Trees, Geese, Verticutting, Ballmarks and Pumphouse Update Number 2

Now that we have seen the end of June and hopefully the end of such wicked weather, the golf course is shaping up to summer conditions.  The greens are running between 8.5 and 9.5 on the stimp meter (as per our mandate from the greens committee) and are at their summer height of cut.  The fairways and rough have finally dried down and we're beginning to see some roll. Even the clippings are becoming more manageable.  The wet spring will have an impact on the maintenance throughout most of the summer.  With all the rain we have had, water is readily available at the surface, the roots are less likely to push into the soil.  Because of this the plants are going to be less tolerant heat stress, and will require more attention to avoid wilting.  Kyle and Tony, our irrigation team, can often be seen watering the stressed portions of the golf course with hoses and sprinklers during the day.

Dave and Sam planting trees on 18 fairway.

As of this week the golf course has 29 new trees and 2 replacement trees installed on the property.  Most of the new trees positions were chosen by the tree committee, with golfer safety, playability and future assessment in mind. The trees are different varieties selected for both geographical location and the environmental conditions where the plantings were deemed necessary.  The varieties include Oak, Maple, Crab, Olive, Spruce and Ginkgo. These trees are staked and will be mulched so therefore fall under the local rule that allows relief from line of sight and swing. 

A new program to the maintenance at Oakfield is the verticutting of the fairways. To understand why we verticut it’s important to understand how Bent grass propagates.  Bent grass in general is a plant that has leaves and stems that grow horizontally rather than vertically (hence the use as a playing surface).  Most Bent grass varieties spread by means of a horizontal stem called a stolen.  Stolons are made up of nodes that are separated and fed from the main plant by stems. They spread out from the main plant adjacent or on the surface of the soil.  Because of the nature of the plant the stolons and the nodes it produces will eventually become new plants.  One way to encourage this to happen faster is sever the stolons between the nodes. The vertical mowing heads have a series of vertical blades designed with this in mind.   When separated the nodes undergo a physiological change and grow into new plants, much the way that a cutting from a house plant will produce new growth.    

                 We began on the 30th of June in the morning on number 18 fairway.  Because the grass is hasn't been verticut before and wet with dew, the mower  gummed up and would not perform properly.  On Tuesday of this week we tried verticutting number ten fairway when it was dry and had much better results. We timed the event and now have a better ides as to fit it into our schedule. We will continue the process, when it won't interfere with play and dry enough.



 

After the verticut, note the length of the turf and how it stands up.



After verticutting and mowing, note the clean cut and reduction of horizontal growth.

Operation Scarecrow has proven to less effective than anticipated.  It seems as though the geese become adjusted to the fences, flags and eagle silhouettes, and  no longer feel threatened.  The next step we are taking is to follow a goose management plan through the Canada Wildlife Services.  The plan, which includes some of the steps we have already taken, may also include a cull of the existing flock at the golf course.  No actions can be taken until the plan is applied for and approved by Canada Wildlife Services, which is now in the works. As of Thursday you may see me driving around with Abby, my one year old female Golden Retriever.  Abby and I plan to visit the sights where the geese usually rest during the day, and she can chase them back into the lake.  Our hope is that this alone will deter them from resting in the area.  The geese droppings continue to be a problem, even though we have staff collecting the feces through out the day.  If you are playing and find your putt blocked by feces, there are now shovels at both 12 and 13 green sites for removal of the obstructions.



Abby on guard on thirteen, you can see the geese in the lake (where they belong)

Just a reminder to the membership to please repair your ball marks on the greens.  Our staff fix 10 a day, each day, prior to mowing the green, but we are still seeing many unrepaired bruises. 

 The pump house construction continues on schedule.  The actual pump house is now constructed and the electrical is being installed this week.  All that is required as far as the land work goes is to have Nova Scotia Power install the poles, transformer and the connections to finish the project.  The lake work won't start until at least the 18th of July due to the constraints placed on the project by the Department of the Environment.  Following are some photos of the building in various states of construction.