Almost showroom new...

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

"Each off-season we pick one special project that might not need to be done but could be done to make something work better or look better. This year we choose to paint a classic golf course tractor, our 1972 Jacobsen G-10.

The G-10 has a three point lift, belt drive PTO and 3 speeds. This tractor will never pull a plow but is a great unit for pulling trailers or a gang reel mower through the rough. Comfortable to drive, the G-10's gasoline engine is quiet for a 50HP power unit.

The decals were no longer available from the manufacturer but we had some custom made by the Graphic Center in Fond du Lac at a great price.

The finished unit looks great thanks to James' hard work and efforts to bring back that showroom shine."

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

Xonerate Day 30...

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

"We continue to monitor the progress of Xonerate on our Poa annua. We are performing trials on this new product, spraying every 7 days at a 1 ounce rate. We are currently on our 4th application with nothing tank mixed with the product. These pictures were taken today on day 30 of the trial. We are finally seeing some great results with the poa annua weakening and the bentgrass growing over the Poa."

Visit Gary's's blog at sagamoreturfgrass.blogspot.com

Color of Grasses...

Gale Hultquist, Wanakah Country Club, Hamburg, NY:

"Fairways were sprayed earlier this spring to stop Poa annua from going to seed, this control product also slows growth and creates a bronzing look to the fairways. This off color will last two to three weeks and eventually turn back to normal green. Bronzing is only a side affect and doesn't harm the grass. Again the reason for spraying fairways is to eliminate the formation of poa seed heads and increase a better root system in the grass plant. No seed heads will result in better playing conditions.

Another major color difference in the grass is where new bluegrass rough sod has been laid next to existing poa/ bent rough. This color change will continue until all renovation work is completed on the course. Bronzing of fairways accentuates everything."

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

Waterfall on 13...

Chris McKernon, RiverCrest Golf Club and Preserve, Phoenixville, PA:

"The decision was made to reintroduce the water feature on hole 13. This definitely enhances the club's entrance way. Once the preliminary plans were posed, we went to task to complete the waterfall. After a few setbacks the falls were turned on last Wednesday to great relief and jubilation!! Here are few pics which chronicle the installation."

Day lighting the 6" pipe and reshaping the stream.	Installing the liner
Laying the sod	Designing and building the pump sled.
The pump and sled ready to dive. This will aid in service removal.	COMPLETION!

Visit Chris's blog at rivercrestgolfclub.blogspot.com.

Here we go again...

Mark Kienert, CGCS, Bulls Eye Country Club, Wisconsin Rapids, WI:

"Your Green Section staff has been busy working on putting greens this week as warmer weather finally arrived after a cold windy and dry April. Our focus is to remediate any winter damage that occured this past winter and to beef up areas thinned over the past two very difficult and stressful years.

We'll be using a combination of cultivating techniques to incorporate seed into damaged areas as we have done in years past. This year we've started out using an old Ryan Greensaire 24 outfitted with 'JS' tines. ('They who must not be named' or Superintendents be cursed!)

It is a slow process but the JS tine assembly (above) creates a nice clean 1" x 1" hole pattern for the seed to fall into for the start of the germanation incubation period. The holes offer a moist environment and protection from the drying winds.

We follow seeding with a light layer of topdressing. The sand is lightly brushed to cover the seed and to partially fill (but not completely) the holes. We actually want the seed to germinate below the height of cut of the mowers to the time it is mature enough to withstand the stress of cutting. We finish up with a light rolling. Now we wait for timely rains or an irrigation cycle AND a little kindness from mother nature."

Visit Mark's blog at bullseyegreensblog.blogspot.com

Careful: It's Hazardous!

Dustin Riley, Oconomowoc Country Club, Oconomowoc, WI:

"Last fall we were able to restore the pond bank on #13. Years of muskrat activity along with Wisconsin's freeze/thaw cycles caused the slope to deteriorate. A contractor re-shaped the bank resulting in a nice gentle slope. The new Kentucky Bluegrass intermediate rough provides a beautiful outline of the fairway contour. Following the re-grading process, the staff performed a detailed surface preparation for seeding. Galvanized steel fencing and high strength erosion matting was installed to limit future muskrat damage and bank erosion. The seed has begun to germinate and will continue to grow through the matting to stabilize the slope. Eventually, the grass on the slope will knit together and completely cover this matting.

The erosion matting and underlying steel fencing is designed to stabilize the slope and slow future bank deterioration, not to provide an 'in-play' surface.

Although this new slope along the pond will be regularly maintained, it is marked as a water hazard. If a mishit golf shot comes to rest on the slope, care must be taken if a follow-up golf shot is to be attempted. First, please be cautious while walking across any exposed matting as the netting could snag golf cleats. Secondly, it is unknown how a golf club will be affected by the matting if a shot is attempted. Please use caution if attempting a golf shot from within the hazard on #13."

Visit Dustin's blog at ocongolfclubgrounds.blogspot.com.