Verticutting & Cart Traffic

Verticutting 4's Green - Lots of Removal

The new blades were installed on the verticutter which led to heavy removal of the Poa Trivilas from the greens.  This removal is necessary to allow the bermudagrass to spread and fill in these areas.

Verticut Lines

Overall, after the mowing has been complete, and the greens have excess debris blown from them the presentation is pretty good.


Parking Too Close to Greens - Example - Not Picking on Anyone

I hear year once the ropes and stakes are dropped " why is it wearing out around the greens?"  For the most part is quite simple - cart traffic.  In efforts to reduce the exercising of the sport of golf some park within 10 feet of the green ... this is bad.  Then I hear about the horse races and how close they park.  This is true but one event doesn't kill turf ... everyday does.  Like my Dad always told me - two wrongs do not make a right.

Storms, Tines, Eggs and Things

Needle Tining 12's Green

Percolation issues have been a issue at Avondale since the very first push up green was built here.  Thankfully thanks to proper management techniques and correct management of green we can reduce the impact and during the cooler times of years lessen that impact to zero.

Needle Tining 13's Green

However, with the season wrapping up and the effects of the continual rolling of the greens, the tools to managing these greens needs to be pulled out and utilized.  From the verticutting started last week to promote the bermudagrass growth to the tining on the greens 11 to 13 we are getting the greens ready for the upcoming summer.

Sandstorm on Saturday Night

Another issue that has been pounding Avondale over the last few weeks is the strong winds with dust for the surround area's blow sand.  These wind storms luckily haven't caused too much damage to our trees, but thanks to the exposed lot and the nearby construction on Frank Sinatra there has been massive deposition of fine sand particles on the course.

Barely Can See 4's Green

On Sunday, our maintenance team had to spend all morning just cleaning the greens from the storm the night before.  There was so much debris and sand left on the greens they could not be even mowed.  Additionally, these sand deposited have added to our percolation issues thereby forcing us to add greens 4 and 16 to the needle tining process.


Tilling 4's Greenside Bunker

Along with the winds drying the golf course irrigation inputs had to be increased.  These increases of high levels of bicarbonates to our calcareous sands in our bunkers is a perfect mixture to turn the into concrete.  So we started yesterday tilling the greenside bunkers (which we finished before the afternoon event) and today started the fairway bunkers.  Our hope is to be finished before Thursday. 

Geese Eggs

Our two mating Canadian Geese that are trying to take up residence next to the Pro Shop yesterday laid a clutch of eggs.  Needless the say we do not want that to happen.

Tomorrow we will be needle tining the greens 12 and 13, and we will be verticutting all of the greens.  The verticutting will aid in the recovery of the bermudagrass as well as return the slight loss of green speed we experienced in the last couple of days.

New Nursery

We have finished the second spraying of the new nursery at the back of the range and later today 3 piles of soil will be added to the in prep for the leveling.

Bees ... we have bees in the oleanders on both 2 near the green and 11 about mid way.  The ones on 11 are for sure killer bees and will be handled.

Day Two - The Classic

The Sun Rises on the Classic

Of course in the morning of the first day we experienced glitches ... the good thing is we had plenty of time to not overcome them but to improve the details including working on the debris clean up from the wind storm earlier in the week.

Stepping Off The Pin Positions

The pro shop set up the locations, some tough, some easy, but remember I just have the cups cut, not try to be mean to you ... LOL.

Have to Love the Cars

Well time to get back in the field, hope we can continue to provide excellence.

Day One of the Classic

Please Do Not Drive Up Next to the Green

Today is the first day of the Classic, and the team is out right now getting ready for this important event.  It is always the details that take the most time to ensure that they are right for the overall success of a event such as this.

Please help us take care of your golf course by using the cart paths when possible and not driving near the greens.  Remember, golf is a walking sport too.

A Classic for the Classic

The Greens at Avondale

Topdressing 7's Green

Ballmarks, ballmarks, ballmarks ... everyone seems to fix but they are still there on our greens in abundance.  No matter what method you choose the most important thing is to fix them quickly.  But I will be honest, every morning I see at least ten per green not even touched.

To combat these ballmarks we lightly topdress and starting again next week we will be gash-b-gone the greens.  But still the best way to prevent them and give excellent conditions is to have the golfers fix immediately.

Deep Drill Channels

We are loving the new roller that we purchased last year, but our greens are not.  It does such a fine job the we are facing compaction issues thanks to our push up greens.  We are addressing the issue numerous ways from increasing our wetting agent applications to slicing.

9's Green After 2 Minutes of Irrigation

We are slowly seeing progress in our percolation issues but have a long ways to go ... but we will get there.  The good news is that other than being wet sometimes, the greens have been playing great, just lots of ballmarks.

4's Green Covered with Leaves

You have to love the winds here at Avondale.  We spent hours and will take many more hours to clean the golf course.

Topdressing Today

7's Fairway Nice and Thick

Lots and lots of ballmarks on the greens from several days of events from championships to SCGA.  To improve the playability of the greens we will be lightly topdressing them today even with the Thursday's shotguns.