Bentgrass Nursery Green

We recently reseeded our nursery green with 6 different varieties of bentgrass. We left a large portion of our current bent to be used if needed on the golf course. This new nursery will let us evaluate these new improved putting green grasses and determine how we may be able to implement them at VCC. These new bentgrass are bred with characteristics such as heat tolerance, disease resistance, wear and shade tolerance, higher quality ball roll and many many more traits. We have had good germination and should be mowing soon. The fence you see is to keep out the coyotes that damaged some places last week by digging.  

Irrigation

Irrigation stuck on last night creating a new pond in front 7 green. 

How to take divots while practicing.

Hydraulic leak

One unavoidable "disaster" that occurs any time you use a piece of equipment operated with hydraulics is the possibility of a line failure.  At every golf course in world, at some point, at some location on the golf course, the dreaded hydraulic leak just happens.  Because we have a mechanic that routinely checks hoses and fittings and because we are able to keep new equipment (through our lease program) we rarely see these problems.  However, even with everything done correctly they still happen.  Here are few photos from this past Monday of the after of major seal failure around the bunker on #12.  Everything you can see that is black will more than likely die.  The temperature of the oil when it hits the grass blade cause the most damage.  We have washed it off in the past but the damage has already been done as soon as the hot fluid touches the plant.  We will determine whether to replace the turf or let it heal in after the damage can be seen.

Member-Guest

The Member-Guest Tournament is a great chance for Vestavia CC members to show off their club to their guest and potential members.  We get an even earlier start to our day for most of that week because of the tee times.  Its a long week but getting to see the fun that everyone has during the shootout is something that has been become a great tradition for VCC.  Here are a few photos from the week.

Golf Course Mechanic (Skip) watching the greens mower cut the practice putting green.

Mowing fairways and blowing with tractor before tournament.

Irrigation issues are part of everyday--including tournament prep days.

Mowing approach and raking bunker at sunrise.

#10 green ready to go.

Blowing off green after rolling.

Mowing practice putting green in the dark.

Lights on walking greens mower on upper putting green.

Guys mowing approach, raking bunker, and mowing green on #11.

Guys mowing approach, raking bunker, and mowing green on #11. (looking from back of the green)

Mowing #12 green.

Guys mowing approach, mowing green, and raking bunker on #13.

Approach mower on #14.

Tractor blowing fairway on #18.

The shootout hole #9.

The shootout hole #9.

The shootout #16 with gallery surrounding the green.

Cultural Practices

With every single task we undertake in our department, our ultimate goal is member (and their guest) enjoyment.  Sometimes though when you are playing and see our guys doing something you may think the exact opposite.  Questions like -Why would they cover-up* a perfectly good putting green with sand? OR The tees looked good, so why are they poking* holes in them and messing them up? OR  The collars and approaches were starting to look great then they sliced* them. Why?  Below are a few photos/videos of some of these practices (Cultural Practices) and as detailed/simple of an explanation as I can give with just 1 sentence (I could gladly go on and on about each one and the agronomic benefits but I'll spare you).

* - non-agronomic terms

Verticutting cuts through plant which creates new growing points and removes unwanted thatch.

Verticutting teeboxes and fairways creates new growing points at every cut and makes for a thicker tee surface.

Aerifying the bermuda surrounding the greens removes unwanted thatch and promotes new growth resulting in a thicker playing surface.

Aerifying the Par 3 mini-Verde ultra-dwarf bermuda greens creates large openings that allow for air, water, and nutrients to move down through the green profile.

Bunkers

Last year we installed 3 "trial" bunkers using the Better Billy Bunker method as well an additional bunker using another new technology of bunker liners.  Our goal was to see how they performed so that when we undertake our course renovation we will have a good understanding of how these technologies work on our property.

You can see the post from last year by clicking here

From a dollars and cents point of view, we spent approximately $1,704 in just labor from the one storm this past Monday (doesn't include fuel costs).  The part that isn't figured into that is the fact that now all of the new sand we recently added to the bunkers is completely contaminated with native soil and rocks.  This native soil is a primary reason why our bunkers are a constant point of conversation.  When the bunker sand mixes with soil we have increased washing even in small rain events, fried egg lies, brown coloring, thin lies, etc.  


Here are some pics from the massive rainfall we had this week.  Again, our rain gauge measeures up to 6" and it was overflowing when we arrived to record it.

#9 green.  This bunker did wash some.  The design of the green directs water directly into the bunker though on both sides.  Very poor drainage design that we have in many places on the course.

#9 green.  Even though the middle bunker did wash some the difference is that no mud washed down to mix in with the bunker sand. 

#9 green.  Again this washout is due more to the green complex design.  Also, with 6+ inches of rain we expect some washing.

 

#15 green.  Not the greastest picture for comparison but look in the background and notice that there is no washing of the other bunker.

 

#18 green.  The first bunker will take 1 person about 7 minutes to rake.  The second bunker will take 3+ guys 30+ minutes to return it to playable conditions.

Another view of the bunker on #18

#6 green.  We installed another new and promising liner system in this bunker last year as well.  The washing is definitely better than no liner but it is still no comparison to the Better Billy Bunker Method.  A lot of silt has mixed in with the sand.