments will alleviate this problem. Compounding this problem
is the fact that every tee we have is soil compacted, meaning the soil is so
tight, I cannot get enough water into the soil profile. Aerification along with
sand capping will fix this issue and set us up for a very good year next season
with green and healthy tees.
This same issue also
exists with the fairways. The fairways are so compacted that the proper water
or nutrients cannot get into the soil profile, and we end up with burn out or
wet wilt spots. This year, it has been feast or famine with Mother Nature’s
rainfall. As everyone knows, we had several rounds of tropical moisture that inundated
the course and the water literally had nowhere to go because of compaction.
These are the spots that remain as of this writing. To reduce compaction, we
will pull cores from EVERY fairway and promote regrowth with a sustainable
fertilizer. This will set us up for success next year and reduce wet wilt and
burn out. It is my intention to lime the entire course in the spring.
Dollar spot disease is
still prevalent at this time so more fungicides will be applied on tees and
fairways.
Most weeds are burning
out and dying due to the lower morning temperatures; however, I will be
spraying all tees and fairways for sedge and crabgrass, so you will notice some
brown and or dead areas. Unfortunately, this must happen to keep our turf
healthy.
Here is how tee and
fairway aerification will take place. Beginning
November 1 2021, we will be shutting down one hole a day so that crews can do
everything that needs to be done to that specific hole. No play will be allowed
on the closed hole for that day. It will be up to the Pro Shop on how scoring
is to be done or if a hole is to be played twice. Each hole should only take
one day to complete and we will go hole by hole, mostly in order. This will be
completed as fast as possible so as not to interrupt too much golf. Drainage on
2 will also be fixed at this time.
As of right now, most
have probably noticed that 80% of the gold/green tee on #8 has been stripped.
We will be resodding that in the coming days. The issue there was a grub
breakthrough.
This has undoubtedly
been my toughest season here at Laurel Ridge.
Due to the shortage in the labor force. I have had to pick my battles as
it pertains to the course. Mowing has
been a chore, let alone doing the small things that add up. It is my hope that
next year we are able to acquire more help.
I always will work to give everyone a stellar course.
Thank you for all of your support and I look forward to seeing all
of you out on the course!
Steven Akers
GCS Laurel Ridge Country
Club
[email protected]
828-452-0545 ext. 180
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