Bailey Ranch Golf Maintenance

Winter's Back

2012-02-14T07:54:00.002-06:00

Well after what has seemed like months of mild weather, we got reminded that it's still winter. A fresh dusting of a couple of inches is welcome moisture for the golf course. We thankfully missed the freezing rain that they forecast. The snow has all melted and we are back open for play today. Besides some fog and wet conditions, the temperature should be nice later and we hope to see some golfers. The high for tomorrow is supposed to be almost 60 degrees! Go figure!

Mower recycling

2012-02-04T07:47:00.000-06:00

Before

After having spent the past couple of growing seasons mowing our 50 acres of rough with one mower. I began to knock around the idea of putting two rough mowers out there to get it done in half the time, but weren't sure how we were going to make it happen. We decided to pull our old gang reel unit out from behind the shop. This mower hadn't been used in years so Mitchell, our equipment technician, got busy grinding reels and checking gear boxes. Once Mitchell finished with all the repairs, the crew gave it a new coat of black paint. Another benefit to reviving this old mower, besides efficiency, is that we will be able to reduce the operating hours of our other rough mower. By keeping the hours down, normal wear and tear will decrease and the mower will last longer.

After

Driving range drainage project

2012-02-02T10:49:00.001-06:00

The Public Works department is planning to install a drainage swale on the west edge of the driving range to protect the houses along that property line from potential flooding. Over the past couple of weeks they have been surveying, marking the area with grade stakes, and setting silt fencing. Once the finish grade is done on the swale, new sod will be laid over the entire area. I will provide updates to this project as they happen.

Driving range divots

2012-02-02T10:34:00.001-06:00

Divots are in line, less removal of turf

Divots are scattered, more turf removed

With all the additional play we've been experiencing due to the mild weather, the driving range tee has become pretty beat up. We still have two more months until spring and I would like to remind everyone about the proper way to take a divot while practicing. The least disruptive way to take divots is to put the range ball on the back of the previous divot. This basically limits the amount of turf removed by almost half during each shot. We effectively end up with long, thin strips of removed turf instead of a large mass of random divots that take much longer to recover. To the right are two pictures showing the difference between the two techniques. The agronomy staff hopes that this information will help you to continue to get the most out of your time practicing, while helping us keep the range tee in the best condition possible. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Tunnel pump

2012-01-18T09:53:00.001-06:00

The crew spent yesterday working on one of the more unglamorous jobs on the course. The pump for the tunnel needed to be installed. It had become clogged with silt and was repaired. Now we needed to clean out the mud and water so we could install the pump. This is usually a messy process but the guys got it done without a problem. Now the tunnel is ready for spring and should work like a charm.

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Snow

2012-01-12T09:40:00.000-06:00

We had our first snow of the season last night. Although the snow accumulation was pretty puny, at only half an inch, it did bring some much needed moisture. It's been very dry lately so we'll take whatever we can get. The next few days look to be pretty cold but the forecast is calling for a warm up after this weekend.

Chipping green bunker renovation

2012-01-11T09:42:00.000-06:00

The crew wrapped up the chipping green bunker renovation this morning. We ran through this bunker relatively quickly because we didn't need to redesign anything or move any dirt. We simply scraped out the old sand and drainage and replaced it. Even though the bunker is finished, this green complex will remain closed until the green is ready to be opened. We are excited to get some good growing weather now, but we still need a few weeks in the spring to finish growing it in. We appreciate your patience during this time and lookforward to having a high quality practice facility this spring.

Fog

2012-01-11T09:41:00.003-06:00

We were blessed with some fog this morning and I couldn't wait to get out and shoot some pictures of the course. Fog is one of my favorite weather events that can happen on the course and always leaves me with some neat visuals. Here is are a few pictures from this morning.

Wetting agent application

2012-01-09T13:15:00.001-06:00

I don't want to jinx us but so far this winter has been very mild and dry. Looking back on our records, we have only had an inch and a half of precipitation since Thanksgiving. Winter can often be the driest season of the year, especially if you don't get much snowfall. Winter dessication, or drying out, is a common issue on bentgrass greens. In order to keep our greens hydrated, our assistant superintendent, Michael, is applying a wetting agent to the greens today. Wetting agents work to help the water penetrate the greens surface. Once through the surface, the product helps the soil retain moisture longer, making it more available for the turf.

Beautiful weather

2012-01-06T10:21:00.004-06:00

The weather we've been experiencing lately couldn't be better for golf! We hope that everyone is taking advantage and hitting the links!

Vandalism

2011-12-28T10:55:00.000-06:00

This morning we realized that we had a little bit of damage caused by a vehicle spinning out on #6 black tee box. The damage is minor but is another reminder that vandalism is a constant danger, especially with so many holes near neighborhood streets.

Electrical repair

2011-12-23T07:49:00.001-06:00

Yesterday the crew installed a section of new irrigation power wire on #6. This wire supplies power to the satellite box for #6 green. You've probably noticed the holes we've been digging lately. We found a short in the wire somewhere between the tee and the green This about 1,500 feet, so the best way we've found to isolate the problem is to go to the middle, cut and test the wire to see which direction the problem is. Then we will go to the middle of that section, cut and test again, and so on. Now that we have it narrowed down to about 100 feet, we cut a trench and installed a new piece of wire. Now that the new wire is installed ,and all the areas we tested have been spliced back together, the area can be cleaned up and finished.

Misc. sod projects

2011-12-22T15:22:00.002-06:00

Cart path by #10 green

cart path behind #18 green

Yesterday afternoon, the crew had some leftover sod and soil from the project on #12 green so we decided to address some low areas along cart paths. The areas at #10 and #18 green have been on my mind for awhile so we took the opportunity to use the extra materials to fix these areas. We will continue to address areas throughout the course similar to this as we go through the rest of the off season.

#12 Bunker renovation

2011-12-22T15:17:00.001-06:00

#12 bunker before

Yesterday morning the agronomy staff went out to the bunker project on #12 and wrapped up any last minute details that needed to be addressed. All the sod was rechecked and ground under repair markings have been placed around the work site. Like similar projects in the past, this new bunker complex will remain closed until spring when the Bermuda greens up and begins to root into the ground. Until then, please help keep the new bunker complex intact by keeping off unless absolutely necessary.

#12 bunker after

Foggy morning

2011-12-20T11:48:00.000-06:00

#14 fairway with light fog

The storm that moved through yesterday ended up not dumping nearly as much rain as was expected. The rain total for the last 24 hours is just under a quarter inch. However, this rain was enough to force golf carts back onto cart paths today, due to the moisture that remained from the previous storm.

#12 bunker renovation

2011-12-19T13:06:00.001-06:00

The crew is hustling today to get all the sand installed in the two new bunkers on #12 before the rain tonight. Once all the sand is installed, sod will be placed around the edges and around the basin to protect them from contamination. The remaining sod will be installed once the sod farm can resume cutting later this week. This will complete this project.

#12 bunker renovation

2011-12-06T12:48:00.001-06:00

The crew has begun installing the drainage in the upper bunker today. This bunker will be ready for sand by the end of the day. Tomorrow we will focus on digging out the new drainage trenches and installing pipe in the lower bunker.

Irrigation wire repair

2011-12-01T08:16:00.001-06:00

This morning the crew is taking a small break from the work on #12 bunker to replace a section of power wire that feeds the irrigation system on the middle of the course. This section of wire is damaged and needs to be replaced. Once this wire is installed, we can restore power to the irrigation control boxes in this area.

#12 bunker renovation

2011-11-30T10:49:00.001-06:00

Well after some rain delays and thanksgiving, the crew is back out working on #12 bunker. Topsoil is being added and tamped to finish forming the back sides of each bunker. In the photo you can see that we have begun cutting the new lip of the back bunker. Once the bottom of the bunker is dried out, the inside of the bunker can be tamped so we can begin hand digging the new bunker drainage.

12 bunker

2011-11-14T12:41:00.001-06:00

The next step in the renovation is the installation of the drainage. The drainage that carries the water from the bunker drainage to the creek must be installed before the new drainage inside the bunker can be put in. Once the pipe is laid, the trenches will be backfilled and the final shaping can be done.

#12 bunker renovation

2011-11-10T10:49:00.001-06:00

Rough grading has officially begun on the renovation on #12 greenside bunker. The new bunker shape is beginning to emerge. Similar to the renovation on #8, the square footage is being reduced while keeping the most used portions. The remaining bunkers are being recontoured and new drainage will be installed. The part that is being removed will be converted to a grass basin.

Chipping green update

2011-11-09T15:22:00.001-06:00

The over the last few weeks, the Chipping green has made a lot of progress. Mild temperatures, heavy rains, and a steady diet of nutrients have really helped this green get back on track. We will begin lowering the height and topdressing with sand while we are still under good growth conditions.

Carts on path reminder

2011-11-09T12:03:00.001-06:00

This morning we received our first groups of play since the rain yesterday, and this is what I saw on #12.

Please remember to follow all cart rules. We have them to protect the course from this kind of avoidable damage. Thank you.

Aftermath of rain

2011-11-08T14:43:00.001-06:00

Whenever it rains more than an inch, the staff must go out and check drain basins and fix bunkers. Here is a picture of the guys in action repairing the bunkers on #5 green. As you can see, the heavy rain eroded the sand exposing the soil underneath. Silt will wash off this exposed soil and contaminate the bunker over time.

More rain

2011-11-08T08:39:00.001-06:00

Well, we're at 3.5 inches and counting. Looks like we are in for some more before it moves out of the area. With this much rain, our creeks and tunnel are flooded and we will be closed until they are passable. Today we will be busy getting the course ready for tomorrow's play.

#2 green update

2011-11-07T14:29:00.001-06:00

The agronomy staff has spent the last few days laying sod into the damaged areas on #2. Today they are down to the smallest areas and should wrap up by the end of the day. Once our sand pile dries, a heavy application of topdressing will be applied to aid in the establishment smooth the new sod.

Signs of fall

2011-11-07T14:14:00.001-06:00

The leaves are really changing and it's looking more and more like fall. Hopefully winter isn't in a big hurry to get here!

Rain

2011-11-07T10:33:00.001-06:00

We came this morning and saw that the system that moved through last night dumped an inch of rain. We are cart path only today and possibly tomorrow since more rain is expected.

Tree removal

2011-10-21T09:27:00.000-05:00

View from behind #1 green facing west

This week the maintenance staff has been working on removing shade trees from around the greens. This process has been ongoing since early summer. As the angle of the sun changes with the seasons, different trees become a problem and must be removed. Our goal is to have sunlight on the greens as soon as possible in the morning. A green that has access to sunlight all day is going to be much healthier than one that is shaded until mid morning. Turf must have sunlight to create energy, so shading a green until late morning is like skipping breakfast everyday. Also, morning sunlight allows surface moisture to begin evaporating so the green is less susceptible to disease. Removing these shade trees, coupled with the fans that were purchased, the agronomy staff will be able to replicate the ideal growing conditions that are found on many of the other greens on the course. This will set us up for long-term success in the future.

Chipping green update

2011-10-19T16:09:00.001-05:00

It has been almost a full month since seeding and the green is beginning to take shape. We have been aggressively fertilizing and watering the green to get the seedlings up. Now that walk mowing has started, we will continue to push the green with fertilizer and increase our mowing frequency. This will force the plant to grow across the surface more and fill in. It is going to get cold during the next few days but hopefully the weather remains mild and we can encourage as much growth as possible during the next 4-6 weeks.

Temporary green on #2

2011-10-19T15:57:00.003-05:00

As of Monday, the agronomy staff has implemented a temporary green for #2. The end of the fairway was cut lower and topdressed to give the temporary a smoother roll. An eight inch cup has also been used to make it more fun to play.
This green experienced extremely high levels of a plant parasite called nematodes. These nematodes are microscopic and survive in the soil during the growing season. They extract nutrients from the roots of healthy plants thereby compromising the turfs ability to handle severe stresses such as the intense heat and drought experienced this summer. We decided that in order to take advantage of the prime growing conditions right now, that we would restrict play on this hole to a temporary green, to give the green a break from all the foot traffic. This will also allow the agronomy staff more access to the green for repairs. We are planning on re-opening this green in a couple of weeks once the green fills in and is in acceptable condition. We apologize for the inconvenience but look forward to the improved conditions on this green.

Chipping green renovation update

2011-10-01T08:29:00.000-05:00

Day 1

Day 7

It's been over a week since we seeded the chipping green and the young seedlings are coming up nicely. We have been blessed with great weather so the establishment is right on schedule. Mowing will begin within the next week or so. Once we are able to mow the green a few times a week, we will begin lightly topdressing the green with sand to smooth out any imperfections that may develop during establishment.

Chipping green renovation

2011-09-22T08:25:00.001-05:00

Now that the fall season is upon us, the weather is perfect for establishing new greens from seed. As most of you are aware, the chipping green west of the driving range was used last fall as a nursery so we could plug fresh turf onto the golf course. We were unable to renovate last fall due to other priorities on the golf course. Also, we decided earlier in the season to delay reseeding until fall when the seed would have a better chance of survival.

Removal of old green

Over the last few days, the agronomy team has been working to remove the top four inches of the original green. We also are taking the opportunity to expand the edge of the green out into the Bermuda to its original dimensions. Years of Bermuda slowly encroaching inwards has left the green much smaller than it used to be. Once the top four inches is removed, new greens mix is added back in to the green. This root zone mixture is specifically blended for golf course greens and is 90% sand and 10% peat moss. The peat moss allows the sand to retain moisture and nutrients. After the new mix has been added, a tiller is used to blend the new sand mix with the original mix underneath. This creates a more uniform soil profile and will improve the grasses ability to create long, healthy roots. Once the profile has been thoroughly blended, the sand is raked, hand watered, and plate tamped. The finished product is a smooth, firm sand surface that we can walk on without creating footprints.

Plate tamping of new profile

The last steps in the process are to fertilize, seed, then press the seed into the surface. Seed to soil contact is crucial to the success of any establishment project. This is accomplished with the tires of our bunker rake. The tire tread is ideal for this because as the machine rolls across the green, little square depressions are created. These depressions will help keep the seed moist and protect it from mower injury once we begin walk mowing.
During the next week or so, the chipping green will have a special irrigation schedule. It will be running every few hours or so to keep the seed moist. Once the seed germinates, we will begin to reduce the frequency and increase the amount of irrigation to promote deep rooting.

Blending root mix

Finished product before seeding

Fall greens aeration

2011-09-08T15:35:00.001-05:00

It's time for fall greens aeration and after the summer we've had it couldn't have come sooner! You may have noticed some hole closures this week as we work our way through the course. We appreciate everyone's patience during this process. The first day went as planned and the second day was ahead of schedule until our greens aerator broke down. We fixed the machine today and are planning on finishing the last few holes first thing tomorrow morning without disrupting play.

Rough/Native Conversion

2011-08-24T17:16:00.000-05:00

It's been almost a week and the rough that was sprayed with herbicide is definitely starting to show signs of death. There is great contrast right now between the areas to be converted and the remaining rough. It isn't difficult to envision what the new native areas will look like now that the rough has turned brown. We have one final herbicide application in these areas to ensure a thorough kill and then we will be seeding these areas in mid September.
Once we begin seeding these areas, it is crucial that golf carts stay out of these areas so that we can get the seed to come up properly. We have created spaces within the new areas that will allow cart traffic from the cart path to the fairways without driving through the seeded areas. The success of this project depends on your cooperation. If you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask. Thanks!

Drought recovery

2011-08-24T11:00:00.000-05:00

#14 Aug. 10th

What a difference two weeks and 5 inches of rain can make! After suffering through one of the worst droughts in recent memory, we finally got some much needed rain a few weeks ago. Since then the tees, fairways, surrounds and rough have all made a full recovery. We fertilized the entire golf course yesterday to help continue the improved conditions. The ability of the Bermuda to quickly recover from the drought has left the golf course is great condition for the upcoming fall tournament season.

#11 Aug. 23rd.

Website comments

2011-08-20T08:55:00.000-05:00

I've been posting information on this website for over a year and still have very little envolvement from those that actively read the information that is posted. I want everyone to know that I welcome any comments and encourage those with ideas for new topics to share them. Thank you for your interest in Bailey Ranch Golf Club and hope to see you on the course!

Rough/Native Conversion

2011-08-19T06:32:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, we began the first phase of a plan to convert some key areas of maintained rough into native areas. Two herbicide applications will be made this month to kill the existing rough, then we will slit-seed into these areas mid-September.
The three main goals for this plan are: to reduce operating expenses by removing 10-15 acres of maintained rough, to bring the course closer to the original design, to not increase difficulty or pace of play. To determine which areas to reestablish, we are using aerial photos from before the course was opened. These photos are helping us see the architects original design so we can bring back some of these native areas that have been lost over the years. This year we focused on the front nine because this is where we have the greatest acreage to mow.
Although we are converting rough on most holes on the front nine, the biggest change will be on #8. In the picture below, you can see that we are bringing the native, that is left of the tee, around the front all the way to the cart path. The new native area will then taper up the right and left sides of the surround. This will appear more difficult, but the golfer will only have about 30 yards to carry over the new native area.

Deep Tining Greens

2011-08-12T14:03:00.000-05:00

The agronomy staff has been hard at work today deep-tining the greens. This process uses long, thin tines that punch deeply into the rootzone. This allows the roots easy acess to oxygen and also helps drain out any excess moisture from the soil. Deep-tine applications are a perfect way to increase the health of the root zone without negatively impacting the putting surface with large holes. Immediately following the deep-tine machine, our greens roller irons out any bumps and imperfections left behind to ensure smooth ball roll.

More Rain

2011-08-11T08:11:00.001-05:00

We finally got the drought relief we have been waiting for. The heavy rain over the last two days has brought our total to over 4 inches in the last 6 days. All of our ponds are full again and the Bermuda is greening up quickly. I plan on fertilizing tees, fairways, and rough next week to encourage more growth and improve conditions course wide.

Rain!

2011-08-10T06:27:00.000-05:00

After weeks of searing heat and relentless drought, Mother Nature has finally given us some rain. We got a half inch of rain over the weekend and then another quarter inch on Monday night. It seems that the tees and fairways are already starting to respond to the moisture and are starting to come out of dormancy. There are strong chances of storms this week so hopefully we will get some more rain to fill our ponds back up.

Greens fans

2011-08-04T16:10:00.000-05:00

The agronomy team here at Bailey Ranch recently received some new 50" diameter greens fans. Three fans were purchased for the 3 greens we typically have issues with during the summer. #1, #12, and #13 greens have air flow issues due to the amount of trees that surround these greens complexes. We have aggressively removed a majority of these problem trees but many remain on homeowner property.
These fans will push a larger column of air much farther than the older fans, which will cool the greens surface temperatures more effectively. This increase in air flow will not only reduce surface temperatures but it will also allow the greens to dry out more easily after a rain. We have already seen an average surface temperature reduction of 4-6 degrees between 12 and 2pm. This is typically when surface temperature are the hottest and this reduction keeps the growing conditions similar to the other greens on the golf course.

Drought Update

2011-08-04T15:36:00.001-05:00

This relentless heat and drought have still not let up and now the Tulsa metro area is under what is called a D4 or exceptional drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. D4 is the highest level on their scale of drought intensity. Hopefully everyone realizes that it is basically impossible to keep the soil moist under these conditions and that even Bermuda cannot withstand this heat without proper moisture. Up until recently, we have been doing our best to keep our irrigation system running as much as possible to maintain green healthy conditions, but this persistent lack of rain has forced us to use almost all of our water reserves in the big lake down by #17 green. We have started to ration what we have left to be sure that we can make it until fall with healthy greens. With our ability to store rain water, I feel that once we get into the fall and get a few heavy rains, we will refill our ponds easily and our Bermuda tees and fairways will come back out of dormancy. Once the Bermuda starts growing again, we will fertilize and encourage as much growth as possible before winter.

Irrigation leak on #17

2011-07-27T07:52:00.000-05:00

Some of you might have seen the geyser on #17 yesterday afternoon. One of the irrigation fittings, we connect our greens hoses into, broke yesterday afternoon forcing us to close down the system to the entire back nine. Due to some quick thinking, and a lot of hard work, we resolved the issue with no negative effects to the other greens. Seeing leaks like in this photo, you can appreciate the amount of pressure required to run a system of this size.

Effects of drought on golf course

2011-07-07T10:21:00.001-05:00

Several people have asked me about why the tees, fairways and rough look brown right now. The reason we have really green, healthy areas and brown areas has to do with several factors. The main reason is that we are currently under a moderate drought and have just been through one of the hottest Junes on record. Other factors have to do with the compaction in the soil, the terrain, and our irrigation coverage. We do not have irrigation on all areas of the golf course. There are certain areas that are in play that we cannot irrigate. Some other areas have rocky soil or excessive compaction so water cannot get to the root of the plant. This water sheds off of these dry areas and collects in low areas. The areas immediately surrounding greens are more dry due the different water demands from the greens versus the Bermuda. We are applying the vast majority of the water to the greens via hand watering so the surrounds are not getting sufficient moisture. We have been hand watering these areas to keep them from getting too dry.

Although these brown, dry, areas appear dead, they are actually dormant. When Bermuda cannot get the proper amount of water during the summer months, it can go into a dormancy similar to the winter months. Once the plant has a sufficient amount of moisture it will "awaken" out of dormancy and green up again.

Syringing Greens

2011-06-28T10:43:00.001-05:00

Well it feels like August already and the syringe team is out in full force. Syringing is a term used to describe the application of water on Bentgrass greens during the hottest part of the day to reduce heat stress. This watering is done very lightly and multiple times a day. The agronomy staff has been trained to stay out of the way of golfers as much as possible, but there are times when we have no choice but to water in between groups. We ask that whenever you see someone watering a green in front of you, and they have pulled the flagstick, that you please give them a minute to finish before you hit your approach shot. No one likes to get hit with a golf ball and we certainly do not enjoy holding up play. We thank you for your patience and look forward to a great summer.

#1, #12, #13 Greens

2011-06-27T08:07:00.003-05:00

I've been getting numerous questions regarding the appearance of #1, #12 and #13 greens. We sent samples to a plant pathologist at Oklahoma State University and the samples came back positive for Pythium blight. Pythium is a common disease found on stressed turf usually during intense heat and humidity. These greens receive considerably less air movement and sunlight. This means that these greens endure more intense heat, and humidity, and because of this, disease pressure is more severe on these three greens.
Once we confirmed the presence of the Pythium, the affected greens were treated with a fungicide specific to this disease and a light rate of fertilizer was applied to encourage recovery. The agronomy team has been working very hard to improve the growth conditions over the last few weeks by removing shade trees, utilizing fans to circulate more air, closely monitoring soil moisture, leaf temperature and nutrient levels. Progress may be slowed by the intense heat but we are already seeing some improvement.
If you have any further questions feel free to contact me. Thanks

#2 Green

2011-06-27T07:35:00.001-05:00

Several people have asked me about the spots on #2 green. These spots are Annual Bluegrass under heat stress and is dying out. Annual Bluegrass, or Poa, is a common weed in Bentgrass putting greens and has been slowly establishing itself for years. Our new handwatering techniques and monitoring systems have allowed us to significantly reduce the amount of irrigation required to keep the Bentgrass healthy. Besides improving the health of the Bentgrass, this reduction in water usage is also stressing out the Poa. Poa needs more soil moisture than Bentgrass to survive the heat of the summer and since it isn't available, these plants are starting to die out. Although #2 green looks funny now, in time the Bentgrass will fill in these spots and the amount of Poa will continue to decline.

Tree removal

2011-06-15T15:12:00.001-05:00

I spent the morning taking pictures and evaluating the amount of shade on some of our greens. Sunlight is a critical component to the overall health of greens. The turf must have a certain amount of sunlight each morning before the onset of stress. I equate it to the these greens skipping breakfast each morning and then burning a lot of energy each afternoon trying to survive the heat. They can make it through the day but it isn't a good long-term situation for healthy greens.
Now, I don't take removing trees lightly and only do so when necessary. Trees that are too close to greens reduce needed air circulation and increase shade, both of which increase the humidity in the area around the green. We feel that by removing a select few trees, we will be able to improve the growing environment for the few greens that struggle each year. Crews are currently working around #1 green and once finished, will be moving to #12 green.

#1 green at 7AM

#1 at 9AM

#12 at 7AM

#12 at 9AM

Fairway Slicing

2011-06-13T13:04:00.000-05:00

The maintenance staff began slicing fairways this morning. Slicing fairways is a great way to alleviate the negative impacts of compaction from cart and mower traffic. Over time, compaction tightens up the soil and reduces the ability of the turf to produce long healthy roots. This practice will allow water, nutrients and oxygen to get into the root zone more effectively.
The machine we use is called a shatter-tine machine and uses curved "knives" that go into the turf and twist the ground as they come out. This twisting motion fractures the soil which allows the roots room to grow. Once the fairway has been sliced, the fairway mower follows to clean up all the tufts left behind. The fairways are cleaning up nicely and there should be minimal disruption to play during this process.

Core aeration

2011-06-03T09:46:00.000-05:00

The turf team has been in high gear over the last few days aerating greens. We felt that an additional core aeration was needed to ensure that we have the drainage capacity and strong root systems to handle another hot and humid summer. Smaller tines were used to minimize the time required to heal in. The larger particles of sand that didn't work into the holes were blown off to keep the greens rolling as smooth as possible. Overall, the greens came out of the process really well and we should be back in great shape in just a few days. The last picture is two days after the cores were pulled.

Memorial weekend preparations

2011-05-29T09:51:00.000-05:00

This past week, the staff had been in high gear getting the golf course ready for the holiday weekend. We have been scrambling around mowing all areas of the golf course, trim mowing, and wrapping up other miscellaneous detail work.
One of the miscellaneous projects that had been on my list for a few weeks was renovating the area between the cart path and the green on #13. This area had been worn down due to foot and cart traffic and was in need of attention. We added sod to this area and a mulch pathway to focus the foot traffic approaching the green.

Verticut and Topdressing on Greens

2011-05-10T15:10:00.000-05:00

The greens are loving the recent weather and have really taken off. The rapid growth of the bentgrass this time of year also means that thatch can become an issue. Thatch is just old roots and leaves that have died and have become a part of the soil. Thatch can be a problem because it acts like a sponge and can trap excess moisture and nutrients. This thatch layer has several downsides: it can keep water and nutrients from moving down into the rootzone, keeps the surface soft, increases ballmarks, and decreases ball roll.
In order to keep the thatch from accumulating, we periodically vertical mow and lightly topdress the greens with sand. The vertical mower is similar to power raking your yard and it allows us to remove some of the excess thatch without interfering with playing conditions. The sand is dusted onto the green to dilute the thatch further and to smooth out the surface.

USGA article

2011-04-29T15:44:00.002-05:00

Below is an article written by Charles "Bud" White, the Mid-Continent Director for the USGA. In this article, it explains all of the negatives associated with the decrease in putting surface heights during the summer stress time periods. It also promotes increasing the putting surface height just slightly going into these time periods,as it can prove to be beneficial as it relates to managing bentgrass in the southern transition zones of the United States.

THE CUTTING HEIGHT DILEMMA
Finding the right balance.

BY CHARLES “BUD” WHITE

In the last few years, there has been an ever-increasing demand for faster putting green speeds on golf courses throughout the United States. Brought on in large part by “TV golf” or tournament golf, the general public now wants to play under the same conditions as the professionals.

During my USGA Turf Advisory Service visits, I am often informed of how golfers played on 12' or 13' Stimpmeter® speeds during an event and loved it. The fact is, these golfers were probably playing on greens that may have been about 11' on the Stimpmeter,® but they thought or were told that greens were at speeds of 13'.

Bottom line, the average golfer would three-putt or four-putt with those speeds. This need for speed has brought on a new set of problems because superintendents are reducing cutting heights to achieve these increased speeds.

In the last 10 to 12 years, we have seen a shift in putting green maintenance, where the average cutting height at many courses has gone from 5/32" (0.155) to less than 1/8" (0.125). Some courses are even at the 0.085" to 0.090" range. At these extreme heights, there is virtually no leaf area left, and the turf is in significant physiological stress all the time.

Root development and turf health are directly related to cutting height — the lower the cutting height, the less root development. The shift in putting green management causes undue and often unbearable stress and strain on the turf.

Literally, it is management on a razor’s edge, and it is a major reason why we have a large increase in disease and fan use on bentgrass greens in the South over the last several years. Golfers often tell me that 15 years ago the greens were just fine. Now these greens can’t survive without fans, and golfers want to know why. Quite simply, the decrease in cutting height has caused increased stress on the grass.

I refer you to a Green Section Record article authored by Dr. Bingru Huang, Burning the Candle at Both Ends, which clearly points out the dramatic difference in turf health by simply raising the cutting height 1/32" during the summer stress periods. This basic, grass-roots research summarizes most of the turf health problems we are experiencing and where this lowered cutting height on greens has led us as an industry. In addition to increased use of fans, we have also seen a greater negative impact from tree shade and root com- petition.

Shade imposes stress on turf at lower cutting heights because of less turf leaf area and a reduced ability to photosynthesize in reduced-light environments. Even concentrated foot traffic, such as the ingress and egress points on greens, has a much greater impact due to this reduction in leaf area and turf health. A slight raise in cutting heights to moderate levels would still maintain greens at a very acceptable level of speed and quality during the times of summer stress yet would minimize most problems and eliminate many.

Superintendents are using alternative measures, such as alternating mowing and rolling during the summer to reduce stress. In my experience, there is no reason that a golfer at any level cannot enjoy an average daily speed of 9' to 10' during the summer stress and still have a challenging game. If a golfer insists he must have 11' or more on an average day to have a quality putting green, then he or she has missed the whole purpose of the game and is not concerned about course health whatsoever.

The cutting height dilemma on U.S. golf courses has gone way past the reality mark and is creating impossible growing conditions for many courses. Golf courses cutting below 1/10" have found that raising the cutting heights above this level can actually produce greater putting quality and speed by utilizing other grooming techniques, because there is more leaf tissue to work with during the grooming process. There is definitely a point of diminishing returns once the cutting height drops below 1/8". With luck, golfers can be educated to understand what these excessively low cutting heights do to the turfgrass, and then they may be more realistic in their demands. The summer of 2010 taught many a lesson the hard way. Reasonable cutting heights, when balanced with other grooming techniques, will not reduce the quality of greens, can actually enhance the golfing experience, and can do so without putting speed reductions.

BUD WHITE is the director of the Green

Section’s Mid-Continent Region.

#8 Bunker Renovation

2011-04-15T12:08:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week the maintenance staff finished the bunker renovation on #8. The new drainage was installed as well as the new bunker sand. This area will remain ground under repair for a week, or so, until the sod is fully established. Once the sod is established, it will be mowed and the bunker complex can be opened.

Greens aeration

2011-04-08T07:50:00.000-05:00

The turf team has been hard at work since Monday aerating the greens. We completed the front nine greens Monday and the back nine greens Tuesday. The last two days have been spent cleaning off excess sand and rolling greens to make sure the the putting surface is smooth and consistent.
Although golfers seem to understand that greens aeration is necessary, we still want to get the greens back to their original condition as soon as possible. For those that aren't sure exactly what aeration is or what the process looks like, I've included some pictures to help explain the process.
To start the process we double verticut (de-thatch) the greens and blow off the debris. Then we mow them to clean them up further. Once this is done, we begin pulling cores with the aerifier.

The aerifier pulls cores at a specific width and spacing to remove as much organic matter as possible.

Once the cores are pulled, the harvester comes through and picks them up. Any remaining material is then blown off to get the green ready for topdressing.

The topdressing sand is broadcast onto the green at a specific thickness to be sure that enough sand is there to fill all the holes.

After the topdresser is finished, and the sand is dry, a mower fitted with brooms brushes the sand into the holes and removes any excess off the green.

Here are a few pictures of the finished product. Our goal is to make it so that only when you walk onto the green can you tell that they've been core aerated.

If you have any further questions or would like to learn more about the process please feel free to contact me.

#8 Bunker Renovation

2011-03-31T09:47:00.001-05:00

On Monday, the maintenance staff started the last bunker renovation of the off-season on #8. The bunkers on #8 were very old and in sad shape. The little amount of sand we had in them was contaminated with rocks and soil. The new design will minimize labor while enhancing the links aspect of the hole. The new bunkers will be deep, pot bunkers with fairway height turf surrounding them on all sides. This should increase the possibility of rolling your ball into the hazard thus maintaining integrity of this short par 3. I've been looking forward to starting this project for a few weeks and am please with the progress so far.
The first step in the process was to get the rough shaping done with the skid loader. This equipment made short work of this part of the project and was well worth the expense.

Then we installed the drainage coming from the bunkers to the basin.

Once the drainage was installed, the trenches were back filled and graded again

The next step was to create the new bunker edge and compact the soil inside the bunker to create a strong smooth bunker floor.

If the rain doesn't hold us off today, we should get the sod installed and get our drainage dug in today. I hope to be ready for sand by tomorrow afternoon.

#7 Bunker Renovation

2011-03-24T09:33:00.000-05:00

The bunker on #7 officially open for play starting this morning. Our staff worked very hard yesterday shoveling and raking all 80 tons of bunker sand into place. Once we got all our sand depths correct, we hand watered the sand to help pack it down, then smoothed it out with a landscape rake. The guys went through this morning and hand raked it to get it ready for the day.
Please remember that this bunker will be soft for a few weeks while it continues to settle in and firm up.

#7 Bunker Renovation

2011-03-22T14:05:00.002-05:00

Despite multiple delays from weather and other projects the maintenance staff is beginning to pick up momentum on the bunker renovation on #7. The additional trenches were cut in to increase the drainage capacity and flush outs were installed. Over the last few days all the new pipe and gravel have been installed.

This renovation is a little different than the others we've completed this winter, in that it will be ready for play as soon as we are finished installing the new sand. Since no grading or sod was needed, the new sand will be packed down and then it can be opened for play. New bunker sand will be delivered in the morning and the crew should be able to wrap up this project by tomorrow afternoon.

#16 Bridge project

2011-03-22T13:39:00.000-05:00

JonesPlan came in last Thursday and finished all grading and prep work so we could begin laying sod on Friday.
Before we started the sod project, we installed some stone steps to encourage the golfers to stop their carts in the widened section of cart path. Hopefully this will keep people from parking too close to the bridge and blocking the path. Once we finished installing the steps, we laid the remaining sod and seeded the native areas along the pond bank. The straw should help stabilize the soil along the bank and help retain moisture until the seed germinates.
Since all the sod has been laid, the project is officially finished, we just need to keep the sod and seed moist for a few weeks until they green up. This area will remain ground under repair during this time.

#16 Bridge Project

2011-03-10T07:14:00.000-06:00

Over the last few days the crew has been constructing forms and pouring curbs. The crew worked overtime yesterday to ensure that the curbs were finished properly. Now that the curbs are done, we will spend the next couple of days removing the forms and grading for sod.

#16 Bridge Project

2011-03-07T15:42:00.001-06:00

Since the bridge was lifted into position last week, the turf maintenance team has been working very hard pouring concrete for the paths leading up to, and away from, the bridge on #16 green. Wooden forms were installed and steel was used to reinforce the cart path.
Now that all the concrete has been poured, the next step in the process is the installation of the curbing. We will begin drilling rods into the edge of the path and installing our forms tomorrow. The plan is to pour the concrete tomorrow afternoon. Once everything is dry we will begin grading the soil. alongside the path and install sod.

Weed Control

2011-02-23T11:58:00.000-06:00

Mother Nature has finally given us an opportunity to spray for weeds so we went out yesterday en masse to get as much spraying done as possible. We began our spring pre-emergent applications with our spray rig and finished all tees and fairways. We also went out with our tank sprayer and hand sprayed all clubhouse lawns and bunker noses. The pre-emergent herbicide we are applying will keep all weeds from emerging for about 6 months. We are starting to see a lot of patches of grass emerging. This grass is a weed and is called annual bluegrass, or Poa. It is common and the herbicide we are applying will kill this plant even after it has already germinated.

Today we are beginning to spray the rough with pre-emergent and continuing to spot-treat broadleaf weeds. We plan on completing our pre-emergent application by March 1st so we can begin our greens maintenance programs.

#7 Bunker Renovation

2011-02-21T14:30:00.000-06:00

After a three week delay from a record-breaking snowstorm, the maintenance team is back to work on #7 green side bunker. Today we worked on removing all of the old drainage pipe and gravel. Once this was complete, we found that additional trenching would need to be done to increase the effectiveness of the drainage. The crew will spend the next few days digging the new drainage trenches and adding new pipe and gravel. Weather permitting, we should be adding new bunker sand by the end of the week.

#7 Bunker Renovation

2011-01-31T17:02:00.000-06:00

Having just finished #14 bunker on Friday, we moved right onto the next bunker on our list, #7. The bunker on #7 won't need as much work as previous bunkers. We plan on removing all of the old sand and drainage; digging additional drainage lines and installing new drain pipe, and adding new bunker sand. We had a good day today, removing approximately 50 tons of old sand. Now that this step is complete, the old drain pipe and gravel will be removed next.
The 10+ inches of snow that is expected tonight will most likely keep us from continuing until next week or later.

#14 Bunker Renovation

2011-01-31T16:51:00.000-06:00

On Friday, the maintenance staff finished the bunker renovation on #14. The new bunker complex has been marked ground under repair and will remain closed until spring.

#14 Bunker Renovation

2011-01-27T08:19:00.001-06:00

The maintenance team has worked very hard over the last few days shaping and compacting the new bunker slopes in preparation for sod. The "flush out drains" were installed and sod was laid around the entire bunker. The flush outs are installed to allow us to manually flush irrigation water into the drainage system to keep it clean and functioning properly.
Now that sod has been laid, the new bunker is starting to become more apparent. New drainage pipe and gravel will go in today and all the new bunker sand will be installed by tomorrow afternoon.
Please remember that although the bunker may appear to be open and ready for play, dormant sod cannot root in and this bunker must remain closed until it can root into the soil this spring. We will be installing rope and ground under repair markings to assist with any ruling issues. Thanks for your cooperation during this time.

#16 retaining wall project

2011-01-27T07:38:00.000-06:00

It seems that it's been awhile since the last update on the project on #16. The project is basically done, except for the area where the bridge will be located. The Public Works department was planning on beginning construction of the bridge abutments, but a significant winter storm moved in and forced them to prepare for that event. Now that we have several inches of snow on the ground, the bridge project will have to be on hold until the snow melts and the ground dries out. Once the bridge piers are built, the concrete must cure for a few weeks and then the bridge can be lifted into it's final position. After the bridge is in place, the finish grading, cart paths and sod can all be installed.

#16 Bridge project

2011-01-27T07:35:00.000-06:00

Over the last few days, golf maintenance staff has been coordinating with the Public Works department in constructing the abutments for the bridge behind #16 green. First the holes for the piers were dug using an auger. Second, the wood forms were built with steel anchors and crossbars for added strength. Yesterday the concrete was poured and covered. The concrete will need to cure for approximately 28 days. Once the concrete has cured, the bridge can be installed and cart paths can be poured.

#14 Bunker renovation

2011-01-19T15:06:00.000-06:00

It is now day three of the bunker renovation on #14 and the maintenance team has wrapped up the most physically demanding aspect of the project: digging the drainage trenches by hand. Now they are moving on to backfilling the slopes with soil to re-establish the original bunker edges. The crew will work on this over the next day or so to ensure that the slopes are smooth and compacted. Once this is complete, the sod, drainage materials, and sand can be installed.

#14 Bunker renovation

2011-01-17T16:11:00.000-06:00

The maintenance crew began work on the bunker on #14 today. All of the old sand has been removed as well as the old drain pipe. The original bunker edge was uncovered during the excavation process so we decided to use this edge to "reset" the bunker to it's original proportions. The maintenance staff has also begun installing the forms used to create the new sod edge. Soil will be back filled behind the forms and graded to the grass all the way around the bunker. This effectively reduces the slope and decreases the likelihood of sand erosion in the future.

Snow

2011-01-11T12:27:00.000-06:00

We officially had our first snow accumulation of the season Monday. Although it isn't all that impressive, once it melts, the snow will help provide some much needed soil moisture. The snow will also act like a blanket, insulating the turf from the extreme temperatures we are going to have over the next few days.

Poa control

2011-01-05T15:25:00.000-06:00

Our staff is taking advantage of the calm winds, and warm weather, over the last few days by treating the collars with herbicide. This herbicide will not harm the dormant Bermuda but will kill any weeds that are present. The blue color around the green is dye that is used to mark where we have applied. This dye will fade over the next few days.
The weed we are after is annual bluegrass, or Poa, as it is commonly referred. Poa is a common weed in this area and thrives during the fall and spring. We need to control it around the greens because the seeds can easily be transported onto the green by equipment and foot traffic. Once Poa establishes in the greens it spreads easily and is extremely difficult to remove without injury to the Bentgrass. Poa is inherently susceptible to disease, heat/drought stress and grows at different rates than Bentgrass. This can cause infested greens to become bumpy, decreasing putting quality.

Greens maintenance

2011-01-03T14:37:00.000-06:00

It may not seem like it, but winter is commonly the driest season of the year. Sand based greens can easily loose too much moisture if not monitored closely. The common symptoms of drought stress can be easily mistaken during this time of year and rainfall is scarce. To combat this our assistant superintendent, Michael Liebe, is spraying a wetting agent on the greens. This product retains moisture in the top 4-6 inches of the rootzone, which keeps the turf from drying out too much. The ability of this product to keep soil moisture at an optimum level will allow the greens to take advantage of mild days during winter by encouraging growth.

#16 retaining wall project

2010-12-28T13:33:00.000-06:00

The maintenance team as begun installing sod along the pond edge and around to the bunker left of the green. Although staples are being used to help keep the sod in place, please be careful when stepping on these slopes because the sod is unable to root in during dormancy. The rest of the project is on hold for a few weeks until the bridge piers can be installed. Then the remaining sod and cart paths can be installed.

#16 retaining wall project

2010-12-17T13:33:00.000-06:00

The project on #16 is right on schedule and is beginning to take it’s basic shape. Now that the pond bank has been sloped back, JonesPlan will begin to contour the area to match the rolling hills behind the green. A new smaller bunker will be installed in the same area as the original bunker to maintain the difficulty on the left side of the green. The area directly in front of the green will be sloped so that it can be maintained at fairway height and will allow golf balls to roll into the pond if left short.

#16 retaining wall project

2010-12-14T15:11:00.000-06:00

The project is now in full swing and Public Works has removed most of the retaining wall and has started pulling apart the old bridge. They will start moving some dirt around to the front side of the green tomorrow and continue removing railroad ties. Please use caution in this area when passing through and do not stand too close to the pond edge during this time since the soil on the edge is loose.

#16 retaining wall project

2010-12-13T14:17:00.000-06:00

Work has begun on the retaining wall and bridge on #16 greens complex. The City of Owasso Public Works department is pitching in it's equipment and manpower alongside JonesPlan contractors to remove and reshape the pond bank around #16 green. Public Works has begun removing the old railroad ties from the retaining wall. Over the next few days all the old ties and old bridge will be removed. Once this is complete, JonesPlan will begin to reshape the slopes and get the area ready for sod.
In order to keep this hole open during this project, a temporary green has been installed and new yardages have been posted at each tee box. Since the bridge will not be available to get to #17 tee box, everyone will need to drive around the pond and down #11 cart path. Signs will be posted but caution should be used because there will be a lot of construction traffic at certain times. We appreciate your patience and look forward to reopening this green as soon as possible.

#11 Bunker renovation

2010-12-07T11:16:00.000-06:00

The maintenance staff installed all the sod and put the finishing touches on the project this morning. The bunker complex will be roped off and will stay closed until spring when the sod roots have a chance to root in. We do ask that if your ball goes into the hazard that you walk around to the flat side and enter from there. If you try to step on the high side of the bunker, the sod might slip and the soil lip might get damaged. With your help, this bunker complex will stay in great shape for years to come.

Greens reopening

2010-12-06T15:09:00.000-06:00

Bailey Ranch Golf Club is excited to announce that starting Friday December 10th, all 18 holes will be open for play. The weather for Friday and Saturday looks great and we are hoping for a good turnout of golfers to come and see how far we've progressed in the last two months. Currently the greens are only a few thousandths of an inch higher than the front nine and they putt very similar to the open greens. The cutting heights will be consistent by Friday so there should be putting consistency on all greens by the end of the week.
We took the opportunity while we were closed to renovate #1 bunker so it has fresh sand and is ready for play. There will be a continued effort to complete projects such as bunker renovations, bridge and retaining wall renovations and cart path repairs while trying to impact play as little as possible. Our goal is to have the majority of these projects completed by Spring so we can have the best golf course possible for the next golfing season.
The maintenance staff will be working hard this week to wrap up the bunker renovation on #11 green and replace all the course accessories that were removed when we closed. All the tee markers, flag sticks and signs will be brought back out, as well as any other details that need to be addressed.

#11 Bunker renovation

2010-12-06T14:53:00.000-06:00

The bunker project on #11 green has gone very smoothly and we are on track to finish the entire project by tomorrow afternoon. The sand is added to a depth of 3-4 inches on the slopes and 4-5 inches in the bottom. Once all the sand is in place, a smooth raking helps us to determine where more sand is needed. The bunker will be hand soaked with a hose to help firm and compact the sand. The crew is completing the finish grading around the bunkers and getting the soil ready for sod in the morning. Although the bunkers will appear ready for play, the dormant sod will not be able to root into the ground and therefore, we cannot allow foot traffic in this area. Once the sod has a chance to root down in the spring we will pull the ropes and signs and open up the complex for play.

#11 bunker renovation

2010-12-03T14:35:00.000-06:00

Over the past few days, the maintenance team has been working on renovating the greenside bunker on #11. We decided to start fresh by completely reshaping and resizing the bunker. This change will fit into our design philosophy of reducing maintenance costs while keeping playability intact. The main issue with the old design was that rain water drained into the back of the bunker off of a steep slope. Surface water should never drain into a bunker, it should always drain away from the bunker. To address this surface drainage issue, the original bunker was divided in two. This gave us the flexibility during the redesign to shrink and move the back bunker closer to the green to allow us to get the water flowing around the back of the bunker and down into a basin. This will keep the sand in place, which will help us extend the life of the bunker, and most importantly, improve playability for years to come. We also carved out the old material out of the bottoms of the bunkers and so the new bunkers will be deeper shape and will be more intimidating to play out of.

Greens aeration

2010-11-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

The turf maintenance team has begun pulling a core on the closed greens this morning. Removing as much of the old profile as possible before next summer is crucial to the success of the greens. Scheduling this core aeration before winter allows us to improve oxygen and water movement during this crucial time of root development. The new Bentgrass sod also needs to be aerified as much as possible due to the layering that can develop during establishment. This new sod has been grown on a very specific soil profile at the sod farm. Often times the new profile does not exactly match, so water and nutrients can get "trapped" in the sod and not be allowed to flow down into the new soil profile. By poking holes in the new sod, we are giving the new roots access to the new profile so that the sod can grow long, healthy roots before next summer. This cultivation of the root zone, coupled with the two planned aerifications this spring, should give us the greatest chance for a successful summer.

Clubhouse landscape renovations

2010-10-29T13:08:00.000-05:00

The golf maintenance team just wrapped up a two day project of renovating the clubhouse landscaping. The large bed to the southeast of the clubhouse and the bed in the circle drive were in desperate need of some attention. We relocated all existing plants, added some new plants, mulched all beds, added rock features, and solar-powered path lighting. These much needed improvements are designed to need minimal maintenance, while increasing the overall appearance of the clubhouse.

Frost delays

2010-10-29T12:48:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again. As the average temperature continues to drop, frost delays will become more common. Although it is seen as an inconvenience to golfers, delaying golf on frosted greens is a necessity and not something the maintenance staff enjoys having to do. If we could have our way, we wouldn't have frost and could open early year round.

Frost occurs when the temperature and dew point are both under 40 degrees and there is little to no wind. This causes the dew to be very thick and then it freezes on the plant. Under normal conditions the Bentgrass acts like a sponge when walked on, but when the temperatures are below 40 degrees, the leaf blades freeze and become brittle. When someone walks on grass that is brittle and cannot absorb the weight, the leaf blade will shatter and die. This is what causes the brown footprints that will appear a day or so after the initial damage. The maintenance staff will be every morning closely monitoring the status of the frost delay and once it is clear the course will be opened.

Thank you for your patience during this off-season and stay warm!

Greens renovations

2010-10-26T10:51:00.000-05:00

Now that the new greens are established and are beginning to root down into the new profile, the maintenance crew has begun a weekly topdressing program. This includes adding sand to the green in very light amounts to fill the space around each leaf blade with sand. Since the grass is being maintained much higher than normal, the green can soft, or "puffy". Incorporating sand into this space firms up the surface and prevents mowing injury during this crucial grow in process. During the next 4-6 weeks, we will continue to topdress weekly and slowly bring down the mowing height on the closed greens to make sure that they are as consistent as possible to the open greens.

We have been very encouraged by the progress made on the closed greens over the last month and are excited to get them back into playing condition as soon as possible. As always, we appreciate everyone's patience during this time.

Cart path edges

2010-10-19T15:58:00.000-05:00

The condition of the grass along cart paths near greens and tees has prompted the maintenance team to take more drastic measures to keep carts on the paths in these areas. We have started constructing wooden curbs on most of the holes to keep golfers tires on the path when they pull up to greens and tee boxes. This will keep the compaction down and allow the turf to remain in better condition. The maintenance staff will be going around to the worst areas (see picture) and doing repairs throughout the winter.

Greens renovations

2010-10-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

Now that all the sod has been laid, the maintenance crew is working hard to make sure all the sod is level and will be as smooth as possible before our first mowing on Friday. A thick layer of sand is added to the greens and brushed in so the seams from the sod will grow in faster. Once a mowing schedule is started, regular topdressing will begin and the green will become smoother and more firm as it continues to establish.

Greens renovations

2010-10-11T10:50:00.000-05:00

Now that all the sod has been laid, the maintenance crew has started putting the finishing touches on the renovated greens. We need to plate compact the sod one more time and hand topdress all the seams. Once this is done, the sod will be deep watered and rolled several more times until the surface is smooth, firm and ready for it's first mowing.

Greens renovations

2010-10-11T10:26:00.000-05:00

3B Bentgrass and JonesPlan coordinated on Friday to install the new Bentgrass sod on #12-#14. The sod was laid down and watered in a soon as possible to make sure that there weren't any pieces that got too dry. Once the sod was down, a roller was used to smooth the surface and create good sod to soil contact. Each green was rolled several times to get a firm surface.

Greens renovations

2010-10-05T08:56:00.001-05:00

JonesPlan is putting the finishing touches on a couple of the greens today. They have filled the greens back in with sand and blended the profile so that the remaining greens mix is uniform. Then they wet the sand and tamp it down to firm up the surface. Once this is finished, the slopes are double checked and then the greens are ready for sod.

#12 greens renovation

2010-09-30T06:44:00.001-05:00

JonesPlan started our greens renovation project yesterday. They started on #12 green got it all cleaned out and ready for sand. You can see in the picture that they are scooping out the old sod and some of the soil profile. Over the years, the top four inches had accumulated too much organic matter and was clogging up the soil. This doesn't allow for deep rooting and results in a much weaker plant. JonesPlan is removing this problematic layer and replacing it. Once the sand is back in place it will be blended and regraded.

Once this green is done, they will move onto #13 and #14. They should be done will all three greens by Friday afternoon.

Pump house

2010-09-21T12:47:00.000-05:00

A finely tuned pump system can deliver years of trouble free service, however, as pumps and motors get older there comes a time when repairs must be made. This summer, during some of the hottest weather we've seen in years, one of the pumps began showing signs of trouble. We pulled the pump out in late July, once out, we discovered that one of the impellers was broken and the screen had rotted off.

This morning we placed the reconditioned pump and motor back into the pump house. Now with the pump and motor back into place, we should get years and years of reliable service out of our pump system.

#11 fairway

2010-09-02T08:45:00.001-05:00

Brown Farms Sod began filling in bare areas on fairways Tuesday. Thirteen pallets were put down and should start to root in a day or so. Once the sod is rooted in, we will begin bringing the height down from 2 inches to three quarters of an inch. Brown Farms will be back this week to finish #11 and #7 fairways.

Native areas

2010-08-25T08:49:00.001-05:00

We began mowing native areas yesterday. Mowing the native in early fall allows the grasses time to grow back up before winter, while discouraging the weeds and small trees from coming back. The end result is a much cleaner look without all of the small trees and weeds. We hope to finish this in the next few days.

#11 fairway sod

2010-08-18T14:33:00.001-05:00

The maintenance crew resumed sod work on fairways today. Due to the fact that good Bermuda growing weather is rapidly decreasing, we are starting to fully sod bare areas. We are no longer strip sodding because we want to be fully grown in by winter. Bailey Ranch is coordinating with a local sod farm to assist us in getting this project done in a timely manner. We are responsible for all prep work and they will come in and lay the sod. Once #11 and #16 fairway are complete, we will continue going around the golf course removing any area larger than a bathtub. Much of this work will be during the hole closures this fall so we can work without interrupting play.

WallStreet Journal article

2010-08-08T11:48:00.000-05:00

Here is a great article from the WallStreet Journal describing the impact the weather is having on greens across the country.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704017904575409411501359450.html?mod=WSJ_article_MoreIn_SportsMain

#5 Bunker renovation

2010-08-05T17:36:00.000-05:00

JonesPlan is wrapping up the renovations at #5 bunker today. The last of the bunker sand and sod will be completed by the end of the day. Just like #9, this area will be marked ground under repair until the sod is rooted in and the sand is firm enough for play. Although this new complex has 6 smaller bunkers instead of 1 big bunker, we were still able to reduce our area of sand by almost half. This will reduce our bunker maintenance costs for this hole for years to come, while still allowing plenty of difficulty and shot variety.

#9 bunker renovation

2010-08-05T17:26:00.001-05:00

The bunker renovation for #9 has been finished as of Monday. This area will remain ground under repair until the sod has a chance to root into the ground and is stable enough for foot traffic. We will continue to water the sod over the next week or so to allow it to survive the summer heat. The bunker will also get water to firm the sand and get it ready for play.

#5 Bunker renovation

2010-08-03T09:26:00.001-05:00

Work has begun on the bunker complex on #5 green. The rough grading has been completed and the drainage is currently being installed. The original bunker is being converted into 6 smaller bunkers. The complex will look the same from the tee box but the amount of sand will be cut down by half. Since there will be multiple bunkers, there will still be a lot of shot variety and plenty of difficulty.