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.

 

Encroachment Collar

Putting surface on the left will be TifEagle. The portion of
the collar in the center that has been killed will be the
TifGrand encroachment collar.

An encroachment collar is used around the green to prevent the perimeter grasses from growing into putting surface. Without managing encroachment, over time the greens can shrink in size or loose their definition. We have chosen to use a 32" band of TifGrand Bermudagrass as the encroachment collar. TifGrand has a dense and primarily upright growth habit without as much horizontal growth as some other grasses. It will separate the TifEagle on the green from the 419 that is on the rest of the green surround. 

 

Maintaining clean lines is made difficult during the grow-in process because fertility and thereby growth rates are so high. Throughout grow-in we will be using a mechanical edger to cut a clean line on both sides of the TifGrand collar. As the greens mature and fertility rates are reduced to normal, the vertical edging will continue as a periodic maintenance task.

 

After a period of years it may be necessary to remove a strip of sod in the encroachment collar and replace it with clean TifGrand to maintain the buffer.