Golf Course Maintenance Update

Spring is just around the corner and we are looking forward to a great year.  Yesterday, we started mowing the fairways for the first time.  We dropped the mower to .450" to get a tight cut and hoping for a little scalping to help with the green up process.  Once we mow all fairways, we will increase the mowing height to .550" until we have a healthy stand of Bermuda.

While we were working on the blue nine bunkers, we were also pushing the greens with both slow and quick release fertilizers.  A majority of the greens have responded well but maybe a touch slower then the other greens.  We are working with these greens to get them ready for play by Saturday.  However, #13 and #16 are still struggling.  We will be babying these greens throughout the transition period to aid in recovery (walk mowing and hand watering).  I have also ordered sod for these greens and a few other areas that are thin.  We will begin laying sod on these greens once the Tifdwarf is available.

We have made a few adjustment to our agronomic plan for this year. The two big factor that will help with our success are walk mowing cleanups at all times and our new fertility program. A majority of our thin areas are located around the greens edges and are directly related to mechanical damage of the Triplex mowers. We will find the necessary man power to walk mow these areas on a weekly bases.  We have also started a new greens fertility program that I'm very excited about.  We have been using the new line for two month and I've seen major improvements.

Due to wet conditions, we are adding drainage on #12 fairway, between the first fairway bunker and the slope on the left hand side.  Below are pictures of the work in progress.