The Project at GBGC Update #24

We are just at six weeks since the conclusion of sodding #17 fairway and the fairway itself is ready for golf activities but the surrounding rough  was pretty worked over during the construction process and until recently was not ready for golf. We decided to remedy the most  damaged and trafficked part of the holes rough with sod this week so we can open the hole and you can start playing 18 holes of golf.

#17 fairway on Friday 9/13/19. 

Therefore this coming Tuesday 9/17/19 we are going to open #17 with prefered lies and cart path only, only seven weeks after the first phase of sod was installed. We are playing preferred lies throughout the course anyway because of ongoing aeration and overseeding and the need to keep these areas wet for seed germination. Cart path only on the hole is prudent because the new sod adjacent to the cart path will only be a few days old on opening day and the rough on the left hand side of the fairway still needs some growing time.

New sod installed along the cart path on Friday 9/13/19

We still have some work to do such as adding new yardage markers that have not yet arrived, adding sand to the bunkers and continuing sand topdressing of the surface. Remember all of the hybrid bermuda turf we installed just weeks ago is still very immature and does not resemble a seasoned hybrid bermuda playing surface yet and likely won't until next year. However it is ready for golf activities and we don't want to inconvenience our members any longer although there will be no exceptions on  cart path only. We need to keep carts off of the hole for awhile and I don't have an estimate when that will change.

#17 Fairway close up.

2019 Fall Aeration Update

Putting surface aeration went well on Tuesday 9/3/19 and the greens should recover fairly quickly with near perfect weather and a not as aggressive process this time around. We had some mechanical difficulties on Thursday 9/15/19 that stalled us on fairway aeration but we are making up some lost ground this morning Friday 9/6/19 before any large wave of golfers.

Next week schedule is below. Our goal is to finish fairway aeration, first wave of seeding and topdressing of remaining fairways, as well as getting surrounds aerated and fertilized. We should be able to accomplish this with a front 9 and back 9 alternating closure until 2:30 PM on just Tuesday and Wednesday.  We are looking forward to fall and the cooler weather, shorter days and the cool season turf rejuvenation it brings.

• Monday 9/9/19 - Topdressing FW's                 Course Closed
• Tuesday 9/10/19 - Surrounds Aeration            Front 9 Closed till 2:30 PM
• Wednesday 9/11/19 - Surrounds Aeration        Back 9 Closed till 2:30 PM

Enrique aerifying #12 fairway this morning

#12 after a application of topdressing sand

Warning!

Granite Bay has always needed to recover from summer losses of our cool season turf and 2019 is no exception. We typically go through 10 tons of  perennial ryegrass seed at a cost of over $20,000. In order for that investment, and more importantly course conditions to recover, this seed  needs to remain wet during the first two weeks on the ground so it can germinate and establish. Because of that necessity the golf course will be purposely wet over the next couple weeks so much so that we might have to call for cart path only for a few days. 

Two tons of perennial ryegrass seed in the maintenance yard awaiting the seeders. This seed, and more will be distributed onto the course over the next couple of weeks.

2019 Fall Aeration

There will be no rest for the weary as we have our fall aeration pre scheduled  date's rapidly arriving next week. Despite lots of rumblings of what we are doing to the course in 2020 we still have a fall and winter season of 2019 to get through and aeration is essential to having healthy playing surfaces during this time. Not to mention aeration's role in recovery from yet another summer. Below is a schedule on what we have planned and the associated golf course closures.

• Tuesday 9/3/19 - Putting Surface Aeration     Course Closed
• Wednesday 9/4/19 - Front 9 FW Aeration       Front 9 Closed till 2:00 PM
• Thursday 9/5/19 - Back 9 FW Aeration           Back 9 Closed till 2:00 PM
• Monday 9/9/19 - Topdressing FW's                 Course Closed
• Tuesday 9/10/19 - Surrounds Aeration            Front 9 Closed till 2:00 PM
• Wednesday 9/11/19 - Surrounds Aeration        Back 9 Closed till 2:00 PM
• Thursday 9/12/19 - TBD                                   TBD

For anyone interested, click here and scroll down a bit to see a step by step process of how we aerify the putting surfaces.

Thanks for your support 

The Project at GBGC Update #22

No drop zones in the surrounds any longer, just four weeks after the first sod was laid and in the cases of #'s 2, 4 & 8 only 10 days and #'s 13,14 & 16 only 7 days. The sod itself has already rooted down but is uneven and not an ideal playing surface yet. We have already started mowing most of the surrounds and adding topdressing so it won't be long before it is smooth and playable. In the meantime bump you ball (preferred lies) and avoid the newly sodded steep bunker faces if you could please.

#17 fairway has been mowed several times, rolled a couple & topdressed once since sod installation only four weeks ago today. Additionally we have made a first pass seeding of the rough that was dried down to facilitate construction traffic. No time frame on opening #17 yet as we still have to lower the cut in the fairway, continue to topdress and roll to get it smooth, install yardage markers and new bunker sand just to name a few things on our punch list. A clue to when we will be close to opening is when you see the rough start to fill in and green up. 

Newly sodded steep bunker fingers should be avoided  for  just a little bit longer please.

Enrique topdressing #17 fairway on Monday 8/26/19 just under four weeks after installation.

The Project at GBGC Update #21

Executing the type turf conversion / renovation work we have recently done around most of our greens surrounds while remaining open to play has some inherent confusion for all involved. It's not ideal to do this kind of work while open but not ideal as well to inconvenience Members who want to play their course. We have coexisted well over the last 24 days and I want to thank you and assure you now  that all of the sod is down on the ground that:

• You can't hurt this turf, that's one reason we are switching to it.
• It won't be long before its  playable.
• We still have some work to do to get it playable.

Starting today, Friday 8/23/19 we have opened the surround holes that were sodded early in the process albeit just two weeks ago as well as re-established Drop Areas for the holes where sod was installed within a week. 

• Open Holes With Preferred Lies In the New Sod - #'s 1,9,10,11,12,15 &18.
• Closed Holes With Drop Area - #'s 2,8,13,14,16

Newly sod on bunker finger #15. This sod was installed  only 11 days ago and is solidly rooted into  the soil.
That being said we want to protect the sod on these steep slopes from damage so we are asking members
 to keep off these areas until fully established.

Even holes that are open have GUR or Keep Off designations on the steep bunker fingers that are most susceptible to sod dislodging. We anticipate all holes with the exception of #17 being open with preferred lies in the new surround sod next weekend for Mini Mac. More updates to come on process and progress to get all of our new turf completely playable. 

Thanks for you patience. 

#17 Fairway on Friday 8/23/19  only 15 days after completing sod installation. We are already only watering it every other night and have mowed it three times. We still have big punch list of things to do to get this
hole open again to golf play. More to come on that.

Another image of #15 sod only installed 11 days ago. We are now playing preferred lies so bump your ball and give 
yourself plenty of relief from sod lines. 

The Project at GBGC Update #20

We're Done !

At least with covering the dirt & getting the sod installed. Other then some little areas that might need replacement, the preparation and sod installation part of the "The Project at GBGC" phase 2019 is done. Sod installation on #16 was the last part and was completed today as well as some fine fescue in the shady area on the right hand side of #18. 

Fine fescue installed right hand side #18 in under the shade of the large live oak.

Freshly installed Santa Anna Hybrid Bermuda on the last green surround bank on Wednesday 8/21/19.

We started the construction part of the project on September 30th, 23 days ago and the sod installation started 7 days later on August 6th, just 16 days ago. There was only two days in that 16 day period that we did not have sod being installed. 

We now need to shift our efforts into purley golf course maintenance and get caught up. In addition to maintenance we need to culture and grow in all of the newly installed sod and get it playable as quickly as possible. We'll continue to provide updates on progress and processes to achieve this end goal rapidly as well as getting #17 up and playable as soon as possible. 

Last bit of sod left over after sod installation was completed today 8/21/19 being laid down in our nursery area.

I anticipate taking down some drop areas around surrounds this week. The obvious ones  were sodded early in the sod installation process such as #'s 18, 9 & 1 as well as #'s 11, 12 & 15. The rest, #'s 2, 4, & 8 as well as #'s 10, 13, 14 & 16 should follow a week behind just in time for Mini Mac barring any setbacks.

SOD SEAMS – Through the Green, sod seams (not the sod itself) are deemed to be ground under repair, and relief is available under Rule 16.1b if the ball lies in or touches a sod seam or the sod seam interferes with the area of intended swing. All seams within the sodded area are considered the same seam.

Drop area soon to come down on #12 green. Members can still get relief from sod seams under rule 16.1b

Thank you for your patience as we plowed through this first phase of turf renewal and conversion at Granite Bay. We'll continue to update interested members on progress as I mentioned above.

The Project at GBGC Update #19

On Monday 8/19/19 contractor installed sod on #8 and #14. We have a little left to sod on #14  today, Monday 8/20/19 and will complete #13 as well. That will leave us only #16 to finish and perhaps a little bit of #13 on Wednesday 8/21/19 as well as some fine fescue on the right hand side of #18 in the shade.  Below is the information we sent to the golf shop for the AM e-mail as well as some pictures from yesterdays progress.

Hole # 17 Closed. #13 closed for re-sodding.

#'s 13,16,  are stripped and have a drop area in front of the green. #'s 1,2,4,8,9,10,11,12,18 have been re-sodded and are GUR. Please use Drop area's.

No delay.

Carts scatter.

Summer rules.

#8 newly sodded Monday 8/19/19

#14 freshly sodded Monday 8/19/19

Packing sand into bunker faces following recovery after sodding.