Friday, April 8, 2016

GOLF COURSE UPDATE 4/8/16

GOLF COURSE UPDATE 4/8/16
  • Tree work – Large takedowns, renovations, and sod work complete/prune-work will continue with available time permitting
  • Collection extension around #14 Green complete
  • Cart path work- #18 and #2 removal and redirection
  • Aeration – Greens 1/4” tines, Tees 5/8”, Fairways 3/4" deep-tine, Rough 3/4” deep-tine set to begin
  • Initial Cleanup of Clubhouse Grounds and Golf Course along with continued cleanup from spring wind storms
  • Tennis Courts re-surfaced, re-lined and set for play 4/4/16
  • Maintenance Area drainage started 4/4/16
  • Bunker Maintenance set to begin 4/11/16
  • Mulching of Clubhouse Grounds and Golf Course Beds 4/25/16 with annual flowers to follow by Mother’s Day

Reality has set in for us in the Northeast and winter weather seems to be lingering into April after the incredible start in March. We’ve had ideal work weather for our crew to clean up the property, renovate the disturbance areas from tree work, and also continue with small projects putting us ahead of schedule. Unfortunately, that same weather was not ideal for the aeration process, and due to wet and cold conditions I modified my intended practices. Because of those adjustments, some changes will need to be discussed at our first Green Committee Meeting yet to be announced.
The 2016 start has been completely different than last year and with the mild winter and a full season of implementing my programs, I’m happy with our playing surfaces for this time of year and excited to start conditioning for golf. Over the next few weeks, we'll continue preparing Pine Hollow for the season with all our spring conditioning practices from bunker work on the golf course to flowers at the clubhouse. Along with what membership sees in everyday conditioning, projects and detail work, April and May are our busiest months spraying plant protectants and applying soil amendments imperative to the health of our turf in season. These applications along with cultural practices allow us to stay aggressive with our playing surfaces once the dog days of summer are upon us and the golf season is in full swing.
Another important project made possible by our new Takeuchi Skid Loader started Monday in our Maintenance Area by reworking drainage and the addition of an equipment wash area. Once starting the project we found existing pipes leading to a 30' dry well that in my opinion was not being used to its full capacity. We then reworked drainage pipe from existing wells and our new wash area to flow directly into the well which will have an enormous impact on the water holding capacity of our Maintenance Area. I expect this project to solve our wash water run-off issues with the neighbors while saving us from spending money on additional dry wells ($10,000-$15,000 per) or the construction of a wash station ($40,000) for the cost of in-house labor, asphalt and supplies. 


Hopefully the weather starts to improve over the next few weeks and we see you on the course soon. Enjoy the Masters this weekend!

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

PINE HOLLOW C.C. 2016 AERATION SCHEDULE

PINE HOLLOW C.C. AERATION SCHEDULE
GREENS:
  • **March 3/28/16 – ½” Hollow Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Topdressing (5%)
  • *May - 1/4" Vent Tine w/ Sand Injected Dry Ject to 6 in. depth
  • *Monthly (May to July) – ¼” Solid Venting Tine (no removal)
  • ***August 8/15/16 – ½” Hollow Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Topdressing (9%)
  • ***November 11/1/16 – 1/2” Hollow Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Topdressing (14%) 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 3/21/16 - 5/8” Hollow Tine Tee Aeration with Sand Topdressing
      August 8/17/16- 5/8” Hollow Tine Tee Aeration with Sand Topdressing
      November - 5/8” Hollow Tine Tee Aeration with Sand Topdressing

FAIRWAYS:

      March 3/30/16 – 5/8” Hollow Tine Aeration with Sand Topdressing
      October – Graden Dethatching of Fwys/Approaches w/ Sand Topdressing
      November-  ¾” Solid Deep-Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Sand Topdressing

ROUGHS:


      Beginning November aerate all roughs for healthy turf green to tee

PINE HOLLOW C.C. 2016 AERATION SCHEDULE

PINE HOLLOW C.C. AERATION SCHEDULE
GREENS:
  • **March 3/28/16 – ½” Hollow Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Topdressing (5%)
  • *May - 1/4" Vent Tine w/ Sand Injected Dry Ject to 6 in. depth
  • *Monthly (May to July) – ¼” Solid Venting Tine (no removal)
  • ***August 8/15/16 – ½” Hollow Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Topdressing (9%)
  • ***November 11/1/16 – 1/2” Hollow Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Topdressing (14%) 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 3/21/16 - 5/8” Hollow Tine Tee Aeration with Sand Topdressing
      August 8/17/16- 5/8” Hollow Tine Tee Aeration with Sand Topdressing
      November - 5/8” Hollow Tine Tee Aeration with Sand Topdressing

FAIRWAYS:

      March 3/30/16 – 5/8” Hollow Tine Aeration with Sand Topdressing
      October – Graden Dethatching of Fwys/Approaches w/ Sand Topdressing
      November-  ¾” Solid Deep-Tine Aeration w/ Heavy Sand Topdressing

ROUGHS:


      Beginning November aerate all roughs for healthy turf green to tee

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Welcome back and see you on the course!

What a difference a year makes! Last March we were removing snow off greens, and one year later we have weather good enough for golf. The club is set to re-open next week and with good weather our golf course is too. Since the snow melts in late February, our Green Staff have begun preparations for the 2016 golf season cleaning off high play areas, tree debris, and all clubhouse grounds. With the great forecast, we will officially open Putting Greens on Friday 3/11/16 with a decision on carts next week depending on how wet conditions continue to improve.
Along with golf preparations this week we will also be wrapping up our Tree Maintenance efforts over the next few weeks by renovating stump areas and prepping for sod or seed. Finishing these areas will only add to my excitement about the considerable progress made over the past month impacting turf health, playability, and opening sightlines around our property. You will also notice the continued efforts we started last season pruning low branches and thinning tree canopies. Our next treelines to address will be #1,#6,#8, and #16 and will continue until weather or other project work dictates.
Always looking to improve our Professional Staff I recruited Assistant Christopher Duffy. Chris has spent time at Richmond County C.C. and also at Oakhill C.C. after his Turf Management Degree from SUNY Cobleskill. He and returning Assistant Cody Seaman have spent the winter within our program working our winter projects and preparing to help lead our Team. All our Green Staff Members from 2015 will be returning over the next few weeks to continue building what we started at Pine Hollow last season.
Please remember to check out and sign-up for updates at our Dept. Blog pinehollowgreens.blogspot.com and follow me on Twitter @bpeveichturf.