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!

Repairs to 7 Tee Completed

The staff completed the renovation to the front of the white tee on 7 today. It was backfilled with soil, 3 drain lines were dug across it to reduce water pressure in the bank to hopefully stop the hillside from sloughing off again. Sod was laid on it today. 

To our young walkers, please stay off this area or you might end up injured from wet and soft conditions. Should be good to go in 2-3 weeks.

Skip using a mini-excavator to trench across the bank.



Laying the sod. Decided to use Bermuda grass due to its ability to deeper rooting and survive the summer heat.

Greens Venting

Greens were vented today by the staff. We use our deep-tine machine with 5/16" venting tine which places a hole about every square inch or two in a little over 2 acres of greens/collars. Venting is performed to exchange good gas for bad. 02 oxygen good, CO2 carbon dioxide in higher levels bad if green surfaces are not opened up to allow the bad gas out.

The venting also helps improve water infiltration into drier areas and evacuation of water in wetter areas. Rooting is also improved with this process as is microbial activity which has a very positive effect on the plants. There is a battle going on in our root zone between harmful pathogens and those tiny creatures that help offset disease. Holes are not disruptive to ball roll for the most part and will closed in just a few days.

 https://youtu.be/pK3aBmLR2B8



https://youtu.be/f1eBBgiiHUc

Summer Stress, Make Changes or Face Consequences

As we push through some early stressful weather, a reminder that turf, especially 1/8" height greens can be impacted severely as summer stress continues into July and August. Pushing greens to their limits is a razor edge margin between success and failure. I tend to want to be on the side of success, not death. There are things we do to reduce stress. Roll more, now less. Slightly raise heights to provide just enough safety, needle tine or vent greens to improve oxygen content in greens. Nice article from @usga below.

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/forethegolfer/2017/how-does-summer-heat-stress-affect-my-game-.html

Tragic News

Michael McLaurin was hired this season as a seasonal employee. He received tragic news over the weekend regarding his son being shot and killed on I-70. Michael was a good find for us this season and has helped Skip and Tom and the rest of the staff a great deal so far. I went and spoke with him this morning and he said he had to come back to work, could not sit around at home anymore. There are not many words to help someone facing this terrible situation. Our thoughts are with Michael and his family. Video below.

http://www.kmov.com/story/35580691/shooting-shuts-down-i-70-near-west-florissant

Tee Weed Control

We sprayed about 1 acres worth of Zoysia tees with a material that has turned them off color as illustrated in the pictures below. I've also attached a blog post from 2014 where we spot sprayed tees and you can see the off-color tinge in the back of the blue tee on #1. Since 2014, the weed that we are trying to control 'Kylinga' has spread to many of our tees. We are using a combination product which assists us with crabgrass control and will give us control on the Kylinga. We will have to spray the product again in 30 days or so to get any additional or new plants as they emerge. Other courses have had excellent success with this product. The yellowing will dissipate in about 7-10 days.

Blue tee on 1

Red Tee on 10

Below is the link to the blog in 2014 which illustrates the off color spot spray that we did.

http://geccgcm.blogspot.com/2014/05/weed-control.html

GECC Plant Sale May 13th

The annual Glen Echo CC Plant Sale will be Saturday May 13th from 9 to 11 at the maintenance building. Plants can be charged in the usual manner. Might not have every Plant Becky has grown from babies but she will have a nice supply for you to chose from!