Post aeration update:
The greens continue to heal well with many of the greens at Day 17 of post aeration. The weather has almost been perfect with above normal temperatures and timely precipitation and the smoothness of the greens continue to improve daily. Yesterday, the Grounds team was able to mow, brush and groom the surfaces multiple times along with a heavy sand topdressing to aid in smoothing of the greens. Today, the team will be out mowing in the early afternoon to achieve a clean cut of the stood-up turf from the brushing yesterday. Over the next week we will continue to lower mowing heights, apply plant growth regulators to help with density and ultimately aid in improved playability. Thank-you for your continued patience, the turf is almost there!
 |
| Christo- Rolling the 18th |
 |
| Day 14-Post Aeration |
Other Initiatives across the grounds at HP include:
Erie Avenue Landscape Enhancements: Bryan Miller, Horticulturalist is excited to start this week planting over 200 plants that will enhance the first impression coming into the club.
Rough Inner Seeding: Over 6000 lbs. of turf type tall fescue seed has been placed in the ground with the final touches being wrapped up this week
 |
| Innerseeding of rough |
Greens Height Nursery: trials have begun again of new varieties of creeping bentgrass; our focus is on new cultivars that provide a high level of heat and ware tolerance, improved texture and disease resistance.
School Visits- In the off-season our team’s focus shifts slightly with a focus on recruitment of the next turfgrass professionals with visits to both colleges and high schools. It offers our team opportunity to give back to the programs that we have partnered with offering a hands-on learning environment along with providing insight of other topics that might not be covered in the curriculum.
 |
| Class Tour from Cincinnati State |
H2-B Guest Worker Visa Program: Our team members from Mexico are leaving next month to return to their families. We can’t thank them enough for their hard work over the last months, they are integral part of our success! We have already begun the paperwork for next season to have our same team back with us for a seventh year!
 |
| Bryan with our team from Mexico |
Tee Aeration: We will begin the annual tee aeration this week with a minimal impact to play.
High Rough Areas: A second mowing has been completed in many areas of the high rough, herbicide applications will start this week to keep these areas weed free as possible for next year.
Continuing Education/Tournament Volunteering: Over the winter months our team will continue to grow with continuing education at various conferences, or they will have the opportunity to assist in the preparation for a PGA event. Recently, I had the opportunity to help a friend and a former classmate from Penn State to prepare the course for the 40th USGA Mid-Amateur at Sankaty Head Golf Club in Nantucket, MA. CJ Penrose and his team leading up to the event were challenged (like so many others in this industry) with a lack of labor. However, the lack of labor did not impact the quality of the golf course that was played by the field. The conditions were excellent in all areas, with outstanding feedback from the players and the membership at Sankaty Head. The opportunity to volunteer at events such as this provides a behind the scenes look at how courses are prepared for tournament play along with providing an opportunity to incorporate similar strategies into our operations at HP. CJ and his team were extremely organized and welcoming of all the volunteers and were willing to share many ideas, strategies and challenges. As always, I am thankful for these opportunities to play a small part in these events.
 |
| CJ Penrose- Golf Course Superintendent |
 |
| Sankaty Head |
Thank-you,
Pat O’Brien,
Grounds Superintendent
