Out on the course inside the tree lines, we have been busy with watering, mow-ing, and spraying. All our maintained Bermuda grass including Tees, Fairways and Rough have all been treated for weeds and insect control. Greens will soon be treated as we are changing up the strategy for better winter weed control. On the irrigation side of things, we are continuing to find and repair bad solenoids from lightning storms. We must repair the controllers first, then we are able to see which heads are not working. With the cooler temperature the grass is not growing as much, so we are not mowing as frequently. Also, the (HOC) Height of Cut has been raised on Fairways, Tees and Ap-proaches to allow for some winter fluff and a better playing surface through the winter months.
The project on numbers seven, eleven and twelve is wrapping up and coming to-gether nicely. The sod is being laid and the rock has already been strategically placed. All the areas that received sod have been treated with nutrients and fertilizers. The other areas will get seed and straw.
The Bunker project will start on #14 and we may only be able to get 14 and the practice bunkers completed this year. I have given the contractors a deadline to stop all work in mid-October to give the Bermuda sod going down on bunker faces time to take root and grow together. The last thing we want to do is have a big project with lots of sod and catch a heavy freeze and have the sod die. Bunker faces are some of the driest areas on a golf course and this also increases the chance of winter kill. The crew doing the work will return next spring to early summer to resume work on our bunkers. The maintenance staff will do our best to provide the best playable bunkers until then.
Par 3 tees and the driving range tee will be overseeded soon as well. Please fill your divots with the sand provided to help a speedy recovery of these areas.
Thank you all for being members of The Brickyard
Rusty Hill
General Manager & Golf Course Superintendent