Spring Aerification Update Part IV

Monday March 25th was at one point forecasted to be raining as I chronicled is our previous Spring Aeration Updates. Fortunately the rain forecast stalled and your ready to go GCM staff  aerated all 18 regulation greens as well as the upper putting green before it started raining. Unfortunately  the subsequent 11 days of weather has produced only 1 day of sunshine. The rain that was associated with these 11 dreary days did help push sand downwards into the surface, but  as we all learned in grammar school science class, photosynthesis requires sunlight to make carbohydrate food for plant growth.

#3 Green 10 days out from core aeration on 3/25/19. With some sun, the very visible
holes would be close to covered by now.

Because of this dreariness, I would say the greens are at least a week behind their normal recovery curve. It wont stay dreary forever so as soon as we get some sustained sunlight those aeration holes will grow over. In the mean time we will continue to roll and mow as well as lightly sand topdress the surfaces to produce some semblance of putting quality.

Close up of a green 10 days out from core aeration on 3/25/19.

We were able to get the fairways aerated with solid tines during this period as well as getting them topdressed with sand. The solid tine pattern recovers much quicker and can be done in cloudy, semi wet weather  as opposed to pulling a core which would have required dry weather to both punch and clean up.

As you can see, we can solid tine aerate when it is a little wet. This process recovers much quicker
but does not remove any excess organic matter.

Solid tine aeration pattern. These holes are about 4" deep. You can see that the fairway
height grass almost hides the opening of the hole. Hence the ultra quick recovery
of solid tine aeration.

So as soon as we get some sun the greens will recover from aeration quickly and we can get our putting quality back in short period of time. Thanks as always for your support.

New Golf Course Maintenance Equipment Arrives

We recently received a nice influx of golf course maintenance equipment from Toro at Granite Bay and wanted to share it with our members.  You can probably imagine it takes allot of different types of equipment to maintain a golf course and it all eventually wears out. We have mowers and blowers and rollers and aerifyers, just to name a few. It also takes allot of utility vehicles to move GCM workers, tools and materials around the golf course as well as moving debris and such off the golf course.

New Toro Equipment on display on the circle lawn shortly after arrival

This recent influx of new equipment are primarily replacements for older pieces of equipment giving us more flexibility and backup when we  experience unexpected malfunctions which happens more then we would like. Below are some close-ups and descriptions of the recent pieces of equipment we received for those who are interested.

Toro Triflex greens mower. This is our second  new triplex greens mower that will really help when we want to double cut greens. This mower is used exclusively on the putting surfaces.

Similar to the Toro Triflex above is a Toro 3250 triplex that is primarily used on tee's and approaches. This mower is our third "newer"  utility triplex giving us ultimate flexibility as it can operate attachments for vertical mowing and lightweight rolling.

Toro Heavy Duty Workman. These vehicles are the dump trucks of the golf course. They have the ability run many attachments. This is our fourth  however two of the older ones (10 and 20 years old) are used exclusively for spraying and topdressing leaving us two heavy duty vehicles for hauling heavy loads as we frequently do.

Toro ProForce Turbine Blower. This is our second turbine blower giving us backup flexibility as well as two to use in the fall for leaf removal. They are controlled remotely by the operator via radio.

New Toro Medium Duty Workman with new Toro greens Roller. This medium duty utility vehicle will replace one of our older ones and this new style roller will be our #1  greens roller while our older roller will become a backup. Up till now we have not had a backup for our greens roller which is huge. 

Greg operating the new Toro greens-roller today on #15 green.

Most of our equipment is equipped with wireless hour meters that communicate with our equipment maintenance program called MyTurf. It's basically a cloud based record keeping platform that automatically produces work orders for our mechanics so we can easily keep up on preventive services.

Thanks as always for your support as without it we wouldn't be able to continually upgrade our all important golf course maintenance equipment.

Spring Aerification Update Part III

When I looked at the hourly weather forecast on Saturday morning, I had my doubts that we would be able to aerate greens on Monday 3/25/19 as planned. However when checking again on Sunday I was pleasantly surprised to find the impending storm had pushed to later into the afternoon, and we were just able to get greens 1-18 & Upper PG completed before it started raining. 

The hourly forecast from this AM. Luck of the Irish.

Below is a quick pictorial of the process we just completed. We've provided this step by step pictorial before but for those who might just be starting to follow these updates and are interested, here you go.

First step is to core aerate. This process removes the little core of grass, roots and
associated soil relieving compaction by removing some excess organic matter. These
holes are the avenues that allow much needed air to the root zone of  the putting surface.

 Second step is to remove the cores. We remove the cores with a machine
called a core harvester. This is the machine that allows us to complete
19 to 21 greens in a day.

Core Harvester first lifting, then ejecting cores and soil into the back of a utility vehicle

Third step is to apply sand topdressing. We purchases a very high grade
USGA spec, kiln dried sand  to fill the aeration holes and firm the surface. 

Fourth step for us is another type of aeration called deep tine aeration.
The above mentioned core aeration penetrates to a depth of about 4"
whereas deep tine aeration penetrates up to 8". Even though this process
 does not extract a core it facilitates deep drainage and air deeper in the
root zone hopefully  encouraging deeper rooting.

Fifth step is brushing in the topdressing sand. Since we start this process before sun up,
and even though we use kiln dried sand we normally wait for the morning dew to subside
before we start brushing the topdressing sand into the greens as it brushes in nice when
it is bone dry. Today was a different story as we were racing to beat a rain storm.

#15 green brushed in the dark this AM. A substantial amount of this sand did not
 flow real well into the aeration holes because of the predawn dampness. Good news
is there is close to 2" of rain forecasted for the next three days and that amount of
rainfall will wash allot of this sand into the turf canopy and aeration holes.

Closeup of #16 green that was brushed towards the end of the day today before the
rain started. Much better overall filling of the aeration holes. 

There is still allot of what we call "tweaking" that we do to the greens after this initial aeration to get the holes covered and the surfaces firm, and back to pre-aeration putting quality. These "tweaking" practices include additional lighter topdressing's, fertility applications, seeding, rolling and vertical mowing which helps get the sand into the turf canopy and grass to cover the holes. Weather permitting we can usually get the holes covered in a week to two and back to pre-aeration putting quality in four weeks.

Spring Aerification Update Part II

Our planned putting surface aerification for Monday 3/25/19 is now in jeopardy as the forecast for rainfall has gotten worse. Rather then being sunny and dry on Sunday and dry until the afternoon on Monday, the forecast now is for partly cloudy conditions on Sunday along with off and on showers throughout the day on Monday. Unfortunately, as I stated in the preceding update, this work cannot be done when it is too wet or certainly not in the rain.

Current Weather Underground Forecast

As far as process goes, we are not going to change the process of how we aerate greens because of a setback with spring wet weather. The potential of weather setbacks were always a reality when we moved GBGC's traditional spring aeration dates back to March from April several years ago. Bottom line is we have to take care of the green's and core aerification is one of those necessary procedures that must be done to help ensure  healthy greens during the upcoming Granite Bay summer.

Core Aerfication of #17 Green at GBGC

With fairways, surrounds & rough we can change up our process a little. Rather then coring these areas we can use a solid tine which just pokes a hole in the surface as opposed to removing the core. This "solid-tine cultivation" process can be done when soil moisture levels are higher and require no real cleanup. Therefore we wont need to change our current two week schedule because the solid tine process could be done ahead of golf play and with little disruption of the surface. We relied on solid-tine aeration on the fairways last spring when confronted with the same weather situation.

Solid Tine Aerifyer - Tine Closeup

Solid Tine Cultivation Pattern

So our current plan is to aerate the greens on Monday 3/25/19 as planned if we can. Tuesday 3/26 through Thursday 3/28's current forecast is not much better then Monday. However if it changes we will jump on any opportunity to get the greens done if we couldn't on Monday, or jump on fairways or surrounds if we did. Current forecast is for  clearing on Friday 3/29 through Saturday 3/30 and hopefully that trend will hold. So if we are not able to aerate greens on Monday 3/25/19 or afterwards, we will do it on Monday 4/1/19, one week later. Hopefully.

We will keep you informed of this fluid scheduling scenario. Thanks.

Spring Aerification Update

We are scheduled to start our spring turf aerification this coming week on Monday 3/25/19. Our plan is to aerify greens on Monday when the golf course will be closed, then start on fairways and green surrounds on Tuesday 3/26/19 through Thursday 3/28/19 utilizing alternating front nine and back nine closures. The following week we have the same schedule planned of alternating closures Tuesday 4/2/19 through Thursday 4/4/19 to finish fairways and surrounds.  However it looks like the weather might spoil our plans as none of this work can be done in the rain or when it is too wet.

Current Weather Underground forecast

 We are still planning to move ahead with the greens as it is forecasted to be dry all day Sunday then start raining again later in the day on Monday. This could be a big enough window to get the greens done but as we all know, six day out weather forecasts can change. 

We will keep you informed of all delays and  aeration re-scheduling as we get closer to the end of this week.  Thanks

Spring is in the Air

The Spring Equinox this year is next Wednesday 3/20/19 and will be marked  by a Full Super Moon. Weather forecast for this day is currently cloudy with showers, but we should be able to see this Super Moon the next morning or evening if one is so inclined. This upcoming spring of 2019 was proceeded by one of the wettest winters we have had in 14 years of weather tracking with our GBGC weather station. February of 2019 was the wettest February in 14 years and by all measure's  current Statewide Reservoir Conditions as well as the current Snow Conditions and the reservoir that is nearest and dearest to our hearts, Folsom Reservoir, will all be in good shape for irrigation water this year.

Precipitation Data from GBGC's weather station

Walnut Shell Washouts

Our course actually takes rainfall very well as we are blessed with a topography that allows most of this water to quickly runoff  to our drainage system. Walnut shell areas are a different story as they are unstable and when they wash out,  the native soil becomes exposed and has eroded in may areas along cart paths and turf edges. Our plan is to actually add and compact some decomposed granite in some of these degraded areas prior to refreshing the walnut shells this spring. We are hoping to get this work done concurrently with our upcoming spring aeration.

Walnut shell & soil washout #12 tee

Washout along cart path #2.

Spring Aeration

This years spring aeration is scheduled to start Monday 3/25/19. Current weather forecast is for some rain  ahead of our scheduled start so we keep everyone informed of any schedule changes due to the weather.

Current forecast

Bunker Repair

Fortunately much of the rain that has fallen this winter has been sustained, steady rain with a minimal amount of hard rain events that severely washout our sand traps. Even though we haven't had any severe washouts, it seems like we have been in a state of constant bunker recovery the month of February. Once it dried out this past week we did take a opportunity to do some much needed sod repair around green side bunkers on #1, #4 & #18. We plan to address some more of this work on green side bunkers on #15 next week. 

New sod work green side bunker #4 green

additional sod work # 18 green rear

New Driving Range Mats & Clocks

Last week we upgraded our driving range mats to Turf Hound teeing surfaces. The new mats have better options for hitting off tight lies or a simulated rough cut along with much better options for using a tee. Due to arrive any time are two clocks, one for behind the driving range and another for the #1 tee and practice green. We will install these as soon as they arrive.

Newly installed TurfHound Mats

Similar clock design that will be arriving
to The Club any day

Turf Conversion Project Update

We are currently on track to complete the re-grassing of  the remaining surrounds on the golf course along with #17 fairway with hybrid bermuda starting August 1. The contractor we have selected estimates it will take three weeks to complete the slated work. We will not be completely closed during construction but will be utilizing some temporary greens while working on certain holes and will have to close #17 during parts of the construction process. Much, much more to come.

Conclusion

There will be allot going on at the course this year as we approach spring and commencement of a a turf renovation project later this summer. We will communicate on many fronts from the golf shop daily e-mail blasts as well as the Granite Bay Course Update website. If any member is interested in getting notifications when the Granite Bay Course Update has posted some new information you can "follow by e-mail" in the top right hand corner of the website. My intention is to update more frequently this year as we do have allot going on. Thanks as always for your support.

Hybrid Bermuda Trial Progress

The Winter Solstice this year is on Friday December 21st. The day marks the shortest day of the year, just under 10 hours of sunlight. From this day we add approximately one and a half minutes of sunlight every day until the Summer Solstice in late June. Perhaps a more fitting definition of the winter solstice is mid winter rather then the beginning of winter as many calendars depict because more light will enter our part of the world everyday. And this matters for our golf course turf because the system is a living plant that needs sunlight. 

Long shadows in the afternoon on #12 on 12/13/18, close to Mid Winter

Short Days & Hybrid Bermuda Trials

 And no more is this need for light evident then with our hybrid bermuda trials. The shorter and cooler days have had the expected effect on the trial patches and I am admittedly  overdue providing you with an update. Putting these  trial patches in the middle of landing areas places them right in front of golfers and as the trial patches seasonally change without continued explanation's of what is going on, opinions and speculations can run the gamut.

 So what I would like to do in a few short bullet points to update the facts of where we are currently at with our turf conversion project and the beginning phase of it, our hybrid bermuda trials.

GBGC Trial #12  10/24/18

GBGC Trial #12 12/18/18

"The Project" Phase I - GBGC Hybrid Bermuda Trials

• We are currently still in a trial phase. 

Our turf conversion project is all encompassing. The three main components of which are: 1. The Turf, 2. Soil, 3. Irrigation Enhancements. All of these components require  research, testing and evaluation. We are currently in the process of conducting physical soil analysis with laboratories that specialize in sports turf to determine best method and potential amendments for preparation of the soil for our fairway turf surfaces. It was always our intent to look at the further irrigation changes to our irrigation system so we could independently water fairways completely separately from the rough. A turf conversion is the ideal opportunity to make these further changes. And of course getting the right turf is paramount to a turf conversion. The hybrid bermuda varieties that were only installed seven months ago require  continued evaluation and testing which is exactly what we are doing now.

• Golf Course Playability for our Members has always been the main motivation for this turf conversion plan.  

 The #1 complaint that we have received from members for over 20 years has been summer conditions therefore playability is the driving motivation of a cool to warm season turf conversion at Granite Bay. 50% of all of our golf rounds are played between the months of June and October at precisely the time of the year where our  cool season turf is experiencing acute environmental stress. Most of the months of October and November and sometimes into December we have traditionally been recovering from the impact of summer in one degree or another. Amending our underlying soil structure as mentioned above as well as enhancing irrigation coverage will not change the inherent environmental stress of a Granite Bay Summer on cool season turf. 

• Water cost and availability of irrigation water for golf course turf is a huge, defining issue in California.

If playability is 1A as a motivator for a turf conversion, water availability is 1B. The State of CA is in the process of further establishing water use protocols for all of us and we as managers would be derelict in our duties not to recognize and plan for it. Our current main water issue here at GBGC, besides the water use perceptions of the golf industry in general, is a consistent availability of this resource both now and into the future. This will become even more acute when we have our next water shortage or drought and CA starts telling us all how much and when we can use the water that we all think we have a right to. Cost is not a major issue for GBGC currently due to a great deal made with our water provider 25 years ago, but it is unlikely to remain that way. Hybrid Bermuda can use as much as 40% less water then cool season turf and survive on even less. The same cannot be said for cool season turf. This project has to be about sustainability as well as playability. 

• We chose to observe the trials to go into dormancy without utilizing any methods to mitigate the dormancy aesthetic issues in year one. 

The aesthetics of the Hybrid Bermuda trial patches are different then the surrounding cool season turf.   Now that we are in mid winter, however there are different strategies  that we can employ that will mitigate the completely dormant look. Raising the height of cut in October, using iron  and fertility to mask the dormancy as well as high end timely pigment's are all strategies that are widely used on dormant or off color hybrid bermuda to make it more aesthetically pleasing in the winter. Additionally there is some anecdotal evidence that as the  current sod trials mature their winter hardiness will improve as well. (see below picture) Through mid winter this year we have chosen to observe the trials without employing any of these aesthetic mitigation methods so we could ascertain any significant differences.  We look forward to seeing how quickly the hybrid trials start to regain their color as we start adding a minute and a half of daylight every day starting the end of the week.

The center green patch in this picture taken on 12/18/18 is a patch of Hybrid Bermuda
surrounded by common bermuda at a local golf club. This patch is the same CA hybrid
 variety that we have on #12 and has been on this fairway for 3 years. The GC Superintendent
at this club has extensive experience with common and hybrid bermuda fairways stated  that
the depicted hybrid patch never went completely dormant when compared to the common
bermuda surrounding it, but as it matured has exhibited better winter color every subsequent
year after installation.

Conclusion

Our own trials and research will continue, and because of this there are no more details on the project to share at this time. I will say hybrid bermuda turf conversions are being done and contemplated all over the State of CA including Northern California for the same reasons we are looking at one.  We are not the first golf club to contemplate this conversion and we wont be the last . And at no time of the year will the drastic aesthetic changes of off color hybrid bermuda be more apparent then right now. I understand that there are bound to be valid questions and differing opinions and I apologize for not communicating in a more timely fashion. We want to get it right and do this for the right reasons and we want our Members to be excited, proud and happy to be a part of this great Golf Club. We believe in this project and are willing to make a substantial capitol investment to make it happen. The project has always started with playability but has to be about sustainability as well. And even though many of us are not thinking about it now, I am thinking about it and planning for it all time. And that "it" is Summer.

Thank you!

On behalf of all of the employee partners here at Granite Bay I would like to thank the Granite Bay Membership for their generous contribution to the employee holiday fund. I know the GCM employees have always been surprised and grateful for the extra funds at the Holiday Season. 

Mucho's Gracias y Feliz Navida y Ano Nuevo!