Dear Members,
Although the golf season is winding down, the Greens Staff will remain busy throughout the fall and winter, working to improve the golf course and prepare for the 2027 season.
Drainage Improvements
We have several drainage projects planned over the next few weeks. This year’s excessive rainfall revealed areas where drainage issues had not previously been a concern. We have developed a plan to address these problem areas and complete the necessary turf and drainage repairs before winter weather arrives.
Tee Renovations
We completed the renovation of 12 tees this fall, and the results have been outstanding! The new tees are sized to accommodate future increases in play while maintaining a natural appearance that fits the overall design of the golf course. Their lower elevations also provide easier access for golfers.
Due to the excessive rainfall, we were unable to seed the tees until September 30. I was initially concerned that cooler nighttime temperatures might limit germination, but we experienced excellent results. The new tees are establishing well and should be ready for play early next season.
I would also like to point out that we have expanded some of our tees using the sod from our nursery on 6. The tees that have been expanded are 4 green, 6 black, 9 black, 14 black, and 16 black.
USGA Course Evaluations
We welcomed the USGA for two visits this year, one in the spring and another in the fall. These visits gave us an opportunity to evaluate our maintenance practices and receive professional recommendations for improving course conditions.
Two key priorities emerged from these evaluations: improving drainage in the greens and increasing sunlight to areas where tree growth limits turf health. We have a plan to begin implementing both recommendations.
This winter, in addition to servicing our equipment, we will focus on tree work to improve sunlight exposure on Greens 3 and 4, as well as the back portion of Green 11.
The USGA was also impressed with the quality of our greens' root-zone sand mix, which has been developed over the past 25 years with our aerification practices. With the elimination of nematodes, we saw significantly improved root growth this year. These are encouraging signs as we continue working toward healthier greens and better playing conditions.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Our goal for 2027 is to continue improving green health while working toward faster, firmer putting surfaces. We had hoped to deliver excellent green speeds in August and September, but the persistent rainfall made that extremely difficult. The golf course was healthy and looking great heading into August, making the extended period of wet weather particularly disappointing to us.
Despite these challenges, we are encouraged by the health of the greens and the progress we have made this year. We will continue building on that progress as we prepare for next season.
I want to personally thank everyone for their patience and understanding throughout August and September. The unusual weather conditions forced us to make some difficult decisions, particularly regarding when to mow and when to keep equipment off the course.
There is a great deal of thought behind these decisions. We consider the weather forecast, upcoming tournaments, turf health, and which approach will ultimately preserve the most grass. While keeping equipment off saturated turf can prevent damage, waiting too long to mow can create other problems and, in some cases, lead to greater turf loss.
During this period, we had to raise mowing heights and carefully manage how much grass we removed each day. We also avoided double-cutting on the same day to reduce the risk of mechanical damage. Our fairway turf is particularly susceptible to damage when too much grass is removed at once, especially under stressful conditions.
Based on past experience, mechanical damage to this turf can cause it to turn brown and become more susceptible to anthracnose fungus. This was one of my biggest concerns during the prolonged wet weather. Our approach was to mow when conditions allowed, while limiting the amount of grass removed to protect the long-term health of the turf.
I hope this provides some insight into why we made the mowing decisions we did during such an unusual weather pattern. Every decision was made with the goal of protecting the golf course and positioning it for the best possible conditions moving forward.
Thank you again for your continued support and understanding. We appreciate your patience as we work through these challenges and continue making improvements to the golf course.
Jim Cola
Greens Superintendent
Follow the Greens Department on Instagram @cola.jim