Grounds Update 9-10-21

The 2021 season continues to move forward quite quickly, many people are surprised when I say this time of year is incredibly challenging and busy with preparations for the final events, while also focusing on agronomics for the 2022 season. The 2021 season has been filled with many challenges to say the least, Mother Nature has thrown many curve balls with an extremely wet spring, a beyond dry July and the last couple weeks of August; the weather quite frankly was miserable to grow turf in this area. These conditions kept our team constantly pivoting, responding to the turf health and adjusting practices to keep the grass moving in the right direction. The Grounds and Horticulture team has done a wonderful job this year, in true fashion we have learned a lot from this season and I cannot thank our team enough for their flexibility, creativity and hard work to make the Member experience at Hyde Park the best it can be. 

Over the coming weeks the team will focus on the following:

Rough:

Innerseeding of the roughs with Turf Type tall fescue will begin soon.  Most of the rough so far has faired quite well, introducing more Turf Type Tall fescue varieties will improve playability, disease tolerance and overall quality of the stand. Fall Army Worm has created havoc in this area this year and looks like there is another generation of caterpillars that will be looking to feast on green turf over the next couple weeks.

White Egg Masses Laid on Flag by Fall Army Worm 

Innerseeding of Tall Fescue

Green Aeration:

The team and I are getting geared up for one of the most important and dreaded practices of the season; green aeration. The green aeration is scheduled for September 20th to the 23rd. During this time the golf course will be open however temporary flags be set up in the fairway while we complete multiple processes to the greens. We intend to have the aeration finished during this time period however, weather may dictate a different schedule, we will update the membership via email on the progress. The recovery of the turf will take 3-4 weeks. 

Other Initiatives:

Turf nursery preparations have begun for trials of new creeping bentgrass cultivars, the old bent grass types the greens had a difficult time this season with the extremes. We were able to introduce 2 new bentgrass varieties in our plug work on a couple greens.

Front Entrance Landscaping- Bryan has been able to source all of the plant material (which has been a challenge), the last of the remaining plants will be removed along Erie ave. post green aeration and we will begin planting in late September-Early October when cooler temperatures arrive. 

High Rough mowing continues with about 2 acres that will require string trimming because of the terrain. Once completed, herbicide applications will begin in late September. 

In closing, thank-you from our team and I to the entire membership for your understanding and patience while we have had to make adjustments to our practices to maintain existing turf stands. 2021 has been a very interesting and challenging year filled with many learning moments. If there are any questions or concerns please email us at grounds@hydeparkcc.com

Thank-you,

Grounds Superintendent