New Year Same Game

It’s officially a different year but we are up to the same ol tricks! We had our contractor take down a large dwindling oak next to #8 tee today.  It had too many dead or dying branches to make it worth saving. Taking this large tree out allows sunlight and space for neighboring trees to prosper and fully develop into mature trees. 

Last week we transplanted numerous amounts of ornamental grass plants. It was decided the grasses near #2 green were frequently visited by golf balls so we moved those next to #12 creek where we typically have a summer eyesore sitting. We were able to move them in large sections so they will come back next season as full grown mature plants again. We also removed the grass plants near the fence at #2 blue and black tee. They will be getting replaced with arborvitae trees and eventually the fence taken down. The area near #2 green where the grass plants were removed will be filled with soil and sodded with fescue this week or next.

Perfect Execution

The “sod” projects crossed the finish line last Thursday perfectly timed for a Friday soaking rainfall. All areas turned out great!  We fixed two separate areas along cart paths that usually hold water and the walkway to #15 tees.  We also fixed three sinkholes in high traffic areas and two separate tee renovations!  More cart path and sinkhole sod repairs to come this offseason!

#14 Red Tee

#7 Blue Tee

#15 Tee Complex Walkway

#8 Tee Surround Sinkhole

#1 Cart Path Birdbath Repair

Projects!

The end of the golf season and leaf cleanup means we have transitioned to projects.  Multiple projects have been initiated.  #14 red tee has been relocated again closer to its original position.

 #7 blue tee has been altered slightly.  We stripped about six foot of teeing surface from the left and installed it on the right side to better align the tee box with the hole.  We reused the zoysia sod and the fescue sod from either side.

Finally, we started to repair the walkway to the tee boxes on hole #15.  This area frequently collected water and was a safety hazard.

We are filling this area with soil and then bringing in sod to complete.  Fescue sod will arrive Wednesday or Thursday to finish up all of these projects and possibly a few more small areas.

Stay tuned!

Literally Littered

Holy smokes!  Last week we had great weather accommodated by wonderful fall color! By the weekend leaves started falling by the thousands.  In what seemed like three short days, almost all the leaves had fallen out of the trees at once.  The result is this entire week we have dedicated nearly all our labor to leaf cleanup!  Hopefully we can catch back up by the weekend and have a much more enjoyable course next week!

Picture above was captured Saturday morning and below on Tuesday afternoon.

Enter Sandman

This weeks weather is amazing!  We are focused on having the golf course in tip top shape.  Greens are rolling super quick and smooth! Bunkers raked and even a fresh cut in many areas of roughs.  Solid leaf cleanup effort this week has kept the surfaces pretty clean until the wind picked up today. Back at it tomorrow!

Anyways, recently we have been rechecking sand depths and adding sand to some bunkers as needed.  We use an alignment rod with marking on it to measure depths.  We strive for 4-6” in the bottoms with 2-3” along the slopes and edges.  Over time sand is slowly shoveled out of the bunkers from golf shots.  We continue to adjust and check bunkers on a regular basis, but the process will always be ongoing so please be patient and please inform myself or golf shop if you ever encounter a bunker liner during a golf shot.

Tree-mendous Challenges

It appears the drought is finally over and we’re getting an early dose of November rain.  We received a total of 1.4 inches last week with more expected early next week. Ironically, we had only received 1.4 inches within the previous 66 days during the drought.

In the past month we have encountered multiple challenges due to trees. The constant leaf litter, sticks and limbs are one topic, but it has actually been the roots wreaking havoc.  Trees are important to the identity of BHCC and they are constant work.  There is a lot of various tree maintenance on tap this winter.

Distinct border line of yellowed turf in the root zone of trees during the drought.  Trees are more efficient at pulling  nutrients and moisture out of the soil than turf.

An irrigation leak caused by tree roots pushing and moving an irrigation pipe.

The best for last...

Cypress tree root knots surfacing in #14 green! They were cut out and turf replaced. We will be root pruning behind this green this winter.

Fresh Turf

The new Turfhoumd mat system was installed at the practice facility today!  The concrete was poured a week ago and we spent the rest of last week back filling with soil and sodding.  Starting Tuesday the 13th we will be mats only for the season.

The new mats are a huge improvement with both short and tall synthetic turf.  It also has a slot for placing tees that allow adjustments for many options! Go try them out!!!

More dead limbs were removed Monday.