Why is the driving range surface different from the fairways?

                                         
Why is the turf on the driving range different from the fairways?

The answer is that the fairway turf reaches a state of maturity from many years of growth. 
The range turf never reaches a state of maturity because we seed the divots 2 to 4 times a year depending on how many times we rotate through the range tee.  When we begin the season on the lower level at the front of the tee we rotate back to it in a matter of 4 to 6 weeks.  In that short time, the new seed that we have planted has germinated and begins to grow but it simply has not had time to become dense, thick and mature.  We are constantly hitting on immature turf.  We are re-seeding daily with the most aggressively growing seed variety on the market.  There is no other turf variety that will solve the tight lie issue.

The photo below shows the thatch or pad that accumulates our fairway.  This is a double edge sword.  This pad allows your ball to sit up very nicely allowing you to sweep the ball off the turf.  However, this same "pad" is one of the factors that limits ball roll on your tee shots. 
                                         

That is a layer of organic material (decomposing roots, grass blades, etc.) located below the grass blades and the soil.  It accumulates over time.  Aerification and sand topdressing are measures used to maintain thatch in acceptable levels in the fairways.   Zero thatch control is required on the range turf because the turf never reaches a mature enough state to begin developing this thatch layer.

 The range is very actively used.

The photo below is of a cross section of the range tee turf.  Notice there is no thatch or pad layer so the leaf blades are directly on thop of the soil.  This would be representative of laying carpet in your home directly onto the concrete foundation without installing a layer of padding under the carpet. 

    Below shows the condition of the range tee before the renovation. 

   This is the condition of the range

tee following the renovation

 This photo shows how much of a small area of the range tee is displaced during a single day of hitting.  It willl take this area 6 to 8 weeks to germinate, grow and begin to fill in.  It would take several years for this area to mature and become dense like a fairway.  However, we rotate the tee back to this same spot 2 to 4 times a year so the young turf is barely growing when we are hitting off of it again.  It simply never has time to reach maturity. 

This photo shows a complete row of used turf during a single day.  It takes 6 to 8
 weeks for this area to cover again.                                                

                                       

What a Difference A Year Makes

No two years on a golf course are ever the same.  We only have to look back to last year to confirm this fact.  We all like to control as many situations in our lives as possible but we have no control over the weather and how it affects a golf course.  We have a high degree of control over many functions and areas of the club.  For example, indoor dining, golf shop shopping, clubhouse parties, etc are all indoor functions that can proceed without a "hitch" because they are held indoors.  The golf course is different.  It is a outdoor living entity that is significantly influenced by sudden and extreme weather conditions.  Course conditions change not only year to year but can change day to day depending on the weather.
Below are some examples of the extremes in weather from 2012 to 2013. 

Last year at this time it was pushing 100 degrees for extended periods
                                                            

This year temperatures are in the 60s on the 1st of July.  Members are still wearing jackets
                                                         
                                            
                                             2012 Headlines

Emergency drought aid expands as Midwest bakes!!!!!!!!!

US Drought Disaster Worst In Over 50 Years


Forecast: More Heat, More Drought

The 2012 drought disaster is now the largest in over 50 years, and among the ten largest of the past century, according to a new report released by the National Climatic Data Center today.
The current drought actually covers more area than the famous 1936 drought, though other droughts in the Dust Bowl years – particularly the extreme drought of 1934 – still rank higher
 Heat Wave Smashes Records as Drought ExpandsThe heat wave continues! O'Hare's hit 103, Midway 102. The heat's to run thru Sat AM. Afternoon temps are within striking distance of Chicago's all-time record hi of 105 set July 24, 1934. It's the 2nd day in which century old temp records have fallen.

Wednesday's record-tying 102-degree high, the hottest July 4 temperature here in nearly a century, appears only the opening act of an intense heat wave which still has several days to run.

The 102-degree peak reading marked only the second time in 142 years an Independence Day has recorded a triple digit temperature here

Photos of the effects that the record setting heat and drought had on the golf course in 2012

NCC 2012

NCC 2012

                                                               

2013 Weather Headlines

Wednesday morning’s deluge is just the latest to hit portions of the Greater Chicago area in a year which has been producing precipitation at a record rate. There hasn’t been a single year since official weather records began 142 years ago in 1871 which has produced a year-to-date precipitation tally greater than the 27.54" currently on the books

Month’s rainfall running at 12 times last June’s pace; 2013′s precipitation tally remains the heaviest of any on record in the past 142 years
From a 140 year drought last summer to 140 year rainfall records this year

NCC golf course flooding

Chicago flooding

                                     

                                     

Red Greens and Merion GC

As recently as yesterday, NCC members were playing golf in coats.  The 55 to 65 degree temperatures here on the lake really slow the growth of our two new greens. We need warm weather for the two new greens on red to get going.   Daytime temperatures need to be in the mid to high 80s for several weeks to stimulate growth.

   June 12th and NCC members are still in fall and winter attire.    

Below is a photo of #3 red green.  We have sodded and plugged the green in some of the thinner areas and once we get the warm weather, the green will be ready to open 2 to 4 weeks after that.  There thinner areas are around the edges of the green's surface here on #3 green but the interior of the green is doing good. 
                                               

The photo below is of the volunteer workers cleaning up after the thunderstorm at Merion GC two days ago.  This type of effort happens at many courses around the country, including NCC, before members ever get to the first tee.  It doesn't look like this year's US Open will be firm and fast.  Superintendent Matt Shaffer and his staff will have the course shining by the time the golfers tee off in the US Open.  Literally thousands of man hours go into turning a mess like this into a US Open quality venue.  There are 10 workers on this hole alone. 

New Red Greens

Now that the weather is cooperating, the turf on the new #3 and #9 red greens is beginning to react as anticipated.  Sunshine and warmer temperatures are just what the new turf needs to establish quickly. 
We are still hoping for a late June opening but the final opening date will depend on the weather.  Every agronomic practice is being implemented to expedite the turf establishment to a stage where the new young turf can withstand mowing, golfer and foot traffic. 

                                            #3 Red Green

#9 Red Green

New seed is germinating in the bare areas

                Larger thin areas on the greens are
                 being plugged and sodded
                                          

Fairway Firmness

The playing conditions of the golf courses located on the North Shore of Chicago vary greatly at times from the conditions you may find on courses in the Southern and Western parts of Chicagoland.  Areas away from the lake are generally drier, warmer and have more wind.  There is a lake affect that influences the temperatures and climate for those courses located in close proximity to Lake Michigan.  Generally, the temperatures are cooler and moister and exposed to less winds.  Therefore, you will not see the hard and very dry course conditions that you might find elsewhere.

In an effort to keep our fairways as dry as possible while ensuring their health, we are increasing a number of agronomic practices and programs.  In the past, the directive and intent was to have more of a pad under the surface of the fairways so that golfers could "sweep" the ball more.  However, this results in a more padded turf offering less roll.  For this season, we will be:

1. Topdressing the fairways & green's approaches more frequently with sand to reduce the padded layer that may result in more roll in the coming years.  This process does not happen overnite. 

2. Brushing the fairways more so the turf will stand up straighter and not lay over as much. 

3.  Verticle mow the fairways to promote a more upright growth pattern.

4.  Watering by hand as much as possible so that we apply water to exactly those areas on the fairways where the turf is drying out significantly or wilting. 

5. Mowing at a lower cutting height.  This will result in a tighter lie but potentially more roll. 

6.  Cross cutting the fairways at a 90 degree angle assists in reducing grain and aides in producing an upright growth of the turf.

7. Aerifying fairways more to remove the "thatch and pad" that we have intentionally allowed to form. 

7.

The quest for firmness will result in some discoloration of the turf as the plant is deprived of adeqate moisture.

Each of the above factors contributes to firmer fairways in a particular way.  The fairway conditions will not change drastically in a single season.  It will take several years or more to make the transition and even then, weather will play a significant role in our fairway condition.  I can implement a number of agronomic changes but the weather and the existing soil conditons are the main influences.  The heavy clay soils that we have on the property exhibit the properties of going from being totally saturated and wet to hard and dray in a matter of days.  When they do become very dry, resulting in turf wilt.  This is why you will see the staff hand watering certain areas. 

The photo below exhibits the significat impact that weather has on course playing conditions. 
We had 7 inches of rain in the month of April.  It rained 10 days out of the month with cool temperatures.

During cooler and wet periods, it takes weeks for the course to dry.

Spring Aerification

Following the US Open Qualifier on Monday of this week, the greens on all three nines were aerified and topdressed.  We used smaller aerification tines so the holes would heal quicker.  We also topdressed the holes with sand to the very top of the holes to expedite turf coverage.  With a bit of warm weather and sunshine, the holes should heal quickly.

April 2012 to April 2013.  How different the weather has affected the golf course.
The recent storms have impacted the golf course to a significant degree.  It has rained 8 of the last 11 days.  Yesterday it rained over 5 inches at the club.  We have had 7 inches of rain for the month. This is double the normal April rainfall amount.  Below are a few photos of the damage and the impact of the storms.

No two years are ever the same in managing the playing conditions of a golf course.  Weather conditions are the most impacting influence on the golf course here at NCC.  We have no control over the weather.  We do adjust to the varying and extreme conditions to protect the turf and prepare it for as high a quality as possible for the membership.

Last March and April we already had 80 degree days, very dry and windy.  The staff was having to hand water areas on the turf to prevent wilting.

                               Temperatures in March of 2012

Wilting turf in March

Staff watering dry spots in fairways in April of 2012

Staff syringing greens in the hot temperatures of April 2012

                                Cart path flooding and erosion

#4 white fairway is flooded

Trees have fallen

                                          Widespread flooding

 Red #8 fairway is flooded from the canal

Bunkers slopes have washed

The staff is removing standing water from the fairways