Irrigation system

On Monday we will be blowing out our irrigation system.  This is always done before we get extended freezing temperatures.  If the pipes and tubes surrounding the pumps freeze it would rupture them and be costly to repair.  The blow out process will take about a day and a half.  We will also be blowing out our fresh water lines to the 1st tee, to the 15th hole, around the pool and around the tennis courts.

Today I turned off the power to the pumps and started draining the system.

Storm aftermath

We received .7" of rain yesterday along with all the wind that was present.  There was not any damage done due to the wind, just a few branches that fell down.  Carts will be restricted for the next few days.  It is very wet.

Range closed

The range is now closed for the year.  Typically the range closes on November 1st, but in light of the forecast, we closed it two days early.

We close the range in early November for a few reasons:
1 - The temps are usually much lower and usage is way down, therefore the labor used to set up the range and pick up the balls afterward is not cost effective for the usage that the club members get.
2 - The conditions are usually wet.  A good portion of the balls end up stuck in the mud and we are unable to run the range picker if we run too late into the fall.
3 - The usage that does occur on the range tee will create divots that will not recover over the winter.  This time of year the turf growth has slowed way down.  Any damage done now will not recover until next May.

Aerification update

All 20 greens were aerified today.  We also made two applications of sand to the greens.  The first was brushed in, the second application will be worked into the holes tomorrow - either with a brush or by rain :)  Everything went smoothly, the guys are now headed home to thaw out.

Greens aerification

I don't know which one of you is asking for bad weather every time we aerify, but it's working.  We have less than ideal conditions again for aerification.  We are currently in the process of double aerifying the greens, both with 3/4" tines, one going 4" deep, the other going 10".  Both are also solid tines, we are not pulling any cores today.  This was done to get as much sand into the holes as we can.

FCC's aerifier, 3/4" solid tines, 4" deep

Deep tine machine, 3/4" tines, 10" deep

The holes on the left are from the small aerifier.  The deep tine machine made a pass on the right.  The holes from the deep tine are more oblong because of the angle that they have to go in and out at.

We put a layer of sand down before we aerify.  This helps move some of the sand into the holes.  "If" the sand dries today, we will then drag in the remaining sand.  Over the next few weeks we will continue to add sand to fill the holes and smooth the green.

This process is going to help continue the improvement of the greens over time.  Incorporating sand into the profile will increase rooting, promote drainage, allow for air movement, decrease compaction and decrease thatch build up.  Deep tining the greens will really help with drainage and deeper rooting.  The greens will only be better next year because of what we are doing today.

Aerifying tees

Today was all about the tees.  We are in the process of aerifying them.  We started out the morning blowing the leaves off and then mowing the tee box.  We then aerified the tee, picked up all the plugs, verticut the tee box, blew off the tee and put the markers back on.  It was all hands on deck to get all this done.

Aerifying the tee.

This is our core harvester, it collects the majority of the plugs.

Some of the hard to reach tees are cleaned off by hand.

After the tee box had a chance to dry, we verticut the tee and blew it off.  This really cleans off the tee.

I would have liked to aerify the tees much earlier in the season but due to outings, weather and other maintenance that had to get done, we had to postpone the tees.  The earlier in the fall that it gets done, the more benefit we can gain from it - increase rooting before winter, decrease compaction and better air movement.  This is one reason why greens are done so early (August).

Early orders

October in my line of business means: Early orders.  This is when every vendor that we have that sells us chemicals and fertilizers stops by and gives us their pitch and what they have to offer if we purchase our chemicals and fertilizers through them.  When products are ordered this early for next years applications, we are able to get substantial savings, up to 30% off.  This product is then delivered over the course of the winter with payments typically due next year.  So as you can see, as one year draws to a close, the next has already begun.

Frost days

On mornings that we have frost on the golf course, there are always a few housekeeping tasks that can be completed such as cleaning the shop, sweeping out the barns and doing work around the clubhouse.  We also split wood during frosty mornings and throughout the winter.  This wood is then sold to the members that would like to use it for campfires during the summer or in their wood stoves over the winter.  Although we don't make a profit on this operation, it does keep us busy while making a little cash for the club during the slower periods.

Pool house landscaping

For those of you that used the pool, played tennis or used the poolhouse this past summer; you probably noticed the lack of landscaping and lawn on the far west side of the pool house.  There was very little privacy for those coming from the pool and entering the pool house in front of Woodworth rd.

Today we installed some new landscaping and also graded and seeded the lawn next to the pool house.  This will provide better privacy to those using the pool house coming from the pool and give an overall better appearance to the area.

Even though this area is on the far back corner of our property and is not noticed by many, we still want to treat it like everyone will see it.