Before and After Project Photos

#4 Forward Tee

Before

 

After

 

 

This Spring we will add some additional irrigation to the tee and it's surrounds to make sure the turf stays healthy. For the next few days we have moved the Yellow and Red tees forward to the beginning of the fairway until the sod can tack in.

#11 Tree Work Behind Green

Before

After

 

 

#15 Green Surrounds

Before

 

After

 

 

This project is about 90% complete. The remaining tree to the right of the green needs to be removed by a professional tree company. The stumps grinded and some minor grading and sodding where the trees where is yet to be completed. We will be monitoring the drainage pattern from #16 tee to determine if drainage or a curb along the cart path is better to prevent future washouts.

Course Update 10.26.16

#15 Green Surrounds

We have removed several trees to the right of #15 green. There still remains one tree left to be cut. The goals of doing this is to increase morning sunlight to the green and the surrounds and remove root competition from the turfgrass growing in the area.

The next step is to prepare the area to be sodded to the right of the green by removing the rocks and roots in the area and possibly adding topsoil then sodding next week.

#13 Bunker Surrounds

The sod will be stripped on Monday and sodded next week with Turf Type Tall Fescue.So far this turfgrass type has proven to do well here at Fieldstone versus the Kentucky Bluegrass/Ryegrass that was used previously. If needed we can add drip irrigation to the steep slopes on the surrounds at a later time.

The walk on/off area from the cart path to the green will be addressed at a later time.

#8 Green Surrounds

The front left and left side green surrounds will have specialty irrigation added (similar to what was used behind #6 green), soil prepped and sodded within the next two weeks (weather dependent).

Weekly Schedule for October 24-30, 2016

Weather and unforeseen conditions can/will change the schedule.

-Blow and mulch leaves
-Continue slit seeding thin areas in fairways
-Remove trees to the right of #15 green and prep area for sod

#6 Green-What's New/Different?

Two of my favorite quotes are the following:

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results” -Albert Einstein

"If you do not have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over" -Coach John Wooden

I like to use these quotes as guides for the planning and executing of projects here at Fieldstone.

Finished product

There are some key differences we made to improve the green surrounds. The first of which is sodding with Turf Type Tall Fescue instead of the previously used Blue/Ryegrass mix. This will give us a much more hardier grass to grow in this environment.

We've also adjusted the greens heads around the greens so they are properly spaced around the green itself.

Moving greens heads closer to green

Additionally, specialty irrigation was installed behind the green so only the rough is watered between the green and bunkers. 

Maybe most importantly, a conduit for a fan was installed as well. Plans are to add the fan this winter. The conduit was installed from behind the green to the far right rough. This winter we will continue the conduit run through the very far right rough across the stream to the tee side of the stream.

Conduit installed from behind the green where the fan will be placed to the far right side of the hole.

In order to spread out the flow of traffic onto and off the green we will be alternating parking spots for golf carts from the turnaround area to the back of the green near the courtesy cart. Possibility alternating every other week. Additional cultural practices to alleviate compaction will also be used in the left hand green surrounds on a more frequent basis.


 

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Albert Einstein
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins133991.html

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Albert Einstein
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins133991.html

Slit Seeding Update

In just 10 days we have nice germination on holes #3, #4 and #11 where we began slit seeding. As we move through the rest of the tees and fairways seeding thin areas there will be irrigation applied each night to help with the establishment of these areas.

Same with greens #2-8, #11-15 and #17 where we recently hand seeded and topdressed areas along the edges of these greens. Irrigation will be applied to ensure the best possible establishment of the seed.

Weekly Schedule for October 17-23, 2016

Weather and unforeseen conditions can/will change the schedule.

-Install specialty irrigation behind #6 green
-Sod rough surrounds on #6 Wednesday
-Seed green edges
-Continue slit seeding thin areas in fairways and tees

#6 Green and Bunker Surround Sodding

Today we began sodding the green and bunker surround on #6 to Turf Type Tall Fescue. Our goal is to complete the bunker surround today and the rest next week.

In laying the conduit for the future fan behind the green we ran into a large bolder that actually encroaches into the green. We will be installing multiple sweeps to get the pipe around this impediment.

Our experience with sodding Turf Type Tall Fescue for bunker surrounds and rough has been very good. The surrounds on the bunkers just past the pond on #5 along with the three bunkers to the left of #18 fairway landing area have all fared well. Not to mention the primary rough between #2 and #10 that was done almost two years ago. The Kentucky Bluegrass that was in these areas requires more water and fertility. Plus it is more susceptible to disease and insect damage. While the Turf Type Tall Fescue is by no means "bulletproof" it is a much more hardy turf for this region.

New Slit Seeder and #6 Update

New Slit Seeder

We were fortunate to receive a brand new slit seeder this past week for fairways and tees. The machine is a TriWave 45 from TurfCo. What previously took hours to seed by hand can now be done in minutes.

Once we slit seed, topdressing is applied then dragged in. Our goal is to have germination within two weeks and let the young plants mature the rest of the Fall and Winter. Once Spring hits with warmer soil temps the plants will rapidly spread laterally into the bare areas.

#6

We are moving along slowly but surely with the conduit for the future fan at #6. As can be seen from the pictures above we have run into a large quantity of rocks while trenching.

Weekly Schedule for October 10-16, 2016

Weather and unforeseen conditions can/will change the schedule.

-Leaf blowing and mulching
-Finish installing conduit at #6 green
-Install specialty irrigation in surrounds behind #6 green
-Sod #6 green surrounds
-Seed thin areas in tees and fairways

#6 Green Surrounds and Greens Height of Cut

#6 Green Surrounds Update

We completed the moving of irrigation heads around #6 green to improve spacing today. Rocks were found anywhere we wanted to trench which caused the work to take longer than expected. Thursday and Friday we will be installing conduit for power to a fan that will be installed in the future on this green. Next week specialty irrigation will be installed in the rough directly behind the green. With good weather and no unexpected delays we plan on sodding the surrounds by the end of next week.

Greens Height of Cut

#6, #11 and #14 greens are being mowed at a slightly higher height of cut than the rest of the greens. We are slowly lowering the height of cut on these greens every other day to match the height of cut on the greens throughout the rest of the course.

Weekly Schedule for October 3-9, 2016

Weather and unforeseen conditions can/will change the schedule.

-Moving irrigation heads at #6 and #13 greens
-Sodding greens surrounds at #6 and #13 to Turf Type Tall Fescue