Golf Course Update...

This past week proved to be rather productive. We completed our greens topdressing and solid tining on schedule. We also managed to install the burlap bags in the fairway bunker on #17, again to create a bullnosed edge that will hold up to the test of time. The wet weather has made mowing difficult, we are trying to get a couple last mowings on our fairways and tees before we apply our snow mould protection and late fall fertilizer. This week looks promising to complete the last mowings of all the short stuff. Greens will be mowed today (Saturday) and again on Monday. Following the mowing on Monday, we will be applying another healthy application of topdressing sand on greens and approaches. Once the sand settles into the turf canopy we will be applying our snow mould protection to greens as well as some late season magnesium and manganese fertilizers. Once we close the golf course, we will be applying our dormant fertilizer to greens. On Tuesday and Wednesday we will be winterizing the irrigation system. This takes us about a day and a half as we also winterize the halfway house, course washroom and range shack. The pictures above show our work on greens this past week. the rain that we recieved on Tuesday night worked the sand in nicely, making room for some more this week....

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The Practice Range Tee

Last fall we utilized a “new to us” method of revitilization for our practice tee. Our contractor TDS, fraize mowed the surface of the tee to remove organic matter as well at to aid in leveling. The tee was then aerified and seeded to a new variety of creeping rye grass. We chose this type of turf grass as research shows rapid recovery and a low growth habit. We were able to get some great growth in the fall, but the tee is still not ready for traffic and full use. The plan is to utilize the mats until growth has filled in some of the voids etc. We will then begin to slowly set up hitting areas on the grass tee. For a while we will alternate between grass and the mats with a 50/50 ratio of use. Once the grass tee is established and is in adequate recovery mode, the practice areas will be back to normal. As always our membership’s patience is appreciated as we try to improve these areas for use.

Cultural Greens Maintenance...

With the cooler temperatures this week, we will be performing some all important greens maintenance procedures. Monday evening (after the outside event) we will be doing a light grooming on both our greens and collars. This task will help to reduce the amount of lateral growth, therefore standing up the plants (for a better cut) and smoothing out the surfaces. Following the grooming we will be dry mowing all areas tonight to help clean up the debris. Tuesday morning we will be applying our biweekly light topdressing prior to play. Once the sand has dried, we will use our cocoa matt to drag the sand into both the canopy and the shallow grooming channels created by tonight's procedure. These practices in conjunction help to create a smooth, firm and healthy surface to putt on.

Greens Cultural Management Practices Schedule

The fall is a great time to perform a number of necessary cultural practices. Our goal is to amend the upper portion of the greens surface with enough sand to help insulate the crown through the winter as well as removing and diluting organic matter. Below you will find a schedule of cultural practices that we aim to complete before the covers go on and the snow flies!!! Wednesday, Sept. 30th- Light topdressing followed by a Cocoa matt Tuesday, Wednesday October 13/14-Course Closure full core aeration with heavy topdressing. October 19th- Light topdressing followed by a Cocoa matt October 26th- Light topdressing followed by a Cocoa matt November 2nd- Light topdressing followed by a Cocoa matt November 9th- Deep Verticut, followed by a sufficient topdressing. November 16th- Post Course Closure, Heavy topdressing followed by Deep tine aeration. Of course this is all in hope that the weather cooperates...happy fall!

HIGHLAND CC GROUNDS

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