9/2/2020
4th Hole
Both our USGA consultant and our consulting golf course architect (Carrick) have recommended tree removals in this location will not only improve the playability of this very difficult golf hole, allowing one to find their ball and play a recovery shot, but will be extremely helpful from an agronomy perspective, allowing the turf to have sunlight in order to photosynthesize. We are not suggesting full removal of all trees, but rather strategic removals that will benefit both the playability and help to provide more sunlight to the turf.
We have noticed that recovery of divots on our 4th fairway tends to lag behind the others, especially at this time of year where daylight becomes limited, the sheer amount of divots due to the fact that we have been busy than normal exacerbates this problem. We believe that there are two factors at play in this location and they are both caused by the same issue, too many trees.
1. If you miss the fairway, there is such little rough, there is a strong possibility your ball ends up in the forest both left and right, we believe that people use less club to avoid a lost ball, therefore more people hit this fairway, multiple times, resulting in more divots.
2. The shade that the excess trees cause doesn’t allow the turf enough sunlight to recover, this fairway remains in the dark for a good portion of the day in the autumn season. Increasing sunlight will help this fairway recover more quickly.
Other than the aeration process, we were able to complete a few small projects on the golf course in the past few weeks, these include:
- Raised the level of the sand at 8 bunkers for better visual from the tee
- Repaired more irrigation than we would have liked
- Cleared brush just off one tee, in order to see your hazards (bunkers)
- Continued to clear underbrush throughout the property 4,5, 13,14, 15
- Shortened the fairway further at #2
- Treated pathways at 2 and 6 with our binding agent (Reclamite)
Aeration recovery has gone well to date, a small amount of fertility along with some timely rain events has allowed our turf to recover quickly from our largest cultivation of the season. Despite the rain in recent weeks we were able to core aerify the rest of the tees, we also plan to continue to make improvements to our property, these include:
- Topdressing our approaches, fairways and tees
- Venting greens regularly, to provide oxygen to the soil, through September
- Continuing to fill bunkers where required
- 10 yellow tee construction
- Treating more pathways with binding agent
- Landscaping removal at back shop mid September, tree removal, to prepare for October 1 construction
- A more formal yellow tee at #1
- Poa removal on select greens
- Sodding bluegrass at #2 fairway
- Adding drainage to the 11th teeing area
As always, we encourage our members to fix their ball marks and replace or fill divots while enjoying your golf course. I have attached a diagram of how to properly fix your ball marks, never pry up in the center of the mark.
We look forward to seeing you out on the course.
Respectfully Submitted,
Chad Vibert
Golf Course Superintendent