Canmore Golf And Curling Club Turfcare

Answer to Identify The Problem

2011-10-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

Irregular patterns of dead turf. Bluegrass rough. Time of year end of September. This is the damage that the Elk do on frosty turf. This fall we had a herd of over 50 roaming the golf course making a mess. they have not been seen in a couple of days so hopefully they have moved onto greener pastures.

Pictures

2011-09-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

New Par 3 Second Hole Completed

New Par 3 Second Hole Ready for Sod

Les Furber hitting a shot on the completed new 2nd hole.

Thank you to the Girl Guides for supplying new birdhouses for next year!

Member Andrew Holder with Girl Guides talking about the birds

on the course this year. Thank you to Andrew and Mavis for monitoring

the birdhouses this year.

Golf Course Update

2011-09-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

I do have to apologize for the lack of posts over the last couple months. It has been a flurry of activity with the construction of the new par 3, numerous tournamnets etc. etc. but enough excuses??? The windup has just wrapped up and many had the opportunity to play the new par 3. From the response it was well received, and it was a little teaser for play next year.
As we continue to maintain the golf course we are now starting to do more construction on the golf course with the following list of projects:
1. Move #4 red tee back 15 yds and left to get a better shot at the fairway
2. Move the red tee on the 5th hole and get rid of tie,s this tee will be placed in front of the existing white tee, we will also be removing the old forward red tee in the process.
3. Leveling and the re construction of the red tee on the 9th hole with the addition of some size.
4. Left side of the 11th hole adding small mounding and covering up roots with the addition of new sod.
5. New tees #15 with the addition of new gold tee.
Hopefully we get a great fall and these projects will get completed and sodded for play next year.
We will commence with our greens aeration on September 26th this process is imperative to maintain good drainage going into winter and give the greens the air they well deserve? Tee aeration will also be done at the end of September.
Please check back tomorrow for some updated pictures!

Answer To Identify The Problem #2

2011-07-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

Yes you are right if you guessed someone spraying mosquito spray while standing on the grass! As the mosquito spray will set the grass back it is wise to spray while standing on an asphalt pathway or on a gravel pathway. Please be aware where you are while applying bug spray!

Identify The Problem #2

2011-06-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

Foot prints with dead grass around them???

Identify The Problem #1

2011-06-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

Quintozene WP Premis
May 1st 2011

June 1st same fairway recovered
very well.

I will explain what we found with our first "Identify The Problem". In the fall we apply fungicide to treat snow moulds on our fairways and the picture that I have taken is showing the 14th fairway sprayed with 2 different types of fungicide. The application on the left was Quintozene Wettable Powder that was phased out as of January 1st of 2011 and the product on the right was a new product that seemed to not work to well with the amount of snow cover and numerous days under snow cover. But as the picture shows the area has recovered quite nicely with a very faint line that you can still see? The initial inspection early in the spring was not good but with a little heat the fairway is in good playing condition.
If you would like to read more on the phasing out of Quintozene go to the following website to learn more:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_decisions/rvd2010-06/index-eng.php

Aeration Explained

2011-06-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

We have completed our deep tine aeration this week with core removal and sand topdressing. Here I will explain the benefits of core aeration:

By going deeper into the soil profile, you encourage the benefits gained from traditional aeration but at a greater depth. Some of the more positive results from deep-tine aeration are breaking through hardpan layers created by the usual 4-inch coring. Deep-soil penetration allows the release of phytotoxic gases, improves soil-water drainage and improves surface-water and nutrient infiltration.

Aerification is a short-term disruption that has long-term benefits for golf courses.
For grass to grow at 1/18-inch, they need to have deep, healthy roots. Good roots demand oxygen.
Aerification is a mechanical process that creates more air space in the soil and promotes deeper rooting, thus helping the grass plants stay healthy.
The spaces are then filled with sand "topdressing" that helps the soil retain air space and makes it easier for roots to grow downward

Deep Tine Aeration

Core with healthy white roots

Core Removal Hand Shovelling
And Core Harvester

Brushing In Sand

A Visitor!

2011-05-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

Last night during our aeration we had a little black visitor! This black bear was hanging around eating grass and resting under a tree out of the sun.

Golf Course Update

2011-05-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

As I post this it is snowing heavy with 4" on the ground and it is only 8:00am! The crew is taking a well deserved snow day and hopefully we can get back at it tomorrow?
As May has not been very kind to us I will give you a bit of an update on the course as we all wish for that warm weather!
As you have noticed we have been using hitting matts on #3 gold, #9 tees and on the new #14 tees. We are hoping to remove these matts soon. The roots on the sod we placed last fall are starting to take and the new #9 tees are a little more behind. We will continue to roll and topdress and get these in play.
We are starting our trap maintenance with rock picking and edging, this will continue through next week.
Staff equipment training will continue throughout the first part of June. Please be patient with the new staff and remember to make sure the staff are aware that you are there before hitting your shot. We continue to tell the staff to acknowledge golfers and wave them on. Sometimes we get caught up in the job and forget about the most important people out there the golfer!

As we continue to maintain the golf course we are also working on the new par 3 second hole. The pond has been lined with rock and the water is rising very quickly. The crew worked hard at getting the rock in place in the mud and driving rain. This was accomplished just in time as the water is now at the bottom of the rock layer. Garth has rough shaped the green and new bunker complexes, but with the weather today has been shut down till next week?

Garth working his Magic shaping
the new green and bunkers. Had it
rough shaped in 10 hours!

New water feature with an upper
pond and smaller lower pond where water
will cascade into the large pond.

Water feature

New pond with rock work almost
complete still need to add more rock
to fill in any voids.

Identify The Problem #1

2011-05-27T06:49:00.000-07:00

As the season rolls on I will be starting my section "Identify The Problem?"

This section will give you the opportunity to guess what the problem is on the golf course. It will give you a bit of insight what we encounter day to day. As I have always said every day is an adventure and you never know what you may find!

#14 Fairway removed snow cover. Left hand side healthy
bluegrass, right hand side heavy snow mold.
Come back next week to get the answer!

New #2 Hole Pond Work

2011-05-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

8:00am Hand Placing Rock

11:00am at the first Corner

4:30pm past the the front of the new
green complex

We are racing against time or spring run off? The new pond on the new Par 3 hole is starting to take shape. We have found our top of bank and startedt to hand place our rock along the edge. The crew put in a long day yesterday to get as much rock in place before the ground water starts to come up. The rock is being trammed around the pond with our skidsteer and dumped along the top of the bank and a crew of 4 are hand placing the rock to ensure proper coverage and to cover the fabric completely. The fabric is to reduce weeds and stop washouts from underneath the rock. With some good weather we should be able to complete the entire edge by the end of this week and the water can rise all it wants?

18 Holes Are Open!

2011-05-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

We have accomplished our second goal and that is getting all 18 holes open and this was done on May 13th!
We are working hard to get the new bunker complex on the 9th hole ready for sod, adding loam and using drain tile for the bunker edge. The 4`` drain tile holds the loam in place as soon as the sod roots the drain tile will be removed and the bunker edge is created. We will be removing any rock from the bunker floor and packing with a plate tamper to ensure a smooth surface before we add the sand.
The new tee decks on the following holes will be open on Friday May 20th, #11 Gold and #17 Red. The other tees #3, #9 and #14 will be open but instead of using the grass we will have hitting matts to hit off. The reason for this is to let the sod have more time to root. On the 3rd hole we will have 1 matt on the gold tee box, on 9 we will have 1 matt for the gold and blue blocks and 1 matt for the white blocks and on the 14th hole we will 1 matt for the blue and gold and 1 matt for the red and white. Please use these provided matts and let our sod root properly!

New Bunkers #9 Fairway

We continue to clean up around the golf course, the elk continue to travel over to the golf course during the evening hours and hopefully they will find their summer home soon, but not at the golf course?

Nine Holes Are Open

2011-05-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

We have accomplished the first of 2 goals the opening of the first 9. The second goal is in progress to get the other 9 cleaned up and ready for Friday morning.
We fired up the irrigation system yesterday, thanks to Spence the Canmore Golf & Curling Clubs longtime Assistant Superintendent. He put a lot of miles on his cart yesterday chasing air out of the lines and checking stations. We got lucky with only one elk fence post that hit a line but it is still early?

Opening Day Is Around The Corner

2011-05-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

We are on schedule to have 9 holes open Wednesday May 13th and all 18 on Friday May 15th! Wednesday we will be playing the old 9, 1 through 15 and 16 through 18 this will give us a few extra days to clean up the more shade holes and to finish up the construction on the 9th hole. The 9th hole is taking shape with an addition of a gold tee, old fairway bunker removed with the addition of 3 fairway bunkers on the right hand side.

The crew has been putting in some long hours over the last couple of days to clean the course up and get it ready to open. Thank you to all the crew on there hard work!

Here are some pictures of the progress on the course over the last week.

Shovelling snow out of bunkers

Sweepers are rolling notice
the snowblower still mounted
on tractor

Old fairway bunker #9 ready for sod

Folding up spring tarps

View from back of new gold tee
#9

Back Online

2011-05-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

I was mistakenly taken offline as I was accused of spam?? I will be back tomorrow to report on the flurry of activity that we have been doing over the last week! Check back tomorrow.

Fixing Elk Damage and Snowblower Scars

2011-05-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

With around 1 foot of snow Thursday and Friday last week we had the crew take some well deserved days off but back at it again!

We have been pulling the tarps off and fixing elk damage and snowblower scars on the the greens. This is using a cup cutter and good plugs from our nursery green or old #11. We have now completed 3 greens and will continue this process to ensure a great putting surface opening day!

The swepers have been rolling with some good progress, we still have to wait on some areas around the course but getting alot done!

Still Blowing Snow And Mowing Greens

2011-04-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday April 24 2011

Practice Putting Green April 22 2011

With the warm temperatures we have seen some great growth and green-up on our greens. Most greens are on there second mow with the soil temperatures reaching +10! But as we prepare our greens we still have lots of snow to deal with in the bunkers, rough and in the shaded spots. We continue to blow this around to speed up the melting process.

A Visitor

2011-04-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

We had a visitor in the turfcare compound today. This great horned Owl was in a tree beside our lunchroom.

First Mow

2011-04-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

There Is Some Green Grass In The Valley!

#12 Green First Mow 2011

We have dusted off the mowers and are starting to mow greens. The process is to remove the spring tarp mow the green then give it some water, then place the tarp back on the green. We are cutting the greens at 3/16" or .1875. We have been getting some good growth with the temperature under the tarps and this weekend looks great to get rid of all the other snow on the golf course?

The Secret Employees

2011-04-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

#17 Green temperature on top of
spring tarp

#17 Green temperature under tarp

Even though the only equipment that is getting a work out on the golf course is the snowblowers we have another 22 hidden employees that are doing a great job for us and they are not on the payroll?? Have you guessed who they are.....

The answer is the spring tarps! We have now had them down for 2 weeks now and are seeing some great results. These pictures were taken on April 13th at 3:00pm in the afternoon on our 17th green. The outside temperature was +5 with partial sun. As you see by the pictures the temperature on top the tarp was +15 and the temperature under the tarp was +21 with the signs of some green grass and growth! The question is always asked if we are concerned with the cold temperatures we are experiencing lately and the answer is no. With these tarps or very large blankets the night time temperatures under the tarp never get low enough to be concerned.
So as we all curse the weather and how the snow is not melting fast enough remember that these 22 employees (tarps) are working hard for you!

Bubble Wrap Removed

2011-04-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

Removing Bubble Wrap #2 Green

#2 Green After All Bubble Wrap removed

We have removed the bubble wrap from #2, #13 and #15 greens. This is the only 3 greens that have the bubble wrap on them. Once again we have had great success with this program, no ice damage or disease. The solid tarp and bubble wrap have been removed and is replaced with our spring tarp to keep the temperatures up on the green.

Fairway Snowblowing

2011-04-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

Snow Blowing #9 Fairway

Snow Blowing #16 Fairway

We have started to clear the snow off the fairways with more than normal amounts this time of year. The average on most fairways is 2-3 feet with more in areas that are more treed or wind blown. The snow blowers are getting a work out this year and look like this week will bring even more blowing as the temperature hover around +5???

Winter Tarps

2011-04-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

#18 Green

#6 Green

We have removed 2 of our winter tarps to inspect the greens after the long winter undercover. The greens did very well with no signs of disease or ice damage. As the weather permits we will remove the tarps with bubble wrap on them #2, #13 and #15 to make sure they have wintered well.
We continue to blow snow on fairways to speed up the melting process and to dry the turf out so that we can start our spring cleanup.

What A Difference A Year Makes!

2011-04-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

March 31st 2010

March 31st 2011

The weather has not been kind to us! If you are a skier you may be smiling but when getting a golf course ready there is not much smiling about the weather. As noticed in these 2 pictures, both were taken on March 31st. Hopefully the weather man can shine some sun on us and the snow can melt away fast!

More Snow Removal

2011-03-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

Knee high snow on the 13th green

First pass on the 6th green

#6 Green

We have started the task of removing the snow off our greens that have winter tarps on them. With the amount of snow that we have on the golf course it is best to get the snow off and remove the tarps to look at how the greens made it through the winter. The hardest part of this process is to make sure that the tarps do not get ripped with the snowblower or shovels.

Greens Tarping

2011-03-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

#17 Green Snow Removed

# 17 Green Tarp Applied

Now that the greens have been cleared of snow we are putting down our Spring tarps to create some heat so that the greens come out of dormancy. The tarps that we use are impermeable so that we can control the moisture and to create as much heat as the weather allows. The average temperature under the tarps is about 10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. As this week is supposed to warm up we should see some green grass in 10 days.

March 21 - 24, 2011 Snow Removal

2011-03-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Snow Removal #11 Green

We have removed all the snow off the greens that do not have winter tarps on them. There was an average of 2-3 feet of snow on all greens. The remaining greens with winter tarps will be cleared off by the end of next week. We have also removed some snow off our tee boxes and will continue to move snow off the fairways to speed up the melting process. The weather looks promising next week, maybe Spring has arrived....
As this is my first post please be patient as I make this blog a good information tool for all of you that are interested in Turfcare at the Canmore Golf Curling Club.
Until Tommorrow!