GROUNDS | JON URBANSKI, DIRECTOR OF GOLF COURSES AND GROUNDS
All the rain of late has tremendously helped in many facets over the last two months. In April, we tallied five inches of precipitation, and as of penning this article, we have had 5.81 inches of rain with an additional inch in the forecast to close out the month of May. Although the wet weather has not been beneficial for outdoor activities, we have been able to replenish the lower reservoir to the left of 12 North, and most importantly, time our applications of pre-emergent products for grassy weeds (crabgrass) and insects (white grubs, annual bluegrass weevils) with the rain. We maintain a lot of rough grass on the golf courses and common areas where there is no irrigation coverage. All pre- emergent products need at least a half inch of water to move and activate the material into the soil for the target pest. Without rain, the material is simply ineffective. Looking at the past year, there were applications conducted and timed with forecasted precipitation that simply did not materialize. In the fall of 2024, we saw the effect of these products not washed in with grubs feeding on roots of the turf resulting in wilt, while skunks and raccoons were having a smorgasbord eating the grubs. This is one of the multitudes of reasons why we need additional coverage via the irrigation system as we can not always be reliant to Mother Nature. Very soon it will be harvesting season in the orchard on 9 North. During our winter pruning season, we installed plant markers on each tree. Information such as location and planting date in the orchard, along with the common name and qualities of the fruit bearing tree, can be found on the trunk. We hope this helps with your seasonal picking later this year! The Club has recently taken stock of a new golf car fleet. As always, there are a few kinks we find that do not reduce the experience of utilizing a golf cart but have a negative effect on the turf. The new cars have a tremendous amount of torque, and we have seen some damage from the tires. It is a simple fix, but one we need the manufacturer to be on-site and link to each cart to change the stock settings. Over the coming weeks, we should see a reduction in scuffing caused by the acceleration speeds of the new golf cars. DIVOTS: as we move into the summer season, the heavy rains of the past two months will likely subside. With this, the chances of a replaced divot surviving diminishes. For the foreseeable future, please use the mix provided on your golf cars, and at the starters’ desk to fill the void. We have additional mix and containers located at each halfway house. Like ball marks on greens, divot filling is the responsibility of every player, and harkens to the golden rule of golf, emphasizing respect and sportsmanship, both for the course and your fellow players.
If you were a fan of the inaugural season of the prime time TGL golf league, you may find this an interesting podcast provided by the USGA regarding the maintenance behind the turf used for the series. Please CLICK HERE for the link to this audio clip.
June is a busy month in all areas of the Club. We look forward to preparing for the many events on the calendar. Your help is always appreciated in the care of the course. We kindly ask to:
Fix your pitch mark, plus one other. Scatter your cart traffic in all areas of the golf courses. Keep your motorized golf cart 30 feet from greens and tees; if a hard surface is present, please park on the path. Trolleys/ Push Carts: refrain from taking across greens and tees.
Thanks, and hope you all have an enjoyable start to the summer at the Club!
Jon Urbanski
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