- Season of extremes pushed our staff, turf, and programs to the test. 2018 provided a cold slow start, record heat, extended humidity, and three times the normal rainfall. Our team successfully navigated a season that could have easily been reflected by significant turf loss.
- The aggressive aeration schedule implemented in the fall of 2014 proved its importance by providing firmer and faster conditions thru a challenging year while also providing our turf stand with an adequate growing medium.
- 30+in. of rain from July to October lead to a number of closures for carts, traffic issues with turf, and inconsistencies in playing conditions. These events exposed weak grass in traffic areas, the need for more drainage, and continued contamination of subsurface stones in our bunkers.
- Staff Update – 2nd year Assistant Dane Poth moved on to Estate management. 1st year Assistant Garrett Matthews will be returning in March of 2019 after finishing his degree at Rutgers University. And Assistant Mike DeGreco hired in October will be rejoining us in March of 2019 once he is cleared from shoulder surgery. All Union staff members are expected to return 3/19.
- Union Contract will expire at the end of 2019. Planning and meetings need to be addressed before the expiration date. I am hopeful for a quick turnaround to continue maintaining the positive work environment within the Green Department.
- Successful project work in 2019 – Chip Green Bunker/Extension, Driving Range Mat, Driving Range Fence Replacement, Driving Range Netting, Cart Path Work at #1 to #10, Tree Work.
WORK DETAIL 2019
- Pump House work will begin in mid-January to pull and replace 40+year old system. Entire scope of work will not be known until pump and shaft is pulled.
- Aggressive 2019 Aeration scheduled to continue progressive maintenance practices.
- Winter soil amendments and plant protectant products applied.
- The chipping green bunker, addition next to #10 fairway, disturbance area is open and work will continue as time and weather permits (IN-HOUSE).
- Irrigation repairs, system adjustments and winterization are currently taking place.
- Property Cleanup; leaves, plant material pruning, snow removal, parking areas, etc.
- Tree Maintenance Plan implementation and specimen beautification.
- Equipment Maintenance for 2019 – performed by PHCC’s full-time mechanic.
- Continued education to stay current with today’s agronomic issues and club business.
- New system of work management to be implemented to track daily work with addition of software and digital job board.
- 2019 Budgeting/Ordering/Planning/Staffing.
PINE HOLLOW C.C. AERATION SCHEDULE
GREENS:
- **March 3/25/19 – 3/8” Hollow Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Topdressing (5%)
- *Monthly (May to July) – ¼” Solid Venting Tine (no removal)
- ***August 8/12/19 or 8/19/19– ¼ ” Hollow Tine Aeration and Light Sand Topdressing (4%)
- ***October 10/29/19 – ½” Hollow Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Topdressing and/or 2mm Sand Inject Graden (13%)
- ***December – 5/8” Solid Deep Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Topdressing
* Minimal disruption to putting surface (healing time a few days)
** Medium disruption to putting surface (healing time 7-10 days)
***Most disruption to putting surface (healing time 10-14 days)
Emphasis put on removing 20% of surface area per year
TEES:
• March 3/20/19 - 5/8” Hollow Tine Tee Aeration with Sand Topdressing
• August 8/13/19- 5/8” Hollow Tine Tee Aeration with Sand Topdressing
• October - 5/8” Hollow Tine Tee Aeration with Sand Topdressing
FAIRWAYS:
· March 3/4/19 – ¾” Solid Deep-Tine Aeration (no cleaning necessary)
· March 3/18/19 – 5/8” Hollow Tine Aeration *may be delayed until fall*
· August - ¾” Solid Deep-Tine Aeration (no cleaning necessary) w/ Verticut
• October – Graden Dethatching of Fwys/Approaches or ¾ Solid Deep-Tine
• November - ¾” Solid Deep-Tine Aeration
ROUGHS:
• Beginning November aerate all roughs for healthy turf green to tee
PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS
HOLE #1
Continue work started in 2018 with improving tree lines thru take downs and pruning. Add additional drainage and drywells to divert water and hold runoff. Eventually #1 green should be rebuilt towards the front green side bunker to improve playability. Continue adding material to landscape left of tee.
HOLE #2
Replant back berm against 25A with seasonal shrubs and plantings for screening and to add interest. Also, clean left side scrub trees from the property line along Grace Lane. Construct new overflow for pond and elevate left side of pond edge to keep consistent water height. Similar to the first green due to increased green speeds this green has lost interesting pin locations and should be rebuilt or softened.
HOLE #3
Continue working on fairway contour lines making more sense of the hole and the lay of the land by improving fairway extension started in 2018 to landing area. This hole also has potential for a collection and expansion area over the left greenside bunker extending around the green. Aggressively take down dying cherries and scrap pines up the right side while replanting with hardwoods for our future. Cleanup and replant desirable species along left property line to screen out 25A. Also, continue to screen out the left side dump area along property line.
HOLE #4
Continue with pruning, tree removals, and aggressive replanting along both tree lines. Unfortunately these tree lines are weak with predominately ash, pine and spruce. Continue to improve fairway extension started in 2018 to the right of the approach bunker with aeration and seeding.
HOLE #5
Rebuild or relevel tees. Fairway bunker on the left is extremely penal due to a tree planted too close to the hazard and creates a double penalty. Either the tree is removed (nice tree) or the bunker should be pinched into the right. XGD drainage in approach is needed to improve turf and playability.
HOLE #6
Clean out debris and damaged trees left of tees. Continue with select removals along the right side of the fairway. XGD drainage should be added to the approach removing excess water while also lifting sod and releveling area to pitch towards existing dry wells.
HOLE #7
Left side of fairway along service road should be replanted to screen out dumpsite. Add additional drainage to the fairway landing area and approach to help move water and improve playability.
HOLE #8
Continue with select removals along both sides of hole. Add XGD drainage to approach.
HOLE #9
Right of green still has a large collection of trees that could be thinned for better growing conditions.
HOLE #10
Remove all rhododendrons to the right of the tee and transplant. This will clean up the tee area and allow for more space for a rebuilt or re-leveled teeing ground. Aggressive tree maintenance has already begun on this hole and just the start of what should come. Unfortunately this hole was overplanted with undesirable trees and now has the weakest shot quality and aesthetic value on the course. My recommendation is to have an architect gives options for improvement.
HOLE #11
Men’s tee complexes on this hole should be shifted right and completely rebuilt giving more yardages, teeing options, and interesting angles. Large extension area off #10 Green to #17 fairway could provide us with great pitching options around greens and provide more hitting area to #11 Green.
HOLE #12
Complete tee rebuild is recommended. Joining the back tee with #14 would allow a number of yardages to be used and angle the tee shot over the ponds on #12. The cart path to the left of #11 green will be re-routed for safety and function. A new spillway to drywells should be constructed to improve drainage out of ponds while also elevating and re-leveling the fairway and rough towards the ponds for better water movement. Ponds should be re-constructed and cleaned of invasive plant material.
HOLE #13
Continue with major removals and replanting with specimen trees replacing the undesirable species. Cart path at approach will be redirected between new tees on #14 away from green. Trees to the right of #13 approach will be selectively removed without causing danger to players on #14 tee. Collection area will be extended down banks to level ground and join #14 Tee during #12/#14 Tee rebuild.
HOLE #14
Tees will be completely rebuilt and shifted over with new hidden cart path between tees and away from #13 green. This new cart path will extend away from hitting area and lead to service road eliminating the need for the unsightly left side path.
HOLE #15
Improve tees by rebuilding and re-leveling. Continue with removals, pruning, and replanting tree lines.
HOLE #16
All tees and tree lines need improvement. More importantly though the fairway landing area needs to be stripped and re-leveled to drains with XGD drainage added to help direct surface and sub-surface water.
HOLE #17
Continue with fairway contour around left greenside bunker connecting to existing collection.
HOLE #18
Continue work on fairway contours. Re-level forward and middle tees. Continue to improve tree lines. Remove all trees back and left of green for sunlight, air movement, while improving views.
COURSE IMPROVEMENTS SUMMARY
- Aggressive tree maintenance and replanting program necessary.
- Continue with in-house and contracted tee rebuild and releveling.
- Bunker contamination will continue due to liner deterioration since the last construction. My recommendation is to select worst bunkers to address first and rebuild 3 to 6 holes per year if full construction is not possible.
- Continue removing cart paths where possible and resurfacing paths when necessary.
- Pump house work will begin in January to address issues with 40+ year old pump/well.
CHIPPING GREEN AND PRACTICE AREAS
- Build an additional practice bunker at existing chipping green to continue adding different pitch options for our practice areas.
- Build an indoor hitting bay with simulator room to service all membership throughout the season during inclement weather but also for off-season services.
CLUBHOUSE/ LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS
- Construction and re-lining of pond at front circle. Additional landscape can be planted around pond and lawn area to transform area into an Augusta like setting.
- Opposite of pond cleanup wooded areas and plant azaleas, rhododendrons, and select holly trees to give interest all year while cleaning up what would be a great first impression.
- **************Plan for asphalt repair work 25A to clubhouse.*********************
TENNIS & POOL AREA
- Aggressively take down dead trees behind courts, screen off with plant material, and build construction material area to hide unwanted sand and materials from parking lot.
- Add sport court to give all members more options for play basketball, pickle ball, hard court.
