Winter prep

We mowed greens again today.  This recent warmer weather has got the greens growing a little.  We don't mow greens everyday in the winter, especially with the heavy frost in the morning.  If you mow them too much this time of year it can really beat the Bermuda collars up.

Also, we change cups after about 40 rounds.  So days that we are not that busy, we will let them stay for a day or two.  

Bunkers we get to on days when we are not mowing greens.  All the seasonal staff is gone this time of year, and we are down to the bare minimum.

Leaf season is here.  The course was completely clean by the end of the day yesterday, and today it looks like we haven't touched a thing.  On windy days, it's almost pointless to send out the blowers.

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Drainage

More and more drainage  

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Projects

We have been trying to knock out some projects before most of the staff leaves for the winter.  we have installed new irrigation to #13 red tee, and completed a drainage project on 12 fairway.  I would like to complete some more drainage projects in the next week or so as long as the weather works with us a little.

You might have noticed the green fairways.  We still have a few more to finish, but we are almost done.  A heavy frost on Sunday has sent the Bermuda into quick dormancy.

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Leaves

And so it begins........

I don't like the leaves of leaf season, but I do love the temperatures.  Not a whole lot of places to blow leaves on the course with all the houses. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Greens and rain

The greens have been a little thin and wet since member guest week. All this rain has been suffocating them. For this reason, we punched them with a knife tine last week and topdressed them today. I'm going to leave the fans on for a day or so to help them dry down. We have had some unseasonably warm, humid nights for this time of year. It was nice to see the sun today and it should help start drying things out. 

Hopefully Mathiew misses us and we get some time with some dry golf weather. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Course green up

Course looks pretty good now after all this rain. Really wet, but I'm glad we got some rein the last 2 weeks. We don't like the Bermuda to go into fall dormancy too dry. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Wet

Almost 5" in the last 48 hrs. Subair is rolling. Week of Member Guest....not exactly ideal. We are mowing greens every day and trying to keep speed. Greens are thinned out and full of algae. Need the sun and wind for a few days. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Busy time of year.

We are watering in our fall pre-emerg and a fungicide for spring dead spot. We are upon one of our busiest times of year. 

We need some rain!

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Rain

We need this. Hope it hits us. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Greens

Greens look good after aeration. They should heal up really fast and be great this fall. 

I'm just glad the fans are finally off. The golf course sounds quiet again. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Weather

It's been really nice to get a little break in the weather lately.  Lows have been in the mid to low 60's. This has been nice to help the greens recover a little. 

The temps look like they are going right back up. The never ending summer of 2016. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Greens

The greens look really healthy. There are a lot of courses throughout Virginia struggling with Turf loss right now. Wet, hot years like this is when we see the true payoff of the greens reconstruction in 2012. 

Even though the high temps have come down a little, we truly won't see a break until the night time lows come down a little. They are consistently in the mid to high 70's. Once these temps start coming down into the low 70's and high 60's we will start to step on the gas again with lower mowing heights, grooming, brushing and rolling. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Greens

The greens looked like complete crap yesterday after all that rain. To the point I didn't sleep very well last night. This morning they look 100% better. It's amazing what a little wind, air movement, North wind, and cooler temps can do.  I feel a lot better this morning. That's why we like it dry in the summer. We can control that water that way. You can put it down but you can't take it away. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Greens

The greens are in the best shape I've ever seen them at point in July (knocking on wood).  Even with the extremely hot July.

I think a lot of it has to do with our early core aerations.  This spring we cored them and it seemed like as soon as they healed we cored them again. We are now seeing the results of that work.  

As of right now....I think we are going to just solid tine and topdress them end of August keeping everything rolling good throughout September, then come back with a small coring time end of October once we are through the meat of tournament season. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Weather

Greens holding in there and August is almost here. Couple more weeks and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

The guys have been working some long, miserable hours.  If you see the guys out there watering or working tell them how much you appreciate them. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Winner

Lynda McNitt won the sleeve of balls. 

The correct answer is traffic. All the answers are important but making sure that the pins are in good healthy locations, and we rope any walk ons that are beginning to show stress is essential. One day of heavy play in a location on the green that is already stressed can send that area over the edge. This is one of the reasons we get a little "creative" with pin locations this time of year. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Free sleeve of pro-v1

First person to email me with the correct answer wins a sleeve of pro-v1 balls. 

Which is the most important factor (here at TRCC) when it comes to stress management and Turf health on greens this time of year?

A.) Heat

B.) Moisture/irrigation/rain

C.) Fungicide Program 

D.) Traffic management - both foot and mechanical. 

I like this question because you can't find it on Google.  They're all important and vital to the health of the green but one is most important this time of year. 

The picture of #6 green is provided as a hint....especially those of you that played on Saturday. 

Good luck

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Not fun

The next 15 days don't really look that inviting. Highs in the mid to high 90's and lows in the mid 70's.  Greens are starting to struggle a little bit. All this rain and hot, humid weather is catching up with us. 

If you see some new, interesting, and somewhat questionable pins.....we are just trying to keep the pins away from the weaker areas. Managing traffic is essential this time of year. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Greens

I'm glad we dodged morning showers today they were calling for yesterday. With this heat it's ideal to be able to control moisture. You can put water down...you can't take it away. 

Some of the greens have a hint of white in some of the low areas. This is a high rate of fungicide that I put down end of last week. We had some black algae working in low areas (normal for this time of year during wet periods).  The white areas are where the fungicide dries out the algae and the white residue remains. 

The greens look great for this time of year (knocking hard on wood), they are a little slow, but you have to be careful in this location with the upcoming heat.  You have to manage all the greens at a level you would to maintain grass on your 6 worst greens. If all the greens were wide open and on the river, we would be much more aggressive with them. You just can't have the open greens (16, 17, 18, pg, 1 4, 9) rolling faster than the others. Consistent speeds throughout the course is the goal.

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Pond 16

These flowers in the pond on 16 are ready to explode. One of my favorite holes from the tee anywhere when in bloom. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Traffic

The effects of foot traffic on grass.  Can you tell where the buffet line was for 4th of July?

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Bunker edges

Working on some Bunker edges, among other things, since it is too wet to mow today. Looks great. The sand builds up over the years and on the shaded lips, no grass will grow. 

I have some more I would like to do on 12 and 14 next. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Greens and weather

The greens look good but are very wet. All this rain and temps rising near 100 this week are a little concerning. I don't mind the heat, but when it is this wet before the heat, bent grass roots just boil under those conditions. 

We are going to start venting with needle tines in the morning. It's important to keep air flow down into the root zone with growing conditions like these. 

Just got to hold on for the next couple of weeks. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Greens and weather

The greens look good but are very wet. All this rain and temps rising near 100 this week are a little concerning. I don't mind the heat, but when it is this wet before the heat, bent grass roots just boil under those conditions. 

We are going to start venting with needle tines in the morning. It's important to keep air flow down into the root zone with growing conditions like these. 

Just got to hold on for the next couple of weeks. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

The unfortunate aftermath

Verticutting fairways on a course with houses isn't fun. Where there is no where to blow into woods, you have to pick it up. No Bueno. 

We are still working on finishing fairways. Hopefully the rain will hold off this week so we can get all this stuff done. The boys put in a 14 hr day today trying to finish as much as we can while the weather is good and dry. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Finished product from a far.

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

After topdressing

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Verticutter

Time to invest in a new verticutter and retire the dinosaur. Definitely on my wish list for 2017. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

The unfortunate aftermath

Verticutting fairways on a course with houses isn't fun. Where there is no where to blow into woods, you have to pick it up. No Bueno. 

We are still working on finishing fairways. Hopefully the rain will hold off this week so we can get all this stuff done. The boys put in a 14 hr day today trying to finish as much as we can while the weather is good and dry. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Weather

64 this am. I hope this continues......I know it won't, but I'll take it as long as we can get it. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Fairways

We will start verticutting and topdressing Fairways tomorrow. The could sure use it.  They are getting a little scalpy and puffy. 

Should be done by Wednesday. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

#12

I think that #12 is one of the best looking holes we have....especially in the evening. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Good reading on greens.

http://www.usga.org/course-care/forethegolfer/why-can-t-green-speeds-remain-constant-.html

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Pond on 1.

It's starting to look better. Purple blooms give it a good look. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Green density

Green density is good but should get better once we are completely out of the sand and recovered from aeration. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Greens

Greens are still healing over from the last core aeration (don't worry..the next one won't be for a while).  It's only been 14 days, but they are a hair slower recovering that I would like. The are under regulation and you have to be careful about over fertilizing this time of year. You want the plant preparing its self for summer stresses, not pushing out a bunch of top growth. Although the recovery has been. Little on the slow side, the greens have been firm, fast and relatively smooth. They should start to soften up a little now that we are getting into some more humidity. 

Overall, I think we are in good shape heading into the meat of the summer heat. They should be completely healed in this time next week. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Stuck in outbox

A few of these emails were stuck im my outbox. Sorry. Here they are. 

The tree was rotting at the base and had scales all over it. I decided it would be a good place for improvement.  Before pic. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Rain

No mas........enough is enough. The last month we dry up long enough to cram all the mowing in 2 days before it starts pouring again. Makes a mess and drives me crazy. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Green bermuda

Nice to have a week of warmer temps. The Bermuda is finally waking up. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Tree at proshop

The tree u as rotting at the base and had scales all over it. I decided it would be a good place for improvement.  Before pic. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Bunker work.

Doing some Bunker work on 16 and 17 today. We lost a lot of sand from the wind a month ago and all the recent washout. Hopefully the rain will miss us the next few days. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

After pic.

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Getting caught up

Late night mowing on a Sunday after 6.5" of rain this week. #balinghay.  Good thing I have an understanding wife on mothers day. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Rain

Another 0.5" last night. I hope it will stop soon. We need to mow some grass. It's gonna be a mess with clippings when it dries out enough to get out there. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Bunkers are waxed

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Here it comes.

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Anti-production clouds.

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Mowing no mows

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606

Afternoon work.

Tryied to get some grass mown after the Monday outing. We got one hole mown and 3 greens mown before things opened up. No Bueno. 

Brent Graham, CGCS

Two Rivers Country Club

1950 Two Rivers Rd 

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office: 757-258-4606