Pine Hollow Green Department

Monday, August 4, 2025

GREEN DEPARTMENT UPDATE 8/4/25

Here we are — Club Championship week at Pine Hollow Club! This is always one of the most exciting times of the year, and after the rollercoaster of weather we've had, it's even more rewarding to say the golf course is prepped and ready for a strong finish to the season.

We began 2025 with a spring filled with below-normal temperatures and above-average rainfall, which transitioned almost immediately into stretches of intense heat and drought. Despite the challenges, our team has worked tirelessly to keep the course healthy, playable, and tournament-ready — and we couldn’t be prouder of the results.

As we look ahead, August marks a turning point in our season. Not only are we wrapping up the peak of tournament play, but we’re also beginning preparations for our final slate of fall events in September and October. At the same time, we’re laying down the foundation for a strong 2026 season, agronomically speaking.

As many of you know from seasons past, late summer is the time we begin restorative work on the course. This includes turf recovery in any stressed areas, aeration across various playing surfaces, and a brief period of easing back on conditioning to allow for healing. By Labor Day Weekend, we’ll be ramping back up to deliver firm, fast conditions heading into the home stretch.

Below this message, you’ll find a breakdown of our upcoming agronomic plans and projects. I believe in sharing the “why” behind our decisions — it’s part of how we continue to care for this great property with the long-term in mind.

On a personal note, I just want to say: this season has been a lot of fun for me and the entire Green Department team. Battling the elements alongside a dedicated staff and an engaged membership is what makes Pine Hollow such a special place. Now, it’s your turn to battle the course — and your fellow competitors — in the remaining rounds of the Club Championship.

Best of luck to all the players!
Thank you for your continued support and belief in our work over the past 11 seasons. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and can’t wait to finish strong with some awesome golf still to come.

Aeration
As we move through August, aeration efforts are underway to support long-term turf health and recovery from summer stress:

Fairways and High-Impact Areas: Deep-tine aeration will be performed in compacted and poorly draining zones such as low spots and high-traffic areas. This process promotes deeper rooting, improves drainage, and helps turf withstand both drought and saturation cycles. Starting Monday 8/11/25 until completion.

Greens: 1/4 needle-tine if weather is too oppressive of 1/4 hollow tine to remove material and open airways for rooting and recovery. Tuesday 8/12/25.

Tees, Approach, and Collections: 5/8 Hollow tine aeration will be performed to relieve compaction and improve density in weakened or worn areas. 5/8 Solid tine aeration in approaches, collections, and cleanups. Starting Monday 8/11/25 collections and cleanups with Wednesday 8/13/25 for tees.

Roughs: Weak areas in rough will be aerated, slice/seeded, and fertilized to maximize seed catch and restore any tired or toasted areas. As needed throughout August/September current or future areas.
Driving Range Tees/Practice Areas: Driving Range Tees will be aerated and slice/seeded on Monday 8/11/25 on both sides and will be closed until Friday 8/29/25 for seed to germinate and recover from a busy teaching and hitting season. Thank you for your understanding.

Our goal is to balance recovery with playability, and every aeration event is thoughtfully scheduled to have minimal disruption while maximizing agronomic benefit.

Mowing Heights & Frequency
Greens:

Mowed at 0.105 inches (CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK) then back to .110, 7 times per week

Double-rolled on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to enhance smoothness and speed

Tees, Collars & Approaches:

Mowed at 0.350 inches, 3 times per week

Fairways:

Mowed at 0.375 inches, 3 times per week

Rough:

Mowed at 2.75 inches, once weekly

Pin & Tee Setup

Greens and tees are set 6 times per week

Ensures fresh pin locations and ideal playing conditions daily

Bunkers
Routine Maintenance:

Touch-up raking: Monday & Thursday

Full raking: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Sand consistency: Thin areas are topped off as needed; recent sand depth checks and cleanings have been completed prior to C.C. and will continue as needed.

Topdressing Program
Our biweekly greens topdressing with fine sand is underway to:

Smooth and firm surfaces

Improve green speed and playability

Support root zone health and turf vigor

This program complements our vertical mowing and grooming strategy aimed at top-tier playing conditions.

Spray Program
The full-season spray schedule is active and continues weekly through November, including:

Plant protectants

Fertilizers (as needed)

Growth regulators

Pre-emergent herbicides

Applications cover all short-cut turf, roughs, range, and lawn areas.

Clubhouse Grounds
Landscaping is in full swing:

All flowers are thriving! We will be thinning out some perennial beds and wildflower areas as flowers start to get past their flowering prime.

Summer pruning of shrubs and landscape is continuous as plants grow during the season.

Beds are continuously being weeded, mulched, and pruned. Once we finish, we lap back around for the freshest appearance possible.

Remember: the more rain we get, the faster undesirable plants return

Ongoing maintenance will ensure pristine presentation and enjoyable views throughout the season.

Course Detailing
We're actively refining the course’s presentation by:

Edging around irrigation heads and valve boxes.

Sodding and repairing cart path edges and bunker banks as heat and wear impact our appearance. Please follow directional roping and staking while keeping carts to paths as much as possible.

Pruning dead material, low branches, and sucker limbs from trees.

Repairing divots as needed.

Racquet Sports Update
Tennis Courts:

Watered, rolled, brushed, and lined daily

Bi-weekly calcium applications to aid moisture retention and surface consistency

Walkways cleaned as much as possible. Note: overnight watering and storms may wash material onto paths—please use caution as these areas can be slick

Pickleball Courts:

Blown and cleaned every morning for optimal playability and appearance

Padel Courts:

Fully ready for play and our pro-staff is ready to show you this exciting game

Sand topdressing can be applied to firm the surface and enhance play speed and consistency

Yours for Better Turf,
Brent Peveich
Golf Course Superintendent
Pine Hollow Club

USGA SUMMER 2025 INFORMATION

PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO FIND USGA INFORMATION

https://x.com/USGAGrnSection/status/1951976345896149453

USGA AERATION INFORMATION

PLEASE CLICK THE BELOW LINK FOR USGA INFORMATION

https://x.com/USGAGrnSection/status/1950881627774869880

HAND WATERING USGA INFORMATION

PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://x.com/USGAGrnSection/status/1950526789803196782

Sunday, June 29, 2025

As we roll into summer, I wanted to take a moment to update you on course conditions, share some important reminders, and wish everyone a safe and enjoyable season here at the club.

The past couple of weeks leading into Member-Guest certainly kept our team on their toes. A severe thunderstorm and microburst left us with significant tree damage, downed power lines, flooded areas of the course, and plenty of debris to clean up. Mother Nature didn’t stop there — we were immediately hit with one of the most intense heat waves this club has experienced in the last decade. Despite the challenges, I’m incredibly proud of how our staff rallied to get the property ready for your play and enjoyment.

With the arrival of summer, I'd like to kindly remind everyone of a few simple golf course etiquette practices that help us keep the course in top condition for all:

PLEASE LAY DOWN WHEN HOT AFTER USE

Please take a moment to repair ball marks on greens. A little effort goes a long way in keeping surfaces smooth and healthy.
Rake bunkers after use to ensure consistent playing conditions for your fellow members.
Be mindful of rope, stake, and signage, which are in place to guide traffic and protect sensitive areas.
Park golf carts on paths where designated, especially around tees and greens, to prevent unnecessary wear.

You may notice our maintenance staff working on the course during your round. While we always try to minimize interference with play, please understand they are out there early and often to provide the best possible conditions for you. A friendly wave and a bit of patience go a long way — we appreciate your cooperation.

Summer is as much about enjoying the club as it is about taking care of yourselves. With the heat sticking around, I encourage everyone to stay hydrated, take advantage of the cooling towel stations placed throughout the course, and don’t forget to enjoy a stop by the pool and Tiki Bar for some well-earned refreshments.

Lastly, we’re all looking forward to the July 4th Fireworks Celebration, which promises to be another fantastic evening at the club. Please remember to stay safe during the festivities. While our team will be out the following morning to clean up, you may still notice some remnants like fireworks debris or minor burn marks in the roughs and bunkers — we appreciate your understanding as we work to restore everything promptly.

Most importantly, have a wonderful holiday and enjoy the summer season. Stay cool, stay safe, and I’ll see you out on the course.

Course Maintenance Update

Mowing Heights & Frequency

Greens:

Mowed at 0.110 inches, 7 times per week
Double-rolled on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to enhance smoothness and speed

Tees, Collars & Approaches:

Mowed at 0.350 inches, 3 times per week

Fairways:

Mowed at 0.375 inches, 3 times per week

Rough:

Mowed at 2.75 inches, once weekly
All fescue around bunkers will be trimmed to rough height throughout the 2025 season

Pin & Tee Setup

Greens and tees are set 6 times per week
Ensures fresh pin locations and ideal playing conditions daily

Bunkers

Routine Maintenance:

Touch-up raking: Monday & Thursday
Full raking: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Sand consistency: Thin areas are topped off as needed; recent sand depth checks and cleanings have been completed
Bunker Detail: Bunkers are living features of the golf course—constantly evolving due to raking, wind, moisture levels, turf health, and natural debris like clippings, leaves, and soil. Their edges shift subtly with each weather event and maintenance cycle, and while we work diligently to provide consistent playability, it's important to remember their primary purpose: they are hazards.
Our goal is always to present the most consistent, fair, and strategic bunkers possible, but perfection is not the intent. These features are meant to challenge players and penalize errant shots. We strive to balance playability with the integrity of what a bunker is meant to be—an obstacle.
We’re fortunate to have bunkers originally shaped by one of the game’s great minds—Gil Hanse—whose work in the 1990s gave our course its bold, rugged style. His vision gave us bunkers that are not only visually striking, but that carry true strategic weight in your decision-making. Their natural roughness, irregular edges, and evolving contours are part of what makes them so compelling—and so difficult to replicate without years of natural weathering.
We’ll continue detailing and refining these bunkers throughout the season, always with an eye on preserving their character while enhancing playability where possible.

Topdressing Program

Our biweekly greens topdressing with fine sand is underway to:

Smooth and firm surfaces
Improve green speed and playability
Support root zone health and turf vigor

This program complements our vertical mowing and grooming strategy aimed at top-tier playing conditions.

Spray Program

The full-season spray schedule is active and continues weekly through November, including:

Plant protectants
Fertilizers (as needed)
Growth regulators
Pre-emergent herbicides

Applications cover all short-cut turf, roughs, range, and lawn areas.

Clubhouse Grounds

Landscaping is in full swing:

All flowers and gardens are planted and thriving
Beds are continuously being weeded, mulched, and pruned . Once we finish we lap back around for the refreshest appearance possible. Remember the more rain we get the fast the undesirable plants come back.
Ongoing maintenance will ensure pristine presentation and enjoyable views throughout the season

Course Detailing

We're actively refining the course’s presentation by:

Cleaning and edging cart paths will continue as time permits. This is one of the hardest projects to continue as summer dictates how much we can accomplish
Edging around irrigation heads and valve boxes will continue
Sodding and repairing cart path edges and bunker banks will continue as heat and wear impact our appearance
Pruning dead material, low branches, and sucker limbs from trees
Repairing divots as needed

Racquet Sports Update

Tennis Courts:

Watered, rolled, brushed, and lined daily
Bi-weekly calcium applications to aid moisture retention and surface consistency
All walkways will be cleaned as much as possible. Remember our courts drain to the paths so overnight watering and storms unfortunately wash material where we walk. Please use caution as material build between cleanings can be slick

Pickleball Courts:

Blown and cleaned every morning for optimal playability and appearance

Padel Courts:

Fully ready for play and our pro-staff is ready to show you this exciting game. If you haven't played yet.........you're missing out!
Sand topdressing can be applied to firm the surface and enhance play speed and consistency

Yours for Better Turf,

Brent Peveich

GCS

Sunday, June 1, 2025

GREEN DEPARTMENT UPDATE 6/1/25

The unofficial start of summer has come and gone, and with Memorial Day Weekend now in the rearview mirror, we are full steam ahead into the heart of the 2025 golf season! After a spring filled with wild swings in temperatures and more than our fair share of rainy or windy events, I’m proud to say the golf course and the entire property are ready for the marathon that lies ahead.

We’ve got a full calendar loaded with Member events, tournaments, and family functions—so be sure to take a look at your schedule and get everything circled. You won’t want to miss a thing.

I’m thrilled to share that our full crew is back, energized, and ready to deliver the standard you’ve come to expect—and the one I demand every single day. In my 12th season as your superintendent, I can confidently say this feels like the year we will all be talking about for years to come. The course is poised for one of its best seasons yet.

As we transition into the summer rhythm, we’re shifting focus away from the smaller projects and putting all of our energy into detailing, dialing in playing surfaces, and tightening up our daily and tournament prep. We’re entering watering season now, and I’m genuinely excited to watch all our collective efforts shine through on the course. The team is ready to push our surfaces to a level where, when you walk off 18, your first thought is: “That was a day.”

From precision mowing to greens rolling, fresh pins, and clean edges—we’re here to elevate every round. Whether you're competing, practicing, or just out to enjoy a walk with friends or family, our goal remains the same: to make every visit to the Club feel like your own personal escape.

On behalf of myself and the entire Grounds Team, thank you for your continued support. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of your game, your traditions, and your community here at the Club.

Let’s make 2025 one to remember. See you out there!