Winter Projects

Heading into the winter months, we always get the question, "What do you and your crew do all winter?".  As much as I would like to be skiing in the mountains or hanging out on the beach, winter is a busy time of year for our team.

I like to compare our off season to a sports team.  The team that puts in the preparation during the off season is typically more successful when it counts.  We are no different.  The planning and preparation that we implement during December, January, and February put us a step ahead when the golf season kicks into full gear.

Being in the heart of the transition zone, there are still plenty of days when we are out on the course working on projects or getting the course ready for play when weather allows.  Tree work is usually at the top of the list for outdoor projects.  Utilizing the Master Plan put together by Tripp Davis, we are in the process of thinning our less desirable trees, and making room for our key trees.  Along with the removals, we are constantly pruning, thinning and reshaping trees throughout the property.

Along with the tree work, we're adding irrigation heads in areas that are lacking and adding drainage to areas that tend to stay wet.  We've also made improvements to cart path areas that were getting too much wear next to the path.  As you can see below, #6 tee is an area where we've made improvements to the appearance and function of a high traffic area.

Rock work at #5green/6 tee cart path.

 Throughout the winter we also have a considerable amount of shop work that has to be completed.  Our Equipment Manager, Steve Kitterman, is busy going through every piece of equipment we own.  General service, grinding reels, and replacing bearings are his high priorities.

Setting up a fairway reel for grinding.

 The rest of the team are busy refinishing teak furniture and benches, as well as sand blasting and painting all of the ball washers, trash cans, cooler stands, cups, etc.  If it has a painted surface, it will be refinished before the start of the upcoming season.

Sand blasting ball washer parts.

Painting course trash cans.

Ball Washer parts ready to be painted.

Cleaning, repairing, and oiling teak furniture.

As for myself, the winter months are time for reviewing our plan and procedures from the past year, while developing the upcoming year's schedule.  Beginning in March, we map out nearly everything we do in regards to Chemical (fertilizer, weed control, disease prevention, etc.) and Cultural (aerification, topdressing, verticutting, etc.) Schedules.  Along with the golf course management schedules, we are working this winter on a new handbook and standard operating procedures manual  for our department.

Each year is always the same, by August we are ready for golf season to wind down, but just as anxious to get it going again as soon as winter sets in! 

Christmas Cookie Party

Tonight we hosted our 2nd Annual Christmas Cookie Party.  Last year we came up with the idea of inviting our staff and their families to our shop for pizza and Christmas Cookie decorating.  The party was a huge hit last year, and tonight we carried on the tradition for what will, hopefully, be many more years of getting together and celebrating Christmas with our families.

Knolla's Pizza, tons of cookies, icing and sprinkles made for a great night.  Each family took home at least a dozen decorated cookies, along with a few that were eaten throughout the night!

We have a great group of men and women on our team, couldn't do what we do without them!  Below are several pictures from the night.

Rodolfo's son putting on the icing

Eusebio's daughter

Donna and her daughter, Angie

My daughter, Morgan with Jeronimo's son, Fidel

Jason and his wife, Kaycie

Jason's son, Bo trying out a fairway mower!

Eusebio's daughter

Jeronimo's daughter

Lupe's sons

Lupe and family

Rodolfo and his daughter

Putting on the Icing!

Donna and her granddaughter

My wife, Sally and son, Brooks.

The finished product!

Having fun!

Maintenance Down the Middle

Several weeks ago I posted an article on Twitter from the USGA  http://www.usga.org/news/2012/November/Looking-Forward-at-the-Water-Summit/.  The focus of the article was a new trend in golf, led by 
Pinehurst No. 2, focusing on maintenance down the middle with a reduced emphasis on rough/out of the way areas.  The immediate impact has been reduced inputs including fertilizer and water, as well as improved playing conditions.  Sounds like a pretty good combination!

 At Wichita Country Club, we are no different.  We are constantly looking for ways to reduce our inputs in order to create a more sustainable golf course.  Unfortunately, as I look at the off season project list, a good portion of our focus is in the out of the way areas.  Cutting down/planting trees, irrigation additions, bunkers, and improving native areas all seem to creep up the list in the off season.  The challenge is how do we stay focused on our primary objectives (greens, tees, and fairways) without letting the other areas distract from our members and guest experience.

As we desire to improve our sustainability, reducing our water usage has to be at the top of our list, considering our current source of water.  Unfortunately, the changes in management style also lead to increased Bermuda competition in the rough, more browned out/thin areas in the rough, and a generally less aesthetically appealing golf course.  However, it is not all bad news.  This past year we saw the ball bouncing and rolling down the fairways, greens were firmer with less ball mark damage, green speeds were more consistent throughout the year, and tees held up to the wear and tear better.

What stands out in the two comparisons is the positives were focused down the middle, while the negatives impact the out of the way areas.  Maintenance down the middle must continue to drive our decisions moving forward.

Syngenta Business Institute

For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you have most likely seen my recent posts from the Syngenta Business Institute.  Along with 25 other Golf Course Superintendents from across the country I was selected to attend the program sponsored by Syngenta and developed by the Wake Forest School of Business faculty. 

Graylyn Conference Center in Winston-Salem

Getting ready for another day.

 

The Syngenta Business Institute is a unique, four-day program focusing on financial and human resource management, delegation skills, effective communications and negotiation skills. The program supplements superintendents existing knowledge base, allowing more productive and efficient golf course management.

The Syngenta Business Institute far exceeded my expectations.  The instructors created a useful, engaging, and challenging program that is second to none in our industry.  The opportunity to network with some of the most talented Superintendents from across the country in a first class setting was the icing on the cake. 

Along with the other Superintendents, several media representatives from our industry were present throughout the program documenting the events as well as interviewing the participants.

All in all, it was an awesome week that I know myself and my club will benefit from for years to come.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Over the last few weeks, our fall/winter project list has been put on hold while we deal with the falling leaves.  Most of the trees have dropped their leaves for the year, unfortunately, the Oaks will continue to slowly drop their leaves for weeks to come.  I had a professor in college that used to say that winter is officially over when the last leaf falls from the Oak trees.  Keep an eye on that, he was usually right!

Mulching leaves between #15 and #16.

Along those same lines, we are almost finished cleaning up hedge apples for the year.  For whatever reason, the hedge trees produced a strong crop of fruit this year.  Although the hedge trees have their historical value for being the first trees on the property, they are one of the most undesirable trees for a golf course.  Picking up hedge apples has been a daily chore for the last several weeks.

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, it looks like we are going to have great golfing weather the entire week.   As much as I would like to see some rain, it is tough to beat 70 degree days in November.  

From the Golf Course Management Team to you and your family, we would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Wichita Weather

In spite of a few good rains over the last couple of months, we are still in an "extreme" drought situation for our area.  As temps cool, the water shortage for the short term is not as pressing, however, the long term deficit we have experienced over the last two years is bound to have an impact on our landscape.   With an additional 9" of precipitation needed to end the drought, we could be dealing with this for the foreseeable future.

According to NOAA, 2012 YTD is currently the 9th driest year (for Wichita) since 1895.  2011 over this same time period was the 12th driest year.  I'm not sure how the two years back to back would compare historically with other dry periods, but I would have to think these last two years would be near the top of the list for consecutive years of drought.

Overall things have held up as well as we could hope.  The impact related to the trees has been the biggest problem.  We have lost trees that would most likely still be here if it weren't for the added stress.  We also struggle with the turf under the trees competing for moisture.  The range of the tree roots is clearly evident based on the turf quality surrounding the trees.

Along those same lines we have seen an increase in the amount of Bermuda that we have in the rough.  With the heat and limiting water, the Bermuda has out competed our cool season grasses.  

Looking ahead, I'm not sure the long term forecast gets any better.  This winter is predicted to be warmer and drier than normal.  Last year, the forecast was predicted to be improved conditions over 2011, unfortunately it was worse.  If this is a repeat of the 30's and 50's, there may be a couple more years of drier than normal conditions.  Either way, we have to be prepared for what Mother Nature has in store for us.

Fall Projects

With our daily routine easing up, over the last few weeks we have been able to work more projects into our daily to-do list.   Working on the troublesome bunkers has been at the top of our list.  Throughout the season, several bunkers throughout the course were getting too hard in the bunker bottom.  Failing drainage and contaminated sand are the cause of the problem, however, until we rebuild we have to make the best of what we have.  I think you will see, the bunkers causing issues over the summer should be playing much better.  Bunkers around greens that have been addressed include:  4 left, 5 right, 7 right, 8, 9 left, 11 front, 12, 14, 15, and 17.

If you've been on the course lately, you have probably noticed the tree work that has been taking place.  The tree removal behind #7 is the most obvious change.  Five Elm trees were removed for improved sunlight and air movement across the green complex.  Not only have the trees caused issues for the green surface, growing turf underneath the trees was becoming a losing battle.  So far this change has been very well received.   In keeping with Tripp Davis' plan, we will continue to remove unnecessary trees throughout the course.  At the same time, we will be planting better suited hardwood trees.   The good news is the most drastic change occurred on #7.  Moving forward it is likely you will not notice the changes.

Looking ahead, other projects to follow include drainage work in low areas on a few fairways and irrigation additions in some key areas that are lacking coverage.