Putting Greens Are Painted

Nelson Caron, The Ford Plantation, Richmond Hill, GA:

"Last week the putting greens at The Ford Plantation were painted. Painting the greens adds aesthetic beauty during the winter months when the bermudagrass is in dormancy. The process requires two people and takes roughly 2-3 days to complete. This is the first year The Ford Plantation has seen an entirely green golf course during the winter months.

Along with enhancing the aesthetics of the turf, painting greens has an agronomic benefit by increasing the temperature of the soil. Research conducted at Clemson University in 2007 (Figure 3) showed that a painted green increases the temperature of the soil by three degrees compared to an unpainted surface. Similar to covering our front nine greens, painting allows us to obtain higher soil temperatures which is something we strive for."

Soil temperatures taken at a depth of 3 inches on March 25, 2007. Left, painted; Middle, over-seeded; and Right, no over-seeding or painting (Courtesy of Clemson University).

Visit the Ford Plantation blog at tfpagronomy.blogspot.com

Chemical storage improved, moved...

Gary Myers, CGCS, The Sagamore Club, Noblesville, IN:

"Along with rejuvenating the accessories such as flag sticks, tee markers & traffic signs, we have also been working on how to make our shop facilities more efficient. We are preparing ourselves for a successful 2013 season, but like any business to prepare for success we have to make our surroundings more efficient. One area that needed to be improved was our chemical storage barn.

A lot goes into preparing a tank when applying plant protectants to the golf course. Every morning we'd have to load up a club cart and transport the products to our mix pad. Granted we were not driving a mile or any vast distances but any extra time added to a procedure is unwanted time. This is precious time that could be used to get on and off the course in a matter that would not affect the play of golf and allows the product to get taken up by the plant before play.

We will also be trying out a new fertilizer called Holganix this year which requires the product to be refrigerated...

We will also be trying out a new fertilizer called Holganix this year which requires the product to be refrigerated. Our current location of the chemical storage did not have access to electricity so we decided to move the storage unit in a location that would not only be more efficient but have access to electricity.

The process of moving the storage unit was not easy but with a little brainstorming, teamwork, and perseverance, we accomplished the task. We still need to apply the electricity for the cooler but we are very happy with our move. The new location will help us be more efficient in the morning and it provides us with the electricity that we needed for our new cooler."

Visit the Sagamore blog at sagamoreturfgrass.blogspot.com.

Time for a spit shine...

Jeff Johnson, The Minikahda Club, Minneapolis, MN:

"Winter is the perfect time to spruce up the equipment. Isaac has been busy thoroughly pressure washing each piece of equipment, then placing the finishing touch to the body. Between the sun oxidizing the paint and the hard water from washing the equipment, the outer bodies of the equipment needs to be buffed and waxed. Isaac will complete this work on our four Toro fairway mowers, three Toro Sidewinders and two Toro 4000 rough mowers. Once finished the restored bodies look like brand new."

Hard water stains are very difficult to remove.

Either by hand or by buffing, time and patience is required to restore the original showroom look and shine.

Visit Jeff's blog at wanakahcccom.blogspot.com.

Freeze/Thaw Cycles...

Steve Cook, CGCS MG, Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, MI:

"During the winter, soils go through 'freeze/thaw' cycles as temperatures change. There has been a fair amount of research on this subject; in general I believe the more freezing and thawing that occurs, the better. Soils contract and expand during this cycle and it serves as natures own aerification process because soils are moved. When moisture in the soil freezes, the soils increase in volume as water turns to ice and thus, air (pore) space is increased. This can also be referred to as 'frost heaving as the soils heaves upward. On roadways and hard surfaces, this can be a problem, but on golf courses, it is generally a good thing."

Visit Steve's blog at http://ohccturf.blogspot.com/.

When the sign says "Carts must stay on paths"...

Tony Gustaitis, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club, Lafayette Hill, PA:

Seeing this spot and others like it on #s 1, 3, 5, 14 and 15 may make our cart decision easier the next time...

"This happened on Saturday afternoon and we all know that it rained .8" on Friday. The golf course was very wet on Saturday and maybe we should not have let carts out. But being kind of a nice day for January we felt that the cart operators would know to stay on the paths.

This type of damage not only could damage the grass, but it also compacts the soil to where early wilting of turf could occur.

We make golf course decisions for the well-being of the members and their club. Seeing this spot and others like it on #s 1, 3, 5, 14 and 15 may make our cart decision easier the next time."

Visit Tony's blog at wvccgreens.blogspot.com.

Winter Update...

Patrick Daly, CGCS, Framingham (MA) Country Club:

Richard cleaning off battery terminals prior to removing the batteries for the body inspection. Cart seats, bag covers, and windshields are also repaired or replaced and the carts are cleaned in preparation for the 2013 golf season.

"I am always asked the question 'What do you do during the winter?' The winter for the Grounds Department is very similar to the Fall... it's busy. We maintain all the roads, parking lots, walkways and I have even found myself on the roof of the clubhouse removing snow. Granted this year hasn't been as snowy as in year's past but my staff keeps the clubhouse, WB, and fitness center open for members and their guests during storms.

What else are we up to? Here are a few photos of the work that is in progress right now.

Ryan also works on golf carts during the winter. The majority of the body work is done on the (45) golf carts we are keeping. Once completed, he will move on to servicing the lightweight utility carts.	Scratch paints all hazard and OB stakes, ball washers, club washers, spike brushes, trash cans...well you get the point. He comes into work 3 days each week during the off-season. Pretty good for an 86 year old.
Pete Williams getting a reel ready to be ground. We have over 40 reels that need to be sharpened. Once that is complete every mower, heavy duty utility vehicle, tractor, sprayer, skid steer needs to be serviced.	Brian is my utility infielder during the off season. He organizes the entire shop, inventories all supplies amd works with me on the agronomic plan for the upcoming season.

We were also able to get out prior to the last storm, checking green, tee, and practice tee covers and picking up debris and branches that have dropped so far from this winter. We also had the opportunity to remove the covers from the newly sodded 17th tee. The sod is rooting and we took this chance to roll it prior to the snow this past week.

Brian rolling the sod.

We have been reviewing last year's chemical and fertilizer program and preparing this season's plan of attack. Budget work is also in full swing and the budgets are being finalized for this February's Bondholder's meeting.

Visit Pat's blog at fccgrounds.com.

Chipping Green Work, Even In Winter...

David Brandenburg, Rolling Meadows Golf Course, Fond du Lac, WI:

"So far we have had variety of weather this winter with a blizzard that left me sleeping on the couch in the clubhouse rather than risk the ride home and a 15 below temperature on Jan 1, followed by a warm up and almost 50 degrees on Jan 12th. Now the forecast is for very cold next week but in the Badger State you never know what is going to happen next.

I would have preferred the snow stayed around but the next best thing was most of it melting and the water running away through the drainage system to reduce the chance of ice cover. I walked the course Saturday and cleaned leaves off the drains. Everything looked good.

Despite winter, work continues on the new chipping green. We seeded the surrounds and installed the drain lines and a layer of pea gravel at the base of the green. Our next step was to install seven truckloads of a 70% sand and 30% peat moss mix that meets USGA specifications for greens construction. This would take the green site from a hole in the ground that confused onlookers to a nice looking green site.

...we blew the snow off a path to the green from the parking lot to allow the ground to freeze so the heavy dump trucks could get to the green site.

The heavy December snows left us with unfrozen ground and no way to get trucks to the green without damage. To fix that problem, on January 4th we blew the snow off a path to the green from the parking lot to allow the ground to freeze so the heavy dump trucks could get to the green site. After four cold nights we had three loads of mix delivered one hour apart so we could gently move the mix across the site without disturbing the 3" gravel layer at the bottom.

The first load of sand being spread across the snow-covered green base. The snow was not removed in the green base because it would have disturbed the 3" gravel layer.

Three loads of mix spread as a base to protect the gravel from silt washout from the surrounds if we had a heavy rain storm. It also will provide a base for the trucks to drive on to deliver the remaining mix.

As luck would have it the warm spell caused the snow to melt followed by a hard freeze so we could put in four more loads to fill the green site on January 16.

The new chipping green filled with mix as viewed from the putting green.

The new chipping green from the mounds.

The mix is in and rough-graded but the frozen chunks prohibited us from doing a final grade. By having the mix in now mother nature will help pack and settle it through freeze thaw processes and spring rains. In spring the green will be final graded and seeded and with any luck be open for practice sessions in late July.

Our final job will be to finish the sand bunker with a final grade, drainage and sand installation.

Enjoy your winter and remember the golf shop is open on Wednesday and Saturday from 8-2 for your golf conversation needs."

Visit David's blog at rmgc-maint.blogspot.com.