Frost Delays

Looking at the forecast for this weekend it looks like there is a good chance of frost. Please check with the proshop or check back with this site for starting times. The attached video from the USGA gives a good explanation of how frost can damage the turfgrass plant.



Thank-you,

Pat O'Brien
Grounds Superintendent

Tee Renovations Begin

On October 17th the Grounds Staff will continue with leveling, reshaping and realigning the tees on select holes beginning with #11. During the process the existing tee will be divided into two separate tees, all bentgrass sod will be lifted and reused, along with the surrounding turf being replaced with turf type tall fescue. During this process a temporary tee will be used in front of the tee in the rough. Please see below photo of the exisiting and proposed tee placement.





Thank-you,

Pat O'Brien
Grounds Superintendent

Fall Aerification

With the change in the tree foliage it signals that the golf season is slowly winding down. Over the next few weeks the Ground’s Staff and I will be involved with several projects across the course. On top of the on-going projects we will be completing a second aerification to the putting surfaces which will commence on October 24th and 25th. The golf course will be closed on the 24th, but will be open after that with temporary greens where the processes are being completed. Core aeration is a disruptive but, necessary process and a foundation of the agronomic program at HP. The increased aeration and sand topdressing over the years has helped the poor draining and thatchy greens, however through regular testing and recommendations from the USGA and a second independent lab, the agronomic program will expand to increasing sand topdressing applications along with a second core aeration in the fall. The overall strategy is to improve the playability and sustainability of the surfaces by amending the soil with increased sand aiding in shifting the populations from Annual Bluegrass to Creeping Bentgrass . Basically, continuing to rebuild the greens from the top down, eliminating the need to close the course for a major renovation of the greens. The two links below contain recommendations and adjustments from the USGA and ISTRC to the current agronomic program at Hyde Park. Each year the representative green will be tested to quantify the adjustments in the program.

Links of interest:

USGA Consultation

ISTRC Report #9 Green


If there are any questions please contact me:
grounds@hydeparkcc.com

or

513.871.1680

Thank-you,

Pat O’Brien

Drainage Improvements #9 green/#10 tee area

The drainage work on #9 green/#10 tee area is nearly complete, the rest of the sod will be laid tomorrow and the area will be open for play, except the new sod, it will be played as ground under repair.

Thank-you,

Pat O'Brien

Grounds Superintendent

Drainage Improvements #9 green/#10 tee area

The grounds staff has shifted gears to begin working on placing drainage in a traditionally wet area located in the vicinity of the #10 and 17 tees. The drainage will be tied-in to the existing catch basin located in front of the right-side greenside bunker on #9. During this project we also will place drainage pipe in this area for future tie-ins near the green. The red lines on the photo of the 9th green complex show the path of the new drainage. We anticipate having this project complete by the end of this week pending weather.

Thank-you,

Pat O’Brien

Grounds Superintendent

Member Improvments-Zoysia grass approaches

The final pieces of Zoysia Grass have been laid on the approaches on holes #2, 13 and 17. As you may have noted the new Zoysia grass looks and plays different than the mature stand on the fairways. With the cooler temperatures arriving, the Zoysia will develop slower and will come out of dormancy behind the established Zoysia areas in the spring. Depending on the weather, this turfgrass will mature and show similar playability to the established areas in May and June when the temperatures become more favorable for warm season grasses such as Zoysia grass.

Thank-you

Pat O’Brien
Grounds Superintendent

Member Improvements Update: Zoysia Grass Conversion

The removal of the bentgrass from the approaches on #2, 13 and 17 is complete, the big roll Zoysia sod is in place to lay tomorrow. During the laying process a temporary green will be located in the fairway. Once the sod is laid, it will be safe to play off of, we ask that all cart traffic please stay off these new areas. Many have already noticed that, the right side of #2 green has been enlarged to capture the original Donald Ross appearance.




Thank-you,

Pat O’Brien
Grounds Superintendent