Winter Weather and Frost Delays

With the changing weather comes changes in management practices here at Willow Ridge. Particularly in regards to frost delays caused by freezing temperatures and cold fall nights. The frost alone is not damaging to the turfgrass, but walking and running equipment over the grass can be extremely damaging.

The putting greens, maintained at such low heights of cut are very susceptible to damage when they are covered with frost. This is because the leaf blades which are 90% water become covered in ice crystals. When walked on, the the ice crystals are likely to puncture and rupture the cell walls of the plant. Often times symptoms do not manifest for 24-48 hours where a dead footprint will appear. Not only are the greens susceptible to frost damage, all of the turf can be killed when walked on with frost. This includes not only tees, fairways and approaches but the rough as well.

Damage resulting from walking on frost covered turfgrass

While frost delays can be an annoyance, it is important for everyone to understand the reasoning behind them. Walking on the greens before the frost has melted can cause irreversible damage resulting in unneeded repairs. When there is a frost delay, information can be found by calling the golf hotline. The management staff is in close contact with the first tee during frost delays ensuring golf can begin as soon as favorable conditions return.

Lightning Detection System and Saftey

Here at Willow Ridge we have an Electric Storm Identification Device coupled with four sirens on the course. This device can detect when lightning is in the area and alert golfers and employees of the eminent danger. The alarm sounds when lightning is between 0-5 miles from Willow Ridge, meaning the storm is close. The alarm is a solid tone indicating everyone to take shelter immediately, there is no telling if the lightning is on top of us or 5 miles away.

When the alarm goes off drop what you are doing and head to the nearest shelter, if you cannot get back to the clubhouse, maintenance facility or the bathroom on the course it is advisable to find a thick growth of small trees in the woods. Stay away from wire fences, metal pipes, rails, isolated trees, and other equipment.

There is also a two-toned alarm indicating that there has been no lightning strikes in past 15 minutes. It is important to stay alert and cautious during this time because it does not indicate the storm is gone or that everything is clear, it is only an indicator that there has not been a lightning strike within 5 miles for 15 minutes.

This past year the United States had 26 lightning strike fatalities according the National Weather Service. It is extremely important to stay aware of the weather and know what the lightning detection alarm sounds like and how to react. There are four loud speakers that sound when the alarm goes off, located by the first green, the seventh tee, the sixteenth tee and by the maintenance facility.

New Pump

A new booster pump has been installed giving the irrigation system an important upgrade. The old pump was nearly 20 years old and on its last legs. Attempts to repair the pump to get through the season were met with unavailable parts, meaning if the pump was to fail we would be out of luck and with inadequate water available.

Old Booster Pump

The irrigation pump is the heart of the golf course water system, providing the necessary water to much of the golf course. Without the pump, keeping the course green and alive becomes a impossible. It is likely that a lot of our managed turf would stress, becoming brown and dead. The pump is an often overlooked feature of the golf course, when it breaks down everybody can see the results.

New Booster Pump

The new booster pump is state of the art, with computer controls that give us more flexibility to manage the watering schedule. The new pump is more efficient than the old one, and at the same time can output more water. The biggest advancement the new pump has over the old pump is a feature called Variable Frequency Drive(VFD). The old pump is comparable to a light switch, it has two modes On and Off. The new pump is akin to a dimmer switch, there is a sliding scale between On and Off. The pump automatically adjusts its power level and water out to meet demand most efficiently. VFD is a major factor in the reduction of electric costs surrounding the pump station.

New Booster pump internals

Divots, Divots, Divots Everywhere

Divots on the golf course are a common and normal occurrence that we must appropriately manage to ensure a quick and efficient recovery. All of the golf carts are equipped with a green sand mix in divot repair bottles to help us fill divot on the course. The reception of the divot repair bottles has been exceptional and has helped us cut down on tedious divot repair jobs. However, there are generally two types of divots found on the course, and they need to be taken care of in different ways.

Divots of all types, sizes and shape

Thin divots with no soil attached should be filled with sand as per normal routine. This helps to keep the tee surface or fairway level and promotes faster healing. The green sand helps to conceal the divot as well as heat the ground up to assist recovery. It is equally important to not overfill the divots with sand as this can damage the mowers and create an uneven playing surface.

The second type of divots commonly found are larger and have roots and soil attached to the underside of the divot. These are essentially small pieces of sod. The best course of action is to replace the divot in the same direction it came out and firmly tamp it down. By replacing large divots recovery time can be tremendously sped up without affecting aesthetics, play, or maintenance.

Divots such as this one with soil should be placed back and NOT filled with sand.

It is important to differentiate between the two different types of divots and properly mend the affected area. It is important to remember under the etiquette section of the USGA rule book golfers are responsible for repairing their own damage and preventing undo damage by taking divots on practice swings. Proper divot repair is an integral part of keeping our tees and fairways in top shape,

Broken Tee Boxes and Unbroken Tees

As part of our weekly routine here at Willow Ridge grounds crew we clean out the broken tee boxes that are located next to each set of tee markers. Through some observation we have noticed that a lot of the tees we are collecting are not broken at all. In fact, between 30-50% of the tees we collect are in perfect shape. There are also countless tees left in the tee surface ready to place a ball on top.

We urge everybody to clean up their broken tees, and take the good ones on to the next hole with you.

Pond Maintenance

Ducks and algae seen at the pond by the 6th green

The water features here at Willow Ridge stretch across the entire course with eleven of our eighteen holes having a water feature or very close to water. Keeping the ponds clean and properly maintained keeps the course looking complete and well kept. The aesthetic features waterways offer, as well as their ability to turn an easy hole into a challenging hole are what make them so important.

Water feature from the red tee on the 4th hole

In the past we have tried to keep up with pond maintenance with varying levels of success. This year we have enlisted the help of a pond maintenance company, and together came up with a maintenance schedule to treat the ponds. These treatments help to make the ponds more environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing. Monthly treatments to reduce the presence of algae and aquatic weed pressure work by limiting how far light can penetrate the water. Reducing the amount of sunlight in the ponds helps to give them a deep color. We have purchased grass carp, these freshwater herbivorous fish feed exclusively on aquatic weeds. They are a great environmentally friendly way to limit aquatic weeds while also increasing biodiversity.

The aquatic plants seen growing around the pond banks are maintained as a buffer zone. These areas of tall vegetation help to catch surface water and subsurface flow containing nutrients. Without these buffer zones, the nutrients will reach the water more easily and can cause increase instances of algal blooms.

Buffer zone visible to the right of the 16th green

The ponds and streams provide habitat for many different types of local wildlife. There are multiple species of fish, turtles, frogs and birds that all use the ponds as a means for survival. Snapping turtles and eastern painted turtles can be seen bathing in the sun on warm afternoons, an egret patiently waits for a passing meal while an osprey circles overhead looking for its next meal. Mallards can be seen diving for food as the barn swallows swoop around for insects just over the surface of the water. The list goes on and on, the water features at Willow Ridge are home to a wide variety of wild life. Having well maintained ponds not only provide a better overall look of the course, but they draw in unsuspecting wildlife. Who knows, you may even see a bald eagle.

Bald Eagle seen over the winter at Willow Ridge CC

Aeration Holes, Shrub Additions, and Pin Placements

The aeration holes are filled in 100% and the greens are smoother and truer than earlier in the season. We here at the maintenance facility want to thank you for your patience through this critical cultural practice. I'd like to reiterate the importance of aeration again to stress just how important this is to the success of our golf course. One often overlooked aspect of aeration is improved water percolation through the soil surface. The channels created from aeration help to move water off the surface of the putting green and into the soil, improving drainage and providing a healthier growing environment for the turf. Another critical reason for aeration is the removal of organic matter which helps to keep the greens firm and provide a better roll for the ball. If the organic matter was allowed to build up the greens would play slower and feel spongy. Keeping up with the proper amount of aeration should be as important to the golfers as it is to us.

A cross cut of an aerification hole showing clean sand devoid of organic matter

Annuals planted oustide the clubhouse by the 18th and 9th greens

Our annual flower beds have been planted across the course, and we have planted some new shrubs. Behind the thirteenth green are three new flowering Viburnums(Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum). This is an aesthetic touch in order to improve the backdrop of the thirteenth hole. After the harsh winter, some of the boxwoods(Buxus) along the cart path at the first tee failed to fully recover. The worst of the bunch were pulled and replaced to keep the uniform look. Having nice ornamentals enhanced the beauty of the golf course.

Three new doublefile Viburnums behind the 13th green. 

Just this year we have implemented a new technique for pin placement. This involved breaking the greens up into individual zones containing multiple pin placements each. On some of the greens this proved to be very difficult, notably the 3rd, 8th, 9th, and 15th holes have limited pin placements either because of their smaller size, large swales and/or aggressive ridges. This can be seen in the photos below by the shaded areas, while the labeled sections are available for pin positions. Some of the designated zones are more difficult than others from a playability standpoint as well as the
management side. In order to determine these areas that are out of play we use a maximum slope of 2.7 degrees. This number was developed with help from USGA references comparing greens speed to maximum allowed slope. This method allows us to ensure that every pin placement is in a fair location.

Pin Placement Guide for Front 9

Pin Placement Guide for Back 9

Opening of the Seventh Hole and Newly Constructed Tees

This week has been extremely productive in regards to the newly renovated tees and the ongoing work on number 7. The seventh hole will be open for play on Saturday as will the newly resurfaced tees. The blue tee on number 2, the water tee on number 7, the ladies tee on number 10 and the blue tee on number 18 are ready to go.

 View of the seventh hole from the sixth fairway

View of the seventh hole from the seventh tee

The water tee on number 7

The sod on the seventh hole has finally began to root to the ground, giving way to playable conditions. The newly shaped approach gives golfers the ability to roll the ball up onto the green. Not to make the hole too easy, the right hand bunker was extended into the fairway to shade the right side of the green. The lip of the left bunker was shaped to allow the ball to easily roll into the bunker if you miss your shot to the left. These changes are intended to make the hole more approachable to the average golfer yet still provide challenges to more experienced golfers.

Some members have noticed the newly worked tees having a brownish hue to them, this is to be expected and perfectly normal given the circumstances. The sod is inherently thatchy, so we aerated to help remove some organic matter. This thatch has also caused some scalping from the mowers that is well within reason. The lack of rain we have been experiencing caused the tees to become dry. However, this encourages the turf to send out longer roots in search for water resulting in a stronger and healthier turf in the long run. These are all issues that will grow out as the season progresses and nothing to be alarmed about.

The red tee on number 10.

The red tee on number 10.

The blue tee on number 18

The Hard Work Continues

Since the last post we have not stopped to take a breath, keeping the pace up to continue setting the course up for another successful season.The project on number 7 is moving along quickly and laying the sod is scheduled for Tuesday April 21st. Both the fairways and the tees have been successfully aerated, and we have even put our first cut on the rough grass. As some have noticed we have put covers on portions of the 2nd, 8th, and 15th greens to promote growth and give the turf more favorable conditions through the slow spring.

Because of the extended winter some of our greens are taking longer than usual to recover and green up for the spring. In order to help move the grass along we are laying covers over the affected areas. The covers help to keep warm moist air closer to the soil surface during cold nights, similar to a blanket. These covers are put out in the early evening before temperatures drop and removed in the morning as the temperatures begin to rise.

 Laying one of the covers on the eighth green.

Laying one of the covers on the eighth green. 

Fairway and tee aeration are as important and integral to our management strategy as aerating the greens. Aeration promotes a firmer playing surface by removing organic matter from the soil profile. It also encourages a stronger root system for healthy plant growth and development.

Aerating the sixth fairway.

Using our Sisis to break up the cores pulled from aerating.

After the cores are pulled from the fairway, we break them up to reincorporate some of the soil back into the ground. What remains on the surface is dry organic matter which is blown off into piles and subsequently cleaned up. 

The rough has began to grow, more so in some of the higher elevation areas on the course than others. This past week was our first time cutting the rough fully including greens/tees surrounds.

Mowing the rough for the first time of the season.

The Season Has Officially Begun

April 10th and the golf course is beginning to shape up. Our crew has been working hard to clean all the debris left over from the fall and winter, as well as get our playing surfaces up to snuff. The past couple weeks have been extremely busy for us, however we have made tremendous strides in the past 5 days alone.

The course was officially open for its first weekend and while the weather was not stellar, there were plenty of golfers.  We moved the tee markers out on to the course as well as moved the flags from the temporary greens to the regulation greens. Ball washers, benches, garbage cans and other course accessories have been placed out on the course.

Cutting the first hole of the season on number 9

We kicked off this week with greens aeration. While this generally receives moans from the golfing community, aeration is one of the most important practices we use on the course. By removing organic matter and less desirable soil from the putting greens we help to alleviate compaction and improve the root zone mix. This does slightly disrupt the putting surface, but it is only temporary and if we were to skip aerification we could run into more severe problems with our greens.

Aerating on the 17th green

There has also been a lot of progress made on number 7. The right bunker has been shaped out completely with just minor adjustments before its ready for sand. The left hand bunker has had a drain added to the furthest section and the faces are shaped nicely. Grading the floor of the bunker remains to be done. In the new section of fairway we have begun to lay down topsoil and grade the area for proper surface drainage.

Installing filter fabric for the drain in the left hand bunker

Left hand bunker with drain visible in the back

Left hand bunker with projected sand line painted on bunker face

Winter Weather Coming To An End...Maybe

Firstly I would like to introduce myself, Ryan Carey, as Assistant Superintendent here at Willow Ridge and the new author of this blog. Some of you may have seen me through the past season and I hope my hard work has not gone unnoticed. Coming from the University of Connecticut Storrs with a bachelors degree in Turfgrass and Soil Science I spent my first two years at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, CT on the grounds crew. I came to Willow Ridge Country Club in the Spring of 2014 in an effort to expand my knowledge base and advance my career towards my ultimate goal of becoming a superintendent. I have thoroughly enjoyed what Willow Ridge to offer including my fellow employees and the members. I look forward to providing the club with the best possible conditions and another great season.

With the past week of temperatures reaching the mid 50's it looked like spring was finally upon us. It is nice to get back out onto the course and begin to prep everything for this upcoming season. Always looking for ways to improve the course we have worked hard to get the course accessories in tip-top shape. Through the winter we have been busy refurbishing the tee markers, ball washers, benches, as well as creating new bird boxes.

The tee markers were hand sanded down and repainted with two fresh coats of paint to ensure that they are as vibrant and clean as they ever were. With over 100 tee markers out on the course, it was a lengthy process to ensure the quality we strive for.While the ball washers underwent a similar treatment, the benches were broken down into the frames and slats. From there the pieces were prepped for either painting or staining before being reassembled.

We also are replacing some of our older bird boxes with brand new, hand crafted bluebird boxes. Made out of cedar to ensure that they stay beautiful for years to come.

Assembling bluebird boxes

Throughout the last week we began to clear the snow and ice off of the greens. Prolonged periods under ice and snow become favorable for turfgrass pathogens and create a poor environment for the health of our greens. Our two main goals are to prevent crown hydration where the turf uptakes surface water which then freezes and ruptures the plant cells. And to prevent ice encasement where the air underneath the ice becomes toxic and depleted of oxygen. Both of these can result in plant death, so we do our best to thwart any upcoming problems.

Using shovels and the snow blower to carefully remove snow from the 6th green

Unfortunately, the forecast is calling for 2-5 inches of snow tonight into tomorrow. However the sunny skies Saturday should melt the snow quickly making it seem like the storm never happened by the end of the weekend.

Revamping the Seventh Hole

Substantial progress has been made since our last update on the seventh hole.  After the removal of sod, we directed our focus to filling in the front left bunker, and reshaping/expanding the front right and far left bunkers.  The bunkers on the left hand side of the green, have undergone quite a transformation.  Rather than having individual bunkers along the left hand side, the bunkers are being combined into one large bunker.  The bunker has been shaped with new capes and bays to create depth, as well as give the bunkers some much needed character.  The bunker has also been expanded to encroach on what will be the new approach.

The right hand bunker is also going through some transformations of its own.  Much like the bunker on the left, it is expanding, again encroaching on the new approach.  The bunker is being reshaped to create more depth, while also injecting more aesthetic value.  Much of the work performed thus far has been roughly shaped, leaving the fine details to be finalized when the weather breaks to accommodate such steps.  

Drainage was also installed in what will be the new approach on seven.  The drainage runs through the right hand bunker which will help in reducing standing water in the bunker itself.  We're looking to remove as much water, both surface and subsurface, from the area to create a firm, and dry approach to encourage more shots to bounce up onto the putting surface.  

Given the variable weather and the reduced crew size, significant strides have been made on the renovation of the seventh hole.  When weather permits we will have to finalize both bunkers, as well as cap the entire approach with 3-6 inches of a top mix (sandy mix) to promote a more uniform root zone that allows for better water infiltration and thus firmer conditions.  Although the snow has shut the project down, the silver lining here is that we're likely only a week or so removed from laying sod, and getting the hole ready for the 2015 season.  

Expanded bunker on the left side of the seventh green.