Cultural Programs

Weekly topdressing application

The new TifEagle putting surfaces require more cultural programs than the old TifDwarf. This includes grooming, slicing, vertical mowing and topdressing. The most intensive schedule is maintained during the peak growing period but practices will still be taking place throughout the year.

Sand particles help control thatch and increase green speed

Care will be taken to schedule activities at a time that creates the least inference with golf play however with the weather to deal with, no schedule can over be set in stone.

Edging of Encroachment Collar

Testing the reciprocating edger

We'll begin edging the encroachment collar for the first time this week. The collar is intended to limit encroachment of grass onto and off of the putting surface. Periodic edging will help to control the spreading and extend the useful life of the collar.

New Tool for Green's Managment

New power brush
attachment

Thatch management and surface grooming are important to maintaining high quality putting surfaces  but are even more important with Ultradwarf grasses like TifEagle. To help groom the surface, power brushes are being installed on the walk mowers. These brushes will help stand the turf up in front of the mower to achieve a tighter cut and minimize overlapping leaf blades.

Regular brushing will help maintain fast green speeds and control grain. As the turf matures, we'll be able to be more aggressive with this program and increase green speeds. It will take some time to reach maturity and you can expect green speeds to be conservative throughout this fall and winter.  



Testing and adjusting the new attachment

Major Rain Event

Drainage ditches overflowing left of #1 green

Preparations for reopening were interrupted by three consecutive days of rains. Total rainfall of 4.5" was recorded this past weekend and over 8" since August 22nd. The heavy rain caused washouts in bunkers as well as washed newly laid mulch and created lots of leaves and debris throughout the course.

More importantly it caused a flush of growth and coupled with delaying our mowing cycles, there is now a lot of scalping of turf on greens, tees, fairways and in the rough. All of this will grow out of course but will certainly impact the aesthetics of the course in the near term.

Drainage #13

Upon investigating a wet spot on the front of #13 we found that the entire green complex drainage ended in a crude drywell behind the retaining wall. The water was expected to drain down through the wall. With age and contamination of the gravel, the system failed.

 

In order to correct the problem, we have run the pipe through the wall so that it empties directly into the pond. This simple fix will function well for many years to come.

Week Seven

Over the past week, the TifGrand collars have rooted well and the hand watering requirements have lessened. Aerification and topdressing of greens is done and the recovery is going great. Mowing heights have continued to be lowered on greens and collars. A heavy topdressing was applied to collars are well.

Lime Application

A lime application has been completed. In 2009 when IGM took over maintenance responsibility, the pH throughout the course was not in the optimum range. Through diligent testing and management the soil health including pH has been improved. The overall improvement in turf health shows this as well.

Greens Aerification

Aerification of greens has been completed. Thatch management of TifEagle is necessary to maintaining a high quality playing surface. Turf professionals don't enjoy this process any more than golfers do but it is a critical part of turf health and sustainability.

Week Six

Progress continues and its starting to look like a golf course again...

Mowing TifGrand Collars

The dense, TifGrand sod creating the encroachment collar is proving to be a challenge to mow down to height. In addition to successively lower heights, regular topdressing will take place.

Bunker Work Underway

With the sod work at number seven green and encroachment collars complete, focus can be turned to completing this year's bunker re-nourishment program. A focus this year is to better control water flow into and around the bunkers at number fifteen green which has caused erosion and contamination. The erosion problem on number sixteen will also be addressed as well as improving the edges and contour of number seventeen.

Number Seven Green Surround & Encroachment Collars

The rough at both the right side and back left corner of number seven green has been graded and sodded.

All of the TifGrand encroachment collars have been sodded as well. Number seven collar has rooted well enough to get its first mowing. It will take some time to get mowing heights down to our target height. Regular topdressing will also be needed to create a smooth, consistent transition onto the putting green.

Week Four

Mowing height has been further reduced with vertical mowing, spiking, topdressing and rolling continuing as scheduled. Though pretty slow, the greens are rolling pretty smooth.

Week Three

Great progress continues. Irrigation cycles have been reduced but the fertility levels remain high. Work on encroachment collars will begin next week.

Smile Drains

Extensive addition to #9

Because of heavy soils and little elevation change, maintaining sufficient drainage at Brays Island is a challenge throughout the course. To address specific problem on the low side of greens we have installed several "smile" drains during the regressing project. They are called this simply because of there shape and resemblance to a smile.

Water moving from green profile into trench line

Numbers three, six, eight and nine have been done this summer and five, six and eighteen in prior seasons. We plan to install a drain at number eleven green next week.

 

Why Aerify?

Aerification of tees has been completed and approaches have begun. Fairways and rough are ongoing as well. Like so many things, the quality of a good turfgrass is more than "skin" deep. In fact, the condition of the turf has a lot to do with what goes on below the surface. In order to keep grass growing at low mowing heights you have to have deep, healthy roots. Good roots demand oxygen. In good soil, they get the oxygen from tiny pockets of air trapped between soil and sand particles.

Over time, the traffic and maintenance equipment tends to compact the soil under the surface - particularly when the soil contains a lot of clay like at Brays Island. When soil becomes compacted, the air pockets on which the roots depend are crushed, and the roots are essentially left gasping for air. Without oxygen, the grass plants will wither and die.

Aerification is a mechanical process that creates more air space in the soil and promotes deeper rooting, thus helping the grass plants stay healthy. In most cases, it's done by removing cores. On greens, the spaces are then filled with sand "topdressing" that helps the soil retain air space and makes it easier for roots to grow downward. On other areas of the course, the holes are simply left open and air exchange is unimpeded for as long as the holes stay open. Other aerification techniques use machines like the Planet Aire with "tines" or knives that simply poke holes through the soil profile.

The bottom line is that aerification is a necessary practice and we will always make every effort to minimize the disruption to Owners' golf experience at Brays Island. Keep in mind though that done properly, some of the best playing conditions and truest ball roll can be found immediately after aerification is completed. Don't let the visual appearance fool you.

Spiking & Rolling

Greens are being spiked and rolled this morning. Spiking is a light form of cultivation intended to break up the soil surface.

Aerification of the tees also began this morning. We are using the course closer to be aggressive with this process. Aerification will be ongoing throughout the remainder of the summer season.

Tee aerification underway

Rain: Good for Greens - Bad for the Rest of the Course

Bare soil surrounding green represents the encroachment
collar which will be sodded mid-July with TifGrand

All the rain the course has received over the past two and a half weeks has been good for the grow-in of the new greens. On the other hand, the rain has made completing regular mowing and other  maintenance tasks a real challenge.

Mowing heights are being slowly reduced

In the planning stages of the greens regressing project we anticipated being able to keep the course dry through the summer which with the help of chemical growth regulators would reduced the mowing requirement. The time saved from mowing and a handful of other tasks was needed in the initial, labor intensive parts of the project. The weather has negated any potential savings and our crew has had to work incredibly hard to overcome this hurdle. 

Density and texture improving almost daily

In addition to mowing, the rain has made weed control extra difficult. The summer season is always a challenge at Brays Island but especially so this year. Perennial problems like sedge thrives in the wet conditions we have experienced. The regular rains are now impeding the application of herbicides to control this and other weeds.

With about eight weeks remaining until the course reopens, our focus is now split between establishing new turf on the greens and preparing the course for play at the level expected at Brays Island.

Vertical Mowing & Topdressing

With turf coverage reaching the 80% threshold, the first vertical mowing (or verticutting) was completed today. Afterward, topdressing was applied as well as a granular wetting agent to help manage moisture content of the soil profile. Vertical mowing and topdressing are important in order to achieve a quality putting surface and manage thatch build-up.  

Week Two

The second mowing has been completed as the greens reach the 14 day mark. The turf looks great and the process is progressing very well.

First Mowing

Establishment of the sprigs has progressed well despite some challenges from some heavy rain and thunderstorms. Today, the first mowing on the greens was completed. We will continue to lower heights and intensify maintenance practices to create a top quality playing surface.

Even though the greens will soon look fully established, great caution must be taken with respect to mowing heights and green speed until they are fully mature. This will take at least one more growing season to ensure that the turf has a base strong enough to handle the added stress that low heights provide.

Week One

After one week, the sprigs have tacked down with signs on rooting and top growth. Recent rains and  wet weather have caused some problems on numbers six and nine. Work is being done on both greens and additional sprigs will be laid as needed.

Rolling Greens

Rolling number two green

We began rolling greens for the first time yesterday and will finish the remaining greens today. Rolling helps keep the sprigs in contact with the soil as well as help provide a smooth the surface.

 

A brief rain storm caused some minor washing of the sprigs on several greens. Movement of sprigs is a concern until they root down. We'll redistribute the sprigs and hand topdress areas as needed when this occurs.



Washing of sprigs on number nine

Sprigging Underway

Hand sprigging of the putting green

Hand sprigging of the TifEagle Bermudagrass began this morning and should be competed by the end of the day on Thursday. Once the sprigs are laid and pressed down, sand is applied. The greens must then be keep moist throughout the establishment process.

We were originally scheduled to sprig on Thursday and Friday but because things had gone so well during other stages of the project, we were able to move it up one day.

Fumigation Process Time-Lapse Video

The video below shows that fumigation process for number fifteen green in time-lapse video at 20 times speed. The steps include:

1. Laying out tubing to carry gas evenly throughout the area
2. Covering the area with plastic while sealing the seems and the edges
3. Pump gas under the plastic and distribute

Remember to stay clear of the plastic and keep your pets away as well.

Fumigation of Greens

As a reminder, fumigation of all putting greens is currently taking place. Please stay completely clear of the tarps that have been installed and be sure to keep pets from those areas as well.

The product being used is Methyl Bromide. It will be contained under the sealed tarps and will become inert in the soil. After a few days, the tarps can be safely removed. This is an important step in the regressing process as it kills weed seeds, insects, nematodes and any remaining vegetation.

Wall-to-Wall Fertilizer Application

Spreader truck on #12

To take full advantage of the course closure, a wall-to-wall organic fertilizer application was completed yesterday. A total of 88,000 pounds was spread throughout the course.

Deep Tine Aerification Complete

Deep tine aerification has been completed on all the greens using a 12" long tine. This work requires specialized equipment and was contracted to Harmon Turf Services (HTS) of Hillsville, Virginia. HTS has been an IGM Preferred Contractor for almost 15 years.

 

Deep tine aerification will help with water penetration as well as improve air and gas exchange in the root zone. Air and gas exchange is important to have healthy turf but will also allow the soil fumigant to penetrate as deeply as possible.