April Showers

April has been cold and wet, and this past week we have seen close to 3" of rain.  The ground is so saturated that trees with dense canopy's such as spruce trees are vulnerable to uprooting, with heavy winds.  We lost a jack pine  between 10 and 18 due to these conditions.  The golf course mowing has been put on hold the past few days and we are behind prepping and mowing the golf course.  So if you play this weekend wear your water proof shoes, hit the ball straight and stay out of the rough.

Gooseworks; Humane Goose Control

Everyone in the golf community is aware of the increasing population and damage caused by Canadian Geese.  However, just 30 short years ago, the “Giant Canadian Goose” was near extinction and great efforts were made to ensure the safety of the species.  It has made a giant rebound and found a niche in suburban landscape areas and managed turf stands. 

Why is goose control important?  The average Canadian goose can consume over 5 pounds of grass shoots and roots a day.  They prefer the turf of golf courses for the dense, available vegetation and the low mowing heights, which enable them to see predators from a long distance.  This consumption of turf has to go somewhere, and their droppings are quite obvious (over 1.5 pounds of defecation a day), especially on fairways and greens.  Goose manure is acidic and slippery, which can damage the turf plant and provide poor footing for recreational activities.

Geese prefer the non-flowing water of man-made ponds and pools

 

Geese and other waterfowl are known migratory birds.  But since the effort has been made to reestablish the population, many geese have given up that migratory instinct.  The landscape provided by humans is a veritable “Goose Paradise” which allows the geese a choice to travel north again to their original nesting grounds in Canada.  Would you make an optional 1000 mile trip under your own power?

No longer frequent-fliers

To control this nuisance, Meadowbrook has employed Gooseworks Inc.  They provide a humane goose control method in the form of border collies.  These collies were originally sheep dogs and easily made the transformation into herding waterfowl.  The hazing tactics of the dog and trainer offer periods of respite from overpopulation of geese and also influence the birds nesting habits (they prefer not to raise goslings in an area of high agitation).  However, if they do decide to nest, egg replacement and removal options are available as well.  Gooseworks can also provide information on how to make the habitat less desirable for geese colonization.  These methods are the most effective and humane ways to deal with rising goose populations, outside of hunting season.

          Border collies at work

Putting Green Aeration

"No maintenance practice on the golf course receives more scrutiny and golfer ire than the core aeration of our fine turf areas. Furthermore, the role of aeration in the management of high-quality putting greens is often misunderstood." (Bevard, 2011)

As the spring season rolls around, golfer excitement grows. The long, harsh winter conditions make golfers eager to try out their new equipment and shake off the winter blues. The first month or so of winter, the staff is out cleaning the course and prepping for the first mow. As the sun moves north and the temperatures rise, the grass begins to grow. On the surface the course looks to be in the best shape of the year, but we all know the summer conditions are looming and spring becomes the time to implement cultural practices to ensure the health of the grass plant.

You may be asking yourself why do we do the things we do, for example, aerification? There are many reason we aerify our greens, tees, and fairways. Aerification improves air exchange, water movement, and to a lesser degree, compaction. The main reason we aerify here at Meadowbrook Country Club is to modify and manage organic levels within the soil profile. We have added 4 inches of sand to the greens in the last 30 years through our topdressing program. As the turf grows and dies, organic matter develops through decomposition within that sand layer. The USGA recommends organic levels to stay at or below 3% of total soil weight. In the last few years we have used 1/4 inch quadratines (small tines) on our greens and are gradually increasing to the 4% mark.  When this happens during hot and wet summers, the potential to scalp greens increases when mowing.  Organic matter (thatch), also acts as a sponge, leaving greens soft and vulnerable to ball marks and poor surface drainage.  This year we are going to go with larger tines, meaning larger holes, because soil test are indicating our organic level is increasing. Another reason to go to larger is the ability to get the topdressing sand in to the holes. By filling the holes with sand we are able to dilute the organic matter and continue to maintain acceptable numbers.

To read full article by USGA Senior Agronomist Darin S. Bevard click here.

Driving Range Tee and Preffered Divot Pattern

The driving range is a high priority area due to logistics and the amount of use it receives from all classes of memberships, guests and clients.  The crew has made improvements to the range tee by increasing the tee size along with a special mist system that waters seeded areas.  We developed an irons only area and reshaped the main tee by taking the tier out of upper and lower tees, combining the two areas to increase square footage.
BIG IS GOOD and we need more square footage for today's needs. It would be nice to increase the tee size two-fold but real estate issues limit us in this aspect.  So to accommodate high priority practice days on grass throughout the golfing season, on certain days play is restricted to mats only.  As a group the Green Committee has scheduled mat's only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Irons only Sunday afternoons. Mats will also be used during periods of inclement weather.  

The members have asked how to use the range in regards to divot pattern removal.  It is similar to managing a forest. Clear cutting leads to erosion issues, comparable to a golfer taking all of  his/her divots in one area. Large patches of seed and soil are moved or misplaced from mowing.  Removal of practice divots with rakes or blowers occurs and the areas that are cleared get washed away with rain which leads to a longer recovery period.  Leaving strips or clumps of grass, as suggested in the video, will help stabilize the soil and seeded areas from being moved mechanically or washing away.  Here is a thought from the Director of Grounds (and MSU Alumni) of The Philadelphia Cricket Club and if his methods are implemented, we hope to see positive results this season.  However, the real problem is still not enough square footage and a larger tee would be ideal.

Evolution of Irrigation

One of the most important tools, if not THE most important, we use on the golf course is the irrigation system.  In the early 1970's Meadowbrook was watered with manual sprinklers and a night water person.  In the late 70's we automated the greens and tees.  Shortly after, the fairways were converted to automatic sprinklers using electro-mechanical clocks that allowed us to eliminate the night water person.  Starting in 1997 we began replacing the old system with a computer controlled system that allowed us to turn on each of the approximately 1100 sprinklers individually from a hand held radio.  This was a quantum leap in technology and flexibility and gave us the ability to water quickly and more efficiently.  The next step in the evolution has arrived and Meadowbrook is updating the computer and the software that controls the system.  This new software will decrease the "water window" (the time it takes us to complete an irrigation cycle) by about 30%.  This will mean lower utility costs, less wear and tear on our pump station and more accurate timing of watering.  The system can be activated and adjusted from a remote computer or a "smart phone", meaning that last minute adjustments can be made more quickly when weather conditions change.  Another addition to this system is a network of "in-ground" sensors that monitor soil temperature, moisture and salinity from the irrigation computer giving us a real time snapshot of conditions on the course which will help determine watering needs. 

Completion of the 15th Green Sod Project

The removal and replacement of sod on the 15^th green is complete.  As always, throughout this project, patience is still the key.  Now that the sod has been placed, some important factors have to work in our favor.  For example, the sod has to root into the soil beneath the green.  Annual bluegrass is a notoriously shallow rooting plant and to help it, solid aerification tines were uses to punch holes through the sod and open up pathways for the roots to grow.  Rolling is another factor that can be beneficial.  It levels the surface, closes seams and alleviates low and high spots.  Finally, any type of sod has a high potential to lose water, which means that frequent irrigation is required to keep the turf at optimum moisture levels.  As stated in an earlier post, sodding a green is a high-risk, high-reward operation.  It requires an experienced and skilled crew.  Luckily we have that here at MCC and would like to thank Jim Albert, Arturo Guillen, Carlos Hernandez, Dennis McVety, Andy O'Haver and Brian Hilfinger for their hard work and meticulousness.  Also, thanks are due to John Cooney of Tam-O-Shanter Country Club and Dr. Kevin Frank of Michigan State University for their input and motivation.  And last but not least, we would like to thank the members for their patience during this process and we hope that you look forward to playing the 15th green next week.

 


Photos by Andy O'Haver

15th Green Project Begins



Sodding has begun on the 15^th green and conditions could not be better, in reference to the weather.  The entire week looks clear of rain and offers cool but comfortable temperatures.    The alteration of any turf stand managed at green conditions is a nerve racking and slow process.  15 green, as many know, was hit hard by the typical Michigan winter we endured.  Any time a thaw happens in January or February, superintendents become worried.  The middle of the green suffered the worst damage, an area of more than a third of the total square footage.  To replace this area, the current grass had to be stripped, the grade beneath it smoothed and the edges kept at the same height.  After this is accomplished, the nursery sod was cut at the same height and than carefully rolled onto PVC piping.   Each of these rolls weighs in between 150 and 200 pounds, making the placement and removal of the nursery sod a labor-intensive process.  The crew, an experienced and veteran group, has to carefully place the new sod strips perpendicular across the green, leaving little to no evidence of seams.  Over 2000 square feet of sod is being placed on 15 but the end result is worth it.  It is a quick and effective way of making the green playable and aesthetically pleasing. 

Brian Hilfinger









Home Lawn Fertilizer Program

Below is a fertilizer program for a bluegrass lawn that is in the sun for most of the day.
Tri-Turf a local distributor of lawn products with good prices has agreed to take 5% off  the items below if you mention Meadowbrook Country Club.  Tri-Turf is located at 24800 N. Industrial Farmington Hills, 248-474-7474  drive to the end of industrial and go to the back of the building and enter the back door, Mark Wilbur will take care of you.

                                                                     

Mid April

19-0-5 25% PCSCU with .10 Dimension (crab grass control)

Water in within a few days of application

$ 22.95 per bag

Mid May

22-0-5 30% PCSCU with Trimec (weed & feed)

Apply when turf is wet and do not water for 24 hours

$ 23.95 per bag

Mid June

22-0-11 50% UFLEXX

Water in if possible

$ 21.95 per bag

Or

21-0-8 50% PCSCU, .20 Imidacloprid

For crub control, needs to be watered in.

$ 32.25 per bag

End of July

22-0-11 50% UFLEXX

Water in especially if tempertures are 80 or higher

$ 21.95 per bag

Early September

22-0-11 50% UFLEXX

Water in if possible

$ 21.95 per bag

Or

22-0-5 30% PCSCU with Trimec (weed and feed)

Apply when turf is wet and do not water for 24 hours

$ 23.95 per bag

Each bag will cover approximately 10,000 square feet

Always read and follow label directions 

Green Update

We are able to give you a better update on the condition of the golf course as the poa annua plant comes out of hibernation and breaks dormancy.  The golf course wintered well, overall, with tees, fairways and 8 covered greens looking great.  Some of the non-covered greens we had reasons to be concerned but could not determine the amount of winter injury until now. Greens 12,14,16 and 17 have some superficial injury and as the turf starts actively growing these areas will rebound.  Number 15 green has areas that will take too long to recover and will be repaired with sod, which will  be done as soon as weather permits.  The sod will come from our  poa annua nursery that was built 2 years ago from green aerifaction plugs, so repaired areas will match up color and texture.  We have had success with winter covers but its not the panacea for winter turf survival.  Injury can occur under these covers during warm winters and greens that are covered face north or have trees that shade the green.

Staff Returning

On April 4^th a skeleton crew of 8 returned to work.  The staff is experienced with seasoned vets and 3 MSU turf graduates Jim Albert, Brian Hilfinger and Andy O’Haver.  Craig Kennedy, 38 years, and John Drielts with 26 years, are the senior employees.  Craig can operate every piece of equipment we have with care.  John is responsible for course set up and over the years has changed over 50,000 pin locations.  John could change hole locations for the PGA tour and golfers rarely see old plugs that settle or get scalped from mowing.  Rick Spino, 14 years, is an artist with a mower.  The mowing patterns on fairways with big and little diamonds and the wave, have caught the eye of many golfers.  Carlos Hernadez, 10 years, also is a key employee, helps with language translation and teaches golf course maintenance practices to other employees.  Carlos can also operate all of MCC’S turf equipment, and is the best operator on staff.  Dennis McVety, 15 years, is the equipment technician and has the most important position on staff.  Dennis keeps the equipment up to date with repairs and keeps the above names working on the golf course.  Craig Ashworth, 19 years, assistant golf course superintendent.  Craig helps supervise, is licensed to spray plant protectants, and over sees special projects and conducts all of the above very well.  The next few weeks will be spent raking, prepping bunkers, irrigation start-up, applying plant protectants, prepping annual and perennial beds and the annual spring cleaning of club grounds.  Your first impression is important to us, because the staff puts pride into their work and will give you one of the best-conditioned golf courses in the state.        

Craig Kennedy



John Drielts





FROST DELAYS

Welcome to the 2011 early spring golf season.  The golf course is now open for play but with cold nights your tee time may be delayed due to frost.  The coldest part of the day is sunrise, the warm sun breaking the horizon will push the cold air down, in low areas the ambient temperature can drop several degrees.  Therefore even if the temperature reads 38 degrees frost can develop in low lying areas.  This type of frost is short lived and delays are short.  When night time temps are 32 and lower a hard frost develops, freezing not only the leaf tissue but the soil under the turf canopy.  This type of frost can cause long delays.  Please watch the video below.