Fall Golf Course Projects

There are many work related projects that continue on the golf course during the fall months.  Even though golfers turn in their clubs for their winter coats, the Golf Course Operations staff prepares the course for the coming winter.  Below are a few of the fall tasks that must be completed before the winter cold and snow arrive.  Many of these fall tasks are actually necessary to insure the quality and healthy condition of the turf for next spring and summer. 

           Trees are transplanted
                                             

         New trees are planted

The two new red greens are growing in

The new red greens are fertilized weekly

Covers are put on and removed from the 2 new red greens as temperatures dictate

 

Fairways are aerified to improve drainage and reduce thatch accumulation

Greens are aerified improving drainage & improve

 oxygen exchange

Fairways are topdressed to improve firmness

Topdressing sand is dragged into the turf

Lorrie is putting new plant materials in the patio pots

All beds have been cleaned, trimmed and are ready for spring growth and plantings

The staff is still busy blowing and collecting leaves on the course

The parking lot area is cleaned for the winter

We are busy with cart path repair while the weather permits

Greens, tees and fairways are sprayed with preventative plant protectants to guard against winter disease occurrence when the turf is under the insulation of snow cover.

Disease - Snow Mold   This is why we spray

These are just a few of the tasks the staff does during the fall months.

Enjoy your winter.  We will take care of the course while you are away.

See you in the spring.

Fall Color

Included in this post are fall photos of the golf course and the progress of the two new red greens.
                                    Lorrie has added fall color to the walkway and clubhouse pots

                                                                             

                                                                       

Polly - A little older and grayer but still a grand lady

The golf course is in tremendous condition

2700 trees -  Lots of leaves being mulched and collected

Constant blowing of leaves off of the green's surface

Plenty of leaves to collect around the buildings

Aerification of the fairways is an agronomic necessity.

It relieves golf cart compaction, removes thatch accumulation

and it increases oxygen into the turf root zone

We will increase fairway topdressing which will assist in increasing firmness and dryness to the fairways.  However, you will notice tighter lies in the future.

We have added two new bentgrass chipping areas to the short game green.

This will help distribute the heavy use and numerous divots.

Keep in mind the short game area is mean for chip shots and sand shots.

Longer wedge shots are not encouraged.

We will be putting on and removing the green's covers on the two new red greens on various days depending on the weather forecast. 

The seed is germinating on the new red greens

John is doing the 1st mowing on the new #9 green

Numerous drainage projects are in progress

                                                                                                                                          

The Men Behind the Scenes

The photo below is of the staff members of the Golf Course Management Operation.  These men are the silent, behind the scene, heros of NCC who diligently go about their responsibilites every day  preparing and maintaining the golf course.  Rainfall, freezing temperatures, 100 degree heat and any other inclement weather conditions that Mother Natures challenges us with are just part of what awaits these men when they take to the course at daylight (or before) each morning. 

Rare is the golfer who realizes that prior to their 7:00 am tee off that the 34 men on our staff have already put in 70 man hours of work to begin preparing the course.  175 man hours of preparation will be accomplished on the holes ahead of play before the golfer finishes their round of play.  By the end of an 8 hour day, the men will have work almost 300 total hours to meet their tasks for the day.  During peak periods of extreme heat during summer, as many as 8 to 10 staff members will work an extra 4 or 5 hours of hand watering isolated and stressed turf areas.  Therefore on any given day, counting the hours our staff members do to help Adam with the range, the guys may a total of 400 man hours of work.  Premier golfing conditions do not happen by accident and when there are so many different tasks to do, it becomes even more challenging to provide great turf and yet minimize employee exposure to the golfers.
                                            
These are the men who prepare and maintain the golf course for you.

                                                      
The gentleman below is Gregario Pantoja.  Gregario has been a member of the NCC membership and Golf Course Operations staff for over 20 years.  This will be his last season at Northmoor.   As of late, his main responsibility has been to repair fairway divots.   If you knew more about Gregario, you would be as impressed with him as I am for what he brings to the club each day.  He has not missed a day of work in the 9 years I have been at Northmoor.   He will be retiring in October so if you see him on fairways, steadily repairing divots, please give him a wave and a smile or even a thank you.  It is men like him who make NCC a wonderful golfing venue.

                                                  
Some of you have inquired about Polly's health.  She is now 11 years old.  She has an enlarged heart which causes a fluid build-up in her lungs.  She has visits to the vet to have the fluid drained but she is still lively and enyoys giving the geese a scare.  She is excellent at her job.  When she isn't chasing geese she stays active by rolling her soccer ball.  She is a special member of our team. 

Polly and her ball video

                                                             

Golf Course News

The renovation of the red greens #3 and #9 is complete.  We will open the red course this week.  Temporary greens will be used on these two holes for the remainder of the fall and until early next summer.  You will notice that the two greens 6,000 and  7,000 square feet in size respectively.  The #3 green is almost 1,500 square feet larger in size and #9 is over 2,000 square feet larger in size.  The new bunker located on the left side of #3 green defends approximately 15% of the total surface of the green, leaving the player an approach shot of over 80 % of open green's surface.  The 9th green, larger in size, has two new bunkers on the left of the green but there is a 100% opening in the approach of the green. 

The two new greens are much improved from a player's standpoint.  Both greens have enough contour to offer putts that will be interesting and movement on the putts.  I think you will really like both greens.  Let me know if you would like to ride out and take a look at them.  I will be able to tell the exact design concepts and features that Dr. Hurdzan incorporated into the design.

  #3 Red Green

                                        
   #9 Red Green

 

Below are a few photos of the golf course as we end the summer and approach the fall season.

  Blue #2 Green Complex

                                         
   Blue #5 Green
                                      
  White #3 Fairway

 White #3 Green

                                                                        

Course Update

The heat and drought of the summer of 2012 set 140 year records.  Glad that they are past.  Now that we are past Labor Day, we will turn to implementing some of the agronomic practices and processes that are necessary to help the turf recuperate from the stress of summer heat, heavy golfing play and winter survival measures.  Since the golf course turf is a living entity, it will need the care and attention to bounce back and be ready for the beginning of next season.  Fall aerification, topdressing and fertilization are three of the main necessities that the turf needs. 

We have already done these cultural practices on the red nine while it was closed.  We will begin aerifying the white greens next Monday, September the 17th followed by aerfiying the blue greens on September 24th. 

 The red greens have ben aerified

 The plugs are shoveled to the edge of the green, picked up and removed

  The greens are then topdressed with sand

 The sand is brushed into the holes to take the place of the aerification plugs that were removed

 The holes are filled and leveled
                                    
    The greens are then rolled to smooth the surface

 Lastly, the greens are fertilized with several different products to promote root and shoot growth.
                                        
 The renovation of red greens #3 and #9 is very well.  It is on time and within budget !!!!  Drainage installation, irrigation installation, bunker construction and all rootzone mix and materials have been completed on #3 green.  We will be "floating out" or smoothing the surface in preparation for seeding early next week.  The green will be larger in size, framed by bunkers on the right - left-and back of the green, with a generous opening in the front for approach shots.  The greens is larger and much less sloping than before.

The photo below shows what the drainage system looks like under a USGA green.  This system aids in carrying water away from the rootzone of the green.  Greens dry out quicker resulting in superior putting speeds.

 The photo below is a view from the back of #3 green towards the fairway. The gravel layer has been laid in place and the rootzone mix is beginning to be placed on the green
                                      
The photo below is of the rootzone mix being pushed over the gravel layer

                                                                          

                                                               
The work on #9 green is well under way.  The drainage has been installed.  Gravel and rootzone mixture are already being added to the cavity of the green complex.  The green is now almost 7,000 square feet in size with an open approach to the green.  I think you will find it very fair and enjoyable.  Hopefully we will have the #9 green seeded by the end of next week.
Below - Green's mix is being added to the cavity of #9 red green

     The red course will open for play as soon as the contractors finish their work.  If the weather holds and all goes well, you will be able to play the red course by the end of September.