Historic Drought Continues

As we are all aware, California is in the midst of its 4th year of historic drought which has been an all consuming issue for the States Golf Industry. On April 1, 2015, Governor Jerry Brown issued an executive order that directed the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to implement mandatory water restrictions mandating a 25% statewide reduction in potable urban water use from a 2013 baseline. The SWRCB came up with emergency regulations to achieve the 25% mandated reduction from 2013, dividing California cities into eight levels of conservation based on  residential gallons per capita per day (R-GPCD). Out of 411 statewide urban water districts the San Juan Water District (SJWD) was 406 requiring a 36% reduction  from thier customers. Granite Bay Golf Course does not purchase potable water for golf course irrigation but has assured the SJWD we will do our part and meet the conservation standard set by the SWRCB and the SJWD.

Current Condition of California Reservoirs

We have been doing our part. We purchased 46% less non-potable water for golf course irrigation from the SJWD in 2014 as compared to 2013. Additionally we conserved 25% potable water from our combined potable meters in 2014 compared to 2013. We achieved these results on the golf course by capturing more surface water in our irrigation lake, reducing irrigation to the course through the irrigation system and supplementing  that reduction with additional hand watering. Conservation results from our combined potable meters were primarily achieved by using compressed air to clean equipment.

Current Condition of Folsom Reservoir

All things being equal, we should be able to meet the 36%  conservation requirement from the SJWD this year based on our results last year. We monitor our use daily and can make adjustments as needed. Conservation strategies this year will be much the same as last year with some added polymer and surfactant applications which will help our soils retain more  moisture. Additionally during summer temperature extremes we will restrict cart traffic to cart paths only.

Flash Storm in the Beginning Stages

Flash Storm 

On the evening of Thursday May 14, 2015 the club was hit with an isolated storm that left some substantial damage along with a  big mess in it's wake. Our GBGC weather station measured 3" of precipitation, 2" of which fell between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM. The precipitation came in the form of rain and hail which loaded up on the library patio cover and collapsed it. On the golf course all of the sand traps were washed out in which the liner on the faces of the traps was compromised washing the underlying soil into the bunkers contaminating the sand. Additionally all 6 acres of  recently refreshed walnut shells washed out onto the golf course and the lower cart barn flooded requiring some 30 golf carts electric component's be removed, dried out and replaced.

Cleanup efforts took 5 days. The dirt and silt that washed into the traps had to be removed and remaining sand redistributed. Walnut shells that washed onto the course had to be piled up, removed and replaced in the walnut shell areas then subsequently raked smooth. There was a net loss of sand from the traps and shells from the walnut shell areas as a result of the storm and during cleanup. We have some shells stockpiled but walnut shells are not available this time of year so we will refresh with what was recovered and stockpiled. We had a planned refreshing in the sand of the sand traps and luckily did not start that process before the storm. Over the next couple of weeks we will start to add a little sand to all of the sand traps. The traps don't need allot of sand but a little refreshing and redistribution will help with consistency and should whiten them up a little.  

Above are examples of liner on the faces of our sand traps that were compromised by the flash storm we experienced. These faces will need to be re-lined to prevent future contamination when storms occur. Picture directly above is our GCM crew removing the washed decomposed gravel (DG) that washed into the trap during the storm. Most of the DG fortunately settles on top of the sand allowing for its tedious removal.

The extent of the walnut shell washout was a new wrinkle in storm cleanup for us. Not a hard   equation  to figure out.                  Newly refreshed shells + 2" of rain in an hour = Big Mess

Friendship Rain

We finally got some  rain on the first day of the GBWGC 2014 Friendship Cup. The rain started falling around 7:30 AM and when when it finally stopped the Granite Bay Golf Club weather station measured a 1/2" of much welcomed rain. Maybe not so welcome for the Ladies, who were delayed for a couple of hours and had to keep carts off the course for a day, but welcome for fire fighters and drought watchers and really all of us in Northern California. 

This 1/2" that we received will bring  our 2013-2014 (Sept.- Oct.) rain season total to 16.40". This will leave us (7.80") below the annual average for our area of  24.20"and more importantly (14.13") below the cumulative 3 year drought  deficit. Folsom Reservoir will finish off the season slightly lower then it did in 2013. There have been various forecasts predicting a La Nina Weather Pattern forming in the pacific this coming rain season. Currently the The NOAA's National Weather Service is forecasting a "65% chance of El Nino emerging in fall and early winter. Forecasters favor a weak event." Any of us who pay any attention at all to weather forecasting know that the predictions are often inaccurate and realize that we are just going to have to wait and see. That being said, this current drought will change the way all of us in Northern CA are going to look at water use moving forward. Broad bi-partisan support of upcoming Water Bonds and Historic Groundwater Legislation along with substantial movement on the California Water Plan indicate that even when Folsom is full again, it wont be business as usual when it comes to water use for all of us in this area.

Granite Bay Golf Clubs 2014 Conservation Efforts

The Clubs efforts in water conservation this year has been successful for all of the water meters we manage on the property. The San Juan Water District (SJWD) had a mandatory 25% reduction in water use in place since the beginning of the fiscal year. We have purchased 31% less non potable water  for golf course irrigation at this point in the season then we purchased in 2013 along with 31% less potable water used in the Clubhouse and Golf Shop. When we compare our 2014 water use to a State of California Maximum Allowable Water Allocation (MAWA) water budget, our golf course irrigation use will be 25% to 28% lower at the end of the year.

Dog Days of Summer

We have spent a lot of time and effort on irrigation management in response to this drought this year and with the help of slightly milder then normal weather this summer the golf course seemed to get through it pretty well. We didn't experience any major health issues with the turf, however conditions at the end of September are still a little summer worn. We did experience some inconsistencies with putting surface performance which we will continue to work through. Perennial weeds such as Dallas Grass and Knotgrass are weeds that we persistently fight at the end of the season because of their perennial nature to reemerge every year from their roots. We have been substantially more aggressive this summer with late season treatments yielding some success and plan on the same continued sustained battle for as long as it takes us to control & eradicate  these nasty weeds.

Knotgrass 

Treated Knotgrass fading

Dyeing weeds surrounded by good turf

Another late summer pest we have to contend with is Skunk & Raccoon damage. These night feeding mammals are primarily going after White Grubs as a food source, which we annually treat the golf course to prevent. Most of the damage we are experiencing this year is in the fairways and from skunks. Its standard operating procedure to check for insect activity when Skunk or Raccoon damage is evident and when checking this year we are finding none. Yet the almost nightly damage continues. We displace the skunks that we are able to catch but more just seem to keep coming. I suspect there are a lot of hungry skunks out there with a limited food and water source's due to three years of drought so our course is the best place to forage.

White Grub

Skunk Damage

Upcoming Aerification

We have been aerating and over seeding tees around club events for the past two weeks since mid September. Now that the Friendship Cup has concluded we can finish the forward tees and hybrid bermuda approaches on #14 & #16. Along with completing the over seeding, below is the 2014 fall aerification schedule.

Week of September 29.          Aerification & Over Seeding of Forward Hybrid Bermuda Tees

Week of October 6.                Greens & Fairway Aerification

                                                              10/7/14 - Putting Surface Aerification

                                                              Course Closed

                                                              10/8/14 - Back 9 Fairway Aerification

                                                              Back 9 Closed

                                                              10/9/14 - Front 9 Fairway Aerification

                                                              Front 9 Closed

Week of October 13.              Completion of Fairway & Green Surrounds Aerification

                                                               10/14/14 - Front 9 Closed

                                                               10/15/14 - Back 9 Closed

                                                               10/16/14 - TBD       
Weeks of October 20 &27     Core Aerification of  All Rough Areas
                                                               No Course Closures

             

Smoky sunrise above a freshly over seeded Granite tee on #10

Recent Storms Provide Some Relief

Recent storms that started on February 6th  measured just over 5" of rain at our GBGC's weather station. More importantly these storms dumped significant amounts of precipitation in the American River watershed and drastically changed the trajectory of a declining Folsom lake level. These series of storms along with a upgraded forecast from persistent drought to normal in the west has water districts breathing a little easier. We are by no means out of the drought or expect to be in 2014 but the San Juan Water District feels they can meet water delivery needs as long as they achieve conservation levels along with getting some normal rainfall through the spring.

I have been getting into the habit of checking out this CA produced graphic daily.

On Wednesday February 26, the elected board of the San Juan Water District (SJWD) unanimously adopted Resolution No. 14-05, Declaring and Implementing a Stage 3 Water Warning. The Stage 3 Water Warning Language requires a reduction of "indoor and outdoor water use by 25%". Other common sense conservation measures become mandatory such as "Water shall be confined to customers property and shall not be allowed to run off to adjoining properties or to roadside ditch or gutter". "Free flowing hoses are prohibited", "Washing streets, sidewalks and driveways are prohibited" and "Restaurants shall serve water only upon request".

Another recent graphic depicting part of the
 big picture the entire state is currently facing

How Does This Effect GBGC Members Who Live in the SJWD ?

A conscientious homeowner asked the district staff at the board meeting how the 25% mandatory reduction would be enforced especially for those responsible homeowners who have already have  been conserving based on the Stage 2 request of a voluntary reduction. The district responded that they are currently not going to be monitoring meters of residents who are doing their  part but watching the large water users and following up on  tips to the district on water wasters. Bottom line is the district needs to achieve the 25% reduction to remain at the Stage 3 level. The Sac Bee confirmed my recollection of the meeting this morning in an article stating that the "agency will enforce the 25 percent conservation order primarily looking for water waste violations". The article continues "If this does not prove effective by April", "the district will begin monitoring water meter data, particularly for those customers who use the greatest amount of water"

How Does This Effect GBGC?

We have been monitoring this drought situation for awhile because as a golf club, we use our share of water. We have an on-going dialog with the SJWD about our shared water conservation goals. Mitch and I have been attending the districts board meetings and have volunteered to serve on a committee the district is forming with industry professionals to share conservation knowledge and techniques that can be shared with the public. We are committed to be part of the solution of the SJWD meeting it's conservation goals along with developing alternative irrigation strategies for the future of the club, both short and long term. 

Another telling story of the drought situation we all face.

What is GBGC's Plan?

We are in the process of installing an industrial air compressor at the cart barn and will start by next week blowing off carts and wiping down with rags and cleaners rather then using water to wash them. At the maintenance yard we have already adopted the same procedure with our mowers and maintenance equipment. 

On the golf course we are putting extra effort into our annual irrigation audit, checking psi, nozzle wear on every irrigation head on the course to assure peak efficiency this coming irrigation year. Extra scrutiny is being placed on irrigation pump station maintenance and irrigation water delivery valve and meters to assure we have accurate data helping us to make sound agronomic irrigation decisions. 

Now that  we  have a solid number to work with we can put the finishing touches on our drought contingency plan. We will look at applying more wetting agents then in the past along with experimenting with some new polymer technology both of which will help with conservation efforts.  More hand watering will be necessary as we will need to apply less water overall but even with all of this we will have to look at reducing turf in areas to achieve the 25% mandated reduction. Bottom line it will be very difficult to wetting agent and hand water our way out of a 25% reduction. Where to reduce turf will be a joint decision with GBGC management and the GBGC golf committees newly formed water use sub-committee chaired by our own Craig Johns who is and expert on these issues. I hope this sub-committee will be a long term thing as I for one believe these water issues will be on-going. This particular drought will end but California water issues and how they pertain to golf and GBGC will persist.

2/28/14 - A Welcome Sight 

It would be nice to capture all of this in our pond
or better yet in Folsom Reservoir. 

Upcoming Drought Challenges in 2014

I'm sure we are all aware of the widely publicized condition of Folsom Lake, which of course is the primary source of both potable drinking water and non-potable irrigation water for Granite Bay Golf Club as well as a  large surrounding area. Due to the historic drought conditions many reports are stating that the lake is going down some 350 acre foot a day and is forecasted to be below intake culverts by May. Folsom dam discharges have already been reduced into the American River and regional conservation efforts are under way.

On Wednesday evening 1/8/14 Mitch and I attended a much anticipated San Juan Water District board meeting in which the board approved the recommendations from a Staff Report dated January 2, 2014. The recommendations included a request that "customers refrain from outdoor irrigation" in January, and "If the forecast remains dry in February, initiate a Stage 5 Water Emergency - Long Term, using February as the month to educate customers. If the forecast remains dry in March, begin stringent implementation of all aspects of a Stage 5 Water Emergency." 

a December 10th graphic depicting the historically low level
of Folsom Lake.

A Stage 5 Water Emergency is a "long term declaration for water shortage conditions expected for a duration of more then 45 days". This declaration includes many common sense water conservation practices along with prohibition of "Landscape and Pasture Irrigation" and a reduction of "indoor water use by more then 50%." Additionally "Water Crisis / Emergency tiered pricing will be implemented. "

What does this mean for GBGC?

If a Stage 5 Water Alert is declared "there are a significant number of issues that need to be resolved prior to this action." according to the San Juan Staff Report. Some of those issues are "Is commercial irrigation allowed ?" and to what extent. In our conversations with San Juan it was evident that they were very aware of the impact of a total prohibition of irrigating the golf course and the ramifications it would have on our club and business. If conditions persist though, we would have to prepared to reduce  both potable water and irrigation consumption from the San Juan water system like everyone else. This is new territory for both the water district and GBGC which we hope will allow us to collaborate with San Juan to come up with common sense approach for the golf course.

What Is GBGC Doing ?

Golf Course Contingency Planning

We are hoping for the best, which of course would mean  lots of rain but preparing for the worst. Currently long range weather forecaster's have high barometric pressure holding and diverting storms around California through February and early March. Conditions in their models change after that, but questions remain if there will be any storms to come through the newly "opened window".

We currently get a flow of water coming from springs at the lower end of the City of Roseville Water Treatment plant on Barton Road amounting to approximately 170 gallons per minute per our estimation's. This is more then enough to keep our irrigation lake full and fulfill  demands for minimal  dry winter irrigation needs to the course. Unfortunately for us this flow level does not persist into the summer.  In an effort to capture another five to six acre feet of this "free flowing water" we are sand bagging the dam on the irrigation lake near the bridge on #1. This is the equivalent of almost two million gallons of water stored. Additionally we are exploring subsurface water just as all of the water districts in our area are doing.

Surface water  currently entering GBGC via the creek
to the left of #3. 

Finally I am working on a report to present to San Juan detailing how other water districts in similar situations have worked with Golf Courses throughout the State and Country. Drought, water shortages and  water conservation are nothing new to golf,  and many of our fellow Club Corp properties have had to deal with these situations providing many models that can be explored  and adopted for us.

Once all of these items have been examined, and we have an idea of how much water we will  have to irrigate, we can fine tune the details of our drought contingency plan. These details  include  where we can turn water off and re-triangulate irrigation heads to keep essential areas of the course alive during the summer.

Temporary sand bags at the dam at our irrigation lake
facilitates the capture of close to 2,000,000 gallons
of free flowing surface water that we can use for irrigation.

What Is GBGC Doing Now?

Currently we are examining and retro fitting all hoses on the property that are connected to the San Juan potable water system and making sure there are no open end hoses that can flow freely. Additionally we are quickly developing training protocol's for our Employee Partners detailing new procedures for cart and pavement cleaning which are prohibited in a stage 5 water emergency with a hose and water.  The MacKensie Grille and Tilleys will soon be offering drinking water by request only as outlined in a stage 5 emergency as well.  Because of dry conditions we still have to apply minimal amounts of water to certain areas of the course, but as I explained above  none of this water is from the San Juan Water District  but captured and stored in our own holding lake. 

Granite Bay Golf Club is fully committed to the necessary conservation efforts that are needed for all of us to get through this difficult year  as well as communicating those efforts to our members. 

As Always, Thank You For Your Continued Support

2013 Progress Review

As another year comes to an end and as we start looking forward to the next season it always seems fitting to review the progress and setbacks from the previous year. Weather extremes, tree replacement and removal, irrigation system advances, a maintenance yard burglary and substantial driving range improvements drove the largest changes at Granite Bay in 2013.

New rock landscape in the creek to the left of
#3 green. Next step new irrigation and
landscape plants.

Weather

The rain season for 2013 started in October of the previous year. We got off to a pretty good start with over 14" of rain recorded in November and December of 2012 recorded by our own weather station. Then from January 2013 to September 2013 we recorded only 4.99" of rain. In the 2013 calender year we recorded only 6.39" of rain, by far the lowest accumulation for a calender period in the history of Granite Bay Golf Club. The lack of rain and snow effecting upstream storage in Folsom Lake will be potentially be our challenge for the up coming golf season, but how much  remains to be seen. If something doesn't change soon such as a big series of storms producing both rain and snow, lack of irrigation water could be the golf course maintenance topic of 2014. 

Although 2013 was dominated by temperate & dry weather, we did have our share of extremes. For the year we had 15 days of freezing temperatures and frost delays and conversely 12 days of temperatures of over 102 degrees. One extremely rough period was between June 29th and July 5th where we experienced 7 days over 102 degrees with 5 of those days over 105 degrees. This is the period when #3 green struggled again. Temperature extremes are not unusual but the 5 days over 105 degrees and the 6.39" of measured rain for 2013 are historic numbers which could have ramifications yet to be played out.

# 3 green recovering a few weeks after heat wave.
Removing trees to the left of the green was crucial to
 providing necessary morning sun and air movement
 to the area

 # 3 green, July heat wave damage.

2013 Capitol Projects

One overdue and needed 2013 project that is scheduled to start this coming week on Monday 12/30/13 is cart parking expansion near Tilleys. The plan is to slightly cut into the bank adjacent to the #9 green along with some widening on the other side of the path, re-grading and replacing the concrete providing for diagonal parking on both sides of the area as opposed to the free for all parallel parking scheme currently in place. Timing for the project is as follows. Week of Monday 12/30/13: Removal of  one of the Blue Oak's close to the patio and wedding ceremony area which has been slated by our arborist as necessary for removal because of it's overall  lack of health and danger to the clubhouse. Week of Monday 1/6/13: Concrete removal, grading, forming and pouring of new concrete. Week of Monday 1/13/14: Re- irrigate and sod. Project complete.

Completed capitol projects in 2013 started by replacing all of the ball washers on the course and in doing so replaced the associated trash enclosures with wooden IPE trash enclosures that match the par three divot boxes and  sand bottle enclosures. These IPE accoutrement's were designed and built by 20 year Granite Bay employee partner Kevin Schuman.

#2 new ball washer adjacent to water station.

The Granite Bay Teaching Academy was completed in 2013 as well as replacement and extension of the driving range netting protecting the short game area. Netting replacement was completed in conjunction with re-locating the middle target green and bunker on the range providing a better target from the teaching center and to direct general driving range traffic more to the center of the range then to the right.  Any project of this type is not without its controversies but after completion the netting and teaching center building didn't detract as much as predicted and blends well in the surrounding landscape.

GCM finishing up the landscaping around the
Granite Bay Teaching Academy

GCM creating a new target green and bunker in the
driving range along with filling the bunker on the right.

Other completed capitol projects for 2013 included pond aeration systems in both ponds on the course and security fencing and alarm system in the GCM yard. Fencing and security were the result of a early in year break-in which we sustained some equipment losses down in the maintenance yard. The pond aeration systems were installed to help with aquatic vegetation accumulation as a result of the eutrophication process that golf course water bodies experience. We did achieve some aquatic vegetation reduction despite the late season installation of the  pond aeration system's and should experience substantially improved season long pond water quality now that we will start off 2014 with the systems in place.

Aeration diffusers in action right after installation
on September 9th.

Water quality 11 days later on September 20th

Replacing strategic trees that we have lost throughout the course over the years and proactive replacement of trees that we suspect could be lost in the future was another capitol project we got started on in 2013. Additionally we continued on irrigation coverage enhancements which we had additional capitol funds to draw off of in 2013. A large greens fan to alleviate the unique conditions we experience in the green complex of #3 was purchased in 2013 as a capitol expense as well. This fan will be moved to the area adjacent to #3 green in mid June and remain through August after which it will be removed. All electrical and fan mounts have already been installed. 

GCM planting replacement trees

Newly planted replacement trees on #1

2014 Plans

Capitol funds for 2014 that we plan to spend on the golf course revolve mostly around continued irrigation improvements. Irrigation components such as sprinkler heads and controllers are 20 years old and a replacement program needs to get started. Some of these replacements will result in upgrades and additional features that will help with irrigation coverage, control and  water conservation which is timely and will be a defining issue of the course in the years to come.

The Club has partial responsibility for landscape and sidewalks along Roseville Parkway & Barton Road so capitol funds have been earmarked for asphalt repair and sealing as well as landscape plant replacement. Along with that we have some tee expansion plans and  long overdue drainage work in the driving range that we plan accomplish with capitol funds in 2014.

Thanks

I'm sure Ive mentioned more then once, realizing I'm stating the obvious, that golf course's are in a constant state of change that begins when the first seed touches the ground. We go from season to season and year to year making plan's, adjusting to the whims of nature, trying to stay ahead of the next issue. The task of shepherding these changes, as much as one can, is much more rewarding when one has support of those whom benefit the most from these efforts. Therefore I know I speak for the entire golf course maintenance department when I say, It continues to be our pleasure to serve the Membership here at Granite Bay. Thank you for your years of continued support of these efforts.

2013 work on a bunker on #15.
This kinda work is ongoing.

Tree Planting and Restoration

We have recently begun a phase of tree restoration / planting project here at Granite Bay. This restoration was motivated by the  Granite Bay Golf Committee several years ago in response to the natural decline and death of the courses native oak trees over the years. Our trees are an important design feature and aesthetic component of the course and have some history over the past 20 years.

The overall design concept of Granite Bay falls into the general classification of a  parkland  golf course which is an inland course that accommodates the natural trees and hills in the surrounding environment. The vast majority of native oaks in Granite Bay are Blue Oaks (quercus douglasii) and Interior Live Oak (quercus wislizeni). Additionally growing along Linda creek and planted during early construction are some California and Sacramento native Valley Oak (quercus lobata) and Coastal Live Oak (quercus agrifolia) which were planted as screening trees, a good example of which would be behind #15 green and #9 tee.

Specimen replacement trees being delivered to GBGC

Native Live Oaks awaiting planting as screening trees
along #4 and #6 fence lines.

Several years after construction (2001 - 2002) a group non California native oaks were introduced on the course mostly on holes #8 & #5 but also a few behind #10 and near #15 green. These varieties were Red Oak (quercus rubra) and Pin Oak (quercus palustris). The decision to plant these non California native species of oaks was unfortunate in my opinion as I think the design intent and features of Granite Bay lend more to the native species. The thought process behind planting the non-native species were that these Red & Pin Oaks could take the summer watering of trees growing in turf which does need to be considered as some California native oaks are not as tolerant.

Non-native Red Oaks planted between #8 & #9

With all of this in mind, the Golf Committee and GB Management began to develop a  tree replacement plan to address  areas on the course that we have both lost native oaks and are in jeopardy of losing more. More then just replacing lost trees we wanted to be proactive in starting replacements for trees that are suspect to future decline and death along with phasing out of the non California native species over time. These thoughts were discussed a few years back when we did a course tour with Kyle Phillips. Many issues were discussed at this meeting and tree planting was one of them. Kyle's overall assessment regarding tree planting was sticking to original design intent which was not necessarily a tree lined parkland course, but one in which trees are part of  a golf holes defense along with room for bailouts and  interesting golf shots lending to clusters of trees. Kyle also mentioned the introduction of non native species as something that was never part of the original design intent.

Interior Live Oak - left hand side of #4. A native tree that is a
design feature of the hole. Currently the tree is showing little sign
of future struggles, however if it were it would be a good idea
to get a replacement going.

Blue Oaks are the dominant native  varieties of oak trees in the Granite Bay area, but some  unfortunately don't seem to be able to take the summer watering that turfgrass requires. I fear that over the years we would have lost more Blue Oaks if early on Placer County had not required the club to pull irrigation away from many of these oak stands on the course, which are now in our walnut shell areas. After consulting with tree professionals we decided that Valley Oaks would be the best native substitute for the Blue Oaks because they can tolerate a turfgrass condition much better. Valley Oaks are similar in size and will blend well with the Blue Oaks in a California native oak woodland and are native to the Sacramento area. Additionally several Valley Oaks have been planted on the course and are doing well.

Struggling transplanted Blue Oak (20 years ago) next
to its Valley Oak replacement.  In the foreground is a
non-native Red Oak planted 12 or so years ago.

We planted a large Valley Oak this week 11/12/13, in front of the dying Blue Oak on the right  of #4 to protect the right side of the hole from the big hitters. Throughout the remainder of the week we placed trees in potential approximate locations on the course keeping in mind we are replacing lost trees along with planting potential replacements for struggling native Blue Oaks and non-native Red Oaks. Additionally there were some Blue Oaks that were required to be transplanted during construction that have have not taken or grown a bit in 20 years and are really struggling  that we we plan to replace.

Planting a 60" Valley Oak as a future protector of
the left hand side of #4

Valley Oak planted in front of the dying Blue Oak on #4

Varying opinions are always part of any new project we embark on here at Granite Bay and tree restoration / planting will be no different. We do want to remain true to original design intent and intend to maintain the the courses integrity as objectively as possible.

Fall Aeration Progress

The aeration process appears at times like taking a step backwards before we take a bigger step forward. It is definitely one of those necessary evils. The consequences of neglecting aeration must be considered as well as embracing this opportunity to incorporate sand and calcium and seed. Without opening the surfaces up, it is hard to get these very beneficial elements into the soil and refresh some old tired areas with new life in the way of seed not to mention  providing opportunities for air and water to infiltrate the root zone as well as removing excessive organic matter or thatch.

Seed for the Fairways - Too much $$$ to Allow to Dry Out

 One thing that I have neglected to mention in the past is the fall aeration / turf renovation process temporarily exposes turf to the elements making them prone to drying out. Additionally the processes are done in conjunction with turf over-seeding in which it is essential that soil remains damp during seed germination. Therefore the golf course will be wetter then normal during this process. 

• Tees - Tees were over seeded on 9/16/13 with the exception of the forward pebble tees which needed to be undisturbed for the GBLGA Friendship Cup. All other tees that were over seeded on this date have germinated ryegrass on them and the forward tee which were seeded on 9/20/13 are two weeks behind. Our hybrid bermuda tees will go dormant and brown hence the need for timely over seeding. 

Preparing #3 Tee for Over Seeding

Two Weeks After Over Seeding

Pebble Tee on #4 Awaiting Ryegrass to Germinate

• Greens - Process went well with very few issues or setbacks. We did not aerate main PG because I thought it would benefit from a week or two with some extra fertility and "thicken up" a little bit before we aerate. We plan to aerate this green on Monday 10/14/13. This coming Monday 10/7/13 we are going to vertical mow X2, seed, apply potassium and a high phosphorus fertility, roll and water all regulation greens along with tilleys and the Chipper. We will roll through this weekend and mow them 7 days after aerated on Tuesday 10/8/13. 

Aerating #9 Green on Tuesday

#2 Green on Thursday Afternoon after Topdressing
and Several Afternoon Brushings

• Fairways - Completed  core aeration and vertical mowing on 1,2,4,5,6. Completing solid tine aeration, scarifying, vertical mowing on 10 -16 right now. Our intentions were to core aerate, allow cores to dry, process with the scarifyer and sweep and mow. This process proved to be too aggressive  and we had to change it up. Even with  going back to solid tine aeration  the scarifyer or deep vertical mower set at the same depth as it was last year was too aggressive and we had to raise it up. Raising the blades up is not removing as much thatch but it is not damaging areas that are on the dry side and it is making a nice slit for seed and sand. 

Aerating #4 Fairway

Scarifying #10 After Some Adjustments

•  Next Week - As planned driving range tee, targets, old sandtraps are slated for aeration and over seeding on Monday 10/7/13 as well as the practice area. All week we plan to continue topdressing and seeding fairways along with finishing the aeration of fairway #'s 8-9 & 17-18.