Follow CCWoodmore on Twitter!

I have been told a number of times that many of you check the Daily Updates portion of the blog whenever you come out to play.  We are now making it even easier to find out what is going on if you can’t get to a computer.  Click on Follow button on the right to follow us on twitter.  We will be tweeting daily updates on course conditions, projects, and upcoming events on a regular basis.  If you don’t have a twitter account, simply go to twitter.com and sign up if you are interested.  Then come back to this page and hit the button.

For those of you who prefer to check the blog, we will still update this on a regular basis as well.

#6/#7 Roughs

I have been asked a number of times what we are doing with the right side of #6 and the left side of #7 (and rightfully so). These out of play areas are being converted to naturalized rough much like the others around the golf course.  These conversions add aesthetic appeal and encourage wildlife on the golf course as well as save us time and money as we do not mow, water, or fertilize these areas.

Rather than simply round up the area on #7, we are harvesting the good sod and using it to improve other areas around the golf course.  If this amount of sod were purchased, it would cost the club nearly $3,000.  When all of the quality turf has been removed, the area on #7 will be killed with a non-selective herbicide and seeded to the same hard fescue blend that has been used around the golf course.  Below are several pictures of this process in different phases:

Area on #7 where we have removed sod

The right rough on #6 has been killed and seeded.  Notice the small lines of turf that are emerging.  #7 will soon resemble this area.

An established naturalized area next to #7 tee.  In time, these other two areas will resemble this.

These naturalized areas play an important role in encouraging wildlife on the golf course.  We ask that if your ball enters any of these areas that you please not take your golf cart in to them.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Verticutting/Topdressing

 

Fairways and approaches have been verticut and topdressed this week.  This process involves mowing the playing surfaces with vertical blades in order to physically remove thatch from the top inch of the turf.  The surfaces were then blown off and lightly topdressed.  The added sand at the surface of the fairways and approaches will improve playability and drainage, as well as result in a healthier stand of turf.

Fairways were completed on Monday and Tuesday and approaches were done on Wednesday.  All of the playing surfaces should be fully healed from this practice in no more than a week.

Busy March

March is usually one of our busiest months of the year, but with the arrival of the early golf season, we have had more to do than ever before.  Besides wrapping up winter projects and prepping the golf course for the playing season, the weather has made it necessary to begin mowing earlier than normal.

Here is brief snapshot what has been happening over the last several weeks:

Plowing drainlines through the 17th green.  This will help remove water from the middle swale and improve the performance of this green moving forward (look for a whole article on this process coming soon).

The aerifiers have not stopped running and will lead to improved plant health this upcoming season.

Adding and re-working sand in the bunkers to improve playability and consistency.

Removed lower limbs on the “the tree” on #17 to improve accessibility to this green.

This one really doesn’t show anything except for the fact that it is really pretty out here at this time of year!

Come on out and see all of the other work that has been completed and is ongoing as we continue to improve the golf course.  Look forward to to seeing you soon!

Reducing Chemical Use

It has been a long-term goal of the Greens Department to have Woodmore registered as an Audubon Certified Cooperative Sanctuary.  The process is extensive and can take several years.  We have completed two stages of the program and were recognized by Audubon International for our efforts in environmental planning and water conservation. 

We recently got our third certification in Chemical Use Reduction and Safety from Audubon International.  This stage required us to make several changes to the operation.  A new chemical storage and loading structure was constructed (see below pictures) to ensure the proper containment of spills and we built a shelter for our maintenance equipment.  Also, our chemical and fertility programs were closely scrutinized and changes were made to make sure we were only using what was absolutely necessary to maintain the golf course up to member standards.

BEFORE-Chemical Storage and Load Area

AFTER-Chemical Storage and Load Area

BEFORE-Equipment Storage

AFTER-Equipment Storage

We now have three of the six certificates required to obtain our full certification and we hope to complete two more this calendar year. These require encouraging a diverse blend of wildlife to inhabit the golf course and maintaining and improving the quality of water on the golf course.  Check back for more updates!