We put a HEX on 7 Blue Green

The two main challenges with maintaining the back edges #7 Blue Green are shade and traffic pattern.  Morning sunlight if critical for sustained turf vigor and quite frankly we were allowed to remove as many trees as needed during the CRI project.  The traffic wear is a result of the exit point from the back of the green to the cart path.  Repairs were made utilizing our turf nursery and a hex plugging tool. Hex plugs allow us to repair the area completely by puzzling the pieces together without gaps.  Although more labor intensive to install, plugs perform better than sod during this time of year due their increased root mass.  In a few weeks these plugs will blend in with the rest of the
putting surface.

Repair In Progress

Turf Nursery  Between 1R & 9W

STAIRWAY TO SEVEN

Led Zeppelin would be proud!

After a delay from the sod farm, we have completed the Stairway to Seven.  

The grading and sod installation wrapped up just in time for a nice soaking rain.  This stairway will provide a much safer descent from the back of the green to the cart path. One thing to keep in mind, is that we will have much more wear and traffic on the back of the green as golfers exit.

DAY 1

FINISHED PRODUCT

A View from the Rough

I want to update you with a spring “state of the course” report and address an issue I see currently affecting your golfing experience.  The golf course has received numerous complements since the start of the season but one subject has been consistent from most members I speak with -  ROUGH!

“The rough is too thick”

“I can’t find my ball”

“Have you raised the height of cut?”

And my favorite – “do you hate us?”

Allow me to give you a brief history of our rough.  When I first started at ANCC 20 years ago, the rough was just that – ROUGH.  It was sparse and inconsistent and the desired turf was bluegrass and perennial ryegrass.  These two varieties do not thrive in our Mid-Atlantic summers and are disease prone.  In 2005, I changed our management practices to promote tall fescue.  This included spring/fall aerification and over seeding along with an aggressive organics program to help modify the poor soil.  The height of cut has remained consistent since that time.  The result is what you see today, thick healthy turf that can withstand more environmental stress.

The unintended consequence however is a difficult spring golfing experience.  It bears repeating that we have NOT ‘raised the mowers’ as some have suggested.  Nonetheless, based on generally improved turf stand and conditions, the rough has become too penal and we will be making an adjustment to the height of cut (HOC) until summer temperature take hold.  Depending on the weather patterns, I will raise the height back to current standards in order to maximize plant health and playability. 

  

NOT AN OVERNIGHT PROCESS

Lowering the HOC will take 7-10 days.  Starting on Monday May 18^th the HOC will be lower and clippings will be abundant.  Clipping removal is labor intensive and will take priority over other maintenance activities during this time.  

WEEDS

All maintained turf has been treated with a pre-emergent herbicide application made in early April.  The coverage and timing has been good and I don’t see significant crabgrass breakthrough.  It is designed to last until we over seed fairways in September.  Post-emergent broadleaf weed control will continue as needed.

NATIVE AREAS

Weed control in these areas has been the highest priority yielding a much cleaner look.  Multiple applications have been made and will continue.  As they have matured, some have become too penal and just don’t fit the landscape. These will be modified or removed.  Last season we removed the native grasses between the fairway and #7 Blue Tee and seeded to Tall Fescue.  Although still tough, the golfer now has a chance to advance the ball.  

PRIORITIES

Exceeding Member Expectations

Continue to raise the bar on course conditions.

Native Areas – Weed control and trimming to promote clean appearance. Modify selected areas to promote pace of play and golfing experience. 

Sincerely,

Carmen A. Giannini, Jr.

Golf Course Superintendent

THE BLOG IS BACK!

After a long hiatus, the BLOG is back!

Over the past year my postings have declined due to time constraints and that I've been helping some of my colleagues start their own blogs.  

I'M BACK!

My goal is provide informative content on a consistent basis and not bombard you with filler.  Many have requested the return of the "Week in Review" videos so you will see my smiling face soon. 

THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS

Over the past few weeks we have begun the process of refurbishing some of the native "no mow" areas.  Since the completion of the CRI project I have not been happy with the establishment or overall look in some the most highly visible areas.  Establishing fine fescue from seed is best done in the late summer and early fall months.  Fortunately, I was able to secure 25,000 sq. ft. of Aurora Gold fine fescue sod from a local farm that is rotating their fields.  It was a "win-win" for both parties. We will not be able to sod every native area, but will focus on locations with high visual impact and steep slopes.  Sod is best utilized on the steep slopes where seed is difficult to sow. 

As we move forward thought the season, we will continue to trim all the non sodded native areas.  Along with herbicide applications for invasive weeds, the appearance will be manicured and clean.  Seeding and establishment of thin areas will commence in the fall.

4 Red & 5 Red

4 Red & 5 Red

3 Blue Tee

3 Blue Tee

3 Blue Tee

3 Red Tee

Finished Look - 4year Old Aurora Gold Fine Fescue
Harmony Landing Country Club - Louisville Kentucky

SPRING HAS ARRIVED?

ENOUGH SAID!

I thought it would be helpful to give you a update on the impact this winter’s weather has had on the golf course and our maintenance plan.  It goes without saying that we’ve experienced near record snowfall and low temperatures that have extended the winter season.

 FAIRWAY AERIFICATION AND SEEDING

Our ability to core aerify and seed the fairways and rough has been halted to this point.  The past three weeks have either been too wet or snow covered to perform this vital cultural practice.  Why is this an issue? WEEDS!  My program is designed around having our spring seeding sowed and germinated prior to a pre-emergent weed application.  Unfortunately, crabgrass seed is already in the soil lying in wait for its opportunity to germinate.  Temperatures can rise quickly and crabgrass will have the advantage.  The plan for this spring is to solid tine aerify/seed selected fairway and rough areas.  If we are unable to aerify/seed this week, we will only solid tine and hold seeding until fall.  The result will be a half season delay for rough establishment following construction.  As weather dictates,
Pre-emergent herbicides will be applied to minimize weeds course wide.

 BUNKERS

Part of my winter program is to supplement and touch up bunkers that have been contaminated over the season.  This consists of exposing the drainage, inspecting the piping and adding fresh sand.  I had ten bunkers on my list and we’ve only been able to address three due to weather.  The process is time consuming and disruptive to play, so we will have to look for opportunities when the spare nines are closed on Mondays to continue.

PAR 3 TEE SODDING

For the past two years we have sodded portions of the Par 3 teeing areas that have been thinned by play.  We used our entire in-house turfgrass nursery for these repairs, but more is needed.  Sod availability and harvest has also been greatly affected by winter weather.

COLLAR MANAGEMENT

Collar management is a challenge in the Transition zone and we’ve had our fair share
of setbacks.  I changed our management protocol that consists of reducing the width and
addressing thatch build up.  Phase 1 (Width Reduction) of the program has been completed .  Phase 2 (Small Tine Core Aerification/Topdressing) began and was halted by snow cover.  Six holes have been completed. 


 GOOSE CONTROL

 With snow cover off and on since the end of December, geese have had full run of the property.  Assembling in areas not accessible due to snow cover made it difficult to run the dogs as a deterrent. The result is excrement on the snow, that when melt occurs, is quite a mess.  Clean up is difficult because of wet conditions.

Although the weather has caused disruption, we have regrouped and completed other projects on my hit list.  Stay tuned for those updates!

I hope this will give you some idea of how things are going and help answer any questions.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Desiderata Max Ehrmann - 1927   Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.   Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.   Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.   Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.   Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.   With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.   Strive to be happy.     Whatever you believe... however you celebrate... I wish you and your family a quiet, peaceful and joyous holiday and a healthy, prosperous New Year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

 Washington, D.C.                                                                                                                   
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America. 
A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth. 

By the President: Abraham Lincoln 
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State