OXMOOR COUNTRY CLUB

OXMOOR COUNTRY CLUB
Golf Course Maintenance Blog

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Course update

The last couple of years have given us record heat waves and this year Mother Nature has blessed us with an outstanding fall.  All the fairways and tees have been seeded and are beginning to show great recovery.  Yesterday, greens were seeded in poor areas and will receive another total surface seeding next week.  Practice facility green, chipping green and target areas will be seeded this Monday.  We will continue to seed all these areas until we receive adequate germination.

Aerification on the course is now coming to an end.  We applied DryJect aerification into the greens again this year.  The process involves blasting high pressure water into the green soil and completely back filling with kiln dried sand.  Below is a picture of this process along with a plug showing the sand injected into the green profile.






































We are currently aerifying fairways with only four more remaining.  Today we will finish
up #15 and #18, depending on weather tonight, check with the golf shop for the remaining hole
closures.

The fall is also the time of year when we begin laying off the maintenance staff for the winter.  We are currently at six employees and over the next two weeks there will be three remaining for the winter months.  I would like to thank everyone in advance for there patience, as some daily jobs will be delayed.







Friday, August 31, 2012


The bridge from #7 to #8 has now been replaced with new lumber.  Sounds a lot
better too!



We used all the old wood from #7/ #8 bridge to build 8 raised beds for vegetables. 
These vegetables will be used next year by Chef Jesse for Oxmoor dining.  I hope
this will help in reducing some of Jesse's food cost, while also having fresh veggies
for the members.



This is a perfect example of why we need to stay in the rough/ cart path during
extreme heat and droughts.  These are cart tracks that completely killed out
an area of the bentgrass fairway.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Course Update

Holes 2, 4, 5, 15 and 17 have been sprayed with Round-up, per the Spencer Holt
Master Plan, around the outer edges of the fairways.  These areas will soon be
seeded with fescue and next year will be apart of the new 2 "step cut.  This decrease in
bentgrass is approximately 3 acres and throughout the entire season there will be a
reduction of $6000.00-$10,000.00 in the maintenance budget. 

We attempted earlier to seed #4 fairway and had poor germination rates.  We 
attempted again and received 75% germination. With cool nights approaching we will
continue to seed these areas.  Irrigation will continue to run periodically throughout
the day to ensure proper moisture levels for germination.


A walk path has been installed behind #7 green and will soon be seeded along with
more stones adjacent to the cart path.  We will also construct a path leading to the
men's tee on #4 in the fall. 


Monday, July 16, 2012

Some of the brown areas are now showing signs of recovery.  Today, I even noticed a few seedlings germinating on #4 fairway.  The rain water we received on Saturday really helped the bentgrass out.  Though any water is beneficial to plants, rain water is more beneficial because of the nitrogen in the rain droplets.  The atmosphere consists of about 25% oxygen and 75% nitrogen.  The nitrogen in the atmosphere is not available to plants until it converts to nitric acid and then is available for uptake through rain water.  Bored yet?? Ha...high school biology.  Pictured below is some of the bentgrass in recovery.





































The picture above displays some of the shoots regenerating through the thatch.



Some areas throughout the course may not show signs of recovery due to trees.
As we all know trees and turf do not grow well together.  Pictured above is #9
fairway and the tree roots competing for water with the turf.  In this case the
tree always wins and causes the turf to die. Many people think that tree roots
only extend to the outer area of the leaves or drip line.  Roots continue to spread
well beyond the drip line, though these roots are not grown for stability of the
tree, they are used to obtain water and nutrients and are known as the feeder roots.
Last year we installed a root barrier at #13 green and it has proven very successful
this year.  Later in the season, we will install a barrier here and at #17
approach to block the tree feeder roots.


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Break in weather


Today we partly seeded #4 fairway to see if the pre-emergent is still active in the
soil.  Normally, we time out the pre-emergents to end around September, but
given the past few seasons we reduced the amounts in case we had another
brutal heat wave.  We hope to have germination on #4 by mid next week.
With the cooler temperatures that we are now receiving, we are seeing some
signs of recovery.  By no means will recovery be an overnight success, but will
take up to a month if mother nature cooperates. We will also seed a few collars
and tees over the next couple of days to check their germination percentages.   



  
The city water is now open to recharge the irrigation lake.  We will continue
 to replenish the water supply until we receive adequate rainfall.


Monday, July 2, 2012

The heat is on!!!

 
 The record breaking heat is back and Oxmoors cool-season turfs are showing much
stress.  I sent out an email today to go along with this blog, so if you did not receive it
please email me at mcoy@oxmoorcoutryclub.com.  If you look closely at the picture
above you will see some light purple color golf cart tracks.  The carts put enormous
stress on bentgrass and this is usually a sign of death to come to the turf.
   

As I wrote in the email, majority of the brown areas in the fairways are a result of heat and
NOT mower scalping or disease. 






 These areas are a result of Poa annua dying out due to heat
stresses. Poa is also a cool-season turf and its survival in the
Kentuckiana area is unlikely. 

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The new irrigation clocks are currently being installed on the course
and should be completed by the end of next week.






















We will soon be placing these signs around the perimeter of the golf course hoping
to reduce vandalism and trespassers.


Thursday, May 24, 2012

We have now installed a new "Course Condition and Information" board
outside the golf shop.  Be sure to check it out before teeing off.




















I have had a few members ask what these tools are that I keep in my cart. 
The tool on the left is used to cut a slice into the green.  A small portion is
removed and I then examine the soil profile for organic matter, moisture
and  the thatch layer.  The second tool is the stimpmeter.  Though many
probably have not seen it, you do recognize the term "green speed".  This tool aids
in calculating the speed of each green to get a consistent overall "green speed". 
The third tool is a soil probe, which is used quickly to check root depths and
moisture levels.  The last tool is a prism gauge, which shows the
quality of cut, grain and the true height of cut on a green.




Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Course Update


You may have noticed the small circular spots on the greens.  This occurred last
Tuesday evening around 5:30 pm from a brief shower.  Unfortunately, the
sun came out directly after this rain event and brought out the disease,
Dollar Spot, on our 13th day.  Fungicide applications normally last at 14 day intervals
and their efficacy declines as it gets closer to that 14th day.
This should not interfere with putting and should recover over the next couple
of weeks. 
















 
We applied an insecticide to those pesky and annoying ant mounds,
so they should soon disappear.  Unfortunately, the chemical used does take
some time for total control.


With the hot temperatures arriving, we solid tined and top dressed the greens.  This
will aid in water movement and gas exchange, which is vital with excessive heat and
humidity. 

Friday, May 11, 2012

Course update


We have added a landscape bed on the side of #10 tee.  This area
now features 150 plants call Elijah Blue Fescue.  These will reach
10" in height and 1' width with a blue color that resembles the
Colorado Blue Spruce.


Entirety of #17 is "cart path only" at all times. 



















As you can see with the picture above, the back of #13 green is
beginning to fill-in.  Pictured below is the green from last year.




































Stones and ornamental grasses have been added at #2 tee.  This is
used to prevent carts from driving directly from tee box to the
rough.  Carts are to remain on the path till reaching the fairway
and then follow the 90 degree rule.   Carts are never permitted to
park on tee banks or green
banks. 
















Thursday, May 3, 2012

DryJect at the practice area

Practice green and chipping green were Dryjected yesterday.  We
did this procedure last fall to all the greens.  Dryjecting shoots
high pressure water into the soil profile and backfills with sand.
The greens will be open, but water will be applied
throughout the days.



We also brought out divers to clear the gravity fed pipe from
#18 lake to #9 lake.  The clearing was suscessful!  This pipe will
now allow us to recharge the #9 irrigation lake when
we need to.









Thursday, April 26, 2012

This time of year means an increase in golf and with that an increase in golfers and cart traffic throughout the course.   While the maintenance staff strives at keeping the course in great condition, we do need your help in repairing your ballmarks plus one more, replace and/or sand your divot and please follow the 90 degree cart rule when enforced.  We have now placed black poles in the fairways as an additional cart rule.  Once you arrive to these poles you are to advance the cart directly to the cart path.  Carts are not to be taken in the rough or the fairway beyond these poles. 









To aid in recovery of divots at the chipping fairway,
 we will be closing areas throughout the season.












While you see the the professionals on TV making
this type of practice divot, you should not do this
style on bentgrass practice areas.  Majority of practice areas
are warm season turf and can recover from this type of divot,
but the bentgrass can't.  The picture below is a better
representation of how a divot should be taken.  There should be
turf surrounding the entire divot.  This allows the bentgrass to creep
into the center for a faster recovery.




























#1 tee, pictured below, has been seeded once again.
We have had trouble with this tee since day 1.  The picture
was taken at 9:30 am and was still shaded till almost
10:30am.  The tree behind the tee may need some heavy
pruning to allow more sunlight. 


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Course Update

To help control cart traffic throughout the course, we have added these poles at the
edges of fairways.  Do not take carts beyond these markers.  Carts must return
directly to the cart path.
 


We have resurfaced, realigned and sodded Zoysia to the #16 ladies tee. I hope to have
this open by the end of April with weather permitting.  We will continue to
roll this, #6 tees and #8 tees for uniformity. 

We have begun mulching all trees and landscape beds.  Trees will
receive recycled wood chips from trees removed last year.  All
landscape beds will receive new black hardwood mulch.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Course Update

The practice tee will officially open on Thursday, April 5.  At this time, the bermuda tee will only be open from Thursdays through Sundays, until weather is a little more predictable for this warm season turf.   





As many of you have seen, the turf directly behind the range tee mats has suffered
since day one.  The turf has been removed and ornamentals grasses, boulders and
mulch has been installed. We will install bermuda walking paths in the beds that will
be cut at tee height.

  


Our regular topdressing program on greens began two weeks ago.  This past
Monday we were able to dimple tine, verticut and topdress.  These cultural
practices are necessary for a greens overall health. 


Thursday, March 22, 2012

What a Spring!

Spring has ramped up, but our staff is still in transition.  We will be fully staffed by May 7th, so I appreciate everyone's patience in getting the course up to par.

Plugs are still a big priority on the greens and this can be an
extremely long task.  This is Dave Burns plugging #16 green.
 

We have applied 25 tons of sand to the bunkers over the last
two weeks.  We received another shipment yesterday and will
continue to add next week.

 

I just couldn't resist adding this one.


With a warm and fast spring, comes weeds in large numbers.  We have treated the
broadleaved weeds, so now we will see wilting and death.  That is good in my eyes!


Though the range tee looks to be coming in great, we must keep in mind that it is only
March.  I am sure the warm season Bermuda will get hit back some by the
cooler temperatures coming next week.  I will keep you posted on its condition.


Poa seed heads have arrived strong this year.  This season is probably the worst I have
seen in the Louisville area.  PGR's have been applied to reduce their growth and
and to aid in suppressing the seeds.