Lightning on the Golf Course, Your Life

I was gone yesterday afternoon on some Mom business and arrived back at the course after the storm had passed through in the early evening. I went down to the lakes to see if I needed to disperse some geese. Yes that time of year to moving the nesting geese along whenever possible.

I first saw a smaller splintered limb jammed into the bank next to the fairway nursery between 10/16. I then saw about a 3" in diameter limb jammed into the bottom of the lake and sticking out of the water.

As I looked across the lake to #10 I saw the Pin Oak where the lower part of the tree was blown off. As I mentioned to the green committee a couple of times already, this tree is not in good shape due to some damage in the crown area of the tree and is on our watch list. I did mention in an earlier posting that we intend to put a tree just past this tree due to the ultimate demise of this tree in the future. At least the lightning struck an already injured tree.

We monitor radar as we see storms approaching. We also monitor the lightning indicator to see the amount of lightning in storms and once the lightning strikes enter the 10 mile zone, we will bring everyone in.

As demonstrated from the damage to this tree, being on the golf course during lightning events are not a good idea. I always error on the side of caution and bring staff in quickly because the grass can be mowed a few minutes later. We alert staff and request that they alert members who are out in the same area. That second shot out of the trees can be made 30 minutes later but Your Life cannot be replaced. Please remember that when we call you off the course, sitting underneath trees only makes you a more attractive target. Also, not coming off the course and staff having to chase you down also endangers the life of staff members so when you hear the horn, be forewarned please come inside or go to the field bar if you cannot make it back to the shop for further instructions. Also, if you've not heard a horn and lightning is close, their is a possibility that staff is not aware of the issue or just became aware of it like you. The safety of our members, guests and staff first and foremost when it comes to protection from storms.

https://youtu.be/773b8QUUEkM

The strike on  the base of the tree with the shrapnel across the lake on #10.

DryJect Aeration Process at Glen Echo

Yesterday was the second aeration completed to our greens in a week's time. We contracted with DryJect of Tennessee to inject sand into our greens.

The process involved about 20 tons of sand, 800 buckets full of sand hand loaded into the machine by our staff. The machine uses a 3000 psi bead of water injecting the sand into holes which were over 1/2" in diameter approximately 4" deep spaced about 3"x4".

We had 2 units and 8 of us working with the 2 units loading sand into buckets, into the hopper and letting it fly. As the greens began to dry, we brushed them to help smooth the sand out that had been pulled up from last weeks aeration plus excess sand from the work performed yesterday. The process uses water which of course will pull up any existing sand which requires a brushing to smooth back out. We are in growth regulation time which slows the healing process but its still better than a million seed heads which we would be facing if we weren't applying this spray. I think a good trade off in the end, especially since it is very early in the season.

We've placed about 60 tons of sand in and on our greens the last 9 days.

Over the next seven months, we will be performing at least five venting procedures on the greens involving small needle tines and hydrojecting(water) to help them survive the season. These are very minor in nature and do not create some of the disruption you've seen over the last week. By the way, this past weeks work is absolutely necessary for many of these greens which are over 100 years old to survive the stress of a St. Louis summer.

Staff had to keep sand in the hopper continuously. 3-4 bucket fulls per pas on the green.

9th green. A little more sand visible because the unit uses water and as it rolls along, it picked up sand from the surface of last weeks work.

After brushing. Still some sand on the surface but we expect that this time of year after aeration. It also helps to smooth out some imperfections this time of year. 

Most of the new aeration holes are a little difficult to see because the hole is not as large of an opening on the surface as the normal coring tine but explodes out as it entered the sand profile.

Alphonso poring sand in the hopper with Chad Gamble, owner of  DryJect Tennessee working his way across the green.

Finished product with some dyed sand showing the spread and depth.

I've been informed that as the water begins to shoot into the surface, sand is vacuumed through the white hose and into the ground.

https://youtu.be/wKd2hxBrtbk

Shortened and Updated Video of Bermuda Eradication #1 Fairway

Shortended video of the 2014/2016 #1 Fairway Bermuda Eradication Program

As you can see we are making some great progress. Still have a lot of work to do but the program is working well. I'll get some more shots at the end of April when the 2014 video was taken.

https://youtu.be/rZjnLiu9hnI

Fairway Bermuda Eradication Progress

Edited 3/26

I was doing some research on the blog site the other day and ran across the April 2014 video showing some damage or weak areas in 1 Fairway where Bermuda was sprayed the fall before.

I did the same thing last fall on this same Fairway but you see hardly any Bermuda damaged from last falls spray because the Zoysia has improved significantly in these areas. That does not mean the Bermuda is completely gone, it probably isn't but it does mean that the  Zoysia is more active and out competing the Bermuda in this area. The first video is the current view and the second video is from 2014. I thought you would enjoy seeing the progress, I sure do!

Shortened Version
http://geccgcm.blogspot.com/2016/03/shortened-and-updated-video-of-bermuda.html

Longer Videos from original post.

MARCH 2016 VIDEO

https://youtu.be/4kowErpDMEI



APRIL 2014 VIDEO

https://youtu.be/BwOvmej_tBU

Greens Aeration Final and Other Work

Completed our last 3 greens this morning. Process included mowing, verticutting, pulling cores, picking up almost 2 million cores, applying soil amendment, topdressing, blowing sand in holes, brushing, rolled this morning and fertilized.  Video explains most of our work. Being a working member in the aeration process, the video leaves much room for improvement including camera(need to buy a Go-Pro) and maybe a Phantom 3 or 4 drone with some overhead video which will help us in our operation. I placed a link to YouTube for those of you whose devices do not open the embedded videos.

Also, we aerated the cool season tees, holes 2,3,5,10,11,14,17 and filled some of the stump grinding holes with soil in preperation for sodding. Short video and a couple pics below as well.

https://youtu.be/483zo9IEMLQ





https://youtu.be/HpJTLXsnDGg





https://youtu.be/5YodaG3OqE8

Compacted below, pile of soil for me to spread under the watchful eyes of you know who in the background!

Smoothed and ready. Might need to add just a bit more dirt but we will see.

Spring Urns/Pots/Ideas For Your Home

As we mentioned at last weekends gardening event, Becky is preparing pots for the spring season. She just received a shipment in and I thought I would take a few pictures of the items she is using this season. These plants come in fully grown and ready to plant. You can also include some bulbs and pansies in your pots as well. We usually keep these in place until the end of May, early June depending upon the weather. Some years we hate to pull them out because they are spectacular but you have to get the summer items in. This is one of the many reasons why I am thankful Becky is here because of the work required and the plant selections for the pots. She will do a third transition in these plantings for the fall as well.

Gazania

Mixed Mesculin Lettuce mix for interest and leaf color.

Lobelia

Dianthus

Snapdragon

Asparagus Fern

Osteospermum

Alyssum

Primrose

Osteospermum

Osteospermum

Aeration Update

 Six of us worked till nearly dark this evening aerating our greens. We had a frost delay that slowed us a couple of hours. We were able to get the PG plus 15 others cored, sanded, and brushed. We still need to do some clean up around the greens and finish sanding 16-18 tomorrow morning as well as roll the greens. We also have to apply some granular fertilizer which is chicken manure based and will be a little smelly for a couple of days but will provide great benefit in the future. A more detailed report will follow in the next couple of days. I'm whooped and heading home.

Jason coring 14 green on a great day to accomplish this work.