thatch removal program

Monday May 4: we will be continuing our thatch removal greens program. Our methods of controlling thatch levels has evolved over the past few years to the method we currently use. Our program includes a method of deep verti-cutting which cuts through the greens surface and pulls the thatch to the surface. We have calculated and tested our method and we have found that we remove a higher percentage of thatch and the greens recover more quickly from this practice compared to core aeration.
Why is this important? Excessive thatch will create greens that have inconsistent ball roll, drain improperly, as well as being prone to fungal diseases and heat stress. Bentgrass is naturally a thatch producer and in order to achieve high quality putting surfaces we need to control these levels regularly.

Hole #5 and #6 upgrades

Progress being made! We are planting trees, shaping bunkers and seeding.

Hole #5 and #6 Upgrades

A bulldozer cutting and filling the waste bunker.

snow!!!

Old man winter is showing us his stuff one last time!

first mowing

We took advantage of a warm afternoon and mowed all the greens for the first time this year. The course is very brown in colour which has come from the lack of snow cover in March and cold dry winds. This is a normal occurrence and some warm days and rains will perk things up quickly.
The course has wintered very well and we expect good spring playing conditions.
Shari hasn't missed a beat, mowing some real straight lines on #17 green for the first time this year!

Snow mould protection

An example of course winterization. Even though the turf on #6 tee deck is still dormant, it has been protected from snow mould due to an application last November. The line is very clear where the application started and stopped. The bluegrass rough is affected with pink snow mould, but will bounce back with some warmer temperatures. Snow moulds dramatically affect the spring recovery of bentgrass which we have on our tees, fairways and greens.

#4 fairway rehab