Tree Maintenance; Part I

Since the weather has turned cold and the ground has frozen over, the staff at Meadowbrook CC has been removing injured trees.  The majority of these trees have seen extensive herbicide damage from the chemical Imprelis, and were not expected to recover fully.  They are being removed now to avoid further structural damage that could pose safety issues.
West Side Forestry has been contracted to remove trees that require the skill of a climber or bucket, however the rest of have been taken down in-house.  To date, almost 20 trees have been removed, limbed, chipped and their respective stumps grinded and refilled.  The majority of these trees have been White pines but a few Austrian pines and Blue spruces have been removed as well.  Some of the biggest trees marked for removal are still yet to come so the crew will be kept busy throughout the winter months. 
Still on the horizon is the planting of the replacement trees, which will start the week of the 18th of January. The heavy trucks used to move the large trees need a minimum of 4-5 inches of frozen ground to avoid doing unacceptable damage to the course.  Below is a slide show highlighting the tree work done so far.  Enjoy.

Synthetic Gypsum Application

This past week, MCC applied gypsum (CaSO4/2H20) to its fairways, aprons and problematic areas of the intermediate rough.  Gypsum is applied to alleviate the effect that sodium bicarbonates (NaHCO3) have on soil structure.  In high enough concentrations these bicarbonates will "crust over" the soil, significantly limiting water infiltration and root penetration.  Sodic soils are uncommon in Michigan but MCC's irrigation source does have a high level of sodium bicarbonates, and when the irrigation system is used extensively (as it was in the summer of 2012) negative effects on the soil are noticeable.

Specifically in MCC's soils; The Ca is replacing Na (sodium) bonded to clay particles, alleviating poor soil structure.  Also of note, elemental hydrogen is a product of this reaction.  Gypsum is not a liming agent and will not raise pH. 

Synthetic gypsum is a bi-product of pollution control methods utilized at some coal burning power plants.  In an effort to reduce sulfur dioxide entering the atmosphere (a constituent in acid rains), the flue gasses are passed through a slurry of hydrated lime and calcium sulfite is formed.  The CaS03 is than oxidized resulting in CaSO4 (gypsum) and washed with water to filter out contaminants such as Boron and Mercury.  The end product is a fine textured, cheap, relatively pure source of gypsum. 

What advantage does this new synthetic gypsum have over the original mined sources?  A common complaint by turf professionals is that the mined gypsum variation in particle size makes applications difficult. Large particles could not pass through the feeder holes in fertilizer spreaders.  Synthetic gypsum does not have this drawback and applies especially well when a Ty-Crop or Turfco Topdresser are utilized. 
Another point in synthetic gypsum's favor is its small percentage of insoluble residue, less than 1%.  Regular applications of gypsum have a large percentage of insoluble residue (up to 19%) and take a relatively long time to work its way into the soil even with irrigation and rain events.  The residue left behind can become quite messy and is smeared and picked up by reels, carts and even walking golfers.  The synthetic gypsum recently applied by MCC (3 days prior to the publication of this article) has almost all been washed into the soil profile, a huge improvement over the couple of weeks necessary to incorporate mined gypsum into the soil.  Purity is another issue, with mined gypsum having the potential to host a variety of different elements as opposed to the minute percentage of impurities found in synthetic gypsum. 

Even distribution during application

Synthetic gypsum is still a relatively new product, not utilized by many major golf courses and therefore research based comparison is not as available.  However, due to its physical properties and low cost (relative to mined gypsum) there will be a higher demand and therefore more researched performed on the substance.  Empirical evidence will soon follow, and we will keep our readers posted on the subject.  Enjoy.   

Course Update; The Close of the 2012 Golf Season

With temperatures dropping, snow flying and the Lions falling into mediocrity it can only mean one thing...the end of the 2012 golf season at Meadowbrook Country Club.  The crew is glad to see the season go, it being one of the hottest and driest in recent memory.  The fall of 2012 however, was excellent for turf recovery with plentiful sunlight and the golf course is entering winter in good agronomic health.  There are many tasks that MCC's staff has to perform before the true start of winter along with specialty projects, all of which are detailed below.  

1. Snow Mold Applications: There are two main types of fungal diseases that present a threat over the winter, Pink and Grey Snow Mold.  Pink is the most common with symptoms appearing even in the spring in fall with wet conditions.  MCC treats greens, tees, fairways and green complexes for snow mold prevention.
2.  Dormant Fertilizer Application: A late fall fertilization of the fairways, rough and tees took place on the 19th of Novemeber.  A readily available source of nitrogen was utilized to ensure uptake before the plants go dormant.  Most of the benefits of this application will be seen in the spring, in terms of an earlier green-up, increased turf density and resistance to spring fungal diseases.  The process is contracted out to a company that can complete the entire task in 4 hours, a vast improvement on the 2-3 days required by fertilizing in-house.
3. Green Complex Sodding: Last fall, eight complexes were re-sodded and another six have been completed this fall.  This projects purpose is to eliminate the large amounts of annual bluegrass and bentgrass in the green surrounds, grasses that when mowed at a higher height of cut do not allow for consistent or fair lies.  There has been a overwhelming positive response to the newly sodded green complexes and it is the hope of the crew to not only complete the remaining greens, but eventually re-sod the intermediate and fairway bunker complexes, resulting not only in consistent playability but in defined, stylish aesthetics on each hole.  
4. Green Topdressing and Aerification: At the close of each season, MCC applies a heavy layer of topdressing sand to each green (over 2.5 yards of sand/green).  After, the greens are aerified at the smallest spacing available resulting in the largest percentage of surface area effected.  While seemingly counterintuitive to stress the greens so late in the season, it actually provides protection from winter damage, deters crown hydration and negates the need to aerify greens again in the spring.  The majority of the heavy topdressing is worked into the greens in the spring, further improving surface drainage and firmness throughout the golfing season.  
5. Green Covers:  Despite the heavy topdressing application, some greens due to specific environmental conditions (northern wind exposure and snow build-up) need further protection.  Seven of MCC's greens are covered with large strips of bubble wrap (to allow air flow and resist the build up of toxic gases) and massive tarps to repel water and snow from the vulnerable plant crowns.  This is a labor intensive process but it beats the alternative of covering the greens with bales upon bales of hay. 
6. Pumphouse Maintenance: Two of the pumps that feed the irrigation system have been pulled from the pumphouse for maintenance.  These pumps are over 12 feet long and extremely heavy, making a crane necessary to remove them from the pumphouse.  Further information on this subject is forthcoming in a future article, once diagnostics and repairs have been completed.
7. Tree-Care: The chemical Imprelis did extensive damage to a significant number of evergreens around the course.  Some of the trees are too injured to recover and are marked for removal, which will be an ongoing process over the winter.  Other trees are in desperate need of pruning, not just for architectural aesthetics, but to prevent safety issues and improve tree health.     

The crew hopes that members enjoyed the 2012 season, which was an excellent year for golf.  Articles will still be posted throughout the winter months so we hope our reader stays tuned.  Enjoy. 

Deep Tining

Aerification is a general term used by turf professionals in reference to any cultural practice that punches holes in a stand of turf.  There are various types of aerification (coring, solid tining, needle tining etc.) but the specific type utilized recently on MCC's greens is deep tining.  Most aerification events only effect the top 3 inches of the rootzone.  These practices would be sufficient on USGA spec'ed green, were the sand-based layer is over a foot deep.  At old courses, before the USGA specifications were in existence, it is beneficial to use an aerifier that can penetrate deeper into the soil and open up channels into the subgrade (the native soil layer beneath the desired sand-based layer).  These channels, usually 6-8 inches in depth, will move water away from the surface of the green, keeping the surface firm after heavy rains or heavy irrigation.

 The following slideshow illustrates the process of deep tining in its entirety, from the topdressing of the greens to actual aerification and working the sand into the exposed holes.  Enjoy.  

Tree Inventory

Over the next several weeks, a certified arborist will be documenting the entire tree population at Meadowbrook CC.  Julie Stachecki, founder of Site Specific Inc., is performing the inventory, which was previously done in 2000.  Julie has Bachelor of Sciences in Horticulture and Park & Recreation Planning, coupled with a Masters in Agronomy and is a certified arborist.  She was a member of the MSU extension team and was the head of the 2-year associate degree in Nursery and Landscapes. 
Site Specific was founded in 1995 and has done arboreal related work at numerous clubs within the area including Oakland Hills, Pine Lake, Plum Hollow, Stonycroft and Bloomfield Hills Country Club.  Needless to say, Julie Stachecki is a well respected and knowledgeable member in her field. 
The goal of the arborist when performing a tree inventory focuses around the best way to allocate resources to trees that are most in need.  This begins with documenting every tree on the property in terms of species, size and health.  This inventory will provide a glimpse of diversity within the population and allow each tree to be individually assessed.  With this information, superintendents can identify trees that are potential problems and apply resources and finances appropriately.
Members may have noticed numbered, metallic tags appearing on trees around the course.  These numbered tags correspond with a field sheet that has specific information pertaining to that individual tree.   The field sheet will tell the species, size and general health of the tree.  It also provides the arborist's recommendations for care of said tree (if any).  These recommendations can include, but are not limited to, pruning, ways to combat disease and insect threats and trees that pose safety issues due to poor structure.  These trees that pose safety issues have the potential to fall or drop heavy limbs, and should be removed.  Pruning, while seemingly a trivial task, is a very important cultural practice especially on young trees.  Pruning a young tree gives one control of the future shape (or architecture) of the tree.  Branches that will later prove to be a problem can be removed easily and safely. 
It is hard to place an exact dollar amount on a tree population, but with one that plays such an integral role on the golf course like Meadowbrook's it is important to provide the trees with the best growing environment as possible.  Mrs. Stachecki's work will allow us to do just that.  Enjoy the colors. 

Short Game Facility & Range Tee

The driving range tee, an area of 25,000 square feet, does not meet the demands of the golfing membership here at MCC.  Expansion is needed but land is at a premium as it is at most old courses where towns and cities have grown up around them.  In these scenarios proper land management is essential so MCC has employed the services of Natural Course Design.  The architects there proposed the following designs (displayed below) which not only increases the size of the range tee to enable golfers to hit from natural grass all season, but also provides an additional practice putting green, short game facility (an excellent area to practice) and the removal and relocation of the maintenance facility that has limited land usage since its establishment.  As with any construction project, it begins with site preparation.

Site Preparation:

To enlarge the range tee and build the short game facility the area behind the current range has to be prepped.  Two residential houses, the storage barn of the maintenance staff and a large amount of trees, brush and compost has to be cleared and removed.  Power and telephone lines will have to be rerouted as well.  After these projects have been completed, construction can begin on the short game and new maintenance facility.  Expanding the range tee and remodeling the range floor has to be a later phase of the project or the danger posed to the grounds crew and golfers on 15 fairway is too great. 

Short Game Facility and Maintenance Buildings:

The current maintenance buildings are insufficient in terms of space needed to hold the 1.4 million dollars worth of equipment that is required to maintain the golf course.  Almost 11,000 square feet is needed while the current buildings can only house 7,000 square feet of equipment.  The current buildings are also old, decrepit and do not meet today’s standards.  As you can see from the proposed plan, the new maintenance facility is out of the way, has over 11,000 square feet and will provide easy access for delivery trucks.  New tree plantings will screen the buildings and surrounds from members and guests.  The current facility lies well within range of golf shots from the practice tee while the proposed facility will house crew and equipment safely.  The proposed short game facility will feature two practice chipping greens surrounded by practice bunkers, a rough chipping area and a large area of fairway and approach that will have undulations so golfers can practice above and below the feet shots.  Another poa annua putting green is planned for the southwest corner of the facility, allowing every short yardage shot to be practiced from one area.  Due to demands of short mowed turf, drainage and irrigation will have to be installed in this area as well.  To protect the short game facility from big hitters on the new range tee, 40 trees will be planted around the perimeter making the area safe for golfers.  So members can access the facility, a proposed 1700-foot cart path will be installed with mound work and 70 large tree plantings lining the path to protect against errant shots from 15 tee and the range tee. 

Range Tee & Range Floor:

Once these phases of the project are completed, and after the MCC Invitational, the current range tee will be closed and construction can begin on the new tee and range floor.  The proposed range tee is 2.5x larger than the current one, increasing the total area to 64,000 square feet.  Members could potentially hit from natural grass the entire golfing season, as opposed to hitting off of artificial mats 2 days out of the week.  More golfers could use the tee at the same time also.  Currently there are only 23 hitting stalls while the proposed tee would have 34. 

The proposed range floor will be designed with target greens at spaced intervals and fairway cuts of turf to better allow golfers to judge their club distance and ball roll.  Because of these additions, the range floor will have to be re-graded and irrigation installed.  These practice greens and fairway will draw shots towards the center of the range, alleviating some of the potential dangers to 8 mile and 15 fairway.  Besides the practice greens and fairways, the surrounding 6 acres will be sodded so the range can open quickly in the spring (if construction on it begins the previous fall). 

It is important to keep in mind that all of the above are proposed ideas and the entire concept is dependent on a membership vote.  Meadowbrook, in the author's not-so-humble opinion, is a premier club in the area and all aspects of it should reflect that, including areas outside of the course itself.  A full view of the proposed plan is available at the following link;   Proposed Range Tee and Short Game Facility PDF.

Fall Projects

Cool temperatures herald the approach of fall and the staff is pleased to put the summer of 2012 behind us.  Demands of the turf have resided for the most part, allowing the crew to focus on the ambitious list of projects we hope to complete by winter. 

Greens aerification was done the week of Labor Day and the punched holes have started to fill in.  As the members have noticed, fairway aerification is underway.  The sheer amount of traffic (from crew and golfer alike) over the season puts a large amount of stress on the fairways and opening up channels for air exchange, thatch removal and new root growth is essential in preparing the plant for winter.  While most are just aerified, some fairways will be topdressed as well.  Topdressing an entire fairway is expensive so only the ones that display the worst surface drainage and poorest soil quality are attempted.

In November, MCC's greens will be deep tined.  This process, similar to solid tine aerification, is done to allow better drainage.  Deep channels of sand, 7-8 inches in depth, move water away from the surface and out of the rootzone, making MCC's greens relatively firm and playable after heavy rains.  A few weeks after deep tining, the crew prepares the greens for winter and the closing of the course.  They again will be aerified with solid tines and buried by at least a quarter inch of topdressing sand.  This topdressing sand protects the crowns of the turf plant over the winter by moving water away from the surface, where freezing and thawing can have a devastating effect on plant health.  An added bonus is the greens have a large amount of sand applied that will work its way into the rootzone, always a desirable thing. 

Trees, trees and more trees.  Dupont's herbicide Imprelis severely damaged numerous white pines on the course.  When evaluating these trees, other issues involving different species were brought to light.  These issues namely involve some extensive pruning, which will hold the focus of some crew members through the month of October.  Certain damaged white pines will also have to be removed as they present safety issues.  A few will even have to be replaced because they protect tees from errant golf shots, but this is best done in the winter.  The heavy equipment used to remove and replace a tree will cause less damage once the ground has frozen over.  Another tree inventory will be performed in the month of October as well.  This assessment will evaluate the current state of damaged white pines, provide information on the future health of these trees, give recommendations for pruning and ways to better improve the tree population of MCC.  Trees can often take a back seat in the mind of a superintendent but at a course where they play a definitive role in many holes it is important to provide them with an environment that they can thrive in. 

Re-sodding of green complexes will continue as well.  8 green complexes were stripped and replaced last year and the results and comments have been overwhelmingly positive.  The crew has lost some of its man power from last fall but they hope to complete as many as possible.  Not only does this process result in excellent aesthetic value, it improves the playability around the green.  Poa and Creeping Bentgrass mowed above 2 inches turns into a puffy, tangled mass that is difficult to get a club under.  A consistent stand of Kentucky bluegrass will allow for a better lie, rewarding a good shot that just didn't make the green. 

These projects are labor intensive and are coupled with the day-to-day operations of maintaining a golf course in the fall (i.e. leaf removal).   However, the MCC staff does a good job of keeping the course playable and we encourage the members to come out and enjoy one of the best times of year for golf.