Employee Christmas Party

Last night we hosted our first cookie decorating Christmas Party.  All of our current employees along with wives and children were invited for a night of pizza and decorating sugar cookies.  All together around 50 of us gathered to celebrate Christmas!

Lupe Barrera and family showing off their cookies!

Jeronimo Soberano's family decorating cookies.

Francisco Lamas-Neri's family putting on the finishing touches.

Luis Ortega and his son, Alex.

The night was a huge hit with for all who attended. Along with the pizza and cookies, the kids got to see where dad works and even sit on the equipment. The highlight of the night may have been the indoor soccer game that finished off the night! 

Following the night, my only regret is that we didn't think of this idea sooner!

Finally!

Rain gauge measuring 3" total rainfall

Coming out of an unusually hot and dry summer, the last thing we needed was for the drought to continue into the fall.  Finally, after a couple months of more below average rainfall, we received the rain event we have been looking for.  Over the last couple of days we have had 3" of total rainfall.

As expected, the bunkers were completely washed out, the creek made a mess of the property, and the course was generally unplayable, but still we couldn't have been happier seeing the course get some much need moisture.

Although we have had to run the irrigation system more this fall compared to a typical year, even with the irrigation, you're still taking a step backwards each day.  Irrigation is designed to supplement rainfall, not replace it.

As the course continues its transition into winter dormancy, we certainly feel much better knowing we have reestablished some much needed moisture in the soil.

Greens Aerification

Close up of Aerification Hole

We are currently in the process of wrapping up our fall greens aerification.  The picture above is a close up of the soil profile following aerification.  As you can see, with our deep tine aerifier, we are able to punch a hole through the profile, which is then back filled with sand.

Aerification is the cure for many issues we struggle with on the greens.  Compaction relief, improved gas exchange, increased percolation rates, and thatch reduction are all direct benefits of aerification.  Although the practices typically take place when greens are looking their best.  With 60+ year old greens, without aerifcation, we would certainly see a decline in turf conditions.

Compared to our spring aerification, we typically are slightly less aggressive with the amount of holes and the size of the hole.  Due to the inconsistent weather patterns in the fall, we have found this type of aerification allows for a quick recovery without the risk of not healing over prior to the onset of dormant conditions.

Greens will be a little bumpy over the weekend but should be getting back to normal by the first of next week.  With rain in the forecast for the weekend, we may have timed this one perfect!

Record Setting Weather

It's official, the summer of 2011 will go down in the records books as the hottest summer in Wichita!  The good news is that it appears cooler days are just around the corner!

Although multiple records were broken this year, the two that stand out the most are the number of days over 100 degrees (currently at 52) and the average daily maximum temperature.  The average daily max is the average high temp from June 1st to August 31st.  During this time period our average daily max was 98.3 degrees.  To put that in perspective, the 6th hottest summer was a full 4 degrees cooler than the summer of 2011.

The good news is, with cooler temps on the way, its safe to say we have survived the record breaking heat wave of 2011.

Bermuda Control

Bermuda Control on #1 Approach

 

Bermuda Control on #4 Rough

This past week we started applications for controlling the Bermuda in the Zoysia.  Typically we would have started this application earlier, unfortunately, with the excessive heat we had these summer we were forced to delay this practice.

As you can see from the pictures above, the initial control seems to be as good as we have had.  Overall, the fairways are mostly clean, the new Zoysia Intermediate Rough is where we are concerned with the encroachment.  If you've been on the course lately it is even more noticable in person.  With two more applications scheduled for the remainder of the year, we hope to knock the Bermuda back.

Several years ago, we were spraying larger portions of the rough.  What we found was the product was simlply too hard on the desirable cool season grasses.  Spraying this every year on the rough was not only expensive, but also left our primary rough in bad shape for the majority of the golf season.  We have since reached the conclusion that if a change were to take place in the rough, the best option would be to spray Roundup in one season for a complete kill of the rough. 

With the summers we have experienced lately along with the increasing water rates, for the long term, we are leaning towards converting our primary rough (in full sun) to Zoysia.  Although, this is certainly a long term project with no action planned for the near future.

Goose Control

Floating Light on #8/11 pond.

A couple of weeks ago, we installed a solar powered flashing light on the pond between #8 and #11 green.  Intial results were somewhat questionable.  However, after two full weeks, we have definitely seen an improvement in the amount of geese hanging around this area overnight.

The light turns on automatically as the sun goes down, while recharging itself during the day.  The flashing light disrupts the geese's ability to sleep forcing them to move on to a different location.  Initially they moved to another area on the course.  Since that time they have left the course altogether.

As bad as the geese have been this year, we were willing to try anything.  This product has had mixed reviews at different locations, so far we are pleased with the results.

Crazy Weather

In spite of only a 20% chance of rain, Wednesday night brought us 2" of rain and 70 mph winds.  Although the rain was much needed, the rate at which it fell and the accompanying wind created quite a mess on the golf course Thursday morning.




Tree Branch down right side #14

  

Debris on #18 fairway

The pictures above show what was pretty typical throughout the course.  Luckily, we only lost 5 trees, although damage to the trees can be seen throughout the property.  The good news is that we desperately needed moisture, not only for the turf and trees, but our creeks and ponds were also in need of a good rain.

Heading into the weekend, it looks like we will be entering another long stretch of 100 degree days.

Heat Wave

The story for the past month (or more) has been the heat wave.  By the time the summer of 2011 is complete it will more than likely go down as the hottest and one of the driest summers on record for Wichita, Kansas.

With conditions like we are experiencing all of our programs are under extreme pressure from cultural practices (such as aerification, topdressing, and grooming) to our chemical programs (such as herbicide, fungicide, and fertility programs) to water management.  All of these programs must work together, along with all the other details we manage, to bring the golf course through the extreme conditions we are facing.

Water management has been high on our list since the beginning of the summer.  Walking the fine line between dry and not too dry is the daily challenge.  Not only is water expensive, too much water can cause more problems compared to not enough.  Hand watering, use of wetting agents, proper summer venting (aerification), and use of soil moisture sensors have all proven to be invaluable resources on a daily basis.

With one more month to go we will continue on the same path with the hope of some relief before fall arrives.  Certainly, the summer of 2011 will be one we won't forget any time soon.  

Keep it in the Fairway

With the heat of summer upon us, please keep carts out of the rough as much as possible.  During the summer months, the Zoysia is growing aggressively, while the cool season grasses are having a difficult time handling the heat.  Reducing cart traffic in the rough is one of the most beneficial things we can do to keep the rough looking and playing its best through the hot summer months.

Below are a few key points to follow in order to reduce wear on the course.

• Scatter.  Carts have a tendency to enter and exit at the same places.  When you see grass laying over from traffic, change your route to avoid driving in the same path as the other carts.
• Avoid driving too close to bunkers.  Bunkers create pinch points that have a tendency to funnel traffic into the same area.  Over time compaction and wear lead to less desirable turf.
• Stay at least 60 yards away from the greens.  Green complexes are sacred ground. Keep the carts on the path around greens.
• Once you are on the fairway advance down the fairway to your next shot or your partner's ball, as opposed to driving back to the cart path for each shot.
• Avoid parking around tees and greens with tires in the grass.  Cart paths have plenty of space for you to park completely on the path and still allow traffic through.  This is key for avoiding the bare ground a foot off the path around tees and greens.
• Where possible, keep it on the path.  Balls in the rough on the cart path side of the hole can typically be reached easily with a short walk from the path.

Thank you for doing your part keeping the course looking its best!

Summer Aerification

Close up of aerification holes



Deep Tine Aerifier on #16

This week we are in the process of deep tine aerifying all of the fairways on the golf course.  The aerifier uses 1/4" thick tines penetrating the fairway to a depth of 8-10".  The solid tine is capable of impacting a high percentage of the profile without the mess of pulling a core.  Following this practice, we roll the fairway smooth, with minimal disruption to play.

Unfortunately, this is a slow process that will take the majority of the week to complete.  Primary benefits are compaction relief, creating more air space in the profile, and improved water penetration where it is needed most; all leading to a healthier plant.

During this same time we are needle tining the greens, also known as venting.  This process is very similar to what we are doing on the fairways.  Following the aerification, we are applying a calsium product, rolling the green smooth and giving the greens a deep watering cycle.  We will be venting the greens once a month throughout the summer.

Golf Course Update

After a dry start to the summer, we are finally seeing some much needed rain.  Yesterday afternoon we had a quick .85" of rain.  Followed up with another .60" of rain last night.  Although this doesn't seem like too much, the rate at which it was falling caused a complete washout of the bunkers.

This morning we are working on putting the bunkers back together, along with general cleanup from the storm.  At this point we are not able to mow fairways or any of the rough.  Hopefully, late in the day we can get some mowers going, although it looks like it may be tomorrow morning before we'll be able to get on the course without doing any damage. 

Currently, we will have carts restricted to the paths.  If we get the wind and heat that is predicted there is a possibility that we can change this by late afternoon.

For the weekend, barring any more rain, we should have the course back to normal.  Thank you for your patience.

Golf Course Etiquette

Attached is a great article written by Jim Moore, director of USGA Green Section’s Construction Education Program.  The article highlights several key points of proper golf course etiquette.  

From my own observations as well as talking to members, unrepaired ball marks seem to be more noticable this year.  With the greens being firmer, ball marks are more difficult to find.  Please do your part in making the greens the best they can be.  A properly repaired ball mark heals in a few days.  A mark left unrepaired can leave a visible scar for up to two weeks.  Below is the link to the article.

http://www.usga.org/news/2011/February/Course-Care--Appeal-For-Return-Of-Etiquette/

On a side note, you can follow the "Championships" tab on the link to "Schedule"  scroll down to U.S. Women's Mid Amateur.  This will take you to the Women's Mid Am home page, here you will find several pictures of the tournament we hosted last year.  If you haven't seen the pics, there are some great shots from the golf course.

Summer is Here!

After an unusually dry spring, it looks like we are now dealing with hotter than normal temps for June.  Below is the article from the National Weather Service.

Earliest Occurrence in Year of Six Consecutive 100 Degree Days, June 3-8th, 2011

From June 3rd through June 8th, 2011, we have had six consecutive days of high temperatures of 100 degrees or higher at the Wichita Mid Continent Airport. This is the earliest occurrence on record in the calendar year of six or more consecutive 100 degree days in Wichita.


Looks we should get a break for the weekend, although Thursday has a good chance of making it seven days in a row over 100. 

Zoysia Intermediates



Zoysia Intermediate on #1



 This past summer we converted our cool season (Bluegrass) Intermediates to Zoysia.  Several factors were driving this decision including less water usage, improved disease tolerance, along with an improved year round surface.

With one year under our belt with the new turf, we couldn't be happier with the results.  Following an unusually cold winter, the Intermediates came out of winter in great shape and continue to improve as the heat of summer begins to kick in.

From a management standpoint, our watering practices have seen the greatest benefit with the conversion.  In the past the Bluegrass was constantly needing more water compared to the surrounding Zoysia fairway and Fescue rough.  Not only are we using less water, resulting in significant savings for our water budget, we are also able to keep the fairways drier, resulting in a firmer healthier fairway.

Busy Week

In spite of the shortened week due to Memorial Day, we have had a productive week on the golf course.

On Wednesday and Thursday this past week, we were able to squeeze in a topdressing along with a light aerification on greens.  The aerification is a process we refer to as "venting".   Using 1/4" spiking tines, we aerify the greens and collars on 2"x 2" spacing to a depth of about 3.5".  Following the aerifer, the greens are rolled smooth with almost no impact to ball roll.

This is a process we will do monthly to open up the greens to improve air exchange, along with creating channels to assist with water infiltration.  The light topdressing is another practice we use bi-weekly to help firm up and smooth out greens.  This practice also helps to break down thatch, preventing greens from getting "puffy" on us.

As the weather continues to warm up, we applied our first fertilizer application to the Zoysia fairways.  With the Zoysia, our goal is to use as little fertilizer as possible.  Zoysia has a tendency to produce thatch along with spring disease when too much fertilizer is applied.  Limiting our fertilizer inputs helps to keep fairways firm with minimal clippings.

At the same time we are also applying growth regulators, combined with iron, to the fairways in order to encourage a tighter plant with less clippings.  All of these practices combine for a healthy turf growing at a rate we control, avoiding days of fairways getting too tall in between mowing.

Native Areas

Native Area between #15 and #16

Over the last couple of years, we have been in the process of transitioning some of our out of the way locations to a reduced maintenance Native Area.  The benefits are numerous, from financial savings to creating a more aesthetically interesting golf course.

As we started the process we knew that getting the grasses established would be a work in progress that wouldn't happen in one season.  The difficulty we have faced is finding the right blend of grasses that will handle the mix of full sun and shade. Initially, we started with a blend of Fine Fescue.  This past summer of extreme heat and minimal rainfall, proved to be too much for a good portion of the newly established grasses.

Over the winter we worked with an individual from Kansas State who helped us make changes to the selection of grasses for these areas.  The blend we have selected to go along with our existing Fine Fescue is:  Buffalo Grass, Blue Grama, and Sideoats Grama.  This blend of grasses should ultimately handle the hotter, drier conditions better; although they are more difficult to establish compared to the Fine Fescue.

Moving forward, we are open to suggestions.  There may be areas that we add to the list for converting to native.  Likewise, there may be areas that are coming into play that need to be reduced or eliminated. 

As many of you already know, we are in the process of gathering information for the Long Range Master Plan of the golf course.  If you would like to offer comments or suggestions regarding the Native Areas we have placed the hole by hole evaluations around the club in different locations.  Any feedback you would like to give would be much appreciated.

More Rain!

After a dry start this year, things are slowly inching back to normal.  Over the last couple of days we have received close to an inch of rain.  According to the forecast, we may have more rain coming on Friday and possibly through the weekend.

Carts are currently restricted to the paths, although we hope to switch it back to the 90 degree rule later on today.

Rain....Finally!

After several months with minimal moisture, we finally received a good slow soaker this morning.  So far we have measured .82" of rain, with possibly more to follow.

At this point, the golf course is very wet.  We did have some washouts in the bunkers, but overall the course handled the rain just fine.

We will have carts restricted to the paths today.  I would expect this to be all day, but we will check throughout the day to see how things are drying.

Brown is the New Green?

Over the last several years, the golf industry has been working to encourage the change from managing golf courses for aesthetics to practices that encourage a focus on playability.  The days of wall to wall lush, green turf are slowly transitioning to the acceptance of a little more brown.


The USGA, along with most all golf associations, is behind the push for more sustainable golf courses.  Reducing water consumption and inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides not only save courses money, but also lead to firmer, more playable conditions.  Some would say, getting golf back to the way it was meant to be played.


At Wichita Country Club, our focus over the last few years has been limitiing our water usuage.  As water rates continue to rise each year, it only makes since to push the limit on how dry we can keep the course without negatively affecting the health of the turf.  We are limited with how far we can push the envelope on Poa/bent greens and cool season rough in the middle of a hot summer.  However, with the Zoysia faiways and Intermediate rough, we have managed to reduce the water inputs significantly.

What we are finding is that a few small changes can make a big difference.  We still use a large volume of water on an annual basis, fertilizer and pesticides will always be needed; however, we feel small steps in reducing our inputs without negatively affecting the playability is a step in the right direction. 

Soil Sensors....Part II



Probing and Watering on #8 green

Armed with data from our sensors that were installed in several greens along with information from our handheld sensors, we are evaluating our current management practices (specifically watering practices) in an effort to produce the surface we desire on a consistent basis.

For starters, the main thing we know is that the greens at WCC are very much consistently inconsistent.  The ability of the greens to retain moisture, as well as move excess moisture through the profile varies dramatically from green to green.  Keep in mind, with our type of green, excess moisture = soft greens.  

What we are finding is, in order to dial in our moisture content from green to green, the only way to get there is through the use of the sensors directing hand watering on a daily basis.  Although we will still have a use for the overhead irrigation  for the occasional deep water, we are finding the sprinklers are leading to too much variability between the wet areas and the dry areas.

Prior to using this technology our focus was directed more at the obviously dry areas.  Now we are able to focus more on the wet areas with an understanding of how wet we actually are and how long it takes us to get to our desired moisture content.

What does all this mean...our hope is that it leads to reduced water usage, and firmer, healthier greens.  

New Soil Sensors

This past week we installed a new wireless soil monitoring system in several of the greens throughout the golf course.  This new system is designed to give us up to the minute updates on the key indicators of greens health, which include soil moisture content, temperature, and salinity.

The new system will give us the information we need to help determine when and how much water needs to be applied, predicting stress on the green before we see it on the surface, and the ability to manage our salts before they create problems with the turf.  What used to take hours to gather and evaluate can now be done with the click of the mouse on site or remotely.

Below are pictures of a sensor being installed on #8 green.




Sensor prior to installation

 

Sensor installed in cup hole

 

Sensor back filled approximately 1" below the surface

   

Finished product



Repeater installed in irrigation satellite

Bunker Rake Placement

Proper placement of the Bunker Rake

Over the years we have gone back and forth on where to place the bunker rakes.  Although the USGA has a rule for everything else, there is no rule for the proper placement of bunker rakes.  The rules simply state that, "Ultimately, it is a matter for the Committee to decide where it wishes rakes to be placed."

Initially, we were placing the rakes outside of the bunkers.  This was primarily to avoid the likelihood of a ball coming to rest against a rake inside of the bunker.  Unfortunately, due to the amount of rake handles being broken from traffic driving over them, at $20 per handle, we made the decision to move the rakes inside the bunker.

After a few comments regarding the problems with reaching the rakes due to the steep slopes on the bunker edges, we have since moved to a modified version of placing the rake head in the bunker with the handle propped up on the edge.

This makes it easy to find the rake and has solved our issues with rakes being driven over by carts and equipment.  Although there is no perfect answer for limiting the potential influence of a rake on the golf ball, this seems to reduce the likelihood of a ball coming to rest against the rake.

To make a long story short, please do your part in assisting with the proper placement of the rakes.  Rake heads in the bunker, handle propped up on the side, avoiding steep slopes, on the back side of the bunker.

Aerification

Below is a video from La Jolla CC showing immediate results of the benefits of Deep Tine Aerification.

At Wichita Country Club, we use a combination of both Deep Tine Aerification, as well as the standard aerification which would involve pulling a core from a depth of around 3-4".  For our purposes, we are attempting to relieve compaction as well as modify the upper portion of the soil profile.  The benefits are not only reducing compaction but also reducing organic matter and layering that occur naturally over time in greens.  The end result is a healthier green, capable of withstanding the stress of traffic and weather extremes during the summer months. 

 

This spring one our concerns has been the rate at which we are recovering from aerification.  Although temperatures have been slightly cooler than normal, the real concern has been a lack of rain.  Ultimately, we need a good flushing rain to remove salts from the profile and assist with releasing the fertilizer that was applied prior to and following aerification.

The good news is that it looks like we are going to get some rain this weekend and into next week.  We'll keep our fingers crossed as we hold out for a good soaker!

Link to USGA Green Section Record

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/USGA-Green-Section-Record--April-8--2011.html?soid=1103157499740&aid=MeYE84ca250

 Attached is a link to a weekly USGA Green Section Newsletter.  Several good topics from ball mark repair to course etiquette.  If you choose, there is a link to sign up to receive the newsletter.

The article regarding Precision Turf Management gives good insight to the direction of Golf Course Management.  Here at WCC, we will be using moisture sensors placed in the profile of several greens, along with the use of portable moisture sensors to assist with the daily task of water management on our greens.  Not only does this emerging technology assist with better playing conditions, in our case there is clearly a monetary savings with more efficient use of irrigation water.

The article by Jim Moore on golf course etiquette is a must read for those new to the game, as well as the seasoned golfer needing a brush up on the importance of course etiquette.

Almost Finished!




Close up of Aerification holes prior to
Sand Topdressing.

 


Final pass on #10 Approach

 

 Although the 40 mph winds have been less than ideal, the greens aerification is approaching completion without any setbacks.  Today we are wrapping up a few greens on the back nine, as well as the Practice Greens.

Following aerification, the first question is always, "how long until the greens are back to normal?".  One of our biggest challenges is managing our fertility levels for optimum response, without forcing excessive growth leading to slow, puffy greens.  Although less fertilizer, may require more time for the holes to fill in, ultimately, we are able to get the greens back to the desired speed and firmness in a shorter amount of time.  Typically, after one full week greens should be back to "normal".

Now if we could just get some rain!  We are already 2.3" below normal for precipitation since January.  Most concerning is the lack of moisture deep in the soil profile.  Keep in mind, irrigation is in place to supplement rainfall, not take the place of it.  Ultimately, we need the occasional slow soaking rain for not only the health of the turf, but also the trees and landscape.  Looks like we've got a descent chance over the next few days...we'll keep our fingers crossed!





Greens Aerification

Yes, its that time of year....things are greening up, the weather is getting better, the golf course is beginning to look like a golf course again, which can only mean one thing....time for aerification!  The video posted above is a great explanation of the reasons and benefits of aerification. 

We will begin aerifying the greens next week.  On Monday April 4th, we will aerify the front nine greens.  The back nine greens will be aerified on Tuesday April 5th, with the front nine open for play.  On Wednesday April 6th, the Practice Greens will be closed for aerification, however, the golf course will be open for play.

The good news is that with some favorable weather the last couple of weeks we were able to finish aerifying the rough, as well as the driving range.   With aerification and seeding finished in the rough, we are waiting for spring rains and warmer days to push these areas along. 

Following greens aerification we will aerify and topdress our approaches into the greens.  In an effort to firm up the approaches and increase roll into the green we are stepping up our management in this area.  Look for more topdressing, verticutting, possibly a shorter height of cut, along with less water on our approaches.

If everything goes as planned, we should be back to normal after a week of recovery following this practice.  Thank you for your patience during this time. 

Rough Aerification

This past week we began aerifying the primary rough throughout the golf course.  The pictures above show the Deep Tine Aerifier we use for this process.  This machine is capable of punching holes 8-12" deep with minimal surface disruption.  As the tine enters the soil profile it is designed to fracture the soil at the maximum depth allowing for compaction relief while also promoting gas exchange in the root zone.

With the weather we've had this past week we were able to get an earlier start than originally planned.  This is typically a two week process that we are completing at a prime time for turf health as we head into the busy months ahead.

Sand Caddy

Attached is an item we found at the PGA Show this past winter.  The Sand Caddy is a small bottle that will be made available to all walkers who choose to carry a sand bottle with them for filling divots.  The bottles are made to fit easily in your bag and can be refilled during your round at different locations where sand will be made available.

Check with the Golf Shop for more details.

Warming Up!

I'm always amazed at how quick things begin to change on the golf course with a little bit of warm weather!

As the weather slowly moves into more spring like conditions, we are begining to see some growth on the greens along with the cool season rough working its way out of dormancy.  We're still a few weeks away from seeing the Zoysia green up, although if you look closely at the divots, you can begin to see some green showing up.  All good signs following a brutally cold winter!

One of our main projects this past winter was selectively removing trees throughout the property.  Our primary objective was focusing on our key specimen Oaks and removing unwanted trees (typically Siberian Elms and Cedars) that were crowding the Oaks.  The benefits are numerous.  Poorly positioned trees compete with our desired species for nutrients and water, prevent airflow through the course, and limit turf and key trees from ever reaching their full potential.  In most cases if it weren't for the stumps temporarily left behind the removed trees would go unnoticed.

Along with the removals we will continue to plant proven trees throughout the property.  All new tree placements have been carefully considered for both strategy as well as turf health in the immediate area of the tree.  The key when planting trees is to avoid over planting and ensuring that we are looking at the long term impact of each selection.

If I can answer any questions regarding our tree work, please don't hesitate to ask.

Winter Projects

With the much needed snow finally arriving, we have now switched gears from golf course work to inside shop work.  Aside from the snow shoveling and ice melt applications, our efforts are now focused on refurbishing golf course accessories and servicing equipment.

Each year we bring in all of the ball washers, cooler stands, teak furniture, and hole liners.  Ball washers, cooler stands, and hole liners are sanded primed and painted with repairs being made as necessary.  With the Teak furniture, which includes golf course benches and bag stands from the driving range along with all of the outdoor furniture around the clubhouse, we clean and oil each piece.  Small details that make a great impact each season.

As for our management team, winters are the time for looking back on the past summer, discussing what worked and what could be improved on, attending continuing education seminars, and in general; getting ourselves organized for the upcoming season.  Chemical applications, aerification, along with other practices are all mapped out around tournaments and events.

Our off season is similar to any sports team.  The team that puts in the effort and works the hardest in the off season is usually the team that is most successful during the season.