Drainage, Rock, & Stumps

What was suppose to be a simple drain pipe install on hole #4 has turned into a major project.  It shouldn't come as any surprise though as rock is everywhere at HFCC.  While digging a trench for 100' of drain pipe, we have dug up boulders and stumps.

Left side of #4 fairway looking back at the tee.

Left side of #4 fairway looking towards the green.

Unfortunately for us there is very little fall available for the drainage, which means that any rocks, boulders, or stumps that cannot be removed must be be either jack hammered out or cut out with a chainsaw.  What was hoped to be a 2-3 day project is now going to be a week long one.  However, it is better that we take the time to do it right than to do poor job that will only need to be redone.

Wilfredo Cruz loves using the jackhammer so much he won't let anyone else use it!  Notice the boulders and stumps in the trench.

Hammered rock.

The project is being done to unify all the drain lines on the hole into one drain pipe.  This will alleviate any extra water that my drain onto neighbors of the club.

2017 Golf Industry Show

Last week I attended the Golf Industry Show (GIS) in Orlando, FL.  The GIS is an annual conference that brings together golf course superintendents, owners, architects, and suppliers from all over the world. The conference features several days of educational seminars followed by the annual trade show.  I was able to take advantage of the trade show, the educational opportunities, and networking that the conference provides.   The following is a brief synopsis of my week at the conference.

Seminar - Turf Insecticides:  Modes of Action and Resistance Management
  This seminar provided techniques for improving the effectiveness of pesticides by better understanding how they work on the pest and by minimizing the effects on the environment. Additionally, strategies for slowing the development of resistance in certain pests were also discussed.

Seminar - Sure Fire Ways to Improve Plant Health:  Products Edition
  While I have an extensive knowledge of the many products used on the course for the improvement of turf health, I am always ready to learn what the newest research has to say about those products. By reviewing the newest data and available research, I was able to understand the synergistic and antagonistic relationships between products to better understand which combinations will best compliment our agronomic programs at HFCC.

Dr. Frank Rossi from Cornell University

Seminar - Low Maintenance Roughs and Natural Areas for Golf Courses
  With the natural environment being one of the major draws of the golf course at HFCC, I felt that there was some merit in attending this seminar and I was right.  This turned out to be my favorite class during the conference.  I experienced the science behind selecting and establishing the best plants for low maintenance areas on the course and the costs associated with them.  Additionally I came away with ideas on how to improve aesthetics, pace of play and overall course quality by properly incorporating these areas.

Seminar - Plant Growth Regulators for Fine Turf:  Cool Season
  Plant growth regulators are the single most common pesticide we apply to the golf course.  They help to improve root and shoot density in the turf while also "slowing" growth which ultimately reduces grass clippings.  This seminar paid specific attention to multi-year research results on how to use growing degree days (GDDs) to schedule applications for consistent shoot suppression on creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue.

While walking the trade show floor, I met with the representatives from the major sprayer manufacturers to view their latest and greatest.  Since we will be in the market for new turf sprayers in the next year, this was a good opportunity to see which company could best suit our specific needs. Additionally, I met with an unnamed mower company to voice some issues we have had with their product.  It turned out to be an opportune meeting as I got to discuss my issues with the president of the company.  Long story short, said company will be taking our mowers back and upgrading them to the latest standard.  Seeing what the "latest standard" looks like, I do believe that this will solve our issues.  It was gratifying to see a company stand behind their product and proved the value of meeting and talking with people.

Last day of the trade show is the best time to meet with people, less crowded.

Finally the best part of the show was the interaction with my peers.  The amount of knowledge that I gather from simply “talking turf” with the guys is immeasurable. I would like to thank everyone at HFCC for providing me the opportunity to participate in the GIS and for understanding the value in it. By attending the trade show and participating in the educational seminars, I have consistently been able to bring back useful information that has benefited the Club both in savings and efficiencies, not to mention the agronomic information that improves the course.

Just a Little Trim......

One of the more intensive projects we are working on this winter is giving the course a bit of trim around the edges.  To be more specific, a good trim of the rhododendrons.  Over time, the rhododendron have grown quite large and blocked both sunlight for the turf and the visual aesthetics of the course.

The view to the 15th hole had been partially obstructed by overgrown rhododendrons.

This type of pruning is all hand work.

Debris pile which will later be chipped and used for mulch.

Since most of the holes are bordered by rhodos, this is a major undertaking with some holes taking over one week to complete.  While some of the plants will look bare at the beginning of the season, they are usually very quick to leaf out and fill in.  This is general maintenance that has been deferred over several years and is long overdue.  However, like a good trim, the course will look more elegant and refined when we finish.

More hand pruning.

#15.

Leveling Irrigation Heads

One of the major projects we have this winter is the leveling of irrigation heads throughout the golf course.  While this is not a flashy project, it is essential to the efficiency and effectiveness of the irrigation system, and with the recent drought, a high priority.

Irrigation head in need of leveling.

Irrigation head must be dug up being cautious of wires.

Irrigation heads are made to move in the soil.  This is so that the underlying pipe does not break when equipment runs over them and to allow for movement amid freeze-thaw events during the winter. Over time, the heads get out of level, get pushed too far into the soil, or the turf grows up around them causing them not to perform as originally intended.  As a result it is necessary to dig them up and level them.

Using a jig, the head is leveled to the surrounding surface.

After using this jig, the head will be fine tuned with a bubble level.

With over 600 irrigation heads to level, this is a time consuming project.  On average it takes about an hour and a half to level one head.  Each head needs to be dug up, raised, and leveled with special attention as to not cut wires or damage pipe.  During the process, new soil is added and compacted so that head will stay in the correct spot.  Lastly the sod is put back and carefully leveled.

Finished product.

While this is a time consuming project, it is one that will reap rewards for years to come.

Tractor Renovation

As I have stated in the past, part of what we do in the winter is repairing and refurbishing equipment.  With the cost of golf course equipment regularly exceeding that of a luxury car, making our equipment last as long as possible is very crucial.  I feel that you as members should know what we do to protect that investment.

JD 5210 in season laying sod.

Currently, we are renovating our John Deere 5210 tractor.  This tractor has been a workhorse for us during the past 16 years and is now in need of attention.  Throughout the renovation process, we will be doing the following:

• Replace engine and transmission seals
• Replace the steering linkages
• Replace the clutch
• Replace several hydraulic lines
• Have the dash gauges repaired 
• Repaint the tractor and apply new decals
• Add an accessory electrical box
• Top it off with a new seat

JD 5210 during the renovation process.

This is a major undertaking as a large part of the tractor must be taken apart to achieve the results that we are aiming for.  The ultimate goal is to renovate the tractor to like new condition.  With continued care and maintenance this tractor should provide for the club for at least another 16 years.  Our last tractor lasted over 40!

Elk at Highlands Falls

It is not uncommon to see fox, bear, osprey, beaver, and even otters at Highlands Falls.  The unique environment here at the club plays host to many different kinds of animals.  The club can now claim a new tenant, elk.  Over the weekend, club member Bob Trevathen took these pictures of an elk on #11 and #12.

Elk in front of #11 green.

 

Elk had been missing from the mountains of western North Carolina for two centuries before their 2001 reintroduction into the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.  Their numbers are thought to be over 160 today.

While this is not the first sighting in the area, it is definitely the first sighting here at the club.  It is also one the southernmost confirmed sightings of elk in the wild.

The A-Team!

Along with providing excellent playing conditions, the quality of the maintenance operations are the highest priority to the maintenance staff at HFCC.  To achieve and maintain top conditions takes a lot of hard work and forward thinking by everyone on the staff.  And what a staff we have!  Our crew comes from all over the country and from throughout the world.  We have staff members from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Mexico, Vietnam, and even Ukraine!

The 2016 HFCC Golf Course Maintenance Staff.

Managing such a diverse work force has its challenges but the rewards far outweigh those challenges.  One of the biggest advantages has been a broader range of perspectives and solutions on issues or challenges. I am continually amazed at how each employee looks at a problem and through their own distinctive cultural experiences, come up with unique ideas that ultimately help us make better decisions

Assistant Superintendent Chris Cowan

Our staff is also very well educated.  In addition to our management staff, who all have college degrees, some of our staff are in the process of acquiring various degrees in agriculture from Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and The National Agriculture University of Mykolaiv.  As part of their work visa and continuing education here in the US, we are helping them learn more about turf management and agriculture.  This visa program has been a huge success to our maintenance operations and I look forward to using it again in the future.

Long time staff member Hal Burnett making sure signs are ready for the season.

Highlands Falls Country Club is a unique and exceptional place and is in part due to a unique and exceptional staff.  We are all proud to serve the membership and look forward to many more successful years.