I am sorry it has been quite a while since my last update. Summer always seems to fly by in a blur and now that I have more time to spend in the office, my goal is to update this blog with more timely information. This post will hopefully catch everyone up on what has been going on around the golf course over the past few months.
For most of the summer, we had above average rainfall with average temperatures. This is ideal growing weather for Bermuda and our members and guests enjoyed some of the best playing surfaces we've been able to create in my tenure here. The first half of August continued this trend of average temperatures and above average rainfall. To illustrate this, we received 6 inches during August, and all of it occurred during the first two weeks. By mid-August, the weather pattern changed and much drier weather set in. This drier weather pattern lasted through September into early October. The golf course received only 42% of our normal amount of rainfall during September. As you can see from the picture on the right, this lead to some very firm and dry conditions during September.
Besides the reduction in color of our Bermuda surfaces, I was very pleased with the density and quality of the turf. Fall greens aeration went very well and the subsequent recovery period was brief, due in large part to the ideal growing weather in September.
Thankfully, October brought us some much needed rain! On October 4th we received 4" of rain. The biggest single day rain total since September 21st, 2009! This much needed rain soaked into the ground slowly and the response from the turf was apparent within a week.
The crew has spent the past month mowing our Bermuda surfaces as necessary to keep things looking clean and sharp. They have also spent a lot of their time performing cultural practices on greens that promote firmer surfaces and increased root depth. Vertical mowing, rolling, sand topdressing, brushing and deep solid-tine aerating have all been completed during October. Due to these processes, the greens have been right on target in relation to soil moisture, root depth, firmness and speed.
Looking ahead, we are expecting our first frost delay this Saturday. If we have a significant frost, one could expect much, if not all, of the Bermuda throughout the golf course to go into dormancy. This week an application of iron sulfate will be applied to all tees, fairways, approaches, collars, and surrounds to help keep some color. Even if the Bermuda doesn't do dormant after this weekend, the writing is on the wall and winter is just around the corner. 2017 has been one of the best Bermuda and Bentgrass growing seasons I can remember. This golf course is in great condition going into dormancy and barring any unusual weather this winter, should be primed for a great start to the 2018 golf season!
In the last blog post, we showed the various steps involved up to setting in the railroad ties and preparing for sod. Once the soil was installed and graded, sod was then laid so the tee box side of the project could reopen for play. With the gravel path open, cart traffic was diverted onto the new path extension so work could continue on the landscape bed that would be installed between the new path and the original concrete path. 
When Daylight Savings Time ends each November, the golf course undergoes the transition from Fall to Winter. The onset of frosty mornings brings an official end to the growing season by pushing the Bermuda into dormancy and significantly slowing down shoot growth on our Bentgrass greens. This can often be the best time of year to play on transition zone golf courses. The recently dormant warm-season grasses have likely been left to leaf out a little bit to ensure winter survival, winter cart traffic has yet to shear off the dormant leaves, and greens, no matter the type of grass, are likely as firm and fast and you could want.
Earlier this week the grounds staff completed a mini-tine aeration on the greens. I call the process mini because often when the superintendent says the "A" word, golfers get concerned, and I wanted to convey the minimal effect the process will have on the playability of the greens during the project. The small diameter of these tines allows for minimal disruption of the surface while still benefiting the turf. As you can see from the picture above, quite a bit of organic material was removed from the greens. Once the cores were pulled, they were blown off the putting surface and a heavy application of sand was added. Once the sand was brushed in and rolled, the surface is very playable. The finished product is shown in the picture below. 
For many years, the area along the cart path at #18 green has been an issue. Not only is it an eye sore, but years of shade and compaction from cart traffic have caused the Bermuda to thin. The exposed soil eroded away and exposed the sandstone rocks beneath, creating a rocky mess. As you can see from the picture on the right, this isn't a good last impression. The other issue we have is the staff at Bailey Ranch has difficulty getting through this area while people are parked at the green due to a combination of the creek on the left side and the rocky uneven edge along the path. The only option is to drive in the surround near the green which isn't ideal. 
The plan to address this issue is to expand the current cart path from 6 feet to 12 feet and add curbing. Adding the extra width will give golfers a safe place to park while on the green and will allow staff members through more easily. As you finish your round, you'll notice the area along the cart path on #18 has been dug out in preparation for concrete. The next steps will be to add a 2" layer of rock as a base, install concrete forms, and then pour the concrete. Our friends in the Streets Division at the City of Owasso Public Works Department have graciously agreed to help us with this project as the scope of concrete work is beyond what us "grass growers" can handle. With this in mind, we are somewhat at the mercy of their schedule as to when they can come complete the work. The last time we spoke, they indicated they will try to pour the path some time in the next few weeks. 
With this in mind, the grounds staff is performing a core aeration on greens. Don't be alarmed, the tines we are using are very small and the debris created is easily cleaned up. Once the green has been cored, a thin layer of sand is incorporated into the holes. As you can see from the picture at the bottom right, the surface is very playable immediately after the process. 
The weather in early April was similar to the end of March. Then the spring rain season began and the temperature dropped. Over the past several weeks, the golf course has received over 10 inches of rain. The cloudy, cool weather coupled with this much rain has had a negative impact on our Bermuda. The turf quality throughout the course actually decreased in April compared to March. Recently, we've seen some moderate amounts of disease on portions of our fairways that are a direct result from the amount of rain we've received. This disease is more of a nuisance than anything, but does temporarily affect the quality of our fairways until the plant can recover when warm, drier weather sets in. You can see in this picture of #10 fairway that the improved Bermuda in the foreground is unaffected and healthy, while the common Bermuda uphill has been thinned out due to the disease. The pictures below give a closer look of both grasses. This seems to happen every spring, to some degree, and isn't a cause for concern, especially since the weather looks like it will turn warmer and drier starting next week. Once some warm weather, and sunlight, hit the Bermuda, it should recover quickly over the next few weeks.
