Dear Members,

The weather has been up and down, wet, dry, cool and hot. Hopefully, May will bring more consistent and warmer day and nighttime temperatures. As I spoke about in April’s newsletter, the practice putting green has been top dressed and we will continue to do so until we can achieve a smooth surface to putt. Once that is achieved, the height of cut will be brought down, the grass cut and should tie into our normal verticut and grooming processes for the golf course greens. You may have noticed the grass that surrounds the practice putting green has been mowed at the same height as the green collars, this will allow for better utilization of the area for chipping and pitching as well as putting.

The first week of May is the target timeframe, weather dependent, to begin the cultural practices of our putting greens which will include, verticutting and or grooming of the greens, along with our topdressing and rolling program. This will allow us to get the greens in the best condition possible from a ball roll and consistency standpoint, while simultaneously minimizing the grain on the greens.

The course fertilization could not have gone more smoothly, and all sixty-two acres targeted have been fertilized and as the weather cooperates the course will be greening up nicely in the weeks to come. Then our crew will be working diligently, doing what we love the most and that is mowing it.

As a reminder, please take extreme care when parking around the greens, we have several areas that are compacted and as a result of this practice over time the grass is bare and getting barer due to the golf cart traffic. Please do not park in wet, bare areas, rut areas where the golf cart tires have made ruts (along cart paths) or have killed the grass at any time, especially around greens. Park and travel on cart paths whenever possible, this will assist us in making your golf course the best it can be.

I have developed the course action plan to amend the greens with minor nutrients that they need based on the soil sample results. Our greens are very healthy and vigorous, the amendments relate to balancing ph levels ensuring other micronutrients such as manganese, zinc, iron etc. are in the soil in the proper amounts. It is kind of like baking a cake and not having the right amounts of sugar, oil and or eggs, although it may be good, if the ingredients were properly added, it would taste better. In our case it is imperative to have the greens properly fertilized/amended so it can withstand the summer stresses it will surely go through. As a follow up, we will be sending soil samples off every quarter to ensure we are on track and moving in the right direction.

Last but certainly not least, please welcome Alan Bowers to the maintenance staff, he is a native of Virginia, he is fully retired but can’t seem to stop working. If you do meet him along your way, please be prepared for a lengthy conversation. He has never met anyone he couldn’t talk to for less than an hour. All kidding aside, he is a very nice man and a pleasure to talk to.

Fairways and Greens!

Mike Monk, GCSAA, PGA