10/15/2020
Tee Construction
You will notice that we have begun construction on the forward tees at both 10 and 1, these tees should be complete by next week. We have also started to expand the white tee at 14, this tee is far too small to recuperate from the play it receives, our plan is to double the tee space in this location.
Fairway Divot Program
We have re-initiated our one fairway per day divot filling program, we cannot keep up with the amount of unfilled divots with a reduced staff in the fall season. Each day we put out divot bottles at the start of a fairway, we ask that you take a fresh bottle use it all on that fairway, then deposit the empty bottle in the trash can at the end of the hole.
We have been very busy on the golf course in the past few weeks, some of the areas we have been focusing on include:
Top dressing our fine turf areas, greens, tees and fairways
Sodding some collar areas
Irrigation repair throughout the property
Installed a new cart path at 12
Mowing and vacuuming fescue areas
Grading work at the bag drop areaIn the coming weeks we will be busy preparing the course for the winter season, we also have a few projects to complete, these include:
Finishing construction @ tees at 1,10 and 14
Sodding some collar areas with high populations of annual bluegrass
Sodding the shortened fairway area at 2
Aerifying rough areas
Top dressing green surfaces
Mowing and cleaning up all fescue areas
Squaring the back tee on 13
Course Closure
The 2020 season has been nothing short of challenging for the entire team here at Mad, we went from really not knowing if we were even going to be permitted to open, to a very busy golf course in a matter of weeks. The golf course has remained busy right through the summer and into the fall season. With that being said, the golfing weather that we have enjoyed this season has been exceptional, very few days lost to rain and warm temperatures, even through autumn. The golf course has been busy, and in some areas, particularly where balls tend to funnel the golf course shows it with an abundance of divots. At this point of the season, the turf will not recover from the wear it will receive, divots will not grow back (this is why its imperative to replace if possible) and ball marks that are poorly repaired or unrepaired will not recover. These voids that will inevitably be left behind gives Poa a perfect opportunity to invade, and we know that this grass is very opportunistic! We must begin thinking about 2021 and prepare now for golf course conditions next season. For all of these reasons and the fact that we must prepare our property for the onset of winter the last day of the season will be the 1st of November.
In order to prepare the golf course for winter, we will be blowing out our irrigation system beginning on November 2, followed by a heavy topdressing of both our green and tee surfaces. The fine turf areas require a preventative fungicide treatment prior to snowfall. This treatment must occur when the golf course is closed for the season as well as when the plant can actively take up the product. We must time this application prior to the plant going dormant to protect itself for the stressful winter season ahead.
In the past there have been many winters that the first lasting snowfall comes in the first week of November, it is imperative this application goes out early November.
We have a busy fall season ahead, with lots of golf still being played, as always, we look forward to seeing you on the course.
Respectfully Submitted,
Chad Vibert
Golf Course Superintendent