Busy times for Tam Turf

The storms that ruined many towns in Indiana and Illinois made their way through southeastern Michigan. Although we have no business complaining, we did experience 2 full days of high winds topping at over 50 mph. Over a quarter million homes lost power for days. 

As we are in the process of putting the course to bed, Mother Nature gave us some extra work to deal with.

The handful of willow trees on the course were whipped up. These soft wooded weeds littered the place.

Being the optimist , this is just natures way of cleaning up the dead wood in the tree canopies. This is a good thing, but never comes at a good time.

During the cold wind and rain the storm brought in, we were able to blow out the irrigation system. After 2.5 days, this process is complete. All went well , and we've crossed it off the list. 

An important process heading into winter is the practice of deep tine aerification to the greens. 

This machine, called a soil reliever, punches solid spikes deep into the soil to a depth of 10 inches. These deep holes help relieve compaction and allow for better drainage through the winter months. 

We have also completed our final chemical applications to greens, tees, and fairways. This application is primarily for a disease (snow mold) we see during the winter months and in cold wet conditions. 

So much completed yet so much more to be done before snowfall. As we head into Thanksgiving and Hanukkah , my staff and I wish you all a peaceful  holiday with family and friends.

Drainage installation

We began installing drainage today on hole 4. The piping network starts in the bunker on the left and flows into the pond. We also improved run off installing drainage along the cartpath at the front tees on hole 5. 

We found old drainage coming out of the bunker that had been severed and crushed during the irrigation install back in 1999-2000.  Yes, the bunker has had less than adequate drainage performance for almost 13 years, leaving it water logged and unplayable.

Drainage plays such an important role with healthy, playable conditions. It is also so very easy to forget about because it is something you can not see. However, just like everything else, it too needs regular maintenance and attention to perform properly.

This work being done now will aid in better playability and will allow for dryer, more consistent conditions. 

Thank you for your patience during these overdue installations.

Fall time maintenance

It has been a very busy fall here at Tam O Shanter. All greens, tees, collars and approaches have been aerified and sanded 

We have started drainage work. Drainage in the right rough on 10 and approach on 7 have been fixed. Tree roots love to grow in the drain lines clogging them leaving the turf oversatturated. 

These 2 root masses were pulled from 10.

 This root mass was pulled from 7. It was over 18 feet long.

 Amazing stuff. Trees are an intriquate part of a golf course but only in the proper areas. Too many trees cause for many maintenance issues like this. All drain systems on the course will be inspected and fixed or clean out. 

We will be installing new drainage on 3 green. We have already re sloped the back right of the green to allow water to flow off.

We will be installing a new drain system in the left bunker on 4 including the approach and fairway as well as the approach on 14.

The trees have decided to hold their leafs late this year. The staff is ready as soon as the trees decide to drop for the winter.

We will be blowing, raking, vacuuming and mulching until the snow covers the ground.

Aerification Season

It is time to cultivate the soil. The tees will be worked this week. Greens and approaches will be aerified October 1. We will be verticutting / dethatching fairways throughout October. Amending the soil allows for better root growth resulting in excellent turf health and playability. 

My staff and I appreciate your patience throughout this necessary turf maintenance practice.

Ball mark repair

Easy instruction on proper ball mark / pitch mark repair. 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/YvNVBjI3rhs

Hot Hot Hot!

It is at these conditions that watering practices need to be focused. Contrary to what you might think , we water much less now than less humid weather. 

Hot and humid days and nights make for a perfect petre dish allowing many devastating TurfGrass diseases to grow. Think of these conditions as a smorgersboard for for fungi to eat . One of the key elements for disease growth is water. The dryer the turf especially at night , the less chance for infection. 

We will cool and irrigate most of the course during the day allowing for dryer night conditions. We are looking forward to the cooler weather forecasted for this coming weekend.

Stay thirsty my friends.

GLM

Good Morning

It is a pristine morning at Tam O Shanter Country Club. Have a great week.

Summertime at Tam

Summertime at Tam O Shanter.

Welcome home.

Rain and more Rain

It certainly has been a wet start to the summer!  It has rained on Tam O Shanter 7 straight days. This has resulted in a very wet golf course.  Some of this weather has been severe, leaving trees and debris cluttering the course.

For the second time this week, we have lost large parts of this willow on #9.

Many roads around the area flooded leaving cars stranded.

The heavy rainfall eroded all of our sand traps which left the maintenance staff with a 2 day project pushing sand back on their banks.

Along with trees snapping like twigs so did some of our umbrellas.

 This unusually consistent rainfall has made many areas on the course un-maintainable. The turf keeps growing, however in many places around the course the mowers can not cut them because of all the moisture. As many of you have seen, many artesian springs have popped up. As the water table rises, water pressure increases from below and pushes water to the surface. 

Everyday, the maintenance staff is doing their very best to dewater the property, as well as keep the turf cut and playable with doing as little damage as possible.

We thank you for your patience.

Water, Water Everywhere!

There are many things as a staff we can control.  We make sure the putting surfaces are nice, the tees are blown off, and the trash is picked up.  Unfortunately, the large amount of rain we have received this week is out of our control.  There are many challenges that come with the amount of precipitation dumped on us this week.  Normal jobs like mowing rough and fairways becoming difficult chores.  Thank you for bearing with us as we try to keep Tam-O-Shanter in the best shape possible during this tough week of weather!

Surprise

Most mornings as a Golf Course Superintendent are great. This morning was not. The water line into our fertilizer/chemical room broke. Thank goodness for plastic containers. 

Another day, another hurdle. 

Changing it up

We decided to change the look of the front entrance to the club.

Pictures of spring at Tam

Springtime at Tam

What a beautiful day. Full sun and a lite breeze. The turf is growing and it's getting real green here.
Graham had a blast hanging out. He thought the the turf looked great.

Irrigation Start up

Today we began filling the irrigation system. The month of March went on record for the third driest in Michigan history. At days end all systems were running properly. Expect to see water flying on later this week.

Let The Games Begin

The course opened today at noon. The turf from tee to green looks great coming out of winter. Greens are open and carts are running.

Waiting for Spring

As we patiently wait for spring to arrive, when not outside working on the course, we stay busy inside refurbishing benches.
Current temperatures remain 10-15 degrees below average.

ICE

This winters weather patterns have not been favorable. Approximately every 14 days since the end of December, we have experienced temperatures warm enough for significant melting. These thaws are quickly followed by cold temps leaving all the melted snow turned to ice.
In an effort to clear any ice that formed on our greens, we spread green sand on areas of ice coverage . We are happy to report that the green sand aided in the melting as soon as the sun came out.  The greens are now clear of what could have been very damaging ice formation.
The current forecast shows another warming trend for later this week. We continue to monitor the course daily and make adjustments as conditions change.

Winter

People often ask what a golf course superintendent does in the winter time?? 

Winter maintenance is often as important as summer maintenance.   The weather can have a huge impact on turf.  While snow is fine, the thawing then refreezing can be catastrophic. In recent years, the practice of applying a heavy layer of top dressing on the greens has helped deter ice damage. Having just arrived to Tam in December, I had not prepared the course for winter.  While snow mold applications had been completed prior to my arrival,  I wanted to immediately get top dressing on the greens.  This practice alone does not ensure success.  It is a combination of several practices which help to minimize any turf damage or lose.  

Another practice is to clear the greens of all snow proceeding a thaw which helps to minimize excess water which can then refreeze forming the fatal ice layer.  This is a very time sensitive practice.  To date there have been two significant thaws which have required us to clear all the greens.  This video shows us clearing 3 green ...

I am happy to report that greens all look healthy to date.  We will continue snow clearing if the weather requires.

Welcome to Tam O Shanter Turf Maintenance

  My name is Gregg Matthews and I am your Golf Course Superintendent.  I plan to use this blog as a forum to keep you abreast on maintenance practices here at Tam.  I look forward to meeting everyone and the journey which lies ahead.