Catching up on Winter Maintenance

It has been about a month since my last posting.  Time for some new information. Through the holidays and down time since that last post, not a lot has changed.  Work has continued that becomes more and more important every day we don't experience nce rain.  

In the absence of rain, we have had more play on the course, and the added traffic needs to be managed so that the turf doesn't thin out in high traffic areas. We have performed additional aerification to reduce compaction and the fertilizer schedule has been adjusted upwards.

Fairway aerification

Out on the practice range, you may have noticed two mounds of soil. Those are areas where we have dug down to the irrigation main line and examined the wiring to the existing sprinkler heads. Last summer when the irrigation control system was purchased, I negotiated for free sprinkler heads for the range. The existing heads are over 20 years old and in need of replacement. When we replace the heads, the wiring will be updated as well and we need to know the condition and path of that existing wire. The original plan was to do the change-over when it rained during the winter, but since that has not happened we are taking it a little slower and making sure that the course is watered properly before we allocate a lot of man hours to the range. The goal is to complete the project before spring, so expect to see more disruption to the range in the meantime.

Dirt pile out on the range were wires are being located

Winter is the best time for tree care and you may have noticed a lot of that going on between Christmas and the New Year. During that time the concentration was on oak trees. The strategy was to remove dead wood and prune for the health of the trees. The live oaks that were shading the 15th green were more aggressively thinned for the increased sun exposure. Over the last 2 years, that area has been changed completely. A new green surface, approach cut in the back, and tree thinning on the east and south sides have improved the turf quality tremendously. Although it may seem to be a more dramatic change, the overall health of that area is vastly improved and has been long overdue for this treatment.

Thinned trees on #15 and resulting sunlight on the green surface

Lastly, I want to talk a little bit about migratory birds, especially coots and geese. Meggie, our Australian shepherd, is trained to chase these birds away and she is good at her job. But she can't be at the ponds all day every day. What I have learned is that the geese can be scared away and are not very territorial. Coots, on the other hand, will stay despite harassment from the dog. These birds are not a protected species but they did choose an environmentally friendly neighborhood to reside. The options on getting them off the course are limited and we are looking into all methods to end the waste that they deposit and the damage to the golf course playing surfaces. It has our attention everyday and we will find a solution as quickly as possible.

Meggie keeping watch on the 14th green

Kevin

Sustained Cold Puts The Course on Hold

This has been quite a streak of frost days. Twelve of the last thirteen days with heavy frost and highs less than 60 have even caused the ground to freeze in shaded areas. 

A ground freeze in Los Gatos is quite rare. I am well versed in cold temperatures after living in Truckee for nearly 15 years. To grow grass in cold climates takes a lot of patience, and good planning prior to the onset of the grass stopping growth. In our case we applied our Poa herbicide right before the frost which was great timing, producing great results.

Dead Poa near the 13th tee

During the early frosty mornings when golf course maintenance can not get onto the turf projects are done.

Sprinkler head leveling and edging

Edging at #14 tee and bathroom

Additional mulch was added on the 17th, 6th and 3rd holes, although it is not pictured here.

Soon the temperatures will be back closer to normal and the grass will grow a little more and the projects will have to be put on hold, but for now we are being productive with our down time in the mornings.

Future projects include changing out the sprinkler heads on the driving range, adding drainage between the back of 9 tee and 8 green, and more tree thinning to lessen the impact of frost on the select areas of the course.

Kevin

Winter Maintenance

Selective tree pruning today on the 15th green complex. This will make a big difference in the health of the grass around the green and the health and appearance of the trees.

Annual Bluegrass Control Update

It has been one year since the turf conversion and overall it has been successful. Keeping the Poa annua and other weed grasses from coming back is impossible, however maintaining an acceptable population is a reasonable goal. 

The control of the Poa began as soon as the new seed emerged last year and now just 2 weeks ago the first fall application of an herbicide called prograss was made throughout the course. Prograss had been applied last spring, so this is not the first use on the new turf.

Poa December 2012 between the tree line 

The most successful strategy at our disposal for controlling annual bluegrass is consecutive applications of prograss. These applications are spaced 21 days apart and are done in the spring and the fall. No more than 5 applications can be done in a year so the number that are done consecutively are dependent upon weather conditions and how effective each application is.

Off color Poa annua 10 days after prograss

Our first application which was made October 28th was quite effective as you can seed from the photo. The decision to do another application was rather easy to make based on the first applications effectiveness and the dry mild weather we have been having. This second application will be done Monday, November 18th, and its effectiveness will be evaluated before making another application. Based on the time of year it is doubtful that a third application will be done in 2013, and if that is the case the next applications will be done in March.

Kevin

Change of Season

Growing conditions have come together in the last few weeks for the course to be in good shape, in contrast to a few months ago when they contributed to poor conditions. It is remarkable to see the transformation that takes place when temperatures cool, and there is less dependence on the irrigation system.

17 green complex November 5th 2013

Take a look at some of the key indicators for plant growth from August and October records.

-----------------------August 15th-----------------October 20th
Soil Temperature        85                                     62
Soil salinity                 3-5ds                               <2ds
Gallons pumped         600,000                    150,000

Looking at these parameters you see drastic differences. Those differences are indicative of  the stresses on the plant and the associated difficulties of being a grower at different times of the year. Here at La Rinconada most of the year the things we cannot control are in our favor and for a few months they are not. Right now the stress level is relatively low and the course conditions reflect that.

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Kevin

Projects, Past and Future

As I come into my second fall here at La Rinconada my plate is still full, an I like that. There is a lot of improvements planned for the coming months and I wanted to go over those things and review what has been done in my first year and a half.

The biggest project has been the turf conversion. Everything that was done when I became Superintendent was predicated on that project. Selection and purchasing of equipment, sand, seed and fertilizer, and identifying the contractors and staff to make it happen. And once the turf conversion itself was committed to we capitalized on the opportunity to add 6,000 tons of sand to the fairways, rebuild the 15th green complex, and add drainage to the first fairway, all in those first few months on the job. Fast forward to today, and we are seeing the benefits as the turf has matured into a consistent stand of grass for play and a deep green color that is beautiful to look at.

The 12th fairway September 2012

One of the goals since my arrival was to create consistency in the maintenance of the golf property. I refer to it as the golf property because it is more than the course. The upkeep of cart paths, trees, maintenance compound, and the cottage are best preserved when there is a vision and care is consistent year to year. Spending in the past years has not always been predictable and consistent producing cycles of large investments in the infrastructure such as what has been done in the last few years at La Rinconada.

The first things that was done when I was hired at La Rinconada was to invest in the Cottage. It is a great amenity for the club to have this available for the Superintnendent, however it was overdue for improvements. The improvements that were made included forced air heating, re-wiring of the majority of the structure ,and kitchen and bathroom re-models. And in the last few months the sewer lift station dating back to the 1970's failed and was subsequently rebuilt. A job I do not want to repeat.


The irrigation control system at La Rinconada has been in place for more than 15 years. The soft ware was last updated about 7 years ago and has since been discontinued by the manufacture and is not supported. The upgrade for the irrigation control system has been a capital improvement item for the last 5 years and this year it was approved for replacement. The new system was installed in early April and is being programmed for effieciency. The new control system allows for individual heads to be controlled with greater ease, increased programming options, and monitoring of soil water conditions can be done remotely. The entire system is state of the art and can be controlled from a smart phone or i pad.

The irrigation system has also been fitted for an injection pump unit that will allow for fertilizers and water conditioning products to be introduced at the pump station. This technique is often referred to as fertigation and it results in a golf course that is more even in color and growth as well as better infiltration of water.

The errant golf balls on the 5th hole are being addressed with protective netting and a grove of redwood trees. The trees were transplanted the third week of April. The netting structure was put into place this September.

Both entrances to the club are in need of landscape updates. For this year, planning will be done and concepts submitted to improve these area in the future. Presently work has been done to clean up the landscaping at both the Wedgewood and Clearview entrances.


The maintenance facility is an area where equipment sits outside and has been deteriorating in the sun, so I have recommended a roof structure that hopefully will be built this winter.

Proposed Shade Structure to be built at the golf maintenance facillity

A nursery green has been a goal of the greens and grounds committee for a number of years and one was created this spring maintenance from the aeration cores taken of the greens.

Nursery Green

Irrigation Control System Components Awaiting Installation last May

The entry way at both the Clearview and Wedgewood gates have been identified as needing improvement and the overgrown vegetation behind the 18th green was done last week as a first step. A landscape architect will be hired to address these areas and add a cohesive look and feel to the property.

Clearview Entryway Overgrown 

I feel very fortunate to be able to implement these improvements of the Club. They are things that provide value to the price of a membership and quality to the property, that when cared for become predictable expenditures in the future, limiting the large ups and downs of capital spending.


Kevin

Maintenance Week

This week is a big week for the golf course. I consider it one of the most important aspects of the long term maintenance of the course, and has the most impact on the condition for the next six months. 

Greens
When there is not enough aerification and water is in excess, the greens develop a black layer and the roots die off, and opportunistic diseases take hold. Greens are in need of aerification so that they drain well during our wet season and make oxygen available to the root zone.  The aerification that is planned is the same that was done in the spring, with a recovery time of 4 to 6 weeks. The extent of the aerification is determined by the recommendation of our USGA agronomist and lab testing of the physical properties of the soil.

No black layer and multiple sand veins from aerification

No aerification veins and black layer

Fairways

The fairways and roughs have taken a big hit this summer for multiple reasons. The lack of rain since spring, a stand of grass not yet a year old, added insect and disease pressure due to the length of the season, and heavy play with limited Monday closures have contributed to high stress on the grass. In July, the aggressive Poa control program became a tipping point. The chemicals that control Poa annua put increased stress on all the different varieties of grass and once damage occurred from the growth regulation, it prohibited the grass from recovering. The Poa control program has been modified and these chemicals will not be applied next year when the plant is under heavy stress.

Fairway rooting in June

Fairway Topdressing and Seeding

It is regular practice for the fairways to be seeded and topdressed in the spring and the fall. This year the amount of topdressing and seed is being increased to get the course back into the condition it was in last June. The amount of sand has been increased by 25% in the fairways and sand is being put onto the roughs, which is new. It will take years to see an appreciable improvement to the roughs, but the investment will pay off eventually. The increased sand requires more time to apply and the course will be closed Monday through Friday.

Fertilizers

While the green surface is opened up it is the optimal time to introduce amendments that improve the physical qualities of the root zone. Calcium and carbon based fertilizers are incorporated into the green along with the sand topdressing to accomplish this important task. The result is sustained growth and soil health. The amount of fertilizer has been increased this fall to encourage growth and speed the recovery of the grass.

This next week is stressful with a lot of hard labor but it results in a good golf course and that is what we are all working for. Thank you for your understanding and patience during the closure and the recovery period.

Unusual Pests Associated With an Unusual Year

This year the weather has been unusual and the resulting insects and diseases have been unusual as well. There are diseases that are seen every year that we treat for and are able to avoid losses of turf. But sometimes when unusual things occur it can catch you off guard and cause problems.

This past winter when we did have rain it was extreme. The prolonged wet conditions were conducive for leaf spot fungus to break out on our new tender rye grass. This was a big concern that fortunately resolved itself with dry conditions.

Leaf spot affected grass in late December

Around a few green edges we began to see turf damage that was unusual. After excavation into the green we found young sod web worms which are rarely seen here. They probably came to La Rinconada in the sod that was installed around green edges. Insecticide was applied and the problem was resolved.

Sod web worm found in greens in August

A few days ago I was looking closely in the thin areas on the 15th fairway when I discovered a billbug. They are occasionally found in the South Bay area but rarely are a problem. The life cycle of the billbug generally results in damage in late spring into early summer and insecticides were applied in May to control grubs that should have taken care of billbugs as well. This year there was a second generation due to the length of the season and additional insecticides were applied.

Billbug found in fairways in September

Billbug damage in the 15th fairway

Kevin

Aerification techniqes

The main putting green was aerified yesterday (September 3rd) as a demonstration of an aerification practice that supplements traditional aerification.

This alternative aerification uses small .25 inch holes made at a tight spacing and done every 30 days. Recovery from the smaller holes is quicker than large diameter holes. Over the time of a year these smaller holes can greatly reduce the need for larger holes used in traditional aerification.

We are trying this technique to determine if it is practical for us here at La Rinconada. At this time our traditional aerification is planned the week of September 23rd.

Aerifier pulling small cores which are then blown to the edge of the green and picked up

Small diameter holes spaced about 2 inches apart

Kevin

White Turf

There are constant changes in our world and I am always looking to bring improvements to what I do. One of the new chemicals that controls many of the weeds here at La Rinconada has a unique mode of action. This new herbicide stops the plant from producing chlorophyll, which as you may ascertain makes it quite effective. We applied this chemical out in small trials and it proved to work well with no damage. The reason I am mentioning it here is because it is very noticeable when the weed is dying. It turns white.

Trial area of new herbicide Tenacity

So if you see areas of white grass, don't be alarmed.

Kevin

New Bunker Rakes

New bunker rakes are out on the course. They are to be placed
Outside the bunkers.  The placement outside the bunker is the recommendation of the USGA.

Rough Rebound

14th hole August 13 2013

4th hole August 13 2013

A picture often references thousands of words, so I am including these photos that are of areas that were off color just 2 weeks ago and featured in my last post. Compare the photos of these areas. Things are rebounding quickly. The color is back and the density in the rough will follow very soon.

Mid Season Update

The golf course is entering into the toughest part of the year and I thought it beneficial to provide an update on where we are and where we are going in the next few months.

Reflecting back a year ago, the changes that have been made at golf course maintenance are remarkable. New turf, new irrigation control system, a lot of new equipment and a complete change in management level staff.  These changes have resulted in a much more efficient operation that has stood up well to the challenges of maintaining the course.

The 16th hole July 11th showing good color

One of the biggest challenges we have is keeping the Poa annua from becoming the dominant turf species. The strategy in place was to utilize all known means available at this time to combat the Poa. Every golf course is different and what works at one area course may not work at La Rinconada because of a difference in soils, water, and climate. One of the common chemicals in use by all the area courses has turned our roughs off color. Essentially, we have applied this growth regulation chemical to the level that the grass has stopped growing and with heavy traffic, and a dry firm golf course many areas are thin and off color.  The fairways have not been affected because of the sand profile.

The 9th hole July 23rd 

To get these areas growing again we will be applying more water and fertilizers in the next few weeks. Just today we applied a spray mixture of enzymes and hormones that will signal the plant to come out of its regulated state.  Additional fertilizer and nutrient applications are planned to continue to push growth, and the amount of growth regulators will be reduced.

The 4th hole July 23rd

Now that we have found the threshold level for this specific growth regulator for our course, we will apply below this amount in the future.  The color and density will return to the roughs in the next 2 weeks, and the course will be maintained as firm as possible without compromising the recovery.


Kevin

The Conundrum of The Playable Golf Course

Maintaining a golf course for playability is one of the pleasures of my job. That sounds strange as I say that because it may occur to you that it would be one of the obvious joys of being a superintendent. But taking into account the playability of a golf course complicates things . This spring has been that way. Complicated in the use of water in a prolonged dry period.

Staff finishing course prep during the Ladies Invitational

The course has been maintained purposely dry for playability. The new grasses have kept fantastic color despite soil moisture levels being very low, which is one of the main reasons the turf conversion was done. It hides the fact that the soil is very dry. But you put a lot of traffic on this grass, and it will eventually thin out and die like any other grass. You may have seen all the small sprinkler sets out on the course that take care of these small  dry areas. They are time consuming for the staff, but are the best way to avoid over watering. We do have staff to do this work and keep up on the mowing rotations, but we have very little margin for error. That makes for more stress for me.

Small portable sprinkler set on the 13th tee complex

Ultimately golf courses are for golf. Another statement that seems obvious, but if you think about everything else a course provides it describes another part of a superintendents job. Golf courses boost real estate value, and attract people who may not even play the course, for dinners and special events based on the vibrant colors and pastoral setting they provide. There are times when the course may not look its best, but it is playing the best. If you are confused about this, just think of the U.S. Open last week, or possibly the British Open.



The extreme playing conditions of the "Opens" are not sustainable, even for Merion and St. Andrews. Go there most of the year and they are mostly green, and the Superintendent is doing his best to provide the combination of playability and color. It is no different for me. It is very difficult to ride that line of really good playability and loosing grass for months at a time in our summers. The closer you are to that line the better the playability and the more stress for me. Providing a great playing golf course is much more difficult than providing a green one, and when you have both; that is when you know you are doing a really good job.

For the next few months I am going to talk about some of the things are done to provide a playable golf course, and give you some insight on the decision making process.

Kevin

Spot Aerification

Select dry areas are being aerified to allow better water penetration. This is being done on an as needed basis and should not affect playabiliy.

Timing is Everything

Timing is everything including golf course maintenance.

There are times of the year when plant needs can be addressed without affecting playability, however the last few weeks course playability has needed to be a priority for some of the most important tournaments of the  year. The Chapman and Wildcat Tournaments were big successes, and it was both satisfying and challenging to provide great course conditions during these events. The Chapman and Wildcat were interspersed between 3 large outside events at a crucial time for control of the Poa that is germinating in our newly established rye fescue blend. The thing that I want you to know is that we were able to get the entire course sprayed 3 times in this 3 week window where 5 important, highly attended events occurred. It was accomplished by good planning and timing, and great execution by my staff. As a result of these sprays the course will be a little off color, and the Poa will be set back significantly. The color will bounce back just in time for the Ladies Invitational in a couple of weeks. Good timing!!!!

New turf showing great color 

Check Out The Practice Area Bunker and Artificial Hitting Tee

There are 4 different bunker rakes in the practice bunker that I would like for you to try. If there is one you like more than another let me know. Additional rakes need to be ordered but before that is done we want to be sure that we have the rake and handle that you favor. The prices range from $40.00 to $12.00 per rake and there are about 140 rakes needed for the 63 bunkers on the course.

Bunker rakes in the practice bunker

By the right hand side of the hitting tee there is a board set up with 3 different types of artificial turf. This is to evaluate their use on the practice area as needed during the winter and for outside group events.

Kevin

One of the biggest updates to golf course maintenance this year has been the installation of the irrigation control system. I have taked about the installation and you maybe thought that it is now done and running, but that is also partially true.

We are discovering that there are some changes that make it easier to create new irrigation programs and make adjustments quickly.

One of the things that has been a real help is the dual monitors showed in this picture.

Duel monitors in the office

The second monitor is 51 inches and you may think that excessive, but when you are looking at 1,500 sprinkler heads on 100 acres that big monitor gives a much better representation of the course. The duel monitors also allow me to get Google earth up on the a monitor while looking at the irrigation map and programming spreadsheet.

I walk the course at least once a week and probe for wet and dry spots. I use a gps tracking app called my tracks and I put in markers for wet and dry spots. This kmz file is then loaded up on Google earth where I have created a layer of sprinkler head positions with their addresses. When I put the Google earth program up on the monitor next to the irrigation program it makes it really quick and efficient to adjust run times.


 Now, I recently got an I Pad that enables me to make changes while on the course, and I will be working on importing an Apple gps tracking app into the Toro program as a layer. At this time Toro does not provide this capability, so if you are reading this and are into this type of project, I would love some help figuring it out. After all I am in Silicon Valley, with a lot of very talented creative people.

Kevin

Wet Heavy Bunkers

I have never been at a course that did not have bunkers as one of the topics of course improvements. Tactics  to improve those bunkers ranged from washing the sand  while running it through a screen to complete replacement of all the sand. I have used spray on bunker liners, inherited a few variations of synthetic cloth liners and had just compacted soil under bunkers sand, and in each case the only way to get the bunkers to the liking of the player came in the form of a lot of manual labor to clean the sand and make sure that drainage was good. And then annual sand replenishment and silt removal kept things in good condition.

Standing water in the bunker causing wet heavy sand

The bunkers here at La Rinconada have an impermeable plastic liner under them and the only place for water to exit is through a drop inlet that sometimes is in the lowest point in the bunker bottom. In many cases the water does not leave the bunker because the bottom does not have enough fall to carry the water out of the drain.

Water out of the bunker after puncturing liner

I found standing water under the sand in the fairway bunker on the right of the 14th hole. I followed the water to the deepest point and found no drain. So I made one with a pick. Within a matter of seconds the bunker drained. I will be doing more of these around the course where we find standing water under the sand. Although this will not make the bunkers great, it will go a long way to improving the playability.

The practice buker drainage holding water

One bunker that has been extremely difficult to keep in good condition is the practice bunker. After exposing the drainage it is apparent in the picture why this sand was wet and heavy. It was constantly wet and the liner was retaining the water in the bunker rather than it draining. New sand has been ordered. Additional rock and pipe will be installed, and the plastic liner removed in the bottom, and this bunker will improve tremendously.


Kevin

Tree Work

There has been some tree work done lately and trees are a sensitive subject so I want to communicate how that work is prioritized.

In the Golf Course Maintenance budget is annual tree work. When deciding what needs to be done the first 2 concerns are safety and health. Frequently large limbs fall off  our mature trees. Eucalyptus and ash are 2 of the dominant tree species found on the property, and they are weak wooded trees, both dropping limbs large enough to cause severe injure or death.

Ash tree with a large 2 inch crack that will fail in the near future

 After safety, health of the golf course and then the health of the tree are the next priorities. Shading of turf, and root intrusion into sensitive areas like greens and bunkers cause playability issues. Selective limbing to open up light and air corridors and root pruning make a very big difference in the turf health.

Heavy undergrowth resulting in poor turf growing conditions behind #18 green

Some recent work near the club entrance was done and it is a great example of an area that had been neglected to the detriment of the health of the trees. That area had not been maintained for a very long time and creating sunlight and air movement will result in increased health and beauty of those trees, and enhance the entry way to the Club and the back of the 18th green.

Behind #18 green after pruning and clearing brush

While I was drafting this piece a large portion of the oak tree in the first fairway broke while the fairway was being mowed in the morning  There was little that could have been done to prevent this. The tree is selectively pruned every year to limit the amount of weight on limbs that may fail. Upon inspection of the area that broke, there was a rot found in the interior of the limb that was hard to see and ultimately predict this failure. It is an example of why it is important to be proactive in looking for these problems and taking action when you find them to avoid injury.

Area of failure on the oak in the 1st fairway

Kevin

Spring is in the air and the grooming of the golf course has picked up. Obviously when the temperatures increase the grass grows more, but what might not be as obvious the adjustments that need to be made within maintenance to keep up with these changes. 

The biggest priority is keeping the Poa in check. It is going to seed and we have applied pre-emergent herbicides to combat that seed from germinating. Mowers need to pick up the clippings and dispose of the seed laden material off the golf course. Areas around greens that are very high in Poa are being sodded to prevent tracking of seed. And the Poa herbicides are being applied nearly daily to keep the Poa stressed and the rye and fescue strong and growing.

We have waited a long time for the new grass to mature and I am happy where that is today and how the golf course is playing coming off of aerification two weeks ago. It feels good to be moving into the time of year when course conditions are at their best.


Kevin