Being in the lower Ohio River valley, the weather usually is anything but normal and 2010 was no exception. The year started with a cold winter that yielded almost no winter golf and ended with a much below normal December that saw most golfers stay at home. In between was a dry, hot year that scorched much flora in the region. The previous record for consecutive days above 90 degrees was 28 but a stretch of weather in July and August established a new record of 36 days. Rainfall during the summer months was limited but not totally absent. The monthly average rain in September was achieved on the only day of the month that it rained, and the year ended well below normal.
The golf course turf survived fairly well though there were some major challenges. The cold winter killed much bermudagrass around the greens in short mown collar areas. The greens height was raised and irrigation regimes increased and that produced green but mostly slow putting surfaces. Non-irrigated rough was hard and fast with little green turf left by summer’s end. Trees stressed from the ’09 ice storm could not cope with hot and dry conditions and died. Accomplishments on the course were as follows:
1. Greens survived with not much turf loss. #12 and 17 thinned mightily in August due to lack of air flow and sunlight, and incorrect moisture levels. Changes to the greens aerator improved the operation and speeded the recovery time but the machine still failed to aerate properly during summer venting. Weekly topdressings smoothed the surface. Increased irrigation slowed down the incidence of dry spots and when combined with the USGA (increased) height of cut produced a playing surface that most thought was on the slow side. During fall aeration, the greens were seeded with Alpha, the latest, lower maintenance, premier bentgrass.
2. Tees were great all year and areas in the collars where bermuda did not survive the winter were sodded with zoysia from our nursery. Collars were expanded outward making more short grass around the greens. The ryegrass overseeded back practice tee suffered much bermuda loss and was regrassed with our own sod that was a combination of bermuda and zoysia.
3. Fairway bermuda survived the winter with almost no loss of turf. With only one good fairway mower, the pattern of cut used was the fastest for the second year in a row. Unfortunately this led to the bermuda becoming grainy and leggy. Aeration was contracted out but without verticut units the situation was not remedied.
4. The rough survived well where the new irrigation heads had been installed. The intermediate cut around the fairways was abandoned to shift personnel to trimming. For the first time in over 6 years, all the rough was overseeded using perennial ryegrass. The dry fall slowed the germination and establishment. Most of the stumps left from the ice storm were ground up, the debris hauled off and the holes backfilled and seeded. In the late fall, the unkept area behind #17 green was cleaned and seeded with fescues with the intent of letting them grow naturally as a trial to improving other unkept areas on the course.
5. Fairway drainage was added on #3 and 8 to alleviate wet weather springs that impact mowing during wet springs. Another area to receive drainage was between the cart path and green on #16. This area was impacted also by a wet weather spring and should allow foot traffic to and from the green during soggy periods.
6. The landscaping and turf areas around the clubhouse and pro shops continue to improve with the help of contracted services for weed control and landscaping. The landscape bed around the main club sign was redone and a matching bed was installed across the driveway to provide symmetry. Plans were drawn up for four landscape areas on the course to be done when funding is available.
7. A new pond was dug along the property line on #4 just off the tee by Phillip Higdon in his development of the property for residential use. The club allowed the pond to be on club property in exchange for the soil from the excavation. The OB markers on #4 were found to be in the wrong place during this process and they were moved to their rightful place and the contour of the fairway and rough were adjusted late in the season.
8. The drought tested the irrigation system as it had to be used for most of the season on a daily basis. The new heads installed in the rough in 2008 proved their worth as they kept the rough watered better with less water than previously. No new heads were bought and the 5 year replacement plan is still two years from completion. The field controllers continued to deteriorate but the purchase of 11 used ones in 2009 allowed replacements. The central control package operated okay but with a couple of hiccups.
9. Roger Rulewich, golf course architect, was hired for a visit to inspect the course and offer solutions to improve the course in the future. His assessment of the course was high, he saw no reason for major changes, and offered suggestions for improvements and additions that the club could consider.
10. Because no equipment replacement money was available for the second straight year, the equipment maintenance costs continue to climb and be high.
11. Adam Hunerkoch, a turf graduate from SIU, was hired and has assumed a second assistants position. His enthusiasm and knowledge were instrumental in the care of the turf in 2010. Larry Lear, long time mechanic, started to train his replacement Justin Watson. This training will continue in 2011 and Larry will reduce his work schedule by 20% for the year.
Looking ahead to the 2011 season, sustainability has become the mantra for the golf course operation. It is obvious that the money available at this club will not be able to fund all the wishes and desires of the membership. Thus, in a continuation of changes made in 2010, the golf course care programs are being evaluated and simplified over the winter. Where needed, the time or money that is saved is being reinvested in expanding programs to make the greens, tees and fairways (in that order) better meet the member’s expectations. Some of the changes to be tried are as follows:
1. Rolling and mowing of greens on both Saturday and Sunday.
2. More collar/fairway around putting surfaces with less intermediate rough.
3. More and varied patterns of mowing fairways to cut back on grain.
Other money that is saved could be used for capital replacement and projects for the golf course. It is my opinion that if the golf course operational and capital expenses could be considered as a single entity and funded consistently, the golf course would shine and become more of an asset for the club in its drive to grow and retain the membership in the future.
Larry Hantle, CGCS
