13's Bunker Project

13's Bunker on 8-29-13

13's Bunker on 8-30-13

We have finally finished the bunker on 13.  What a big project but now it is completed, but still will have about two weeks until it is ready to play.

Growth is Huge

Shaped and Ready for Sod

13's bunker was much more work than I even thought it was going to be but the good news is that we started sodding yesterday.  I am hoping we will be done by this weekend, but it will be another week until it is ready for play.

Three Days and Finally Ahead of the Growth

All of the humidity and rain of late has lead to exponential growth of the grass.  Yesterday after several days of mowing everyday the fairways we have finally somewhat have caught back up.

Rain to the Valley

On Friday we got a touch of the incoming storm and on Sunday it wasn't a let down.  It was one of the heaviest rains I have seen in the desert in quite some time but provided some much needed moisture to the soil.

Over this upcoming week we will be mowing quite heavy to try our very best to stay ahead of the growth that will be the results of these rains.

High Humidity Results

Mowing 18's Fairways

If you were look at the picture above you may ask "how long has it been since they last mowed fairways?"  The answer will surprise you ... it was the day before.  Thanks to higher then normal humidity the growth of the turf has been through the roof.  We have also been double mowing the greens daily.

Working on 13's Right Greenside Bunker

13's greenside bunker is still in work.  We have been working very hard on the bunker and removing tons of excess soil.  Our hope is to be complete by the end of next week.

Hot Spots?? And Bunkers

Apparent Hot Spot?

Not all hot spots or dead spots are what they seem.  The other week we finally addressed some of the out of control nutsedge around the golf course by spraying it with Monument.  As you can see by the below picture we killed it dead.

Closer Look Reveals Dead Nutsedge - Currently Spraying

14's bunker is finished but today we will rope off the area since I saw one of our members playing the sand trap ... he liked the lie and there was no issue, however, the newly sodded area is another story.  Please do not play the new sod and take the free drop so it can heal.

14's New Bunker "Flash"

We got the loader fixed this morning and continued the roughing of 13's greenside bunker.  It has a long way to go but hopefully we will be done by next week. 

With the high humidity lately the grass is growing out of its skin.  The last two days we have double mowed the greens, and now we are cutting the fairways everyday just to keep up with the growth.  Clean up of the clippings will start today.

Bunker Project and Green Speed

Sodding the New Hill Behind 14's Fairway Bunker

Yesterday we mostly finished two of the bunkers involved in the bunker project suggested by the designer a couple of years ago. 

The Addition of the Flash on the Bunker of 14

14's fairway bunker had the hill added as a backdrop behind the bunker and has the front edge flashed slightly so it could be seen from the fairway.  However, this bunker will remain GUR for at least a week as the sod roots into the ground.

Five Loads of Sand Added to 12's Right Greenside Bunker

12's bunker was a simple fix.  We added several loads of the cleanest sand we could find from 13's greenside bunker and then smoothed it out.  A few years ago this bunker was part of a unsuccessful testing to find a solution to the playability issues ... now it is fixed.

13's greenside bunker will be in work for at least a week.  Yesterday our loader need to remove excess sand broke and stopped dumping.  Once it is fixed we will be able to finish the bunker, however, work will continue today on it.

Green speed:  Yup, it has dropped since last weeks aerification.  But yesterday we applied a growth regulator and today we start the double mowing program.  Today is seven days since the completion of the aerification and the great news is that thanks to the high humidity and heavy fertilization you can barely tell they were aerified at all.

Bunker Project Finally Starts

13's Right Side Green Bunker

Today, we will be addressing two bunkers - right greenside 13's bunker and 14's fairway bunker.  Both of these bunkers are quite large projects and will not be finished quickly, thus during the time of work these bunkers should be considered GUR.  Additionally, we are taking "clean" sand to fill into 12's right front green bunker that we performed tests on two years ago ... those tests did not work.

Building the "Hump" on 14's Fairway Bunker

Removed the Humps Out of 13's Bunker

Clean Sand Addition to 12's Greenside Bunker

Please realize that we have limited staffing so during this project we will have to "rob" Peter to pay Paul.  Meaning there may be other items that will be short changed.

Bunker Project Finally Begins

Today, we will be starting the bunkers project that has sat on the sidelines due to labor issues.  We are starting on two bunkers: the one on the right side of 13's green; and the other is the fairway bunker on 14.  Please remember these are GUR until healed.

With aerification finally complete for the year we can start again focusing on the details around the golf course.  There is lots to do and we will be busy for weeks.

Aerification is Complete

Aerification Holes Allow Air to the Roots

We are ahead of schedule and have completed the aerification process ahead of our normal plan.  Thankfully this is the last aerification for this year and now we will be focusing on getting the golf course ready for the upcoming overseeding. 

Monogo Valley Fire

Silver Lake Fire

Near Morongo Casino

Last week we had to close the golf course twice and even send the crew home thanks to a large fire near Morongo Casino.  As I was driving by we snapped these pictures and as you can see the smoke was heading towards the Coachella Valley.  This is the second time this summer the ash and smoke have rained down on Avondale.

Day Three of Aerification

Dragging in Topdressing in the Early Morning

 On Tuesday we finished up the aerification of the greens and drug in the topdress sand.  On the greens finished on Monday we started the "excess" sand removal.

Aerifying 1's Fairway

Yesterday, we also started the aerification of the tees and fairways.  We were able to finish all of the front nine tees, the roughs of 2 - 4, the fairways of on 1 - 5, and the practice floor, tee and rough.  This means we have finally finished the roughs on Monday.  On Tuesday, we finished the front nine fairways, and completed 18 and 17 on the back nine.  We will be starting in the morning again and our hope is to be completely done by Friday.

Dragging with Coca Mat & Green Brush on 10's Green

As part of the dragging process, two team members drag the greens at the same time; one using a courser brush and the other using the "coca" mat.  They have to drag the greens several times and in several directions to work the sand into the aerification holes.

All the Sand that Remains .. Cut It Close

In our efforts to save funds we ordered the minimum amount of sand to complete the job.  As you can see by the above picture we just barely made it, but we made it.   

We finished the greens fertilizations, and sprayed Monument on select areas of nutsedge.  So if you see this sedge dying it is on purpose.  This year the summer weeds have been the worst I have seen in quite some time.  Between the higher humidity and especially the foregoing of the Barricade application in February the weeds have gone on a rampage.

Aerification -- Day Two

Starting Up Aerification in the Dark

We start up in the dark to take full advantage of the cooler night time temperatures when we start aerifying the greens.

Heading to the Next Green

Adrian Topdresses 13's Green

Yesterday, things went smoother than the normal first day of aerification and today the greens should be completed.

Main Line Break, Fairway Heads & Aerification

$'s Nursery Aerification

Working the Little PG

 Topdressing Large CG

 

Aerification for August has begun and the outlying greens such as the nursery and chipping greens have been completed and will be ready if there is necessary repairs.

 Water Rolling Off Instead of Being Absorbed

These aerifications are a necessary evil to address the issues of water penetration that we already are seeing on several greens.  The roughs will start tomorrow.

Head Damaged by Aerifier

If you wonder why we take the edging of the heads down to the dirt the reason is simple ... so we do not damage them during the aerification.  Every year we lose head to growth and cause hundreds of dollars in damage.

Aerification Again??

Yes, this is the last in the series of aerifications for the health of the golf course for today and tomorrow.

Working Repairs on 15's Surround

Removed Sod During Last Green Adjustments Is Already Taking Hold

Today we are only aerifying the "repair" greens (both chipping greens, small putting green, and the nursery on 4) so they will be recovered in case we have to repair the course greens during the aerification.

Repairs on the greens, approaches and surrounds continues and will continue into next week.  Speaking of next week, the roughs aerification will start again next week as well and soon this aerification and repairs will be completely done.

Roliing, Rolling, Rolling

Oh My Gosh -- Twinkies Are Back!!

The best news ever ... Hostess Twinkies are back!!!


Ernie Tapia Taking the New Roller to the Greens

Recently, we finally replaced our 20+ year old roller and yesterday we finally got time to test it out.  The results were fantastic.  Not only is it extremely fast, easy to use, but it also made the greens roll so nicely. 

Ernie Rolling 15's Green

This rolling will be performed once per week along with the weekly light topdressing.  By the way we are lightly topdressing today.

16's Approach Before Sod



16's Approach in Work

16's Approach Complete

 

Transition is not only ugly for the greens, it also impacts the approaches and surrounds of the greens.  We are addressing these areas this week and the next two weeks until we can fully recover these areas.  The good news is that we are using sod from the range thus other than labor is no fiscal impact to Avondale.