A Behind the Scenes Look at a Golf Course

Here is an excellent article from the USGA regarding the equipment that is required to maintain a golf course. Many people see our equipment around the shop and think "they have more than enough to get the job done". We do have a wide variety of units, but most of the key units were purchased used many years ago. Each piece of equipment will eventually be replaced, which takes a lot of careful planning and even more capital money.
We recently presented a proposal that includes some of our capital equipment requests. Last year we took advantage of an opportunity to purchase two key pieces of equipment, a rough mower and a fairway mower. These units came from a high end facility and have served us very well this season. We also added a blower that helped improve the appearance and an aerifier that improved the condition of the course throughout the year.
For 2014 we are asking for utility vehicles to replace our aging units that were purchased used over ten years ago. Looking forward we will continue to evaluate and address needs based on the age and performance of our existing equipment.
While you read the article keep in mind that you can not just cut the numbers in half since we are not just 9 holes, but we are actually closer to the size of a small 18 hole course. Also take special note of the facility that is required to store and maintain the fleet, and preserve the value of a key capital asset.

http://gsr.lib.msu.edu/article/soller-golf-10-18-13.pdf


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Rounds played are up for first time in '13 - News - News - TurfNet.com

Finally good news for the golf industry. Hopefully we can continue to grow the game moving forward.
http://www.turfnet.com/page/news.html/_/rounds-played-are-up-for-first-time-in-13-r194


Pete Gorman
Golf Course Superintendent
Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club
Branford, CT

4th fairway aerified today.

If you have played the course over the last few weeks you may have noticed the turf at the end of the 4th fairway thinning out.  This is due to a fungus knows as Gray Leaf Spot.  It is a disease primarily of Perennial Ryegrass, and its early symptoms mimic drought stress and wear damage.  The fungus started in late August as we were trying to dry out the course in preparation for the club championship.  The first infection occurred in areas where cart traffic to the 4th green is constricted by the fairway bunkers, and where players that fall short of the 13th green park and turn their carts to return to the path.

Once the humid weather of late August returned, the infected turf declined rapidly.  Once I determined the cause of the decline I immediately filled my sprayer and treated the 4th, 5th, and 6th fairways.  The treatment halted the progression of the disease, and the remaining turf is now healthy enough to withstand the recovery process.

Today we aerified, seeded, and topdressed the affected area.  This initial seeding was completed using disease resistant and wear tolerant varieties of bentgrass, which should germinate in 7-10 days.  Once the threat of Gray Leaf Spot has passed, which comes with the first killing frost, we will overseed with a Gray Leaf Spot resistant variety of Ryegrass, which is more wear tolerant than bengrass.  The combination of these grasses will provide a wear tolerant turf that is dense enough to provide a good playing surface. 

While the seedlings are becoming established we will keep the area roped off to carts.  As the turf matures we will continue to topdress the area to improve soil structure and surface drainage.  The long term solution will require additional aeration and topdressing to improve the overall health and wear tolerance of the turf in this area.

On a more positive note, the greens are healing ahead of schedule considering the aggressive aeration that was completed two weeks ago.  The smoothness and speed of the greens should improve noticeably with each passing day, and they should be in fantastic shape for the Fall Member-Member.