December Maintenance

The Maintenance Team has been busy working on the 15th hole's front-left greenside bunker. It is being renovated to function and appear the way it was constructed. Bunker sand and sod is removed from the face, the original edges are found and graded to where the bunker edge should be located. It will then get new sod and sand levels will be adjusted to meet our standard criteria

Off-season bunker rebuilding is a common practice at Radrick Farms Golf Course.  While the weather conditions can be rough on the Team, it is easier and more efficient than doing this work during regular play.

Sod being laid on bunker face

Before

Bunker edge reclaimed and graded

Bunker Edge

Bunker Edge

Why Does the Golf Course Close?

Why does the golf course close when the forecast has a couple more nice days left?

The Maintenance Team needs the right weather conditions to apply fungicide to all bentgrass surfaces, topdress greens and pickup all the accessories from the golf course. These next couple of days look like the right weather to "put the golf course to bed" for the long unpredictable winter ahead.

Plant protectents are applied to all bentgrass surfaces to protect them against gray and pink snow mold. These diseases thrive in the cold wet conditions with or without snow. The conditions needed to apply the products include little to no wind and no moisture from rain or snow. They need to dry on the plant. The next couple of days look like our window to apply these products before the weather turns and stays cold.

Another important process is heavy topdressing on greens. This layer of sand helps protect the greens surface from desiccation from the wind during the Winter. It also "tucks-in" the crown of the plant for the long haul until Spring. This topdressing takes place after the fungicide has been applied and has dried.

The last steps of winter preparation include cleaning all leaf and tree debris off the golf course, storing all the accessories from the tees and bunkers, roping greens, and installing silt fence around key bunker faces.

The Maintenance Team has appreciated our customer support for the entire 2013 season. We thank you for your continued understanding and support of the maintenance practices here at Radrick. We hope you have a great holiday season and look forward to seeing you in the Spring of 2014.

Fall Maintenance Update

The Maintenance Team has been busy this fall working on core aeration of the greens, tees, collars and approaches.  We have also been planting new trees on 8 and 9 to protect the natural feel of the property from the neighboring development work.

We will be aerating the north practice green with our new deep tine machine this month and experimenting with tine size and spacing so we can determine its use in the cultural program we have for the greens for next season.

Please be conscious of the Maintenance Team while trees are being planted and leaves are being picked up.  Unfortunately, these are the types of maintenance activities that must be done during normal play. We appreciate your continued support!

Digging hole for new tree

90" Tree Spade bringing new tree in.

View after 7 trees planted

Close up of Norway Spruces that were planted

Greens Aeration

It's that time of year again when the Maintenance Team makes a big, huge mess on greens that have been in great shape all year.

Why do we aerate?

Here is a link to an USGA article that discusses why we aerate. http://gsr.lib.msu.edu/2000s/2003/030301.pdf

Here is another link to a video by the USGA. http://www.usga.org/turf/articles/video/aerate_greens.html

Greens will be aerated with a 1/2" hollow tine. Soil, thatch, and other matter are removed, then
the holes are filled with sand.  This process manages organic matter, relieves compaction and 
surface tension, and at the same time creates pore space for air and water. It also gives new 
roots an excellent place to thrive. Greens should be healed in within 10-14 days.

Aeration hole from this spring. Notice new roots in aeration hole filled with sand.

  

Ball Marks

How long does it take to fix a normal ball mark?  Ten seconds?

One of the many metrics used to assess our performance includes a periodic assessment of the golf course features using an objective seven point scale. Unfortunately, most of this season's greens ratings have had deductions due to excessive ballparks.

The maintenance team can provide superb playing conditions day in and day out, but we need your help. Ball marks detract from the quality of the putting surface for every player that plays the course. We counted more than 140 ball marks that were either not fixed or fixed improperly on one Saturday morning in May. (See the photo below.)

Each white tee is stuck into a ball mark on our 15th hole.

Wherever you play, please do your part and follow this simple golfer etiquette protocol. Don't be afraid to use a little peer pressure.  It will make the putting surface healthier and more enjoyable for you!  Here is a link from the USGA how on to repair ball marks: USGA Ball Mark Repair.

Thank you for your help and your support!

Courtesy Cut: To Have or To Have Not?

Intermediate cuts are used mainly for tournament conditions like we had for the 35th Michigan Junior Amateur State Championship. The intermediate cut was set at 2" and mowed 4 times in five days. Rough mowers were set at 3" and mowing was completed the week before the tournament. Rough was not cut at all the week of the event. By not mowing, rough in areas exceeded 8". Rough at that length is entirely too penal for regular play... that's a U.S. Open length!

A recent article by the USGA Green Section entitled "A Waste of Time and Resources" (http://gsr.lib.msu.edu/article/oatis-waste-7-26-13.pdf)  discusses the value of a courtesy cut. This article is timely and insightful.

At Radrick Farms fairways are mowed less than 1/2" and the rough is mowed at 2". By using the USGA's recommendation, IF there were to be a courtesy cut, that cut would be at 1.25" and the rough would be at a minimum of 3.75". Rough of that height (3.75") would considerably slow the pace of play and detract from the enjoyment of the game not to mention the added maintenance costs of maintaining the intermediate cut.

So, the crew will be mowing and blowing clippings in the rough. Rough height is set back at 2". 

Summer Lovin'

As the song goes, "Summer Lovin', havin' a blast...".  However, the golf course turf is not lovin' this stretch of hot and humid summer weather.  Just like many of us, cool season grasses are having difficulty breathing in these conditions.  But the Maintenance Team has been doing a bang up job keeping the turf healthy.

Too much water at the wrong time can do just as much damage as not enough water in not enough time. Moisture meters are a critical tool for managing healthy turf through extreme weather.

Tools of the trade. Moisture meter, soil probe, infrared thermometer.

Throughout the season, our Team members will be using these meters to manage moisture levels in our turf.  Our goal is to complete more than 90% of our maintenance tasks ahead of play.  Unfortunately, checking moisture is a part of the 10% of tasks that are required, regardless of the tee sheet's status.

To our golfers; please be conscious of the Maintenance Team on the course.  Be sure they are aware of your presence before you hit a shot.  We'll acknowledge your presence and we appreciate golfer patience.  Safety is our top priority!

The Maintenance Team

The end of June is fast approaching. Many events and outings took place this month with great success. The golf course is in great condition because of the 30 hard working team members in the maintenance department. The golf course couldn't be in the condition its in without the support of this great team.

There have been 4:30 am starts and long nights that have lasted into darkness to prepare for all the events.   Please acknowledge the team when you see them on the golf course for all their hard work.

The 2013 RFGC Maintenance Team

What's new in the Maintenance Department?

The weather has been great for the team to maintain the golf course. Although it has been a little cooler than average, the golf course is loving this weather. We were able to complete the conversion at the start of 17 fairway from bentgrass to a blugrass/fescue rough. The project also gave us a chance to fix the grade coming off the cart path. Below are some pictures of the project.

News from the Maintenance Team

The maintenance team has been busy finishing projects on the golf course as well as mowing turf playing surfaces. The bunker on 2, the split rail fence at the clubhouse and the area by 16 tee have been completed.

This past Monday, we were able to use our maintenance day to apply herbicide in the rough and complete the bunker on 2. The weather was great for us to complete work on the golf course! Below are some pictures of the project work in each phase.

2 Bunker Project

We are working on refacing the bunker on 2. It was re-surfaced 4 years ago. Over time, in this high traffic bunker, sand has built up to a point that the shape of the bunker has been comprised and the turf is having a tough time growing through so much bunker sand. We are removing the sod and bunker sand by hand using shovels. We won't be making the bunker any bigger or smaller in size, just taking it back to its original shape. After the sod has been removed and the face has been regraded, we will install new bluegrass/fescue sod to the face. Once the new sod is installed, new sand will be brought in and graded, then this project will be complete. Below are some pictures of the process. More will follow upon completion.

Here's to hoping it doesn't rain everyday this spring!

Sand depth

Depth of sand of the face

Golf Course Opening Factors

The maintenance team is just as excited as our golfers are to be outside enjoying this golf course.

There are many factors that go into the decision on when to open the golf course. The obvious factors above ground include moisture on the surface and whether there is snow or ice cover on the turf. The below ground factors are the most important to the health of the golf course. The soil profile must be free from frost. If play occurred before the frost has come out of the ground, the traffic could damage the integrity of the soil structure  The soil is filled with many open spaces, called pores, which are required for air and water. When compaction occurs from traffic, whether it be maintenance or golfer traffic these pore spaces decrease in size. While this is normal in season, opening the golf course too early could expedite this process and create a poor soil structure that could damage the grass for the rest of the growing season. This damage doesn't show right away, we would see it during the "dog days" of the summer.

Maintenance Dept Update

Staff members just participated in a tree maintenance seminar hosted by the Michigan Green Industry Association, to gain more knowledge on the safe and efficient methods to remove and trim trees.

Off season tree trimming is continuing this month when conditions are favorable to get equipment on the golf course. The recent heavy snow caused a loss of power in the area and damaged some pine trees on the golf course. We will continue to trim trees that are on our maintenance plan as well as clean up from the storm as conditions dictate.

And lastly, THANK YOU for those that donated for the Polar Plunge that benefited the Special Olympics of Michigan! Below are some action shots of Matt, Clint and Levi in their costumes.

16 Bridge-North Update

The new decking and railing are completed on the bridge. There will be some minor work done to the asphalt approaches in the spring when the weather is conducive.

Support Radrick Team in the Polar Plunge

Three members of the Radrick Maintenance staff, Clint Kutzley, Matt Weiland,and Levi Moore will be participating in the Polar Plunge at the Big House. Please support their cause, the donations go directly to the Special Olympics of Michigan. Link for Matt: https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/matt-weiland/uofmpolarplunge.Link for Clint: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/clint-kutzley-radrick/uofmpolarplunge2. Link for Levi: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/LeviMoore/uofmpolarplunge

Matt Weiland, Clint Kutzley, Levi Moore

Tree Maintenance & Bridge Repair

Winter is the best time to remove and prune trees because the ground is frozen. While in this frozen state, heavy equipment can be used on the course with minimal damage to the turf. We've been lucky so far this winter with good ground conditions (until this week) and have been able to do tree maintenance on 3,5,6,9 and 16 so far this Winter. Below are some examples of tree issues that cause us to remove or prune trees.

Wind damage to Oak on 9

Tree decay 30'  above ground, tree will be removed (6).

Steel supports inspected

The off-season gives us the chance to improve other areas on the golf course. The bridge on 16 will be refurbished  The existing decking and hand rails will be removed and replaced with new rough sawn oak planks and treated hand rail material. The steel supports are inspected to ensure a safe crossing over Fleming Creek.

16 Bridge before work starts

Removing old planks

16 Bridge Replacement

16 bridge was replaced this fall. The bridge replacement project presented the opportunity to improve 16 by adding a new cart path, installing rip rap and J-hooks in and around the creek and replacing the bridge that washed away in the flood of 2011. The J-hooks control the current of the creek by diverting the current away from the creek bank towards the middle of the creek, thus controlling the soil erosion that has happened in the past. Below are some pictures of the J-hooks being installed as well as pictures of the new bridge being set on the new foundation.

A 90 ton crane was used to move the bridge from a semi trailer bed  to the bridge foundation.

Radrick Staff installing new sod along new cart path edges.

The bridge is set on the new foundation.

J-Hooks being installed in the creek bed

J-Hooks Installed