PONDering Aquatics

Bodies of water are common on golf courses and in numerous landscape developments.  They demand strategic play on the course and are appeasing to the eye in a landscape setting.  However, our ponds and lakes are fragile ecosystems and can easily become a problem if not monitored and managed properly. 

We have placed fountains and air bubblers in the ponds on 1 and 4.  These fixtures are not only pleasant to look at but provide an important function. Disrupting the surface tension of the water is essential in algae control.  Algae blooms can quickly cover a standing or stagnant body of water.  This especially holds true around golf courses, where larger than usual amounts of phosphorous are being applied.  Phosphorous is the limiting element in aquatic settings, and when in large quantities can lead to rapid algae blooms.  The spray technicians at MCC take special care when applying fertilizer around our ponds and brook. 

To control weed populations, golf courses use dyes.  These dyes (usually blue or black) limit the amount of sunlight that aquatic plants receive.  High populations of weeds and algae can lead to fish kill and sediment build-up at the bottom of ponds (from increased organic matter decomposition).  This build-up can eventually lead to shallower, less appealing bodies of water. 

 

Here at MCC, we take a keen environmental interest in our ponds and water features.  Not only do we want them to be viewed as a benefit to the landscape, but also as healthy, life-supporting systems.

A bit of MCC history

Chick was one of America's golfing greats. He won amateur and professional, national and international championships.  Chick was the 39th golfer elected to the PGA Hall of Fame. We are Honored that Chick served as the Golf Professional  at Meadowbrook Country Club from 1946 - 1960.

 

1935 - The youngest player at age 20 to compete in the U.S. Open

1937 - Won the Michigan Open at Arbor Hills

1939 - Invited to play at the Masters in Augusta GA, as an amateur

1941 - First PGA Tour Victory, Texas Open, which he won in a playoff against Ben Hogan

1942 - Enlisted in the Army-Air Corps. Reserve, was seriously injured in 1945, and discharged in 1946

1946 - Became the Golf Professional at Meadowbrook Country Club

1947 - Made it to the finals of the PGA Championship at Plum Hollow

1949 - Was a member of the US Ryder Cup Team in Scarborough England, his 4-3 victory over opponent Sam King, ensured the Team a victory, which was captained by Ben Hogan

1952 - Made it to the finals of the PGA Championship in Big Spring at Louisville, KY

1954 - Won the PGA Championship at Keller Golf Club in St. Paul Minnesota, against fellow Detroit area Golf Pro, Walter Burkemo

1955 - Named Captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team, he won his only match and led the U.S. to an 8-4 victory at the Thunderbird Golf and Country Club in Palm Springs, CA

In later years Harbert continued to win tournaments, including a wide variety of International Events. Particularly active in advancing the game in the Caribbean and Central American countries. Moreover, Harbert was also known for being the longest hitter of his time; having won 42 official long drive contests. In a contest held in Havana Cuba in 1950, his winning drive measured out at 358 yards!

 

 

The Chick Harbert Tournament

Saturday, June 11th / Tee Times 

at Meadowbrook Country Club

The Art of Syringing Greens

Syringing is a practice used by all golf courses in the heat of summer.  When temperatures spike above 80 degrees, all cool-season turfgrasses (i.e. annual bluegrass, creeping bentgrass) are in danger of heat stress.  The turf will wilt and if temperatures stay hot enough, it will eventually die.  Superintendents have few weapons against heat but the most effective is syringing.

Greens are the most susceptible to high temperatures because of the low mowing height.  With so little biomass the plant cannot sustain the heavy injury that turf at higher mowing heights can withstand.  Also, with the reduced canopy, the soil is more exposed to the atmosphere and can heat up and dry out quicker (putting roots in danger as well).  High temperatures can damage many important tissues and functions within the turf.  The plant has natural defenses towards these events but a green is an unnatural setting.  At this point the maintenance crew has to step in. 

Syringing implies a light application of water to the green surface in its entirety.  It is not an adequate amount of H2O to sustain plant life, but more of an effort to reduce soil and plant tissue temperatures.  Timing is a key factor in deciding when to syringe.   At points during the day when temperatures rise is often when the golfer will see the crew syringing (late morning and mid-afternoon).  This simple yet important process has saved, and will save, numerous greens.  We apologize for the inconvenience it may cause, but know that we would not do it if it were not important. 

Click here for an in-depth USGA Green Section Article regarding handwatering.

ET

ET. ( EVAPO-TRANSPIRATION ) is the measurement of the combined loss of water by evaporation from the soil and transpiration from the plant.  The weather station which is linked to the irrigation software gives us this information .  In the past two months there has been no reason to look at this measurement due to all the rain.  The saturated soil that we have experienced deprives the roots of oxygen and without oxygen the roots decline.  With a shallow root zone and the weather pattern changing to a high pressure system, golf course superintendents will be keeping a close eye on ET and irrigation systems will be used sooner and more frequently than previously thought.
Watering golf course turf is much more difficult than watering your home lawn.  Golfers like a firmer surface for shot-making and further ball roll. Superintendents compensate for this by applying just enough water to keep the turf alive one day at a time.  There is an art to irrigating the golf course but ET measurements have put an exact science to work in respects to course conditions and playability.



Weather Station at MCC - Reports ET



GOLF CARTS

This is the weather we have been waiting for, sunshine and lower humidity.  We are allowing golf carts today, Wednesday June 1^st but we need your help.  The golf course has several wet areas so please follow the painted white line, obey green and white stakes around green complexes and stay on the cart paths on par three’s.  You can make a difference keeping damaged areas to a minimum.

The green staff has been working very hard to get the golf course back in playable shape.  Extra hours have been spent on getting the course mowed, especially rough and fairways. Please be patient and we will have the course looking good by the weekend.

Preventing Root Decline

As some of you might have noticed, certain parts of the fairways are again being aerified.  This time though, our goal is not thatch removal.  The areas that were aerified again are in completely saturated conditions, which if left unchecked could be lethal to the turf in the area. 

100% saturation in soils deprives the roots of oxygen.  O2 is essential for the metabolic process of aerobic respiration, a process that all living cells need to function.  Without oxygen, the roots eventually decline and die, leaving the rest of the plant to the same fate.  Poa annua, a notoriously shallow rooting plant, needs the cool growing season of spring to build up root mass to survive the hotter, drier summer months of July and August. 

By aerifying these wet spots on fairways, we are opening up pathways for gas exchange between the soil and atmosphere.  Oxygen is supplied to the roots and normal growth can occur.  We appreciate the memberships patience with the poor conditions and please know that with drier weather approaching, the courses will be in top shape in no time. 

Teamwork

Golf courses are large pieces of property, with some ranging into the 200-300 acre range.  It is the superintendents and maintenance staffs job to maintain it in its entirety.  However, things will always slip through the cracks.  Here at MCC, that is were Jeff Coleman and the Caddie Program come in. 

Jeff is a major factor in our day-to-day practices.  He provides us with a Tee Sheet which includes all the tee times and who is playing that specific day.  This helps determine our start time in the morning and what we can accomplish before the course becomes too crowded.  During crowded events and dates, Jeff can open up "gaps" for us on the course.   These periods of respite allow us to complete tasks in the middle of a large shotgun.  Also, during adverse conditions, the staff falls behind on cultural practice, such as mowing, and areas can be missed or forgotten. Jeff and his caddies are some of the first to know about problems areas on the course.  They than relay this information to the maintenance staff who can amend the problem.  A textbook example of teamwork.

Meadowbrook CC employs over 280 caddies, with over 125 going out on a single day.  It is one of the top rated programs in the state of Michigan.  Not only are they a nice luxury, but an instrumental part in our maintenance practices.  Jeff, your 25 years of service is well appreciated here at the 'Brook.