We blew out all the bunkers yesterday then raked them. Today we focused on mowing greens, course set-up, and blowing leaves. This time of year leaf cleanup can become very slow. Right now it’s too wet to get the big blowers on the course. With what looks like a rain-out on the horizon tomorrow, it could be some time before we can get the big blowers back on the course. That also applies to carts. This time of year there is no actively growing grass to suck up some the moisture and with our pottery clay soils, the water doesn’t go anywhere very fast.
In the past, as soon as the Bermuda would go dormant, carts would be restricted to cart paths until spring. Last year was the first year we tried to get carts out on a nice day when it was dry enough. We will do the same this year, but it’s probably not going to be that often because of how wet the course stays in the winter. It’s important to limit cart traffic on dormant grass. If you don’t, it really delays greenup and spring turf conditions aren’t all that great before the turf really starts actively growing. We did see some negative effects in the spring with greenup from running the carts in the grass so much last winter, but I think it’s important to let people off the cart paths in the winter when possible. Hopefully it will keep people playing golf longer and allow members to get the most out of their golf membership.
The greens are looking and playing good. They are not growing much at all this time of year. We’re fertilizing them today before the rain hits tomorrow. This will give them a little bit of a bump going into what looks like some warmer weather next week. It’s a lot easier to keep them rolling good when temps stay above freezing at night. We can’t mow them unless they are thawed and frost free….you have to be careful not to put any equipment on them when they are thawing.
Brent Graham, CGCS
Director of Golf Maintenance
Two Rivers Country Club
1950 Two Rivers Rd.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Office: 757-258-4606
Governorsland.com
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