Welcome Back.

Welcome back! We are excited to kickoff our 51st year with you, the course is now open for play.

We will be opening on alternate greens (aka temp pins) because the soil is not warm enough for the turf to start growing. Without growth, the greens can't recover from normal, day-to-day golfer traffic. By utilizing alternate greens, we can enjoy the property without risking long term damage to the greens.

Amenities are extremely limited on the property. Course accessories will start being placed on the course soon. In the meanwhile, please get out and enjoy this great piece of property!

Thank you for being patient as we work with Mother Nature and kick off the 2016 golf season.

February Course Conditions

After touring this great golf course today, everything looks as it should for the end of February. The turf is dormant and there are no signs of winter damage or disease. While we aren't out of the woods with Mother Nature yet, we are hopeful for an early spring.

Green Sample from 3 green under the growth lamp.

The Team has been busy in the maintenance facility this month preparing equipment as well as organizing the facility. We look forward to seeing you all soon.

The Housing Development

A few years ago, we learned that a parcel of bordering property was to be developed into a neighborhood of thirty homes. Radrick has always prided itself on the "natural feel" of our property.  Since before construction commenced, we have been developing plans to protect that setting.

We decided to implement a phased tree planting program (as well as install fencing).  This process is an ongoing endeavor in which we review the results in every season of the year. Thus far, 49 trees have been planted. Since 2013, these plantings have encompassed more than 395 labor hours to install.

Thank you for your patience as we strive to maintain the natural feel of the golf course at the highest level possible.

Radrick Farms Team planting Norway Spruce on 6.

Blacy Tree Company transplanting Norway Spruce on 8.

Job Instruction Training

We train our Maintenance Team in many facets of golf course operations. Annual training sessions are conducted for a variety of industry topics: agronomics, tree care, equipment maintenance, equipment operation, and most importantly, safety. In 2015, the Team participated in these training sessions totaling 490 hours. This training is provided by the Tree Care Industry Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association, University of Michigan Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, and The Toro Company.

In addition to these training sessions, we utilize the Job Instruction Technique (JIT). The goal of using the JIT method, is to make each employee comfortable and safe using the equipment to perform with quality results. Our Team of Greenskeepers, Clint Kutzley, Katharine Stewart, Matt Weiland, and Ghansha St. Amie, do an excellent job utilizing the JIT instruction.

The Team is provided invaluable annual safety
training by U of M OSEH Dept.'s Brett Goecke.

A Little Driving Range Love

The above normal temperatures have given us an opportunity to renovate the bunkers on the driving range. These bunkers needed a weeding, grading, and some new sand. This project will enhance the aesthetics on the range as well as provide better depth perception for practice shots.

Before work commenced

Excavating old sand and sod.

Bed prep and the beginning of sand installation. 

Sand being installed by Ghansha with the Ty-Crop Material Hauler.

Finished Bunker

Factors For Closing the Golf Course

Please review the November post from 2013 for particular details on why we close. We appreciate your continued support. Happy holidays to you and your families. We look forward to seeing you again in the spring.

Please Excuse Our Mess

Golf course natural areas require maintenance all season long. They are not areas that are meant to grow out of control. During the growing season, Maintenance Team Members remove woody invasive plants as well as some weeds such as thistle.


During this time of year, these areas are mowed and cleaned up. This material is then composted at our facility. Following the mowing and cleaning practices, herbicide is applied to these areas to control broad-leaf weeds. This process is beneficial to these areas by eliminating the weeds, woody plants, and invasive species. Please excuse our mess while we tackle this project. Be on the lookout, there may be a golf ball or two buried in the debris!

Ghansha St. Amie mowing area between 1 & 8

Area between 1 & 10 mowed.

Aeration is Approaching

Just mentioning the word "aeration" can bring out negative feelings among golfers everywhere. But aeration is one of the key components to healthy playing surfaces and soil composition on the golf course.

Mother Nature willing, our plan this year is to aerate the tees the week of Sep.7, then collars and approaches the week of Sep. 14, and finally the greens during the week of Sep. 21. We plan to stay open on "alternative" greens during that week.

Tees, collars, and approaches will be done utilizing 5/8" hollow tines. While the greens will aerated with 1/2" hollow and solid tines. The 2014 process on greens went very well and we will utilize the same process. Refer to the 2014 Greens Summary post for the detail of the greens process.

The Team appreciates your continued support during this very important aeration process!

Why We Don't Just Water at Night

Throughout the growing season, the course's water demands change based on several factors, including soil structure and evapotranspiration rates. Several times throughout the year, we utilize wetting agents to insure that water makes its way into the soil profile. These wetting agents are sprayed onto the turf and then watered in.

Over the course of the last few weeks you may have wondered why sprinklers are running during the morning. This is to soak this product into the soil as well as aid turf health from our recent stretch of warmer weather. We appreciate your support and patience with the occasional sprinkler nuisance as we do our utmost to provide you with superior conditions.

Greens Venting

Greens have been vented today. Small, solid 5/16" tines (about the diameter of a pencil)  were used. After greens were aerated they were rolled to smooth the surface. This aeration process is necessary to allow gas exchange in the rootzone as well as increase oxygen. Just like humans, turf needs oxygen to thrive. It is important in a wet year like this one to manage rootzones and give turf the best chance at survival.

9 Green being vented

More information about greens venting can be found at the USGA website here. There is also a short video explaining the benefits of venting from the USGA.

Thank you for your continued support as we celebrate our 50th year together.

Our New Natural Area Mowers!

We welcomed Boer Goats to the property on Saturday, June 20th. These goats are on the golf course for the next two weeks, potentially longer. During this trial period, we will see how fast an area can be cleared, what vegetation they like to eat the most, and how much they like living on a golf course.

To our knowledge, Radrick Farms may be the first golf course in Michigan to utilize goats for vegetative management. This project is potentially a viable environmentally friendly approach to clearing unwanted or invasive species. Regardless of the results, this should be an entertaining experiment to say the least.

Electric fencing to contain the goats.

While these goats are on-site, an electric fence will be used to contain them as well as provide protection from any predators. Please, for the safety and health of our goats, don't feed or pet them. If a golf ball goes into their pen, please do not try to retrieve it.  Play the area as ground under repair.

The goats are already at work clearing brush.

Please help us welcome our newest Team members to Radrick Farms!

We Need YOUR Help.

The driving range tees receive plenty of use throughout the season. In order for turf to recover, we need your help filling divots with the supplied soil and seed.

Divots filled after practice.

Filling divots isn't the only help we need. The proper use of the tee while practicing is one of the keys to turf recovery. The diagram below illustrates the proper and improper way to practice.

How divots should be spaced.

Also, we will be rotating the availability between the range mats, and the upper and lower tee boxes. There will be certain days when you have to take the extra few steps down to the lower tee box.  Check our website for details on the mat schedule. We are rotating in this fashion in order to treat the tee box like a grow-in, providing plenty of opportunity for watering.

With your help, the correct fertility, water, and seed combination we can speed up the turf recovery for all to enjoy. Thanks for your help and dedication in making Radrick such a special place to enjoy.

Spring Is In The Air

Spring is in the air and there's no doubt about it. The trees are blooming and the birds are singing and it is a great time to play some golf.

The spring flush of growth has hit the golf course and the rough is getting thick. So we are mowing it daily (as well as other turf surfaces). As is usually the case during this time of growth, the Team is doing our very best to keep up.

Greenskeeper Katharine Stewart mowing rough on 7.

This growth spurt is very typical for cool-season turfgrass in these spring conditions. The forecasted temperatures and rain will definitely continue to add to this rapid growth. Please be patient with Mother Nature and the Team as we prepare this extraordinary golf course daily.

Happy Mothers Day this coming weekend to all our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers! Hope to see some you playing with Mom every Sunday during Family Golf Night.

Architectural Changes

R.I.P.: Dog Leg Cherry on 6. 

A big, multi-trunk American Cherry tree guarded the dogleg on the sixth hole for a long time. This tree made the hole a daunting par four. Over the years, the tree has been cabled together numerous times to prolong its life.  At one point, many years ago, Poplar trees were planted between the tee and this giant tree in an attempt to prepare for the inevitable.  During a wind storm late last fall, the inevitable occurred.  Half the tree blew over. After assessing the condition of the remaining portion of the tree, our Team decided that the rest had to be removed.

The American Cherry blew over in the storm on Nov. 25, 2014.

Severe decay in American Cherry left us no
choice but to remove the remaining trunk.

Our number one priority in tree care is ensuring a safe environment for our community. This winter, the rest of the tree and several other American Cherries were removed due to their poor health.  All of these trees posed risks of imminent toppling.  The American Cherry tree has a typical life span of 50-60 years.  Given this is our 50th year of golf, it is no surprise that many of our American Cherry trees are in declining health.

We have heard many golfer opinions on what we should do next:  "make it easier", "make it tougher", "add bunkers", "put in a pond", "do nothing".  When it comes to major architectural decisions at Radrick, we have a guiding strategy: gather information and subject matter expert's opinions before acting. This case is no different.  As of right now, we have no definitive plans to alter the architecture of this hole this season.

Most importantly, as we celebrate our 50th year, we plan to host a visit from our Hall of Fame architects Pete and Alice Dye this fall. We plan ask for their feedback on a variety of issues.  They have been very generous with their guidance throughout the past 50 years.  We hope their insight will provide significant direction for the future.

In the meanwhile, our Team is busy getting the golf course cleaned up and ready for another great season.  Enjoy the rare birdie on six... while it lasts.

First Day of Spring Greens Conditions

Happy First Day of Spring

It sure doesn't quite feel like spring yet, but hopefully it will soon. There is still some snow cover and a good amount of frost in the ground on the course. Locate your good luck charm, whatever it may be. I'm knocking on wood. So far, the course survived the winter as expected. 

The playing surfaces are all in typical condition for coming out of winter. The turf is still dormant and looks exactly as it should. There is still the possibility of crown hydration (refer to our March 3rd blog post for more info).  Hang in there, warm weather is coming. 

We look forward to a great season celebrating our 50th anniversary.

9 tee covered in snow and very frozen ground.

9 green free of snow, frost and winter damage.

Greens Update

Not Quite Out of the Woods Yet

The Maintenance Team has been sampling various greens since late December in order to monitor their conditions. Lincoln White, our equipment mechanic, fabricated a tool we use to extract soil and turf from the green. After the sample is removed from the green, it is brought into the Maintenance Facility to warm-up and break dormancy. This process is how we will know what the turf's health will be come spring. Thankfully, all the samples that we have taken this winter have done well.

Turf samples collected from various
greens are marked and monitored.

We are not quite out of the woods yet. Crown hydration is still a concern to turf surfaces. Weather conditions dictate whether crown hydration occurs. In order for it to happen, temperatures warm for a few days and snow and ice start to melt. The plant breaks dormancy and starts to take in water. The major concern at this point becomes the nighttime lows or the "flash freeze". When this happens, the cells of the plant tissue rupture, causing the plant to die. To counter this issue, the Team remains very cognizant of the weather forecast and will adjust practices accordingly.

For more information about winter injury, view this site from the MSU Turf Team.http://www.turf.msu.edu/winterkill-of-turfgrass

The weather forecast for next week looks promising. We will continue to monitor turf conditions and make adjustments accordingly. Remember, only 15 days until spring!

February Update

The Team has been busy in the Maintenance Facility this month. The Team is nearly finished with refurbishing our benches with a brand new look. We have also tackled some building maintenance, including a lot of painting and organizing. During this time of frigid temperatures, we also do our annual deep clean. We are excited to have the facility organized in order to maximize our efficiency throughout the next year. Now, we truly look forward to spring's arrival.

Stay warm out there, only 21 days until the first day of spring!

Bench Before

Bench After

Tree Maintenance

Tree maintenance is a necessary practice on the golf course. Trees are trimmed or removed for the safety of our Team and customers first and foremost. Secondary to that, trees are maintained for the health of the tree and of the turf.   As far as a tree's effect on play-ability is concerned, we rely on subject matter experts before making any changes.

So far this winter, the Team has been removing trees that pose a hazard on the 6th hole. Unfortunately, a wind storm in late November took out the Cherry tree on the inside corner of the dogleg.  This tree had been cabled together several years ago to prolong its life, but its time had come.  We also planted several Poplar trees in front of this tree in preparation for this event.

Where aesthetics and play-ability are concerned, once a tree has been removed, we will watch this area closely for a full season of golf to determine if another tree or trees will need to be planted. 6 will be no different in this case.

Severe rotting at the base of tree above. Tree must be removed.

December Update

The winter weather this month has not been typical. Fortunately for us, we have been able to work on a few projects. The 16th tee renovation is in the final review stage.

The Team has started planting trees on the 6th hole and will move to the 8th in the coming weeks. These trees are part of our continuing plan to maximize the natural feel of the property in spite of  an area housing development.

Work on course accessories (garbage cans, ball washers, etc.) has also started. This year we are giving the benches a face lift. Stay tuned to see that transformation.

Planting Norway Spruce on 6

Planting Norway Spruce on 6

16 Tee Before

16 Tee After

  

Benches Dissembled 

Benches before refurbishment

16 Tee Renovation Update

Since the last update in late August, the bed has been graded and shaped, drainage has been installed, and the pea stone and mix profiles have been installed. The final steps are laying the teeing surface sod, installing irrigation, and laying the tee bank sod.

The conditions have been wet, then dry, cold and then warm throughout this process which makes some of these steps tough  to complete in a timely manner.  The Team, which has included some guest Team members from UMGC, has done a great job adapting to these conditions!

 BED PREP

             

DRAINAGE SYSTEM INSTALL

         

                                                  PEA STONE LAYER INSTALL

                               

                                         

MIX LAYER INSTALL