Cart Paths and Fairways

Over the next few days, there are a couple of large scale projects taking place on the grounds of Glen Echo CC.

Sunday evening we began to aerate our fairways. Skip and I came in once the last tee times went off and started pulling cores and then busting up the cores with a Flail mower that has spinning blades and chains and pulverizes the plugs. Today we will begin to drag the fairways with metal drags which breaks up any plugs that made it past the grinding. It will also help work the soil back through the zoysia canopy. We blow the remaining thatch and residue into the rough where it can be chewed up by the rough mower. Earth to earth and dust to dust. The fairways are then mowed. We anticipate this taking more than one day to complete all of our fairways. We normally have 3-4 fairways to complete usually on Tuesday and or Wednesday depending upon the weather conditions and anticipated play. 

Asphalt work will begin in earnest on Tuesday with the front clubhouse circle getting an overlay, Grinding along the edges of the crosswalks in the Pearson Plaza and near the portico will be completed and then a layer of asphalt will be laid in the circle area.We will begin asphalt on the course on Wednesday. The first work will be from the bottom of 3 hill all the way into the first tee and also the path that goes to the range.

Large dump trucks will be taken by our staff out into the field to assist in navigating through play. We will stage them in the parking lot and they will be brought out from there. They will also be brought back in once empty. Once the first section is complete, they will proceed to the second section which will be from the lowest point on hole 3 going forward through 4 tee to where it ties into the path behind 7 green. Those trucks will be staged  in the main entrance area, The new overlay will be 2" thick and we have a total linear footage of about 5,700' at an average width of about 8'.  

We anticipate this work to be completed by Friday. The asphalt will be able to be driven upon the next day. Depending upon weather, we will begin the process of back filling dirt in along the path and sodding fescue to help make a smooth transition with the new grade. We will do sections at a time to give us the best chance at growing the turf in properly since we are still into summer heat. I would not anticipate all the sodding to be completed before winter is upon us in December. Some areas might not need any back fill which will be helpful.

 

 

The sealing and striping of the parking lot is scheduled for Monday August 9th. Once the delays in the parking lot moved closer to our open window for the cart path overlay, the two projects were switched around so the sealing would not be damaged by the large asphalt trucks. This work should take 2-3 days next week.

We appreciate  your understanding during this time.Check you emails for updates and or social media for both the club and my personal accounts.

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Spraying Collars with Bermuda Contamination As Well As Some Fairways

Last week, Tom sprayed the collars that had bermuda contamination in various stages. We still must backpack spray areas that have zoysia next to them because the chemical is harmful to zoysia so we will do it very carefully with our small sprayer where bermuda has contaminated the collars next to zoysia.

This week the bermuda has turned white if you have been out to the course the past few days. The chemical used (Pylex) disturbs the cartenoid biosynthesis. Carotenoids serve two key roles in plants. They absorb light energy for use in photosynthesis, and they protect chlorophyll from photo damage. By turning white, the chemical is disrupting chlorophyll production in the plant. We are applying this product at 1/2 ounce per acre because it is being applied over the top of bentgrass. It can damage the bent so we are going with lower rates to offset injury to the bent. Standard use rates on more tolerant species are only 1 to 1.5 ounces per acre so as you can see a highly effective product at low dose rates. We must do 3 consecutive applications over about 1 1/2 months to kill the bermuda. Of course, you must then go after the bermuda that is outside the collar so it is an on going process.

Collar on 10 turning colors from green to white. Part of the plant is still green. Successive sprays should for the most part kill it.

This is a section a few feet away in the approach that was not sprayed.

I also sprayed 3 fairways with our fairway eradication product last week. You are beginning to see some changes in fairways 1-3 and a little on 18. The bermuda in these areas will turn a little reddish as the chemical works its way into the plant. I'll have pictures of this over the next few days as the chemical begins to do some damage to the bermuda. I need to spray other fairways but rain and high heat have gotten in the way. I'll probably spray them right before Echofest so it does not disrupt the color until after the event is over. We also must get these sprays completed before the zoyia grass goes dormant which could effect its ability coming out of dormancy next spring.

Tee Renovation Completed and Other Course Work

The staff completed the tee renovation to #5 and #14. They were stripped, tilled, laser leveled, tops sodded with zoysia and perimeter with fescue. We converted one single tee pointing to 6 tee box to 2 tees pointing at the 5th green. This should assist our players with proper alignment as well as our staff when they set the markers.

We aligned 14 somewhat the best we could but we were able to increase the teeing surface across the tee. If you remember, the left side fell off somewhat and reduced the overall teeing ground. 

I would expect a month of growth before these tees could be ready for play. In the meantime please resist the urge to walk on the surfaces. Extra water will be applied to get them to root and grow.

We had some extra zoysia and the staff is busy fixing damage spots in fairways. A little bit of fescue is left and we will patch a couple of prominent rough spots near greens. They are also going to remove sod from back area on 9 red tee, fill with dirt and sod with zoysia. This will allow us a larger area for a drop area for players lieing 3 after hitting the water.

We had a contractor come out on Monday/Tuesday to remove the tops of 3 large trees that have been in the process of dying the last couple of years. # 4 Elm along Lucas & Hunt, red oak at #10 tee and a large Pin Oak on the right side of 15. Since it is spring, we intend to evaluate the effects of the tree on 10. Everyone’s assumption is it will make it easier. As you play this season, your inputs that you have noticed in your playing groups will be appreciated by the green committee to make the proper decision to plant a new tree or not. 

MSD contractor continues their work on #9. Glen Echo Park subdivision had combined storm water and sanitary sewers which flowed downstream and would flood areas of U-City. Their efforts are attempting to place storm water in drainage systems and sanitary where it belongs. The area to the right of the cart path will be sodded with fescue allowing it to be more natural looking and fit into our golf course. No gabian in this project. Hopefully it will be completed in the next couple of weeks giving it plenty of time to grow in for summer.

The last pic is our effort to reduce compaction on the right entrance to 10 fairway. We placed a  bench across the path to request golfers to use the left cart path to enter the fairway and proceed to their golf ball. This will reduce the impacts on dormant grass as it tries to break winter's hold. We understand if your ball has gone to the right or not crossed the lake but if all players have crossed safely, please use the left path.

5 Blue Tee

Front of 5 white tee

Left side look of 14 tee. Not quite down the left side but much better than it has been.

Right side. We were able to get the top right corner to align down the right side.

Drainage area on #9. 

This area will be sodded completely and will handle storm water as it comes into the golf course.

Arrow for 10 tee. Please go down the left cart path to enter fairway. 

Bermuda Eradication Part Deux Hundred

First early morning arrival to the course in a while. Don't miss getting up at 4:30 but do miss the course waking up. Shot a little Bermuda Eradication video and yes we will be killing some Bermuda after the Invitational. I have not sprayed this year due to some weakness in the Zoysia.
 Fairways overall continue to improve with some filling in needed on 1,2 and 4. Tees were aerated last week, fairways were spiked which is the reason for the little slices with the brown edges where they dried out. Most of those areas have recovered. Yes and I have the finger ready for the video!

In the Beginning, From This to That

In the beginning, which starts on or around February for our fairway/tee Dormant Zoysia grass, we start the process of cultural practices to bring our fairways from

                                                                                This

To That

The last few days with unseasonably warm temperatures and drier conditions, we began spraying our fairways with our pre-emergent product Ronstar which is the best product on the market for our 27 acres of fairways. This has to be done during dormancy or when the warm season turf is at rest so the herbicides have little to no negative effects on the turf. There are less expensive products than Ronstar on the market but these products disrupt root growth and or could further damage areas that have been weakened by shade, traffic and excessive moisture issues. Our fairways are the largest area of tightly mowed turf on the property and are a significant feature of our course. This is why we are using this products as well as making a concentrated effort in reducing the impact of bermuda contamination we have in the fairways. Our Bermuda Eradication Program as you know involves spraying other selective herbicides that negatively effect the bermuda throughout the growing season and replacing larger patches with new Zoysia sod. 

We also use a non-selective herbicide Prosecutor(Round Up Generic) in the mix in winter which will kill the poa annua which has germinated in the fairways since last fall. If we did not kill these spots of poa on the fairways, they could become pretty large before we begin mowing and disrupt your lie on the fairway and will also contribute many more seeds to the weed bank in the fairways that we continually fight. 

It will take about 2-3 weeks for the chemical during cooler temperatures to begin to show the effect of the Prosecutor. The pre-emergent is for crabgrass/goose grass weed control to prevent them from establishing in our fairways. The weeds actually germinate and then when the root of the weed comes in contact with the chemical it kills it. We will also be spraying our tees and range tees as well.   

Trees and the Design of #3

In the last couple of years, there have been discussions regarding Hole # 3. Most of it has centered around the use of trees in the right rough between the fairway and the cart path. Their has also been discussion with Kye Goalby the designer and architect who did our bunker renovation so deftly about some minor routing changes of the hole. Allow me a moment to give some back history.

A few years ago, a large Oak tree on the right of the cart path near the top of the hill lost most of its top and fell in a thunderstorm. When it fell, it damaged an Ash that is on the fairway side of the path in a narrow area between the fairway and cart path. I left the tree in place knowing that it would need to be removed a few years later. Well, that time has come because the tree has a split in it and must be removed. Earlier in the year, we removed a severely compromised Ash that was in the narrow area between the fairway and cart path at about 185 yards from the green. Pretty far from the green but in this same narrow rough area. Some think that if there are trees in a spot, no matter how inappropriate the location in regards to design and play-ability of the hole, another tree should be placed back in the same spot.

Part of my discussions with Kye have evolved from the design of the hole and how an architect helps to route a hole to give players the proper direction the ball should travel and the best location for it to rest if struck properly.

As you can see from the picture below, once the fairway goes up the hill it falls to the left. The red arrows show the fall line from the center of the fairway to the left. The current fairway boundary on the right side moves in that direction as well. One of the things that was done years ago which Kye and myself agree was that trees were inappropriately planted along the right side between the fairway and cart path. If your ball lands in the narrow area between the fairway and cart path, you were forced to either go over or around this tree. If you were too close to the tree, it forced a play to the left which is not the direction the hole should be played because the ball will roll off the left side of the fairway due to the slope. If the hole was being designed today, the fairway shape would be more to the right. A properly routed hole leaves areas open so that if a ball is properly struck will be in decent shape for its next shot or will be on the green. All the great architects in history speak strongly against the placement of trees too close to the line of play not allowing a ball to be advanced forward. Of course, how close is too close to the line of play is in the eyes of the beholder.

The picture below shows this hole. You can already see how narrow the rough area is anyway. The green lines my interpretation of the potential changes that Kye and I have spoken about regarding changing in the fairway/intermediate. The right side of the hole toward the top is flatter and much better for a ball to land than the left side which falls off drastically into the rough and left tree line.

This gives you a little idea of the thought process that goes into tree removal and the potential to not replace what I would consider a mistake made from our past. I think not learning from our past and now trying to move past these type of issues is a mistake. It makes the course play truly unfair, reduces the opportunity to advance a ball forward, disrupts maintenance such as mowing around objects that should not be there and take time and creates problems for future. Some would say you've made it easier, it can be easier for someone who strikes the perfect stroke to a uphill green where you can only see a flag and hope that your shot does not go off line more than a few degrees or you will be in a bunker. It plays at least an extra club or maybe two depending upon your length.

A little winter season discussion regarding tree or not to tree, that's a pretty big question??

Video Regarding Tee Aeration, Juvenile Red-tailed Hawks and Other Information

Rain put a damper on our tee aeration plans today. We will probably finish the work next week. Video discusses that work as well as the fairway turf situation, greens bunker edging and a couple of other areas. Photos below also add to discussion later of these subjects later in the video.

Our Red-Tailed Hawks picked up stakes and moved to the Sycamore near 5 White/Blue tee this year. I had kind of lost track of them this season until Ms. Herrin mentioned where they were located. If my eyes don't deceive me I think we have 2 juveniles about ready to take off on their 1st flights soon!

https://youtu.be/0kS6uzl8yzU

Bunker edging. Sand was deep enough along edge I had to use a spade shovel to reform the edge. Back 9 are complete as is  Holes 8-9. Hope to finish the rest of the front next week.

From time to time you will notice some black algae appearing on greens. This usually occurs because of climatic conditions, warm and humid conditions and sometimes and the end or past time for a fungicide application. The past 6 weeks have seen a weekly application of some type of required spraying product either it be a growth regulator, summer root disease management product and wetting agents to keep profile consistent in its moisture content.

This is from the 2nd green and the ugly reddish colored turf is poa annua which does not like Paclobutrazol, a growth regulator product we have been spraying every 30 days or so to help reduce the impacts of poa on our greens. My last application last week was 1/2 the rate of the month before.  As we get into summer, we cannot over stress the poa annua or it becomes poa deadua.  Too much poa annua dying quickly could contribute to yours truly's untimely demise. This type of condition does help bentgrass grow into the area and improve our total amount of bentgrass coverage. Losing 20-50 poa annua is something I do not want to see in my lifetime unless I was spraying Round Up and trying to kill it. 

Fairway Sod Replacement Work

I've made efforts since 2009 to take back control of our fairways from the hideous weed Westwood Bermuda. No offense to our friends at Westwood CC but it is a hideous turf grass. Part of the effort is to spray an area that has mostly zoysia allowing it to fill in where the Bermuda was injured. The second part of the equation is actual sod removal. Yesterday the staff laid a couple pallets of zoysia on the approach of 12 fairway which had wider scale injury that you will see below..

Part of this Bermuda was injured by the two sprays from last fall but we also have some normal winter injury/slow to come out from the winter. We intend to do a couple of pallets of Zoysia a week for the next month or so between the other work necessary(or until I've expired the budget) allowing for enough time to grow in for 'The Invitational'. 

Next week I will make another application in areas where the zoysia is a bit more prevelant and can fill in. Probably no 10 acre application this time of year.

We do have some zoysia that is a little weak and needs some warmer temperatures. Lower wet areas and the usual heavy shaded areas are always an issue when it comes to zoysia. 

I will keep you updated over the next few weeks.

The uphill approach to #12. 

Another view of the same area.

2 pallets laid in some of the area. Late in summer we will hit this area again to set back the bermuda that either tries to come back up through the Zoysia or around the edges. A few more of the larger spots will be removed next week and replaced.

This is an area on 7 fairway about 100 yards from the green near the big repair done in the middle of the fairway. A good spot to remove and replace with new sod.

The same area but on the opposite side of the swale looking toward 5 tee. Another couple good spots to replace.

Tree root pruner in action

Just started to use our tree root pruner today.  Purchased from Commercial Turf in Chillicothe.  This unit will be invaluable in our tree management efforts to improve the overall conditions of our turf grass in our main play areas near greens, tees, fairways and rough.   This unit will help to conserve water of our tree lined rough and fairways, will improve fertilizer availability for grass and will enhance the rough allowing it to be more consistent  throughout the property and overall a much more healthy plant.  It will also enhance other other turf surfaces such as fairways, tees and greens.

Check out video below.

Fairway bermuda eradication program

(Editors Note, I apologize about the dark print on the body of the message.  I'm posting from home and having a conflict with my normal browser I use and having to work between two browsers.  I copied and pasted from one to the other and it did not transition properly)

Made a video today to discuss the fairway bermuda eradication program.The zoysia grass is coming out of dormancy and in some cases where I sprayed bermuda grass, the zoysia that was mixed in the area is a little slow in greening.  It is green but just not as green as the non-sprayed areas.  Areas such as #1 from above the fairway on the cart path and #3 from the tee show the outlines of some of the areas where the sprayer was turned on and turned off.  The video was taken from the flat area of #7.

We are using a combination of Fusilade II at 5 oz an acre and Turflon Ester at a rate up to 32 oz per acre which has shown in university trials to increase the efficacy of the products than using Fusilade on its own.   The zoysia is tolerant of these chemicals but can turn slightly off color during the application for the first couple of weeks. I would expect the remaining zoysia areas that are off color to be back to normal in the next couple of weeks.  I apoligize ahead but toward the end of the video I must have been covering the mike so the sound does go down slightly so you might need to make an adjustment in your volume.

Fairway Height Raised for next week

Today was the last day that our fairways were mowed at our standard fairway height which is 5/8".  We will be raising the height to 3/4" to allow the turf to have some slightly increased growth going into dormancy. This increased leaf area allows the plant to store some additional energy before it goes to sleep over the next few weeks.  Shorter days and lower temperatures, notably below 40 degrees help to bring on frost. Normally a hard frost at 32F or below are required to bring the plant into full dormancy.

#2 Fairway widening at green and bailout area

During Kye Goalby's discussion with the Green Committee regarding the bunker restoration work last month, he also proposed a couple of other ideas regarding the course and potential changes.  One of those changes that the committee wanted to see implemented was a slight widening of the fairway of #2 and a bailout or short grass chipping area along #2 green.  Kye's recommendation of this change involved a couple of different points.

1. The fairway and entrance to the green on the right side narrows rather quickly with the slope moving to the right.  As we all know, many balls struck fairly well end up short and right of the green.
2. A large pine tree was directly adjacent to the green with limbs extending only 25' from the green.  As the tree continued to grow, it would extend even closer to the green.  A shot slightly off line would deflect off the green bank and would end up on bare ground under the tree.  Wrong tree in the wrong place directly next to a green and planted at the bottom of the green bank..  Pines, spruces etc should not be planted in or around green complexes. 

The newly expanded area is  the pointed shape.  The fairway unit mow within about 25' of the green in the front and the tee/approach mower mows to the collar and will mow the new area to the right of the green.

Those of you that have played in the last couple of days have seen the trees that were removed.  I think the new view of the hole exposes the green surround, the slope of the surround and the movement of the right side of the green.  Initially I felt the work would be completed next week but after meeting with Kye yesterday and marking the area, it is larger than I first anticipated so I believe we will delay the sod work until next spring so it will be ready for the summer next season.  

I felt it was important to give you a view from overhead and a little more description of the work planned.  

As I'm typing this, we have gotten about an 1" of rain from the first wave of storms that have just moved through.  Enough already!

#1 Earth moving

The contractor(Wagner Construction) who is doing the work for Metro is completing their responsibilities for the project.  One of the requirements was to move the mounds to the right of #1 fairway per our recommendation from our Master Plan.  A majority of that work was accomplished today.  I asked the contractor to leave a portion of the mound so we can use that soil to tie our existing fairway into the planned widening of the fairway.  We have two catch basins and drainage swales to put in place plus the drainage which well reduce the overall moisture that will remain in this low area of the golf course.  We are waiting on our sod provider to give us the okay that they can cut sod before we begin this work   Some of our work will require sod to be removed from the fairway and we do not want to do further disruption to the area until sod can be cut.

The road leading to the area will be sodded as well.  The contractor will also be doing some asphalt repair in our maintenance area and from the rear gate to the top of the hill near the short range parking area.  A tentative schedule for this work is planned for the week of March 5-7.  We will keep you informed of potential changes in gate opening and closing as we get closer to the date.

Expansion of our parking area as a part of the agreement in allowing access to the project area. 

Roadway being removed along #1.

Trackhoe breaking down the mounds.

Dirt mounds being lowered  and spread to improve overall playability of the right side of #1 rough.

Trackhoes moving the soil from the second mound toward the fence line.

View from the large oak gree toward #1 green.  The mound on the left will be used to transition between the existing fairway and the new widened fairway and improved rough area.

Same view as above but a little closer look of the area.

Looking back from the direction of the green back around the turn.    Fairway will be expanded approximately 5-8 yards into the mounds that are on the right side of the picture.

Looking back toward the tee.  

Carts on paths for the winter season

With the fairways going dormant and conditions becoming wet from the rain over the last few days, all carts will be required to remain on the paths the rest of the fall and throughout the winter.

We will allow individuals who have been given  red flags during the main golf season to receive a flag as well during the winter when conditions are dry enough to allow access onto the fairways without damaging turf. 

Zoysia does not handle wear and tear well during its dormant period and could be slow to come out of dormancy in the spring when everyone is excited about the new golf season.

We will allow carts off of the paths in the spring when we begin to get growth that requires mowing.

Poa annua in #7 fairway

If you've played the course over the last couple of weeks, you have seen poa annua in various stages of death in our fairways and tees.  There is one fairway, #7 that did not get sprayed with our RoundUp/Preemergent application due to some conflicts with the weather.  #7, especially at the beginning has a large crop of poa that has recently increased in size due to the warmer weather.  I just got out and sprayed it today with another product that is safe to spray as the turf comes out of dormancy.  You should see the effects of this material on the poa over the next 2-3 weeks.

Large spots of poa annua at the beginning of 7 fairway that will soon be turning yellow and dying.

Follow up to Roundup spray for poa on Fairways, tees and green surrounds

The Roundup that we sprayed on our dormant fairways/intermediate rough, warm season green surrounds and tees is working.  Yellow plants all over the property.   There a few plants of bluegrass, rye and fescue that will probably not die from our application due to the rate being too high for safe application on dormant zoysia.  In those cases, we can carefully spot spray with another product over the next few weeks. 

Poa annua right after application about 3 weeks ago.  Green and healthy.

Poa annua 3 weeks later is yellow, chlorotic and dying.

Preemergent/Poa annua applications to Dormant Zoysia

During the month of February or very early March, we apply our preemergent(Ronstar) and non selective weed killer(Round Up Pro) to our Zoysia areas of the golf course; fairways, tees and green surrounds that are solid warm season grass.  We make the application this time of year because the Zoysia grass we are trying to protect is dormant and will not be injured from the spray.  Round Up is safe to use only when warm season turf is dormant.  We wait for temperatures to rise above freezing and sunny days.  The chemical will move more readily through the plant if the conditions are warmer and sunny.

Our first target we are trying to control is any cool season grass, mainly poa annua which has germinated in the fairway/intermediate cut/ tees and green surrounds.  This application will also kill knotweed and will restrict the growth of rye, fescue and blue grass.  If this material is not sprayed out, there will be large clumps of weed grass that seeds profusely and will leave our fairways very clumpy until we begin to mow in late April/early May.


Our second target is to prevent crabgrass and goose grass from germinating in the spring and summer.  We make this combination tank mix to to reduce wasting time and energy of a second application.  This material will lay dormant on the surface of the soil until it is needed in the spring.  This year, we are using Ronstar because it has the least negative activity on the root systems of our warm season grass.  We had great warm season turf last year and I want to continue that push into this year as well.  This material does cost more but it is wise to change chemistry's every few years to reduce the potential for resistance.  We will be using Barricade on our rough areas in late March to early April along with a broad spectrum selective weed killer.

Here's the spray rig after the tank was emptied this morning.  We utilize a soap marking system and some green dye to help outline the areas that we spray.

This picture is along the right side of #18 fairway.  You can see how excessive shade encourages poa annua.  Without the leaves on the trees,  you can still see the affects of the shade.  If the poa was not sprayed, it would begin to choke out the zoysia.  Our trees provide character for the course but also do encourage our poa annua population to explode.

Last mowing at normal fairway height of cut/Large patch on zoysia application

Monday was the last day we mowed fairways at the normal summer cutting height.  The growth has slowed with the shorter light period and cooler nights.  We raise the height to allow the turf to begin to store energy for winter and to help protect it from the cold temperatures we will experience.

We will probably mow the turf at the new height for a couple of more weeks and will then allow it to go into dormancy a little taller.  Best year for zoysia that I have seen in a long time.

Assistant Mike spent the first two days this week applying our Large Patch on Zoysia treatment.  This application is made to all tee, fairway, and green surround areas that contain zoysia to help reduce the negative of effects of this disease next spring which is the time of year that our zoysia is more susceptible to the disease.   If we waited to apply the material next spring at a curative rate, the disease would be much more difficult to control and the disease do more damage to our turf.  The fall preventative application does not  always prevent the disease from occurring but it does slow its overall affect.

Here is the link to last fall and spring postings regarding large patch if you are interested in further reading.
Its interesting in the activity of the disease from one year to the next.  Last year, we had activity as early as August 31st.  This season, I've seen just a couple of minor spots on September 25th.

http://geccgcm.blogspot.com/search/label/Large%20Patch%20on%20zoysia

You can see the spray tracks in the dew and the marker foam that is used to help the operator keep the spray in proper alignment.

 

Repairing damaged fariway areas

Some of our fairways had some winter damage from cold temperatures and drainage areas which stay wait and will freeze out the warm season turf.  Also, some spots were from the bermuda being killed  from our bermuda eradication program.  This past week after completing the tee work on #8, we had about 400 sq. ft of zoysia sod left from the project and also cut some sod from our zoysia fairway nursery area.  The guys replaced damaged areas on #8 and #3.  We have additional areas to repair on #4, 7, 8 and 15 which we will repair this next week.  I've delayed any additional bermuda spraying until after the Invitational which is coming up in less than 3 weeks.  The zoysia turf is tolerant to our spray but the chemicals do have some regulating affects on the zoysia and delay its growth.  Also temperatures in the mid to upper 90's could lead to additional injury of the zoysia which I did not want to risk.  Our spray in April had injured bermuda grass on multiple fairways so I have delayed making a follow up spray.  I intended to spray our 4 main fairways in the program in early June but the cool wet weather of mid-May delayed our growth coming out and then the hot weather kicked in in June.  Our membership has been very tolerant of the program but sometimes you have to chose green grass over brown and or dead grass. 

Russ, Tom and Jason picking up sod after it has been cut from our fairway nursery.

Repairs to #8 near the main road in which the bermuda was killed from our bermuda eradication program.  Also, there was some freeze damaged sod at the bottom of the north side of the road on #8 which you can see is now replaced with green sod.

The larger sodded areas are roped off and the smaller areas have white circles around them to remind you to take a free drop from the ground under repair area.  This also alerts you to not drive over these areas because we apply excessive water over the spots to keep the sod alive.

Installed drainage on hole #12

I posted a picture the other day regarding the water problem that we are having in the middle of the fairway of #12 with an explanation of what we believe created the issue.  An old clay tile became clogged and was backing up and leaking out into the fairway. 

This morning, the staff trenched a drainage line from the clay pipe at about 145 yards from the green to the bottom of the swale at about 110 yards.  There is an existing drain tile that helps in removing water through the swale area.  Assistant Skip cut off the zoysia sod and Assistant Mike and myself pulled the sod off of the run.  Skip did the trenching and Russ and Skip laid the solid 4" pipe and backfilled and tamped the dirt back into place.  The only thing left to do is to lay the sod back in place in the morning.  Only one picture of the operation, we were busy verticutting, topdressing, dragging, mowing and spraying greens while the fellas were finishing the drainage work.

Assistant Skip aligning the trencher to continue down to the bottom of the hill.  The existing sod will be laid tomorrow back in place.  Behind Skip and to the right is the spot where the water was coming out throughout the winter.(Straw colored turf)  We will probably have to replace most of the sod in that spot.