The Ridge at Castle Pines North

Winter Time

2012-01-13T05:39:00.003-07:00

Refurbishment of tee markers.

Snowblowing paths to prevent ice build-up from residents packing them down

Course monitoring (ice layers, dry bunker capes, and wildlife!)

Budget forecasting, fertility, and cultural practice planning.
...and even an occasional hole is dug to install a pop-up zone or repair a broken gate valve!

A Photo Album - 2011

2012-01-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy the Youtube of various photos I've taken in the past year or so.

2011 Season Highlights

2011-12-20T14:04:00.001-07:00

This is a short video from about twenty minutes of filming I took in 2011. One of the days was during Spring aerification and the other day was late July.

Golf Course Frost Delay

2011-10-06T05:44:00.000-06:00

A few years ago I posted a sign in the golf shop with the following information and thought it wise to post in on the blog for the benefit of patrons as well as other industry professionals that read my blog. Enjoy!

FROST DELAYS

On morning's with cold temperatures and clear skies, normally there is frost. Often times patrons believe the course is ready for play the moment the frost is gone but this is not necessarily the case.

Once the frost has lifted, the agronomy staff will be preparing the course for all players ahead of the first group. Please understand we will need enough of a "head-start" to both clean the course of yesterdays debris as well as set-up the course for today's play. Thanks for your understanding.

Regards,

David J. Soltvedt, CGCS

Handwatering

2011-08-19T05:36:00.000-06:00

We are currently in the thick of our hanwatering season which usually runs 12 months a year for a number of reasons. Skipping most of those reasons, I wanted to give a glimpse into how our summer process works. As the irrigation team (Irrigation Tech, Assistants, and Superintendent) tour the course in the evenings and mornings, we make notes of the areas that require specific water needs. These notes are transferred onto our course map. As you can see from the black spots on the map, we handwater quite a bit!

Once all the areas are marked, the lists are delegated to staff members with some additional verbal instructions on what areas are top priority. The staff has been pretty creative on how they make notes of what they are responsible for watering but it usually involves paper...or even a photo.

Be It Known...

2011-08-09T16:14:00.002-06:00

I received in the mail last week, a certificate of achievement from Audubon International congratulating us on becoming a fully Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Below is the press release.

The Ridge at Castle Pines North Recognized for Environmental Excellence

CASTLE ROCK, CO – The Ridge at Castle Pines North golf course has achieved designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. David Soltvedt, Course Superintendent, has led the effort to obtain sanctuary status on this course and is being recognized for Environmental Stewardship by Audubon International. The Ridge at Castle Pines North is the 37th course in Colorado and the 848thin the world to receive the honor.

"The Ridge at Castle Pines North has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," said Jim Sluiter, Staff Ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs.

"To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas," explained Sluiter. These categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect natural resources. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe, and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program.

For more information on golf and the environment, visit www.golfandenvironment.org. In addition to golf courses, Audubon International also provides programs for businesses, schools, communities, and new developments. For more information, contact Audubon International, 46 Rarick Rd., Selkirk, NY 12158, USA, (518) 767-9051, e-mail them via the Internet at acsp@auduboninternational.org, or visit their website at www.auduboninternational.org.

Results

2011-07-27T16:55:00.005-06:00

This blog post highlights a project I have had on our "to-do" list for several years. It is a 260-foot drainage project across #5 fairway. The main purpose of this project was to collect the water runoff from the adjacent housing development and get it below ground as soon as possible, therefore preventing the fairway from becoming wet and unplayable. This will also help significantly in reducing our handwatering labor as we routinely turn several overhead irrigation heads down to ensure this swale remains playable. My only hope is that you don't even notice this area in a week or two. But for now, enjoy the sod line and commend the staff when you see them for a job well done. (I apoligize for the poor quality cell phone pictures.)

BTA

2011-07-25T05:09:00.001-06:00

Black Turfgrass Ataenius is a grub that has slowly but surly started to casue a few issues at The Ridge in recent years. Not to worry as we have been monitoring the last few seasons and have been on top of the control. Here is a brief background on the beetle taken from Turfwiki.

The black turfgrass ataenius (BTA) has been collected from at least 40 of the 48 contiguous states and probably occurs in all 48. The first record of damage was reported from Minnesota in 1932. The next report of damage was in 1969 on two golf courses in New York and in 1973 in Ohio. Since then, damage has occurred in most of the states where cool-season grasses are grown. BTA adults overwinter in the thatch and underlying soil of turf, under leaves and other debris along the edges of fairways and in adjacent wooded areas. Adults begin to emerge and return to golf courses or other nearby expanses of turfgrass in late March.

As the summer progresses, the adult beetles lay eggs and a second generation of larvae emerge. Now is the time when these grubs are most susceptible to our control efforts. Areas that receive increased cart traffic (compacted) and areas that have poor irrigation coverage are most susceptible to damage because that is where the root systems will be the shallowest and unable to withstand those pesky grubs eating at the limited roots that are there. We will be continuing our scouting/control program as we see evidence of larve infestations throughout the next few weeks.

Noxious

2011-06-13T05:12:00.001-06:00

We are in the thick of our annual noxious weed control program. This involves spot spraying areas that are annual hotbeds for noxious weeds such as Russian Thistle and Bull Thistle. I am humbled by the fact that The Ridge has come such a long way in our weed control in the native areas. Although this is one of those situations where many golfers do not notice when first playing The Ridge, I can assure you that walking through grass looking for (or playing out of) native areas with grass is much more enjoyable than walking through a field of Russian Thistle.

A clean native grass stand.
A wealth of young Russian Thistle (AKA Tumbleweed).

Event Lawn Maintenance

2011-06-06T07:33:00.003-06:00

This is more of a "test post" from my Blackberry. Let's see how it goes!

Irrigation Technology - Nozzle Selection

2011-06-06T05:17:00.002-06:00

Irrigation components and technology are in constant change. Manufacturers are continually upgrading software, hardware, and everything in between. As we charge ahead through the hot summer months one of our main focuses is tweaking the performance of our irrigation system. In fact, about 70% of the management staff's daily responsibilities will involve water management. One way we can make a simple and economical change to a problem area is by upgrading an irrigation heads nozzle assembly, one which produces a more uniform water distribution pattern. As opposed to a home lawn situation where pop-up heads throw water 10-12 feet at 4-15 gallons per minute, most of our irrigation heads throw 65 feet at 30 gallons per minute. The more GPM (gallons per minute), and throw radius, the greater the challenge it is for the nozzle engineers to produce uniform spray patterns. This is where the coefficient of uniformity comes in. It is defined as a measure of the hydrodynamic behavior of the system. As we research different nozzles, we use the CU as our basis for what to select. The lower the CU, the better coverage we will achieve. Throughout the past 7 years we have dabble with various combinations of nozzles and have found that while nozzle selections is extremely important, the initial installation of the irrigation system plays and even more important role. I am speaking specifically to head spacing, You see, our head spacing is supposed to be 65 feet but with the different widths of golf holes, it made it difficult for the irrigation designer and construction company to get even spacing between heads. This means that we have some areas that have a spacing of 45 feet, while other areas are 75 feet. This creates several challenges when trying to produce consistent playing conditions. In the end, we may be able to move some heads around in order to produce a more uniform coverage but in many cases we utilize nozzle combinations to provide some relief. As I have stated in the past, over the past year we have made an investment (about $5,000) in reducing our water usage while improving our uniformity. We have replaced nozzles in over 800 heads with what I will call "year 2000" technology, much better than the 1992 technology but yet not perfect. According to the water coverage software we should be increasing our uniformity (and therefore reducing our usage) by 15%! After a few hot days this year I can already see the difference and hope to continue this nozzle conversion throughout the season.

A Second Word on Frost

2011-05-05T06:22:00.003-06:00

This morning the low temperature on hole #11 was 26.8 degrees, while hole #16 read 22 degrees, with hole #1 being very similar to #16. I bring this up because in many cases, golfers may not take this into account when the golf course is prepped and what the temperature may be when those preparations take place. While the temperature at 9:30am at the Clubhouse may be 49 degrees and one wonders how there could be frost, please be aware that there isn't frost at the Clubhouse at that time, but there was at 5:30am on the rest of the golf course, therefore preventing the agronomy team from mowing, cleaning, and setting up the golf course for the day of play. On a similar note, we have observed over the years that the shaded right side of hole #1 can be 11 degrees lower in temperature than the Clubhouse parking lot on cold mornings. This microclimate can hold frost for a very long time and since this is one of the first holes to be prepared, it can sometimes confuse our guests that show up ready for their 8:00am tee time, only to hear there is a delay.

Should frost occur, we have an extensive process map which creates optimal communication between the agronomy and golf departments to ensure our guests are allowed on the practice area and then golf course as soon as possible.

A Word on Frost

2011-04-23T05:48:00.002-06:00

Above is a photo taken last fall after the weather had created ripe conditions for frost. As you can see, the thermometer is at 45 degrees with the grass below covered in frost. Wouldn't you think that frost is only a concern at 32 degrees or below? This photo is firm on the fact that although it's 45 degrees (the photo was from hole 15), the concoction of grass type, height of cut, humidity, dew point, temperature, and shade can cause frost to form at much higher temperatures. In addition, after frost forms keep in mind it may take a while to thaw once the temperatures rise above the threshold at which it formed.

The photo below is that of footprints from someone walking their dog on the golf course while their was frost. This footprint turned from purple to brown in the days following.

Energy Savings

2011-03-24T05:49:00.002-06:00

Last spring I posted about our facilities environmental programs with one of our initiatives being to conserve energy. As a part of this initiative we made it a goal to ensure our maintenance facility lights were turned off when we were not using them. On a positive note, I have happy to report that we were able to reduce our kilowatt hours by 17%. Yes, 17%! A special thanks to Ole Halvorson, Head Mechanic at The Ridge for making sure lights were off when not in use.

Spring 2011 - Part 1

2011-03-19T05:26:00.000-06:00

The agronomy department has been busy prepping the course for play this spring as well as using the nice weather to complete a few projects that have been on the "to-do" list for quite some time. First is the the 17th tee box erosion control project. As a part of this project we constructed a retaining wall as well as renovated the steps that access the silver and gold tees. We a will be continuing to work on this project for the next few weeks but I have posted a few photos to show the current progress and will post more photos when we as we progress.

The second project is the installation of a small pop-up zone on hole 18. Pop-up zones are similar to your home lawn irrigation. In our application, they prevent us from having to turn on a large irrigation head which over the course of time both conserves water and reduces our need for using labor hours to hand water this area. It's a spot that receives a great deal of sunlight and with our elevation, the combination of sunlight and a west facing slope in the peak of the summer equals the need optimal water coverage.

Current Operations

2011-01-25T17:37:00.001-07:00

During this time of our operating season, we gravitate towards maintaining the fleet of equipment and supplies we manage. Due to the intensity of the golfing season, we place a higher emphasis on the course conditioning during the summer months and take advantage of the lack of golf during December, January, and February to perform a thorough repair of our course accessories and equipment.

Touching up the tee markers and traffic control with some polyurethane!

Repairing, sand blasting, and powder coating the ball washers.

"The Man In Blue" - Our Head Mechanic, Ole Halvorson, tuning up the water tank engine to produce optimal RPM and therefore pressure.

Principles of an Ecological Approach

2011-01-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

Recently I stumbled upon on of the most interesting pieces of literature written on golf design. In reading though material put together by the Scottish Golf Environmental Group, I found a summary on golf course development and it's relationship to nature conservation.

Principles of an Ecological Approach

If we accept that such parallels exist between golf course development and nature conservation it is possible to set down some fundamental principles for golf course design and management which are compatible with nature conservation interests:

1) The primary principle is to work with nature, rather than against it, to produce a viable and environmentally sustainable recreational resource. A golf course should fit into its surroundings and not be imposed upon them.

2) It must be recognized that golf is a popular sport and legitimate land use which need not prejudice nature conservation considerations.

3) A golf course which favors nature conservation to the detriment of the game has failed on its fundamental aim.

4) Nearly all golf course “out of play” areas, either formally declared as out of bounds under rule of play, or where a golf ball is very unlikely to come to rest. These areas represent potentially valuable wildlife reserves. Wildlife has existed in parallel with golf for centuries and can tolerate some disturbance by man and learn to exploit the resources on offer.

5) Golf and Wildlife can exist together and with careful thought and planning mutual benefit can be derived. Recognition of this will be to the benefit of golfers and nature conservationist alike.

Travels with Terry

2011-01-05T07:09:00.002-07:00

Note: The following magazine article was written by Terry Buchen and appeared in the November issue of Golf Course Industry Magazine.

CART CONTROL

Golf cart traffic control has been made a lot more functional with these decorative, customized 4” x 4” posts that were manufactured in-house. This idea replaced the traditional ropes and stakes, which are spread-out much wider and they provide the same cart control affect with impressive aesthetic appeal. Greg Goecker, 1st assistant; Chris Hedberg, 2nd assistant of The Ridge at Castle Pines North in Castle Rock, Colo., managed by Troon Golf, teamed up to design the 4” x 4” x 12” posts, which have a 30-degree angle cut on each side's top portion, with a 3/8”-diameter rebar for holding it vertically into the turf. The posts are then stained and sealed with a wood preservative, which ensures they will hold-up extremely well to irrigation cycles and last for several years. The Brand-First Branding Iron (http://www.brand-first.com/), which puts the club’s customized logo onto the top portion of the posts, is a Model BF200-L that costs $300. The wood costs about $80 and the stain and wood preservatives cost another $80. The initial process involved an efficient assembly line process that took about 40 hours from start to finish.

Associate Profiles

2010-09-13T04:42:00.001-06:00

This post highlights George Baker, a 10-year veteran of The Ridge's staff. Ten years at a seasonal golf facility is like 20 years someplace else! George is our resident rough mower utilizing a Toro 4700 as his chariot of sorts. George is very efficient and knows how to operate a machine on steep slopes. He enjoys riding his bike to work each morning (as long as it's not too cold), and taking a few vacations each summer to check-up on the grandkids. Thanks George for your service!

Native Area Restoration

2010-09-03T04:49:00.000-06:00

As a part of our commitment to our environmental initiatives, we have converted several acres of maintained turf to unmaintained turf. The photos are of an area on hole #9 that we restored to native grasses a few years ago and as with most native establishment and/or restoration projects, it took about two years to fully mature. The results are looking good and the project appears to be successful and apart from the beautiful color contrast, this area also receives no fertilizer and relies solely on Mother Nature for water.

Another Angle!

Spoon Feeding

2010-07-07T04:48:00.003-06:00

Spoon feeding is an industry term used to describe fertilizing in small doses. Aside from our spring and fall granular applications, 100% of our greens fertility program is performed via the spoon feeding method. While spoon feeding can be done with the use of granular products, more often, it is done through liquid applications of foliar absorbed products. This accomplishes several things.

1) We lower our overall fertilizer use.

2) We reduce our risk and increase our control over what we put onto the turf.

3) There is less nutrient leaching and therefore less potential for groundwater contamination.

4) Turf response is virtually immediate.

5) We reduce the "peaks and valleys" of turf growth therefore maintaining more consistent greens speeds week after week.

In addition to our fertility program, the spray mixture includes a wetting agent to aid in water conservation. Finally, plant growth regulators are utilized to minimise late afternoon turf growth and enhance ball-mark recovery.

Pebble, The Ridge, and Handwatering

2010-06-18T04:37:00.000-06:00

I recently came across an article where USGA Agronomist Pat Gross was interviewed concerning Pebble Beach and the US Open conditions. I found one of his answers interesting and worth the post. It concerns the fairway grass types and the watering regiment at Pebble Beach. Coincidental, the types of fairway grasses at Pebble Beach are also the same at The Ridge (Poa Annua and ryegrass).

Does the brown is the new green philosophy work for Pebble?

Pat Gross: At Pebble, you can’t just turn off the water because Poa annua and perennial ryegrass don’t go brown and then come back. When they go brown, they are dead. So the key is finding a balance to create firm and fast conditions while maintaining a healthy stand of grass.

At The Ridge, we try find that ever-so-fine line of fast, firm, and healthy turf. Our man-hours spent handwatering fairways are a large part of maintaining these conditions. Not only does handwatering maintain firmer conditions, it also saves on water use which is one reason were were recently certified in Water Conservation by Audubon International.

A Green and Sustainable Golf Course

2010-06-16T14:16:00.001-06:00

Below is a short video produced by the GCSAA featuring the President of Audubon International. It does a great job at clearing up a misconception about sustainable golf course management. Enjoy!

Why We Use Evapotranspiration

2010-05-27T10:34:00.008-06:00

Today is a great example of why we use evapotraspiration as our base for irrigating the turf.

Evapotraspitation is the loss of water from a vegetated surface through the combined processes of soil evaporation and plant transpiration.

I have heard that "it may get to 90 degrees" in the Denver area by the weekend. While the warmer temperature may "sound the alarm" to water more, it's three other weather parameters - solar radiation (amount of sunshine), wind speed, and humidity that impact the rate of ET just as much, if not more. Taking all of these parameters into consideration, our weather station spits out an ET rate for us on a daily basis.

Solar radiation contributes huge amounts of energy to vegetation and thus is the meteorological parameter with the greatest impact on ET on most days. Wind is the second most important factor in determining ET rate. The wind has two major roles; first, it transports heat that builds up on adjacent surfaces such as dry native soil or asphalt to vegetation which accelerates evaporation (a process referred to as advection).

Wind also serves to accelerate evaporation by enhancing turbulent transfer of water vapor from moist vegetation to the dry atmosphere. In this case, the wind is constantly replacing the moist air located within and just above the plant canopy with dry air from above. Humidity and temperature work in concert with each other to determine the dryness or drying power of the atmosphere. The vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is the meteorological variable used to quantify the drying power of the atmosphere. The VPD estimates the difference (or gradient) in vapor pressure (concentration of water vapor) between the moist vegetation and the drier atmosphere above. Relative humidity, the humidity variable most commonly reported in weather
forecasts, is a poor indicator atmospheric dryness. For example, the drying power (VPD) of an atmosphere with a 30% relative humidity and a 86oF temperature is 2 times that of an atmosphere with the same 30% relative humidity and a 68oF temperature.

Bringing us back to temperature.....We have already indicated that temperature impacts
ET through its impact on VPD and advection. In addition to these factors temperature impacts ET is some more subtle ways. When all other factors are equal, ET will be higher for warm as compared to cool vegetation because less energy is required to evaporate water from
the warm vegetation. Temperature also impacts the relative effectiveness of the radiant energy and wind in evaporating water. Radiant energy is more effectively utilized for ET when temperatures are high. In contrast, wind has more impact on ET when temperatures are low.

So, now you know a little more of what goes into our watering regiment. Along with ET, the other main factors that determine our irrigation software set-up are physical soil monitoring, visual turf health, the weather forecast, and playability.

Information Source: http://ag.arizona.edu

Lightly Dressed - How Do They Do It?

2010-05-24T08:05:00.002-06:00

We topdressed the greens very lightly this morning. In doing so we smoothed the surface and filled in any ball marks that had not fully healed yet. In addition, the topdressing helps control the spongy thatch layer, therefore, keeping the surface firm. Tomorrow we will be spraying the greens with a mixture of fertilizer and growth regulators to continue to progress their speed and trueness.

The 18th - Black Tee

2010-05-21T09:15:00.009-06:00

For those of you that do not get out much or those that read this blog from afar, I would like to introduce or remind you of our black (back) tee box on the 18th hole. The tee box in the above photo receives traffic in the neighborhood of 30,000+ people due to either playing or taking photos from the location. It's kind a hard to find unless someone points it out to you. The narrow path below leads to the tee box.

Off the back, it has a great view of the 17 green and tee boxes and on a clear day, Pikes Peak (a Colorado 14'er).

Looking towards the fairway the tee shot looks tough, but it's all a mind game since it's really only a 165 yard carry to the rough and 180 yard carry to the fairway.

If you haven't thought of it yet, yes, it's very difficult to keep this tee box in tip-top shape. Additional soil amendments, fertility, and water go into maintaining a playable surface.

Lights Out!

2010-05-19T05:17:00.001-06:00

Through our EPAR Environmental Management System 2009 assessment, we identified one area that we can improve upon. In short, energy usage! As a part of this, we have committed to a "Lights Out" campaign after 5:15AM. In theory, the only time the shop lights should be on is from 4:40AM when we arrive to 5:15AM, which is the time when the crew is usually loaded, out of the shop, and on the golf course. During the day, the shop garage doors are open and provide ample light for the staff. On cloudy days and over the lunch period, we may flip the lights on for a few minutes but our goal is to keep this to a minimum. As we move into the fall and the days get shorter in length, the time will change a little but not significantly.

What's In a Sand?

2010-05-05T05:13:00.001-06:00

A LOT!!!!! Uniformity coefficient, angularity, particle size distribution, and infiltration rate are just a few of the terms that are reviewed when determining the sand to use in constructing and maintaining a golf green. This mix of terms blend together to form the lifeblood of the greens, "the growing medium". As the greens are topdressed year after year their growing medium will changed to the nature of the sand source that is used. Here are a few examples of what these various terms mean:

Particle Size Distribution - The amount of the various soil size fractions in a soil sample, usually expressed as weight percentage.

The USGA has put over 30 years of research into determining the best method for constructing a putting green. As a result, they have created a chart that states the recommended distribution of sand for a rootzone to perform at an optimum level. When sands are tested, they are sent (shaken) through a set of screens. The percentage that is retained in each sieve is then measured and recorded.

Uniformity Coefficient - The coefficient is defined as the the ratio of the sieve size that will permit passage of 60% of the media by weight to the sieve sieve size that will permit passage of 10% of the media material by weight.

The "Cu" as it is refereed to, determines how uniform the sand is and relates directly to its stability.

Angularity - Determines the shape of the particles. Sands that are to rounded produce an unstable rootzone (imagine walking on marbles!), but sands that are to angular may sever root hairs and act like razor blades when trying to incorporate topdressing, therefore tearing the leaf blades.

Infiltration Rate - The quantity of water that can enter the soil in a specified time interval.

This determines how well a rootzone will drain when it receives irrigation and/or rain. Six inches per hours is the USGA's minimum recommended rate and I have seen a rootzone that infiltrated at a whopping thirty-eight inches per hour (prior to grassing)!

Sand selection is so important that we when I was attending Michigan State for turfgrass management, we had an entire class/semester dedicated to greens construction and proper selection of sand.

1000 Sq. Feet at a Time...

2010-05-03T05:17:00.005-06:00

Last week we completed a "turf reduction operation" in which we removed 1000 square feet of turf on our clubhouse lawn and replaced it with mulch. One reason we removed this area was due to annual Summer Patch disease which not only looked poor, but also took fungicide to control. In removing the turf, we save on fungicide, fertilizer, push-mowing labor, and water. On top of that, mulch is a great example of recycling a natural resource. We also capped the irrigation heads and in the near future will add a few shrubs and ornamental grasses. While these landscape plants will require water, the drip irrigation system we install will use significantly less water than the turf irrigation heads.

Environmental Programs Update - Spring 2010

2010-04-29T13:01:00.010-06:00

This post serves to update you on the Environmental happenings at The Ridge. We will also be refreshing your memory as to the programs and systems in place and the "why" we are involved in them.

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses is an award winning education and certification program that helps golf courses protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. By helping people enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency, and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations, the program serves as vital resource for golf courses. The Audubon program also assists golf courses and golf course developments in providing wildlife habitat, protecting, water quality, and improving overall environmental performance.

Since joining the Audubon program we have accomplished the following:

Reduced our overall maintained turf acreage by two acres - therefore saving on water, fertilizer, labor, and fuel!
Constructed blue bird nest boxes
Been recognized for Environmental Assessment and Planning
Been certified in Water Conservation
Completed a required case study as a part of our certification process

EPAR Environmental Management System

EPAR is a web-based set of processes and practices that enable our organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency.

In working with EPAR, we have set the following as our club’s policy:

Incorporate environmental responsibility and accountability into every aspect of our operation.

Ensure all staff is aware of this Policy.

Establish and maintain an environmental management system designed to meet or go beyond regulatory requirements. We will also encourage our contractors and suppliers to achieve our standards.

Maintain monitoring and reporting systems to audit and report on our environmental performance by promoting continual improvement to achieve our environmental objectives and targets.

Communicate with our community and interested parties on our environmental performance.

Provide our staff with environmental educational and training programs to ensure their commitment to environmental responsibility.

Identify opportunities to prevent pollution, minimize waste, save energy and conserve natural resources.

Annually review this Policy.

Since implementing this program we have developed numerous standard operating procedures and action plans, perform initial training of the staff, and reduced our overall energy usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

2010-04-20T05:45:00.000-06:00

Why Aerify?

Presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

It's a perfect, sunny morning and you've just reached the first green in regulation. You feel great and you know you're within birdie range. Then, you see them, those little holes in the green. Arrrgh! They've just aerified the course, and it's going to ruin your round, right? Well, maybe not. Consider the fact that PGA Tour legend Tom Watson shot a sizzling record 58 at his then-home course, Kansas City Country Club, just days after the greens had been aerified.
Consider also that aerification is merely a short-term disruption that has long-term benefits for the course. When you see them, remember that without those little holes, the greens would eventually die.
Like so many things, the quality of a good putting green is more than skin deep. In fact, the condition of a green has a lot to do with what goes on below the surface. In order to keep grass growing at 1/8-inch you have to have deep, healthy roots. Good roots demand oxygen. In good soil, they get the oxygen from tiny pockets of air trapped between soil and sand particles.
Over time, the traffic from golfers' feet (as well as heavy mowing equipment) tends to compact the soil under the putting green - particularly when the soil contains a lot of clay. When soil becomes compacted, the air pockets on which the roots depend are crushed, and the roots are essentially left gasping for air. Without oxygen, the grass plants will wither and die.
Aerification is a mechanical process that creates more air space in the soil and promotes deeper rooting, thus helping the grass plants stay healthy. In most cases, it's done by removing 1/2-inch cores (those plugs you sometimes see near a green or in fairways). The spaces are then filled with sand "topdressing" that helps the soil retain air space and makes it easier for roots to grow downward.
Other aerification techniques use machines with "tines" or knives that simply poke holes through the soil profile. A newer technique even uses ultra high-pressure water that's injected through the soil profile to create small holes that relieve some compaction but heal quickly. While these newer techniques are a benifit, in the long run they are really just band-aid processes as compared to hollow core cultivation which removes built-up organic matter and reduces compaction.
The bottom line is that aerification is a necessary practice. But before you curse the superintendent for ruining your day, just think of Tom Watson.

Why Do You Topdress?

Written by Anne Streich and Dr. Roch Gaussoin

Topdressing has become standard in golf course management. For years, many golf course superintendents practiced heavy topdressing in the spring and fall after core aeration. In the last 10 to 15 years, many of them have switched to lighter, more frequent sand topdressing in their greens management program. With the continued demand from golfers for greater ball-roll distances, superintendents have begun topdressing more often throughout the growing season. Light, frequent topdressing is defined as application of 2 to 3 cubic feet per 1,000 square feet of material every 10 to 14 days throughout the growing season. It is believed that this level of topdressing will provide a smooth, firm and uniform surface, resulting in longer ball-roll distances. Research has shown that greens that are not topdressed have poorer turf quality than those that are topdressed as little as two times per year. Greens that are not topdressed become thatchy and puffy, and can result in scalping and shorter ball-roll distances. Topdressing has several benefits. * Produces a smooth, firm putting surface. * Reduces the thatch layer and organic matter. * Allows reduced mowing heights. * Protects the crown. * Increases ball-roll distance. Anne Streich is an extension horticulturist and Dr. Roch Gaussoin is an extension turfgrass specialist at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.).

When someone talks about the grain of grass, especially on a putting green, what do they mean?

Grain refers to the tendency of a species of grass to grow in a certain direction. Exposure to sunlight at only certain times is one factor that will control the grain of grass. Much has been said and written about grain and how it impacts putting. Because superintendents rotate mowing patters, a single pattern of grain generally is not established. Due to the low greens height of cut of our bentgrass species, the short leaf blade exhibits no (or insignificant) grain pattern that would affect putting.

What is the difference between a Golf Course Superintendent and a greenkeeper?

Greenkeeper, often times used incorrectly as greenskeeper (adding an “s” between green and keeper), was the original title given to the person responsible for the maintenance of a golf course. When the title came into use, the primary responsibility of a greenkeeper was maintaining the turf on the golf course. In the last three decades, the responsibilities of the position have greatly expanded. In addition to their turf responsibilities, modern Superintendents must also be experts in accounting, personnel management, and environmental and safety regulations.

Why can’t we ever drive on certain holes?

There are several reasons why we have cart path only holes and they are a result of one or more of the following reasons.
1) Safety! In short, several holes have extreme grades in entering and exiting the holes. We desire to keep everyone of our patrons as safe as possible!
2) The grass is not growing quick enough to recover from the traffic wear.
Too much traffic in the Spring months can cause significant damage to the turf and render it "behind" during the peak season, when we desire optimal conditions. In addition, we keep traffic to a minimum in the Fall months when we are trying to prepare the turf for the brutal winter months.
3) Lack of adequate entrance and exit points.
Another reason we keep carts off of par 3's as well as several other holes is due to the lack of places where carts can enter and exit the golf hole without causing significant traffic wear. Also, hole #10 for instance has several trees on the left side. Adding traffic to this shaded turf would further induce stress on the turf as well as the tree roots below.

Why is there a frost delay?

Frost is basically frozen dew that has crystallized on the grass, making it hard and brittle. A grass blade is actually 90 percent water, therefore it also freezes. Because of the short mowing height (sometimes as low as 1/8 inch) and fragile nature of the turf, putting greens are most affected by frost. Walking on frost-covered greens causes the plant to break and cell walls to rupture, thereby losing its ability to function normally. When the membrane is broken, much like an egg, it cannot be put back together. At The Ridge the "mountain lows" and the temperature DROP (after the sunrise) are two factors that often cause a confusion as to why we have frost delays. During the day, the earth heats up from the sun. Once the sun sets, it gets colder, and it will keep getting colder until the sun rises again. In fact it may even keep getting colder for a little bit after the sun rises, since the first few rays of the sun are coming in at an oblique angle and don't provide as much warmth. In our case it may be close to 42 degrees (and sunny) at the clubhouse, but 32 degrees (and shaded) on hole #1 fairway due to the elevation drop. Since we are at 6,500 feet elevation, the 42 degrees "feels like" 50 with the sunlight but the 32 is still 32 with no sunlight. In addition, the shade on hole #1 causes a prolonged delay due to the lack of direct sunlight it receives. Get it? If not, feel free to email me to discuss further.

How do trees affect the quality of a putting green?

Our staff is constantly monitoring the amount of tree coverage on the course because of its impact on turf conditions. It has been found that the better greens have better air circulation and a minimal amount of shade. Since trees reduce airflow, it is quite predictable to have found that poorer greens have generally more trees surrounding them. Also, tree roots growing through soils under greens have a negative impact on surface quality. At The Ridge our biggest challenge from trees is the shade factor. Our 14th and 15th greens a re a perfect example of heavily shaded conditions. In the spring and fall especially (when the sun is low on the horizon), these greens are in need of an increased height of cut to ensure there is enough leaf surface to gather light for photosynthesis. Even a few thousandths of an inch can significantly increase surface area. Also, as a result of reduced sunlight, the leaf surface tends to stay wet longer, therefore increasing the conditions for disease to occur. I hope this answers any of your questions on trees and their affects on turf!

Heating Up

2010-03-03T13:48:00.004-07:00

This week has got my blood-a-pumping. The sun is shining and the the snow is melting. We have begun our spring prep work of removing bunker cape covers, repairing winter washout and cleaning the greens off of pine needles and debris. Hopefully I will be a little better source of information this spring as we continue plugging along towards opening the course. Stay tuned.

Also, if there are any specific questions about spring preparations or anything concerning the course maintenance in general, please email at dsoltvedt@troongolf.com and I would be more than glad to try answer as best I can.

What is Agronomy? - Part 2

2010-02-23T07:47:00.007-07:00

Just as my Uncle Justin deals with various crops and soil types on his farm in the Red River Valley, so do golf course superintendents throughout the country have to deal with various turf and soil types. At the facility I was at in Minnesota (The Quarry at Giants Ridge), the soils were a sand/gravel combination. This proved to be very challenging in the fact that this soil type does not hold moisture or fertilizer very well, if at all. In contrast, the soils at The Ridge are a heavy clay. This type is very "platy" in structure. One important benefit to soil type is the nutrient holding capacity. Another characteristic of a platy soil structure (i.e. clay) is it's ability to hold moisture. While this is a positive in many respects, if can also be a negative as it will require a greater amount of internal drainage as well as compact more easily and since it will compact quicker, it will in turn, need that much more attention to manage foot and cart traffic. This includes consistent cultivation and traffic control (use of ropes and stakes). In the end, it is comes down to a little effort and a commitment to proactiveness that keeps all of our high-traffic areas in tip-top shape. Playable, visually pleasing, and consistent with the rest of the playing surface.

What is Agronomy?

2010-02-22T11:16:00.004-07:00

While golf course maintenance is much more than just agronomy, I thought it a good subject to blog on.

Agronomy can be defined as the application of soil and plant sciences to land management. Soil science is the essence of a quality plant. It is often said in the agronomy world, "Feed the soil, not the plant". Taking this statement a step further and you could say, "Care for the soil, and the soil will take care of the plant". It really comes down to treating the cause instead of the problem. This manner of soil management revolves around more than just fertilizing, but also the water management and structure management regimes that are in place at any given golf course.

Just as we all take care of our physical bodies in different capacities, so to are all golf courses managed differently. This brings into the conversation Troon Golf's commitment to fundamental agronomics. Troon Golf's agronomy is built upon sustainable turfgrass management and dealing with issue in a simple, yet effective means.

Social Media Train

2010-02-15T06:48:00.002-07:00

After attending a wedding and funeral in the past month, it's time to get back on the social media train. The Ridge now has a Facebook page up and running. Please head to the page at your earliest convenience and sign up to be a fanatic. If you do not have a Facebook account, go to http://www.facebook.com/ and sign-up. It's easy, simple, and a great way to find and stay connected to past friends, current friends, find new ones!

Social Media

2010-01-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

While I can say that I don't have a Twitter account (but may soon), as I ponder whether to spend any amount of my day blogging, I just remember this Youtube Video I viewed a while back and rethink things a bit. It certainly brings Social Media (Fad?) into perspective.

Water Conservation Certification

2009-12-28T10:39:00.002-07:00

Today The Ridge received certification in the area of Water Conservation from Audubon International. In a letter from Jim Sluiter, Staff Ecologist with Audubon, we were specifically commended for the following:

Using Effluent Water as our primary water source
Upgrading our irrigation system to further efficiency
Utilizing weather data to determine course irrigation needs
Reducing irrigated turf areas
Replacing less than 100% of daily evapotranspiration

Personally, I would especially like to commend Greg Goecker, 1st Assistant , and Chris Hedberg, 2nd Assistant for playing a major part in our water conservation efforts.

A Haven for Wildlife

2009-12-02T08:18:00.002-07:00

With all the homes that have taken over the surrounding area over the past 15 years, the golf course has become a haven for many displaced animals. At the top is the local elk heard that summers in the nearby Cherokee Ranch and winters on both the Ranch and area golf courses. This morning the elk can be observed on hole #9. Not sure the exact count but the small heard looks to be about 60 or so. I find it interesting that the elk go after the lush green grass under the snow. It must taste like candy compared to the normal native vegetation the elk eat a majority of the year.

Unfortunately for the facility, as the elk were attempting to leave the course and return to their bedding area, a passer-by got out of their vehicle, trespassed on the course and chased the elk further onto the golf course causing significant damage to the turf. We will know more of a dollar amount to the damage as the snow melts but it will be evident in the spring for a while.

Sweet Deal

2009-12-01T10:54:00.003-07:00

I just received a phone call from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program folks in New York and was informed that we have been recognized for our efforts in Environmental Planning and Site Assessment of our facility . This is a great start to the program and I will be sure to keep you posted as to our progress. In relation to this first step, I have just sent our application off to them for Water Conservation which is just one of several key areas the program focuses on. I think our efforts over the past six years will speak for them selves and we should be certified in that arena in no time. Here is a link to more information about the program:
http://acspgolf.auduboninternational.org/

A Light Covering

2009-11-30T07:02:00.001-07:00

One winter preparation practice that has been regular since 2004 has been the light topdressing we apply to the tees and greens. As with the giant tarps on a few of the greens, we do this to protect the crowns from drying out. On our greens and tees that are cut at such a short height the snow has little chance to "catch" in the turf canopy so in addition to holding moisture the sand acts as an added layer of insulation as well.

Sight Lines

2009-11-25T06:49:00.002-07:00

The fall and winter months are a time for the maintenance staff to take a close look at sight lines throughout the course. This photo is that of hole 7. The photo is taken from the gold tee and if you have played The Ridge in recent months, you will be able to tell this is the finished product after trimming the scrub oak to reveal the original sight line of the hole as it was designed. You can now see the entire green as well as the danger (bunkers) that surround it. A majority of the sight line work has taken place on holes 3, 7, and 9. Previous to our work, about 1/3 of the left side of the 7th green was not visible due to scrub oak growth. The scrub oak directly adjacent to the rough receives additional water from over-spray of the irrigation heads. This causes them to grow at an increased rate, one which takes annual trimming to control.

Turf Covers and Micro Climates

2009-11-24T08:02:00.003-07:00

Each and every year, a number of golf courses throughout Colorado and the West suffer turf loss from dessication. Dessication is the drying out of the turf plant to the point of death. At The Ridge, we have several micro climates that can cause the plant to dry out over the winter months when the irrigation system is inoperable. On the greens that are most susceptible to dessication, we use turf covers. We do not cover every green simply because they do not need to be covered. A perfect example of contrasting micro climates are the 6th and 7th greens. In the opening photo, you can see that #6 green is 100% covered in snow but #7 green has 0% coverage. This is due to both wind and sunlight intensity. Although in the photo #6 green (far green) is in complete sunlight, this only takes place for a short amount of time during the day. The 7th green is a different story. Due to the orientation of #7 greens complex, as winter storms arrive (usually from the Northwest), the snow flies over the green leaving it with a thin covering. To make matters worse, the sun beats down on this green almost the entire day making for a quick snowmelt. As a result, we also need to add supplemental winter water to this green via a water tank. So, next time you see a green covered with a giant tarp, you know why!

Still Growing

2009-11-23T13:06:00.004-07:00

Throughout October and early November we took the time to aerify the tees. As the photo shows, there is no mistaking the new root growth observed in the aerification holes. With plenty of oxygen and water available, the holes provide the ideal growing conditions. As I was out monitoring the 9th tees for soil moisture today, I probed and noticed the new, white root hairs in the soil sample. If I had to put a guesstimate on growth, I would say these roots grew at twice the rate as the shoots (top-growth) did in the same time. It goes to show that although the grass may not be growing up, it is still growing down during the cool fall days.

Starbucks Coffee

2009-11-18T11:23:00.003-07:00

Now, what in the world could a major corporation like Starbucks have to do with turfgrass? I'm glad you asked! A few months back, my beautiful bride and I were on a rare date and while sitting in Starbucks sipping my Cup-o-Joe, I noticed a couple bags of "free used coffee grounds". My eyes became wide with delight as I was strangely intrigued by the possibilities of its use. Upon further thought, I realized it would be a great source of organic material to put in our sand and seed mixture for divots. This organic material would do a great job at holding moisture and nutrients as the seed was in its juvenile state. Below is a picture of the side by side difference between the mixed and unmixed sand.

- Note: Approximate nutrients in Starbuck Coffee grounds - taken from starbucks.com

Primary Nutrients
Nitrogen
1.45%

Potassium
1204 ug/g

Secondary Nutrients
Calcium
389 ug/g

Magnesium
448 ug/g

Sulfur
high ug/g

Back and Better

2009-11-05T08:31:00.002-07:00

Although the snow has hampered the on-course work, we have been quite busy in the maintenance department! The fabrication of new tee markers and traffic control has begun and will continue as the fall progresses. I'll be sure to post pictures as soon as we have a few complete.

I think it is assumed that the snow is a good thing for the golf course but I have found that unless it's between the months of December and January, it's really not! When we receive significant snowfall during our golf season it strips the facility of valuable revenue, revenue that directly affects our expense line in the budget. Personally, I would much rather have a clear golf course from March to November when the soils are not frozen. Once the soil freezes in late November, it signals a time for the grass to get a break from the traffic.

Sun Is Shining

2009-08-24T04:37:00.000-06:00

As you may have seen, my blog posts have been less frequent over the past few weeks. This is due to the lack of rain (.4 inches in the last 24 days), additional staff training, and our mid-year fertilizer application.

As the old Proverb states,

"A wise youth makes hay while the sun shines, but what a shame
to see a lad who sleeps away his hour of opportunity."

I will continue to put "the blog" at the bottom of the list (aka, where it usually is) until further notice.

Give It Time

2009-08-20T04:50:00.001-06:00

Each spring I itch with the desire to get the course green and perfect after Mother Nature does a number on it during the winter. The first hole you see pictured is #16, so fittingly named "Elk Crossing". This hole acts as a pasture of sorts as the winter range of a local elk herd. As the winter progresses, the elk trample, eat from, and urinate on the turf making it look pretty rough come spring. Each year, however, we seem to add a little fertilizer, a little seed, and a touch of water and BAM!, the turf comes back to life.

Also, the second "before and after" hole pictured is hole #18 green.

Fall Approaching

2009-08-19T04:52:00.000-06:00

The past couple mornings a have had the feel of fall in the air! I know, I know, there is a warm-up in the forecast but I am one that looks forward to the month of September. Not only for the cool, crisp, frosty mornings, but also for the beautiful colors of the surrounding scrub oaks. Below are a few pictures taken late last fall. I missed the "peak" of the color change by about three days.

New Pin Location Sheets

2009-08-18T04:33:00.001-06:00

Next time you play The Ridge, please take note of the new pin location sheets in the carts. We have gone from a three location rotation to a four location rotation. This will provide a new variety to the course, especially for those of you who have been playing The Ridge for many years. As we change pins/cups each day, we make an effort to mix and match left, right, center, front, middle, back, difficult, and easy pin locations.

This Just In....

2009-08-08T04:58:00.002-06:00

A turfgrass trade journal called Turfgrass Trends recently published an article from golf course architect Forest Richardson. The subject: bunker rake placement. I will try get my hands on the on-line version when it comes available but to sum up the article, Mr. Richardson went through the various rake placements (i.e. in, out, or half in/out). After a semi-scientific process, Mr Richardson determined that the half in/half out rake placement should be the placement of choice. Here were the criteria evaluated.

1) Interference with play
2) Ruling Complexities
3) Access to the golfer
4) Interference with maintenance
5) Wear and tear on the rake
6) Speed of play
7) Game traditions

I am pleased to say that as a Troon Golf Standard, The Ridge places rakes half in/half out. While there are many benefits to this placement, the main ones are 1) access to golfers, and 2) speed of play.

A Year Later

2009-07-28T16:10:00.009-06:00

When I arrived on site in March of 2004 I created a 5-year plan for course improvements at The Ridge. Many of these projects have been completed. Some of the projects have been quite large, while others are smaller. Below are a few of the smaller projects completed in the past year. Without counting I would guesstimate there have been about 200 of these types of small projects that have taken place in the past 5 years. I just wish I would have take more pictures. Many of the improvements are "unnoticeable" to the naked eye due to the fact they pertain to drainage and are underground, etc. As I am in the thick of my sixth year at The Ridge, the original "5-year list" has seemed to turn into a "6-year list" and evolved as the golf course has aged. It just keep growing and growing...almost as quick as my children.

BEFORE AND AFTER - HOLE 13 JADE TEE and HOLE 12 MULCH AND SOD WORK

A Few Notes

2009-07-28T04:47:00.003-06:00

STAFFING
As our season continues at a rabbits pace, we will be losing a few staff members in the near future. The students are headed back to class! College and High School students make up about 20% of our staff and replacing them is no easy task. Therefore, we will be making a concerted effort to hire and train a few new staff members in the next few weeks.

WEATHER
What a summer! Another .05" of rain last night and cool forecast for today! My favorite type of weather to play golf in. While it may not be the traditional Colorado summer, it sure is nice to get ample moisture after last years semi-drought.

CLEANING
Over next week or so we will be going through our maintenance shop performing our mid-summer cleaning. While we clean our lunch room daily and other areas periodically, the shop yard tends to get messy from the wind blowing sand and debris around for 3 months. A clean maintenance shop and yard is key in ensuring the staff takes this cleanliness standard out onto the golf course each day.

Greens Maintenance

2009-07-27T04:29:00.003-06:00

Although the greens on a golf course comprise roughly 4% of the maintained acreage, they are the area where the most labor hours are devoted. This USGA video gives a good overview of the maintenance of a green.

(FYI - There are a few glitches that took place during the upload that I could not get rid of)

Storm Report - July 21

2009-07-22T04:27:00.002-06:00

The storm clean up yesterday lasted about nine hours but we will continue the cleaning and repairing process from this event for the next several weeks. The rainfall event was the 5th event this season that caused us to spend all day repairing bunker washouts. On average, we have to spend all day repairing bunkers 1-2 times per season. It paints a clear picture of how much severe rain we have received. The rain caused such significant damage that I felt the need to utilize the skid loader in one of our large bunkers.

Hole 16

Hole 12

Survival of the Fittest

2009-07-20T20:47:00.004-06:00

As the weather has turned warmer, there are several spots (circular in shape) in the fairways that are showing signs of stress. We have consciously chosen to keep the water off of some of these areas to naturally purge the fairways of these rouge grasses. Obviously these turf types are not very drought tolerant and hindering moisture will allow for greater competition from species that are drought tolerant. How did they get there? One, seeds are sometimes brought here via golfers shoes, and two, there may have been some seed contamination when the course was built. Either way they are an undesired variety of turf.

Pretty Typical

2009-07-18T07:20:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was pretty typical day for myself. There will always be variables with weather, irrigation, staff, and amount of play that will change how my day flows, but all-in-all, I can usually expect something like the following:

4:15AM - 9:00AM - This morning we had a small shotgun tournament on holes 13-18. I assigned myself the course set up duties on holes 13-18 along with aiding the bunker crew on a few of the greenside bunkers. To complete this prior to the start of the shotgun, I needed to complete the first few holes in the pitch blackness of night. During the set up I changed cups, moved tee markers, emptied garbage, raked tee walk up paths, filled divots, fixed ropes, moved traffic control, blew off the tee boxes of divots, and fix ball marks on the greens, etc.

9:00AM - 9:30AM: Met with a local fertilizer representative. We discussed the current fertilizer market and exchanged some good info.

9:30AM - 10:00AM: Spent time with the crew and 2nd assistant instructing them on what their second tasks were going to be for the day, what tools they needed, handwatering duties, etc.

10:00AM - 11:30AM: Made calls to job applicants and performed two interviews, making one new hire. I also coded a few invoices and dropped them off at the clubhouse.

11:30AM - 1:30PM: A short lunch and a trip to LL Johnson, our local Toro distributor. We had an ample supply of irrigation replacement heads but Thursday depleted those and I had to make this emergency trip. Traffic was backed up on hwy 225, go figure? I also returned a few phone call during this period.

1:30 PM - 4:00PM: Picked up mail at the clubhouse, toured the course, checked a few problem spots for irrigation malfunctions, and created a list of adjustments that needed to be made in the irrigation software. (Note: a "quick tour" of the course usually takes a few hours due to frequent stops to check irrigation and wait for golfers).

4:00PM - 4:30PM: Fabricated a new bunker rake. I am always in the fabrication mode, testing and trying to make the crew more efficient while at the same time saving money on supplies. If we need to fabricate a $100 rake that lasts 4x as long as a $50 purchased rake, it will pay for itself in time. In this case I combined a long handled bunker rake with an aluminum landscaping rake. In the process I cut off a few inches of each side of the aluminum head to make it easier for the bunker crew to rake the edges. A good excuse to use the cutting torch!

4:30PM - 5:10PM: Clean the office up and set up irrigation to run.

5:10PM - 5:25PM: Had a short meeting with the Mike Henritze, General Manager, to discuss a few potential future projects on the course.

5:40PM....pull into the driveway to an wonderful, understanding wife, two beautiful children, and another on the way.

3:45AM....The alarm goes off....looking forward to another beautiful sunrise.

Fighting the Battles to Win the War

2009-07-14T20:47:00.001-06:00

In an effort to win the war of water conservation at The Ridge, we are regularly checking the adjustement on our "part- circle" heads. The heads gernerally go out of alignment as wear a tear takes place. About 1200 of our 2000 irrigation heads are the adjustable type so it takes a while to get to them all. Most of the time, the grass tells us when a head is out of adjustment. When it comes to greens, however, we try stay one step ahead of the game. As the first picture shows, a few degrees of improper adjustment can waste alot of gallons and cause overwatering to occur on the surrounds of the green. The head pictured was adjusted too far to the left and spent about 15 seconds too long watering the surrounds. The head was readjusted and as the second picture shows, the new stopping point is at the green/collar interface.

The last picture is an irrigation head motor that has been removed along with the assortment of tools needed to adjust heads around the greens.

Removing Surface Water

2009-07-12T21:15:00.004-06:00

As we have seen the wet summer continue, I have heard several comments about how firm the course is playing. There are several reasons for this, but one of the main reasons is the installation of catch basis along the cart paths. This has been a focus of the staff in the past few years and the overall result is firmer, faster fairways and roughs. In areas where water from the surrounding homesites and cart paths drains onto the course, we have strategically placed 12-inch catch basins along the paths. These basins catch the water and take it underground prior to it hitting the playing surface. In some areas, several thousand gallons which would have spilled onto the adjacent rough (and eventually fairway) is removed from the equation. While we have more areas where we would like to install these basins, hopefully you take notice of the work we HAVE done.

Also, I recently posted on our environmental blog. Please check it out!

Clean Cut

2009-07-05T16:46:00.000-06:00

Some of you may have noticed a cleaner looking rough cut this year. This is due in part to a couple factors. First is a new fertilizer regiment and second, a closer look at our mower adjustments. On our rough unit, we have 7 "decks". Each deck as three different adjustment points. All added up, that makes for 21 points which need to be almost perfect should we want to achieve a clean cut. I think we have come as close as we can...for now.

Extra, Extra, Free Fertilizer!

2009-07-03T20:56:00.001-06:00

Nitrogen fixation is one process by which molecular nitrogen is reduced to form ammonia. One of the ways nitrogen is fixed is though atmospheric fixation, the result of lightning. The enormous energy of lightning breaks nitrogen molecules and enables their atoms to combine with oxygen in the air forming nitrogen oxides. These dissolve in rain, forming nitrates, that are carried to the earth. In the end, it's free, all-natural fertilizer (nitrogen)! That's why there is a visual "green-up" of the grass in the days after a good lightning storm coupled with rain.

Event Lawn - Complete

2009-07-02T04:27:00.000-06:00

Six weeks ago I posted about our new event lawn that was near completion. Well, the day has come. Actually, it was here a while ago but I haven't taken the time to take photos. Here they are!

Flymo Mania

2009-07-01T04:42:00.002-06:00

This post highlights our flymo crew. Each week we spend about 50 labor hours flymoing the bunker capes. A flymo has no wheels and actually hovers over the ground. The height at which it cuts is determined by a setting beneath the mower along with the engine RPM. Every other week we edge the bunkers with a weed whipper which adds some time to the process but makes the bunkers look clean and detailed. I would especially like to thank Nick Melfi, Crew Foreman for his ability to keep the crew efficient while flymoing during play.

A NICE EDGE!

TEAM IN ACTION

BLOWING CLIPPINGS

Why we do, what we do - Aeration

2009-06-30T10:56:00.004-06:00

In recent weeks the staff has been picking away at aerifying fairways. We make a huge effort to try and accomplish this task without disrupting golf and do our best to pick up every plug. In addition, we mow the fairway immediately after completing the cleanup process to reduce any trace that we were performing the task.

Aeration is a vital part to healthy and playable turf. Today, while taking some soil samples , I came across a few samples that show one of the main reasons we aerify.....GROW ROOTS! The root mass in the photo creates for a much healthier turf plant and reduces our water usage significantly. A shallow, weak root system requires additional water versus the depth of roots pictured which can take up water from much farther down in the soil profile. Deep roots also increase our traffic tolerance (i.e. golf carts).

Calm After the Storm

2009-06-26T15:26:00.010-06:00

I recently heard a local weatherman say that the current weather pattern we are currently in is "normal" and that the last 5 years have been abnormal. Looking over our past weather records I am not so sure I agree. I guess it wouldn't be the first time a weatherman (or woman) has let me down. As compared to normal years at The Ridge, we are about 50% under our average irrigation water usage for the month of June. That water savings also means electricity savings and therefore dollar savings. That is good news when we are having to have the staff work overtime to repair bunker and cart path washouts, as was the case today.

On a more positive note, the $1500 in labor and supplies we recently put into renovating bunker drainage was well worth it since we didn't have to pump water from those bunkers this morning. Over time, bunker drainage suffers due to silt contamination, and clogged drain tile. When renovating, we usually focus on the low areas where the problems exists. Each bunker repair averages about 12 labor hours and $75 in supplies (new pea gravel, drain tile, and sand).

In the end, the show must go on, and it did as along with repairing the bunkers we were able to mow greens, tees, fairways and rough today. It's borderline too wet but the miles of drain tile installed over the past few years has really helped move the water off the surface quickly.

When It Rains, It Pours

2009-06-16T04:59:00.003-06:00

As we reflect on our recent moist weather pattern, I would like to compare and contrast how it affects our labor resources and therefore course conditions. Obviously during dry weather patterns we place much more labor resource towards irrigation monitoring, repair, maintenance, and hand watering. During periods when we are receiveing ample rain, we tend to spend more time maintaining bunker sand distribution and adding drainage to areas where ground water is an issue.

To further discribe "ground water" you have to have little knowledge of history and geology. When The Ridge was first build, there was less hardscape, roads, and homes surrounding the course. As more and more homes have been built and hardscape developed, much has been drained to areas directly adjacent or directly onto the golf course. This drainage includes the home sites themselves but also things such as sump pumps, streets, and driveways throughout the neighborhood. Some of this added water produces above ground problems such is the case on hole #1, where the silt washes onto the grass and causes a brown, unsightly film. In other instances, the water finds its way into the ground, only to eventually exit out the side of a mound (see photo of hole #9)

Hole #9 Goundwater Exit Point

So although we have been able to significantly reduce our irrigation tasks, the 3+ inches of rain in recent weeks has also brought the need to install almost $2000 in drainage, and additional need for bunker work due to washouts and increased migration of the sand.

Storm Report

2009-06-12T04:39:00.011-06:00

Yesterday, the course received one inch of rain in the 45 minutes between 1:00 and 1:45 PM. When it was over, hail, cart path washouts, bunker ponding, and clogged drains were a result. We made the decision to close the course for the remainder of the day to let things dry out and start the clean-up process. This morning we will continue the process with our full staff. In addition to the irrigation system took a few lightning strikes and fried a couple fuses. After all, what are fuses for?

Hole #15 Creek Bed

Ten Reasons

2009-06-10T17:04:00.003-06:00

I came across this list while doing some online research. It gave me a few laughs and I'm sure it will do the same for you. Enjoy!

Ten Reasons to Love A Superintendent

From the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association

1 - They poke holes in your greens twice each year, even when they’re rolling like glass – Without regular aerification, putting greens develop a layer of thatch beneath the surface. This spongy build up of organic matter makes greens bumpy and restricts the passage of water and nutrients. Oh, and by the way, Tom Watson once shot a course record 58 at Kansas City Country Club just days after the greens were aerified and sanded.

2 - They won’t let you play on frozen greens, even after the sun comes out – An ice cube remains an ice cube for a quite a while even after you put it out in the sun. The same is true for frozen putting greens. They can take a while to thaw out. And footprints on frozen greens kill the turf you tread on. Golfers who ignore this fact might play today but they will pay tomorrow.

3 - They demand that you fix your ball marks, even when you knock it close – If every golfer ignored the indentations left by their approach shots, they would soon be putting on something akin to the lunar surface. And guess what, that would make us even worse putters than we already are. A putting green covered in unsightly, uneven, ball marks says a lot more about the people playing the course than the person trying to keep it in tip-top shape.

4 - They make you leave your carts on the path, even though it hasn’t rained since Sunday – At roughly 1,000lbs with two sets of clubs and two golfers on board, the average golf cart places a lot of pressure on turf that is already being cut far lower than it wants to grow. Zipping that load across sodden fairways can literally tear the turf out of the ground and damage roots already struggling for oxygen in saturated soil. Take a deep breath and enjoy the stroll. It’s good for you.

5 - They have a license to apply pesticides – Chances are that your golf course superintendent is the only person you know who is trained and licensed in the art of chemical application. The average homeowner can, and often does, bombard his backyard with any old chemical cocktail under no supervision whatsoever. And there are a lot more homes in your neighborhood than golf courses. Be thankful someone at least is operating with the best techniques according to the best science available.

6 – They are on call 24 hours a day - Long before most of us crawl out of bed and long after most of us have sunk our final putt of the day, our golf course superintendents are hard at work. When they do go home, they knows that any phone call may be the one summoning them back to the course because a tree has fallen across a green, lightning has blown an irrigation pump out of the ground, or vandals have broken into the cart barn. Dealing with the unforeseen is par for a superintendent’s course.

7 - They work as hard as anyone to make your game affordable – The less money golf course operators spend on course maintenance, the more profit they retain from sales in other areas like the pro shop and the snack bar. And when golf courses are making a profit, there is less incentive to increase green fees, which would hurt your hip pocket. As the big spenders in any golf operation, superintendents are constantly under pressure to do more with less. The bar staff might be more attractive than your golf course superintendent but they're the ones who deserve the hug.

8 – They have probably volunteered at a PGA Tour event – The strong likelihood is that at some point in their career, or maybe even every year, your golf course superintendents will give up some vacation time to work for nothing at one of the multi-million dollar events hosted by the PGA Tour. One reason golf courses look so darned good on TV is because there are 100-plus volunteer turf experts out there making sure of it. Can you imagine giving up a week of your vacation to get up at 5am in a strange town and working for 10 hours a day without pay? Didn’t think so.

9 – They are still going to school, even after all these years – Advances in science and technology as well as legislative changes, mean that golf course superintendents are constantly updating their education. They attend seminars, study on line, travel to conferences, and network amongst colleagues just like most professionals. And you thought it was just a matter of turning on a sprinkler and waiting for the grass to grow.

10 - They just know stuff that most of us don’t – Today’s golf course superintendent commands expertise in a range of disciplines. At any given time, they may be working as a scientist, environmentalist, horticulturist, personnel manager, instructor, meteorologist or accountant, just to name a few. They can ride a mower, write a budget, drag a rake, find employees, negotiate contracts, read a weather map, identify turf diseases, calibrate a chemical sprayer, deliver presentations, and so much more. Isn’t it great to know they're working so hard for the good of your game.

Lights, Camera, Action!

2009-05-25T04:59:00.000-06:00

A day in the life of a golf course crew member.

There is only so much day light to perform the course set-up tasks so we have outfitted our mowers with light kits in order to get a head start on the sunrise. A crew members day typically starts at 4:15AM with a clock alarm (or two) that one never really gets used to, although after about 15 years in this business I guess you start develop that "mental clock". It is however quite frustrating to wake up at 4:15AM on a day off. Anyway, the crew starts their day at 5:00AM and have a strict 5-10 policy once they arrive. "5-10" meaning that they should be punched in and out on the course within 5-10 minutes. That includes having everything they need for their morning task. The hours from 5:00AM - 9:00AM typically involve performing a morning set up tasks such as mowing greens, raking bunkers, or cutting cups. After a 9:00AM lunch, the crew heads out for afternoon projects. These usually include weed whipping, pushmowing, flymoing, handwatering, and sanding and seeding divots. When 1:30PM hits, the crew is promply out the door.

Mother's Day and Repair Work

2009-05-10T21:26:00.001-06:00

As a husband, father, and son, I have truly come to appreciate the efforts Mother's make in rearing children. I'll never forget the headaches I gave my Mother when I would come home late for dinner due to my "need" to be on the golf course. It seemed as though every time she wanted me home, I would be having the "round of my life". See, you have to understand that when growing up in northern (and I do mean northern) Minnesota, you have to take advantage of the nice golfing weather, even if there are one hundred mosquitoes buzzing around your head (and three biting your neck) during your back swing. In the end, my Mom became understanding of my passion to be outside on the golf course. Thanks Mom!

This week we will be continuing our winter repair work. Much of these repairs are needed due to heavy golf traffic coupled with shade. Starting in September, these spots receive very little, if any, direct sunlight. Sunlight is a necessity and when the turf plant doesn't get its "fix", it cannot produce carbohydrates and recover from the heavy foot traffic. Adding to the traffic and shade is the amount of winter snow sledding that is done on these areas. Sledding compacts the snow, causing ice. Ice, over time, suffocates the turf and when the turf is already weak from the traffic and shade, it tends to give up once the ice is there. Keep this in mind next winter when you think about sledding on the golf course. Thanks for your understanding.

Almost There

2009-05-07T05:55:00.005-06:00

As we near the completion of our new Event Lawn, take a few moments to review the process that went into this effort. Note: Sedalia Nursery is credited with the retaining wall work
as well as the railing. The turf, irrigation, mulch, and landscape plants were installed with our golf course staff.

Our Vision

2009-05-02T05:37:00.002-06:00

As we ramp up to full staffing levels for our peak golfing season, I thought I would bring you into the loop with a small but very important portion of our training and orientation process. Some of you may be familiar with company, business, and department visions. We are no different at The Ridge. The maintenance department has a Vision and a set of Performance Expectations that we revolve our maintenance practices around.

“OUR VISION”

"We are committed to being an industry leader by providing unsurpassed, quality playing conditions. This will be accomplished though our dedication to our duties and performing each and every task with detail."

"PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS"

• Above all, wave at, smile at, and help our guests.
• Be on time every day you are scheduled.
• Stay in communication with management and fellow employees.
• Follow instructions.
• Think safety at all times.
• Pay attention to details.
• Be professional both at and away from the golf course.
• Always be self-controlled.
• Maintain a trash free golf course at all times.
• Keep all the tools, equipment, and work areas clean.
• Treat the equipment as if it were your own.
• Always maintain a positive, optimistic attitude.
• Be a team player.
• Understand the need for flexibility in work hours.
• Let the leaders lead, but give your input.

New Neighbours

2009-04-29T06:01:00.006-06:00

If you have golfed The Ridge in recent years you may have noticed a Swainson's hawks nest to the left of hole #1. Each year, this couple turns out 2-3 young hawks which leave the nest in search of finding food on their own. Most of their hunting is done close to hole #1 and hole #9. I am happy to announce that I believe that one of those juvenile hawks has found a mate and chose to nest right off of hole #18. Imagine, out of ALL the trees in the forest it's a tree that's within 100 yards of the clubhouse. While observing the male and female making trips to and fro, I noticed the local crows are not to happy about the new residents. Each time the hawks take-off, crows are hot in pursuit, harassing the hawks. Below is a summary of a nesting site in California. I would think that the hawks at The Ridge have a similar timeline.

The Swainson’s hawks that you see here returned from their wintering grounds (probably Mexico, but possibly as far south as Argentina) at the end of March. The female is the darker of the two; the male can be readily identified by the large white patch on its face, chin and throat, while the female has almost no white on its head. The female is also larger than the male (which is normal) although it is difficult to see the size difference at the nest.

Since arriving back at their nest site, they’ve been constructing their nest, mating, and defending their territory from rivals (other Swainson’s hawks), competitors (owls and other hawks) and hostiles (crows). The female began laying eggs last week and will lay/has laid up to four eggs (probably 2 or 3), each egg being laid 2 days apart. If successful, the eggs will hatch in 4 weeks. The female is primarily responsible for incubation, although the male will take over for short periods after bringing food back for the female. She usually leaves the nest to eat, and to stretch her wings.

After the young hatch, the female remains the primary caregiver, feeding, defending and shading the young. The male is responsible for finding prey for the entire family. Both will defend the nest/young from the air, attacking potential predators. In just 6 short weeks the young will have grown to the size and weight of the adults, and will be ready to fly. In the final weeks, the young will spend hours flapping their wings from the nest and branches around the nest, learning to fly, and the feeling of flight.

Source:http://www.audublog.org/?p=1506

Click below for more infomation on the Swainson's Hawk

Last Snow Day?

2009-04-27T15:25:00.009-06:00

As with most of you, I am hoping this was our last snow day of the spring. A surprising 4" of snow fell on the course last night providing us the opportunity to fabricate some traffic control aids. In storage we had a few 4 x 4 posts. Greg Goecker, Assistant Superintendent thought to pull these out of storage and spruce them up with some stain. Chris Hedberg, 2nd Assistant then thought of the idea to do a little "branding". Before long there was a mini assembly line going and within a few hours, 50 pieces of wood that were taking up space in our shop were transformed into customized course accessories.

As a side note, I am in the process of filling a few final seasonal grounds positions so if you know of anyone looking for some employment, give them a heads-up.

What We Look For

2009-04-15T21:45:00.002-06:00

In my hand is a sample of debris from our first greens mowing (after aeration). From my experience, this is a pretty good ratio of grass:sand. After aeration is complete, the grass needs a chance to grow through the sand so we give the greens a few days to do so. During those days, we roll the greens with a 500 lb+ roller which places 4 P.S.I on the surface. If we mow to soon, we pick up sand that is there to create a smooth surface and fill the aeration holes, thus the use of the roller.

Daily Rumblings

2009-04-13T15:29:00.007-06:00

To day was variety day at The Ridge. Taking place were a number of odds and ends.

1) Mowing greens and collars for the first time since aeration!
2) Repairing the cart path on hole #2
3) Prepping the event lawn for sod
4) Adding seed and soil to vole damaged areas
5) Raking Traps
6) Cleaning, raking and adding rocks to tee walk-up paths
7) Repairing irrigation leaks
8) Observing the local wildlife browsing in your backyard

Soil Temperatures

2009-04-08T15:39:00.005-06:00

Now that aerification of the greens has been completed, we are at Mother Nature's mercy (as we always are) to help with our recovery time. While we do have some additional fertilizer in the soil to expedite recovery, another key factor is our soil temperatures. If we can stay above freezing at night and fall somewhere between 50 and 65 degrees during the day, our greens will be in tip-top shape sooner than later. If on the other hand we get a cold snap where night temps are in the low 20's and daytime temps are in the low 40's, it will take a little longer for complete recovery. All that aside, we will continue to roll the greens to get them in a smooth, playable condition.

Fourteen Green - after aerifying, amending, topdressing, dragging, blowing, rolling 2x and watering....

Pluggin' Away

2009-04-06T06:46:00.000-06:00

Around this friend (and foe) of ours called Mother Nature, we continue to make a big effort to complete aerification. There is no doubt that many of you are itching to get out and bang some balls, especially after the warmer than normal March we received. As of Monday morning, we have completed 9 out of 20 greens. Most of the remaining greens are on the back nine and have 1-4 inches of snow on them. We will hopefully get to these greens in the next 2-3 days and get the course open for play as soon as possible. One blessing of this weather pattern is that it has allowed us to aerify greens while at the same time we are unable to open the rest of the course due to large drifts. So in essence, we are accomplishing this important task without having to close the course on a "golfable" day.

TOPDRESSING

AFTER DRAGGING - PRIOR TO BLOWING AND ROLLING

Frost Season

2009-03-31T15:45:00.006-06:00

Over the next few months we will be adapting to whatever Mother Nature throws at us with respect to the weather and more specifically, frost. This picture represents the average foot traffic from one foursome of golf on a green. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this would be it.

Understanding Frost Delays

Key points:
* Frost is basically frozen dew that has crystallized on the grass, making it hard and brittle. A grass blade is actually 90 percent water, therefore it also freezes.
* Walking on frost-covered greens causes the plant to break and cell walls to rupture, thereby losing its ability to function normally.
* When damaged, the putting surface weakens and becomes more susceptible to disease and weeds.
* One foursome can leave several hundred footprints on each green, causing extensive damage.
* A short delay while the frost melts can preserve the quality of the greens and prevent needless repairs.

On morning's with cold temperatures and clear skies, normally there is frost. Often times patrons believe the course is ready for play the moment the frost is gone but this is not necessarily the case.

Once the frost has lifted, the agronomy staff will be preparing the course for all players ahead of the first group. Please understand we will need enough of a "head-start" to both clean the course of yesterdays debris as well as set-up the course for today's play. Thanks for your understanding.

Regards,

David J. Soltvedt, CGCS

A Look at Aerification

2009-03-30T06:42:00.002-06:00

Although the weather has put a halt to our aerification plans today, we are still looking at performing this ever important task as soon as the snow melt (if it does). To highlight the process of aerification, let's start with the equipment we commonly use. Equipment will differ at golf facilities throughout the country and it really depends on a number of factors.
* Budget
* Labor Resources
* Course Closure Time
* Area Being Aerified (greens, tees, fairways, etc.)
* Terrain (steep, flat, etc.)
* Aggressiveness of Process (how soft the surface is after the holes are punched)

Since we are going to be punching greens, we will focus on this process. In our case, we have a few equipment resources that we "could" use but I prefer to keep as much equipment off the greens as possible.
First in the process is the Pro Core 648. Here again is the option to use a tractor mounted aerifier but the less equipment traffic on the greens, the better. The 648 is a top of the line, highly productive machine that allows us to aerify without running over plugs, a very important factor in ensuring a clean and efficient clean-up process. Another unique feature of the 648 is the "Contour Following System".
Next is the removal of the plugs. I prefer to have the staff shovel the plugs off the greens versus use a Core Harvester or Toro Pro Sweep. These units have their place at many facilities but also have a tendency to cause unwanted tire tracks.
CUSHMAN CORE HARVESTER

Click Here for a look at the Toro Pro Sweep in action.
After the removal of the plugs, we apply various soil amendments as well as the sand needed to fill the holes. Applying the correct amount of sand is a critical aspect of aerification. Too much sand and there is no grass left to putt on, too little sand and the holes are not filled, making the greens bumpy. The perfect amount of sand is that which fill the holes completely with a little left over on the surface to smooth any inconsistencies from the equipment tracks.

Spiral City

2009-03-24T06:24:00.000-06:00

Last week we had an irrigation break on hole 12. The specific type of break is termed a "spiral crack" and was caused by water freezing and then expanding in the irrigation pipe. The area on hole 12 where the break took place is heavily shaded and the ground was most likely already frozen during the irrigation system winterization last fall. As a result, the heads around this pipe were frozen shut and not enough water could be removed from the pipe to prevent breakage. This is our first spiral crack in several years at The Ridge. I guess next year we'll have to winterize the system a few days earlier.

Beating the Wind

2009-03-23T17:17:00.003-06:00

It was quite windy today with gusts in the high 20 MPH range! But, before the wind could pick-up, we were able to apply a pre-aeration fertilizer. This application is scheduled 7-10 days prior to aeration in order to give the plant a head start in recovery. This time of year, with our soil temperatures, it will take 7-10 days for the fertilizer release. In this fertilizer is a combination of nitrogen, potassium, and a few other minor elements. As some of you may have been aware, we have moved our spring aeration dates to Monday and Tuesday, March 30-31. FYI - about ten minutes after we finished fertilizing greens this morning, it was too windy to apply fertilizer. A photo finish!

Renewing a Legend

2009-03-20T09:50:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we began work on renovating our 18th hole black tee. This is a small tee box, roughly 250 square feet. My estimates have calculated that about 300,000 footsteps take place on this small tee box each season. That does not include the wear and tear that is put on it when golfers torque their bodies, and shift their feet as they swing the golf club. Prior to laying the new sod we will be adding a porous ceramic product called Profile to rootzone mix. Blended with the soil,
Profile increases the water and nutrient holding pores as well as increases the air and drainage pores. As we are growing in the new sod, we ask that you remain off the tee box until it is officially open for play. This will ensure the new sod is well-rooted prior to receiving the summer season traffic.

University Research

2009-03-17T06:50:00.006-06:00

On the right side of my blog I have posted a link to the Michigan State Research Page . University research plays a vital role in turfgrass management and we rely a great deal on the publicly funded research projects for dealing with current as well as new challenges that face the turfgrass ecosystem. Much of this research is communicated via trade magazines and scientific journals but also through local and national seminars throughout the year. One important tool that we utilize which has come from university research is the Growing Degree Day model of predicting when to apply certain chemicals. In short, GDD are calculated by taking the average of the daily maximum and minimum temperatures compared to a base temperature. In our case we use the 32 degree base temperature. Here is a link to Michigan States GDD tracker web page. While this tracker does not include Colorado, it gives a good idea of how application timings can be better predicted for optimal effectiveness.

GDD Tracker

Unnecessary Maintenance Expense

2009-03-14T14:52:00.007-06:00

With our tightening economy, so comes taking a closer look at how we perform each task and how often we perform it. One labor intensive task is raking bunkers. It takes about 13 labor hours to completely rake the bunkers. During the spring and fall we reduce our frequency to match the number of daily players as well as the playing rate we charge. To my point....in this blog are some photos of minor vandalizm on hole #11. Some may view this as "kids playing in a bunker", but as a budget manager, I view it as an unnecessary expense, and one that should be avoidable. In addition, it takes away from other areas of maintenance when the staff has to spend unnecessary time raking and replacing rakes to their proper place. If you have children, please inform them that the golf course is private property and is not to be a playground for their use. The staff would really appreciate this. Thanks for your understanding.

BARE FEET?

Irrigation "As-Builts"

2009-03-12T12:45:00.008-06:00

When a golf course is constructed, golf course contractors are required to produce a set of "as-built" maps for irrigation, drainage, etc. These maps are used for the life of the course to locate wire, pipe, and drainage for projects or repairs.

While monitoring the irrigation system this spring, we determined that our pumps were cycling too frequent, that is to say that we were loosing pressure from the irrigation system, therefore causing the pumps to run frequently. The best way to identify a leak is to isolate areas of the course until the pipe pressure holds. After an exhaustive 4-hour search we determined the leak was coming from a drain valve that was never included on the as-built maps. In addition, the valve box was buried under 8 inches of soil! To top it off, the valve that was leaking was about 5 feet below the surface.

After allowing the system to drain over night, repairs were performed this morning. We will allow the glue to set and partially back fill the hole prior to charging it up again.

Here is a picture of one of our as-built maps along with the added drain line written in permanent marker.

Swing for the Fences

2009-03-09T08:47:00.015-06:00

Throughout the course each spring we have numerous irrigation swing joints that drip, and eventually, that water finds it's way to the surface. Many of these heads have a red flag of by them to identify that they are "on the list".

While the irrigation system is dry throughout the winter and the soil shifts, some of the threaded ACME joints sometimes move enough to cause a pin-hole gap to allow water through. The staff is currently in week number two of making these repairs. Also,please be cautious of them as at times these heads are in some landing areas that we just can't avoid.

Count Your Blessings

2009-03-07T06:49:00.003-07:00

What a difference a year makes! While this past winter, or lack thereof, was dry, it certainly has its benefits. The two biggest are the lack of snowmold disease and the lack of damaged from those pesky voles. All that's really left is a little patience for some soil temperature to get things going, and maybe a little natural moisture from Mother Nature.

Minor vs. Major Vole Damage

Irrigation Pump Repair

2009-02-27T07:13:00.001-07:00

While our local pump service team was perfoming their annual preventative maintenance regiment on our pump station, they found that over the winter, our pressure maintenance pump (PM pump) has corroded where the pump meets the pipe. The PM pump is a small 5 horse power pump that maintains pressure in our irrigation lines when we are not running a significant amount of water. Usually 60 gallons per minute or less is adequate for the pressure maintenance pump to keep up with. Any more flow and one of four large 75 hp pumps will start. The main points of utilizing a PM pump are to conserve energy and reduce wear and tear on the larger pumps. The corroded hole in the pipe rendered the pump useless as it is like trying to suck liquid through a straw with a hole in it. Instead of the water maintaining our irrigation pressure, it would just exit back into our wet well and as a result, cause one of our large 75 hp pumps to kick on. We were fortunate to have the Country Club at Castle Pines let us use their backhoe for the day and within a few hours the project was complete.

Winter in Action

2009-02-02T06:43:00.011-07:00

The past week has given my assistant's a little time to clean and organize the shop. Each winter we analyze and re-analyze our maintenance facility, organizing and cleaning as needed. Below are a few pictures of the finished products. Sorry I couldn't show you the "before pictures".

Also during this winter, Greg Goecker, 1st Assistant Superintendent, has taken on an irrigation installation project. Many would think, "why install irrigation when you are trying to conserve water?". When an irrigation system is inefficient in a certain area, it can actually cause overwatering. By adding more irrigation heads we add more CONTROL over where the water goes and how much goes there. More heads = more control = less water use (and better turf conditions) over the long term.

Nick Melfi, our Crew Foreman recently broke his wrist, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise as we were in need of some inventory work. All parts, bunker rakes, shovels, tee markers, chemicals, fertilizers, and small tools are inventoried and current prices updated on a regular basis. Here is Nick "in action".

We recently improved our "mulch moving" efficiency with the construction of Toro Workman bed extensions. No, were not sleeping in them, just transferring mulch to various areas throughout the course. In addition to the bed extensions, we also built some new shelving in our irrigation parts room to reduce the clutter.

Last but not least (the first shall be last), is the equipment repair that takes place during the winter. To keep the equipment operating in tip top shape during the summer, it takes a sharp mind, a good set of tools, and a little time during the winter. Lucky for us, we have all three. Ole Halvorson is in his second winter with us at The Ridge and has done a great job maintaining and repairing our fleet.

Mid-Winter Update

2009-01-06T09:30:00.005-07:00

Each winter I field numerous questions about "what we do in the winter". To answer your questions, I will be re-posting a blog from last June.

Many golf facilities have a nine-month golf season, which means they also have a period when the volume of play declines. So what type of activity does the golf course management staff engage in during the "off" season? While golfer activity may be virtually non-existent during the off season, there is still much work to be done by the staff. It should be noted that a golf course is staffed on a seasonal schedule to meet demand, thus temporary workers and/or student interns may not be available during the off season to assist the full-time staff. Depending upon weather conditions, a variety of golf course projects can be completed even though the temperatures are not conducive for play. Such activities could include trimming scrub oaks, installing irrigation, edging cart paths, etc. Whether or not there is play on the course, we must be attuned to turf conditions. For example, allowing ice to sit on the turf for extended periods can result in turf winterkill. Some of the most important agronomic practices take place in the fall. Topdressing the greens and tees with sand, fertilizing with potassium, spraying the turf to prevent snowmold disease, and covering the greens that are exposed to the winter winds are just a few tasks that are performed to provide the turf with the best chance for winter survival and a quick spring green-up! Various golf course accessories might also need repair. Benches, signs, trash bins, ball washers, rakes, etc., need to be refurbished or renovated. Routine building maintenance on areas such as the clubhouse, turf care center, pump houses, etc., are often set aside for this time period. Again, delaying work on these areas until consumption patterns decline results in little interruption. Equipment is also a focus for the golf course superintendent during this time period. Everything from purchasing to various mechanical repairs such as engine tune-ups and reel sharpening are on the schedule. Irrigation systems are in need of similar annual maintenance to ensure that they do not get damaged during extreme cold spells. The off season also provides us the opportunity to complete a variety of business management responsibilities. Annual agronomic plans and budgets must be developed and then presented to the appropriate operations managers and owners. Inventories for fertilizers, pesticides, seed and other supplies need to be updated and replenished. Staffing plans must be developed and employees have to be secured for the golf season. We also review the course conditioning programs on an annual basis. Issues such as turf selection, green speed, bunker sand characteristics, fairway widths and integrated pest management programs all require significant research and planning. Staff development is also a requirement for golf course managers. The Golf Course Superintendent and assistants participate in regional education seminars on subjects such as water quality, pruning techniques, irrigation software, and crew leadership. These continuing education opportunities provide information on the latest management techniques, products and services available to course managers. The opportunity to network with peers and learn how others tackle challenges can result in significant benefits to a facility, some of which do not have a price tag.

Note: Portions of this blog was presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Winter Season Thoughts

2008-12-12T11:00:00.009-07:00

Well, to piggy back on my October 1st post, we have put the golf course to bed for the winter. Below is a brief list of what we do to prepare the course for 3 months of an unpredictable Colorado winter.

1) Spray a preventative fungicide application

In accordance with our Integrated Pest Management regime, we only spray fungicide on areas which have a high susceptibility of snowmold disease. These areas include greens, tees (since they are bentgrass varieties), as well as shaded or north facing areas which tent to hold snow longer into the spring. "Grey Snowmold" (Typhula blight) is commonly found in those turf areas of greatest snow accumulation such as over the top of a hill where snow drifts tend to accumulate. The most notable symptoms are white crusted areas of grass in which blades are dead, bleached, and matted together. These bleached areas range from several inches to several feet across. On a few occasions in November I was asked, "Why are you mowing so late in the fall"? Well, one of the main reasons is to enter the winter months with a leaf blade that will not lay over or become matted, and therefore be more susceptible to snowmold.

2) Blow Out the Irrigation System
- This usually takes place the third week in November and this year was no different. Waiting too long to winterize the system can lead to frozen sprinkler components, and when each irrigation head (we have over 2000) cost in upwards of $100 to replace, it can become very expensive, very fast. Blow-out takes about 2 full days to complete and we use a 700 CFM compressor. That's about 7x the size (CFM) that most contractors use to blow-out a standard home lawn!

3) Topdress the greens and tees
- When the cut height of the greens and tees is so short, it renders the crown (or growing point) of the plant more susceptible to drying out from the winter winds. Placing a thin layer of sand over the top of the grass acts as a cover to the crown and prevents them from drying out and dieing.

4) Cover/Tarp Greens and Bunker Capes
- We do this in order to provide added protection to south facing slopes as well as greens that are the most susceptable to wind damage.

Fall Season Thoughts

2008-10-01T05:46:00.002-06:00

As we enter the fall season I would like to tidy up on a few housekeeping items.
First, for those of you who live directly adjacent to the golf course, please remember to reduce you water frequencies on your home lawn. There are a few areas on the golf course where runoff from adjacent homes is causing some wet spots in our rough. These areas become unplayable and unsightly. Overwatering also wastes our water resources. If you are a member of a HOA where the lawn maintenance is contracted-out, please contact your local HOA board member/President and pass this word along. Keep in mind, October's watering schedule should be about half of what it was in July. Thanks for your cooperation in this.

Second, October also signals a period when we start to prepare the turfgrass ecosystem for winter. Think of the next two months as preparing for a marathon. For the turf, that marathon is the months of December through February, when we don't have irrigation, and the weather can be very uncooperative. During the next two months, we will be doing various practices to the turf to store carbohydrates for the winter months. ANY amount of stress we place on the turf as it is entering dormancy is a strike against being healthy in the spring. A stressed turf plant in the fall can lead to winter turf death due to a number of reasons. What are they you may ask. Please check back in the next few days to find out more about this exciting subject!

Equipment Technology

2008-09-08T05:38:00.001-06:00

Here are a couple of photos of equipment we use that may peak your curiosity. First of the Buffalo Turbine Blower. This blower is used to clean cart paths, and blow debris off the grass. When the grass get's long and clumps of clipping show up, we use this unit to disperse the clippings (as seen in the photo below). For you gear heads out there, the blower is equipped with a 16 HP Kohler engine that produces 150 MPH of blowing force!

The next piece of equipment is the Toro Sidewinder 3500. The mower decks actually shift left and right with the aid of a joystick. From one position the decks can move 12 inches to either side. This allows the operator to get close to bunkers without falling into them. It also allows the operator to vary his mowing patterns so that wheel marks don't develop due to driving in the same areas time and again. This is especially important around greens and tees where there is only a small area the equipment can fit. This machine greatly reduces our amount of push-mowing and allows us to transfer what labor we would have used push-mowing to other tasks.

Water Conservation

2008-09-04T05:29:00.000-06:00

In an effort to conserve water during this season of limited rainfall, for the remainder of the year, The Ridge at Castle Pines North will minimize the water applied to the driving range floor. The range floor takes up about 6.5 acres, or 7.5% of our total irrigated acres and minimizing the water applied will go a long way at conserving this valuable natural resource. Looking forward, while the range floor may have a different look to it (a little brown), the playability and health of the practice tees and rest of the practice facilities will not change. Thanks for your understanding in this matter. If you have any questions, please contact me via email at dsoltvedt@troongolf.com

The Verti-Cut Train

2008-09-03T05:27:00.001-06:00

Yesterday we took the opportunity to verticut the greens. It was a great day since there was limited golfers due to the back-to-work hustle that usually happens immediatly following a holiday. The name "Verti-cut" pretty much speaks for itself. It's the process of vertically cutting the turf. The mower is equipped with special reels that slice throught the turf vertially and in the process provide some unique benefits for the turf.

1) It forces the turf to stand up straight and smooth the putting surface for better ball roll.

2) Increases green speed

3) Allows more sunlight into the turf canopy

4) Allows topdressing sand to work itself into the canopy quicker.

5) Allows the plant to put more energy into growing upright shoots instead of lateral shoots.

VERTICUTTING REEL

REGULAR REEL

Verticutting depths vary but we normally set our reels to "tickle the turf", or in technical terms, "minus 1/16 of an inch". Once the verticutting takes place, we follow with the regular reels on the triplex and another cut with the regular walkmowers to finish-off the process. The result is a great putting surface and healthier turf!

Regulating Turf Growth

2008-09-01T05:25:00.000-06:00

One of the "secrets" of golf course turf managment is the use of plant growth regualtors, or PGR's for short. In the spring, we spray PGR's to supress poa annua seedheads. The seedheads are those little white flowers on the fairways that are most visible in May and early June. During the summer months, we spray PGR's on greeens and fairways on a bi-weekly basis for a number of reasons. Here are just a few:

PGR's allow the turf to root deeper and become more dense (tight lies).

Use of PGR's can reduce water usage by up to 25 percent, and can improve drought, heat and cold tolerance.

When used as part of a maintenance plan for golf putting greens, repeat applications of a PGR can help increase putting speed and consistency.

Fungicides will normally perform better because with increased stress tolerance from repeat PGR applications the turf will better resist disease.

On fairways, PGR's are used to maintain a clean-cut appearance on mowing "off-days" and greens maintain their speed into the afternoon much better.

Applying a PGR reduces unsightly clippings on the fairways.

How PGR's Work

The active ingredient is absorbed by turf foliage within one-hour of application and slows the production of gibberellic acid, a plant hormone that promotes cell elongation.

Some PGR's can reduce vertical turf growth by as much as 50 percent for up to four weeks. Some PGR's slow turf vertical growth and also help increase turf density and turf quality by stimulating growth of other plant parts such as stolons, rhizomes, tillers and roots.

Drainage, Drainage, Drainage

2008-08-30T05:33:00.000-06:00

There's an old saying in golf course management that says the three most important aspects of golf course construction are 1) Drainage, 2) Drainage, and 3) Drainage. During the construction of The Ridge, there was miles of drainage installed throughout the course, but once the course is grassed and the rains come, irrigation is applied, and organic matter develops, so does the need for renovating and adding drainage. Since 2004 we have installed over 6,500 linear feet of drainage throughout the property. For those that are arithmetically challenged, that's over a mile! On top of that, on average, to install drainage correctly it takes about 14 man-hours per 100 feet of drain tile installed. This is due in part to our heavy clay soil. On courses with a sandy or loamy soil, it is much easier to dig and therefore the process goes quicker. On large projects we use a Vermeer trencher. At times, the trencher can make a mess and if not planned-out, using the trencher can make more work for the staff than if shovels were used. Many hands make light work!

Average Weather

2008-08-16T08:43:00.002-06:00

I was talking with a friend the other day and we were discussing the weather. He made a comment that there is really no such thing as "average" weather, just a medium of two extremes (which basically means average). Get it? As I thought about it, I had to agree. Today I look outside at the 28th straight hour of cloudy, rainy weather. Three weeks ago it was over 100 degrees and yesterday the temperature did not reach 50! I don't really have a point to this post other than the fact that working in an industry that revolves around the weather has it's frustrations, but also it's exciting times as well. These weather extremes keep me fresh, alert, challenged, and always thinking of ...what next? As my uncle used to say on the farm, "rain is like liquid gold". I couldn't agree more, especially in Colorado.

Practice Facility Maintenance

2008-07-30T05:12:00.001-06:00

Although we try our best to keep the practice facility open all day, every day, there is a need for some TLC to be performed from time to time. This includes mowing the range floor, sweeping divot damage and broken tees, seeding the divots, applying sand, leveling the sand with a drag mat, and finally, fertilizing. This process takes several hours but the benefits are a much more playable hitting area and overall practice experience. You may even see your game improve! Below are picture of before the maintenance, during the sweeping of divots damage, applying of the sand, as well as the finished product.

Irrigation Practices and Water Quality

2008-07-22T05:24:00.000-06:00

In my 12-year career working on 6 golf courses I have found that no two golf courses can be irrigated the same and no two golf courses have the same water quality or irrigation sytem capabilities. As an example, in the past I managed a golf course with gravel soil and the water taken from a 500 foot deep mine lake. That water was clean and free of almost any mineral or nutrient that would harm the turf plant. On the flip side, The Ridge is heavy clay soil and the water source is 80% reuse water with the other 20% coming from well water. Reuse water is the term derived from treating sewer water and “reusing” it on areas such as municipal and commercial properties and golf courses. Through the reuse process, many nutrient levels increase in the water and sodium and salt levels may increase significantly. High sodium levels strip the soil of valuable calcium, severely hinder water movement and since the soil here is heavy clay it makes for an interesting challenge! To combat this sodium build-up, we proactively apply calcium to our trouble spots and inject wetting agent into our irrigation water to help move the sodium through the soil profile. Note: a wetting agent is a product that reduces the surface tension of the water allowing it to coat the soil particles better therefore making the water more available to the turf plant. The use of wetting agents has helped reduce our overall water usage.
The greatest challenge in irrigation management is balancing playability and aesthetics. It’s easy to keep the course green, but much more difficult to keep it green and playable which is why you may observe staff members hand watering throughout the day. Generally speaking, hand watering takes place directly adjacent to areas where the soil has a tendency to get too wet if we water excessively with the sprinklers at night as well as on mounds and areas with heavy golf cart traffic. In July of 2008, approximately 500 labor hours were spent hand watering.

While hand watering is an important aspect of our irrigation management, it’s only a small part. One of the biggest components to our irrigation management is the use of a weather station to track evapotranspiration rates. Evapotranspirtation (ET) refers to the combined loss of water (to the atmosphere) from the plant soil over the course of a given period. The ET rate is then automatically transferred to our irrigation computer software and adjusts the sprinkler run times accordingly. Once the ET rate is updated for the day, my assistants and myself go through the irrigation software to determine any additional adjustments that need to be made. The computer software breaks down the sprinklers into about 1,300 individually adjustable stations. Prior to making these adjustments we use soil probes to physically determine soil moisture levels and also take into consideration the weather forecast.

In closing, irrigation practices will depend upon soils, weather, water quality, maintenance budget, irrigation and pump system design, as well as a host of other factors. Therefore, irrigation management is the most challenging and also the number-one priority of the golf course maintenance department.