Around the Grounds at Hyde Park

I like to talk a lot about weather and the impact of it on managing turf, however this month I am going to be very concise and stray away from data to just say it has been very wet! We apologize for the cart restrictions and the other inconveniences associated with record rainfall, we are hopeful for a drier July with “normal” temperatures!

The practice area continues to see plenty of use. The wet conditions have warranted more use of the synthetic teeing line and bentgrass teeing spaces. Moving forward, the Zoysia grass tee will be utilized more because the warmer temperatures will help with divot recovery. Lineal divot patterns will better utilize the teeing area more efficiently and aid in quicker recovery. 

Exciting News! Our friends from Mexico were approved with their work visas,  it has been amazing to have them back again for another season. 

Over the next few weeks our team will continue to play catch-up from the rain. Long awaited drainage projects will occur near the forward tee on 7, near the ninth tee and behind the 1st green. The majority of wet areas are of result of a high water table and natural springs. Donald Ross  mentions these springs in his design notes from the early 1920’s on the 7th hole.

The Zoysia Grass continues to heal well! The warmer temperatures will help, along with resodding and plugging of many areas across the golf course. We hope very soon to have cart path restrictions lifted on 2 and 8. The 18th fairway will take a little longer due to resodding of winter damage just past the fairway bunkers. 

The monthly newsletter/blog gives me an opportunity to introduce some of our team members. This month I would like to introduce Jon Nash, our international intern from Australia, Jon brings a wealth of knowledge to our team along with excellent critical thinking skills and many other intangibles. Below,  is a note from Jon!

Hi,

My name is Jonathan Nash!

I am the current sports turf management intern at Hyde Park Golf & Country Club. I am participating in a program available for international students through the Ohio State University’s sports turf department coordinated by Mike O’Keeffe.

I am originally from the UK but emigrated to Australia 5 years ago. I began my trade in 2016 in the form of an apprenticeship which involves both practical and theoretical assessments at a small golf course in Western Australia. It was my former Superintendent that informed me of the program, it seemed like an opportunity I could not pass up on as it would expose me to more complex maintenance practices, management skills and further my knowledge of turfgrass agronomy.

I’ve been at Hyde Park for two months now, the experience so far has gone beyond my expectations. I’m extremely lucky to work alongside Pat, Dan and Arron as they are very knowledgeable and are more than happy to answer any questions I may have regarding the trade. I have already learnt so much and will continue to do so until October when I depart the US back to Australia. I am thoroughly enjoying what Cincinnati has to offer, there’s plenty to do and see, I have been taken back by how friendly and inclusive everyone has been.

I plan to take what I have learnt from my internship and use that to seek a supervisory role on a golf course in Australia. I already feel the confidence in my abilities growing, I believe I will have both the knowledge and skills needed to become successful in the sports turf industry upon completion of my time at Hyde Park.

I’d like to thank you for hosting me at your prestigious club.

Regards,

Jonathan Nash

As alway, thanks for your feedback on the course. If you would like updates on course operations please follow us on twitter  @pobrienhpgcc If there are any questions, please send us a note at grounds@hydeparkcc.com

Thank-you,

Pat O’Brien 

Grounds Superintendent 

Summer is Heating Up: A quick update from Bryan Miller-Horticulturist

Summer finally decided to warm up at the end of June, really firing up all the summertime annuals. After a slow, wet start to summer, the flowers really started to take off when the heat kicked in. All the rain we received mid June, however, (around 6"-8" in a week) did not help things, especially from a disease stand point. All things considered, the plants held their own, minus a few cases powdery mildew on the Bee Balm (Monarda) and some areas where plants were just sitting in several inches of water. Some of the challenges that come with new landscaping, especially those after a major construction project, are drainage and proper soil conditions. Still working out some of the kinks, but our heavy clay soil mixed with construction fill and compaction provide the perfect storm for poor drainage resulting in the standing water that some of these plants are sitting in, causing root rot, among other things. We will try and remedy these troublesome areas by tilling in some pine fines in the fall to loosen the soil up and provide better drainage. The following photos show the differences between the viburnum and lilacs that are sitting in water vs those that are in a drier spot.

 The summertime annuals in the heavy clay soil also show signs of stunted growth. The following photos show Bidens and Petunias thriving in the rich soil of some of our older beds, while they struggle in the beds that are heavily compacted and mostly clay. The Lobularia and Cleome also struggle in wet soil, as shown in some of these photos as well.

I'll end with the older more established beds, as well as containers and hanging baskets. No complaints here. They all look great and really filling out nicely. The heat, proper fertility and water management result in some very healthy looking plants.

As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to stop me and ask. Have a great rest of the summer!

Bryan Miller
Horticulturist, Hyde Park GCC