Grooming the Course

This last week has been about working on getting our mowing equipment out while not setting back the tender new grass.




#16  21 days after first watering of seed

There has also been a fertilizer application made to all turf surfaces, and an additional 200lbs / acre of rye seed broadcast on fairways and week areas. Compost and seed have been applied to areas that are slow to grow-in throughout the course. It is important to stay on top of these stubborn areas and assure that the course is fully recovered while we still have good growing conditions.

 

It is necessary to keep the grass cut for a couple of reasons.  1) it opens up the canopy for sunlight penetration to new seedlings that are coming up under the existing grass.  2) the existing grass is then encouraged to grow laterally instead of just vertically.  When these things happen there is an increase in the density of the grass and that is what we need right now. Density!!



Density improving with fescue under the rye

The daytime watering has been cut back to encourage the exiting grass to root deeply, and so that mowing equipment damage is limited. There has been a great improvement in the rooting and the stability of the surfaces in the last few days in response to less watering.



Defining the new mulched area on the 1st hole

Our opening date is yet to be determined, however the first week of November is looking very good right now. Playing conditions at that time will be good with small areas still growing in and densities in fairways not being 100%.  Carts will be restricted to paths for some time and will be let on the turf when the grass has reached appropriate maturity and can handle it.
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In this next week we will continue to cut the grass 3 to 4 times, and work on returning the greens to great shape by repairing damaged spots.



Kevin