Bentgrass Management Program

I wanted to show this video of the 17th green, taken this past July. Through the video you get a good perspective of the amount of bentgrass that is emerging on the playing surface. The color and health of the creeping bentgrass is excellent. The color of the poa annua is off color and not the emerald green that most people see or can relate to with poa. The poa is being regulated (suppressed) with a chemical called Paclobutrazol. Along with the treatments of ferrous sulfate we are getting excellent suppression of the poa and at the same time we have created a favorable environment for the bentgrass to thrive in through a combination of cultural and nutritional practices.

I have a few more videos to follow and there is definitely more to add regarding the process, but this is a good start for now.

Decayed Red Oak in the right rough #9.

Fall Tree Trimming

When your golf course is a course that is dominated by large decidious trees, tree maintenance becomes a vital aspect of our maintenance operation. Most people might assume that the majority of our job surrounds the maintanence of the turf and while that may be true in the spring, summer and fall, in order for us to have healthy trees, the trees require a great deal of attention.

Fall or winter is the ideal time to trim trees. By this time the tree has lost it's leaves, is going dormant and is less susptible to disease. Trimming allows us to remove the deadwood, find branches that may be broken and inspect the tree for any large cracks or find a tree that may have excessive decay. As you can see in the photo, this Red Oak that was removed, was showing signs of Oak wilt, on further inspection it was found to have a large amount of decay. The tree was deemed hazardous and needed to be removed. As you can see the decay was excessive and the decision to remove it was justified.

For the past 30 plus years all of our tree trimming and removal has been with one company, Tim's Tree Service. Eight years ago when I took over as Superintendent it was our goal to trim all of the trees on the property in a seven year span. Last year we completed that process, on schedule, so this year we will begin the process all over again. Trees that were trimmed this year were on holes 1, 2, 14 and 18. In all, over a 10 day period, over 125 trees have been professionally trimmed. In the past we were scheduled for trimming in the months of December or January, when it is colder and when we have snow. We have moved up on the schedule to November. With warmer temperatures and no snow, we are definitely getting more bang for our buck. Additionally now that we are beginning the second go round on the course the trees are less messy now then they were the first time so the trimmers are having an easier time getting through each tree.

Covering Greens

Finally the day has arrived. We will begin covering greens this morning, but first we will have to wait for the heavy frost to burn off before we can begin the process. It is a perfect day for covering. Not a cloud in the sky, day time temperatures close to 50 degrees and currently it is completely calm. Between today and tomorrow we should be able to have 19 of the 21 greens fully covered. We also have 13 staff members to help with the process so it should go quite smoothly.

Waiting to cover the greens

Typical Minnesota weather. We have an unseasonalbly cold and wet October and now the month of November arrives and we are above normal. Either way we are in November and we need to cover the greens. Unfortunately due to the breezy weather today we were unable to begin the process. For the next few days the forcast is for 10-20 mph winds and so we will have to wait until a calm morning before we can begin the process.

The good new is we are able to keep the seasonal staff on a few more days to get the course clean from fenceline to fenceline, leaving less work for us in the spring. Tim's Tree Service will also be on the course for the next 2 weeks, trimming trees on the north end of the course.

The Greenkeeper

From 1897 a poem titled The Greenkeeper

The Greenkeeper

He is coming, the lovely man.
The keeper of the links.
His cheeks are colored a sun-painted tan,
Tis whispered that he drinks.
O, pink as a rose
Is the blossom of his nose-
Six foot is his length
From his eyes to his toes.
What a pity it is that he drinks!

Kind of a humorous poem, but unfortunately probably quite true for many a greenkeeper back in the day.

We are nearing the end of the season with only 4 days of golf left to play. Our finally fungicide applications are being applied today and tomorrow. Sunday will be the last day of golf. We will be blowing out the irrigation system on Monday and then, if the weather allows we will begin covering the greens.

We have had an outstanding season, now we can move on to skeet shooting, cross country ski trails, ice skating, paddle tennis and a little more time with the family.

10 Point Buck

I am often asked if we have any deer on the golf course and my answer is "plenty". Just this morning there were 3 doe that crossed the 9th fairway with 2 fawns. This past weekend, Assistant Superintendent Nick Folk, captured a photo of the 10 point buck that has been wondering the property. What a specimen! Nick only wishes he will see that nice of a buck 180 miles north of here when he is deer hunting.