Natural Gas/Propane Conversion

At the Foundry we are always investigating ways to improve our efficiency.  We are experimenting with using a Propane conversion assembly on our gasoline mowers.  The research has shown to reduce gas cost by $1.50 to $2.00 a gallon.  This is also a cleaner fuel for the environment and the machine.

Topdressing and Lime

lime is being applied to the golf course to balance the PH of the soils
most areas on holes 3-10 have a PH of 5-5.5.  These areas are very low.  With the PH in this range
it will prohibit the nutrient from being taking up by the plant.

Topdressng Greens

Deer in the Open

Fawn in the open field by the Shop

Fawn taking it easy

Fairway Aeration and Bermudagrass around Greens

Aeration of greens surounds and collar using 5/8 inch hollowtines

Fransico and Martin aerating fairways, roughs and tee complexes

Fransico Draging and breaking up plugs.  The plugs are wet from the morning rain

so it is taking loger.

Blowing Plugs off the fairway into the rough.  The rough mower will chop the plugs up

Greens Aeration Pictures

william applying a layer of topdress sand.  We choose to topdress before aaerating the greens.  If we topdress after the
aerator punches holes the green is much softer and tire marks cause more damage

Manuel Aerating 13 green 1/4 inch hollow tines 2.5 inch spacing

Clean up crew

Rolling greens to smooth out holes

Goose Grass Sampling with Bayer Technical Staff

 Rick Fritz territory representative and Dr. Frank Wong From Bayer are here to collect samples of break through of Goose grass plants.  These samples will be sent to the research and development center in North Carolina.  Once the plants are at the lab,testing will be done to see if there is a resistant to the pre emerge Herbicide.  At this time there is NO known resistant to the herbicide Ronstar.  Bayer has done a good job with the customer support and trying to figure out this problem. 

Sod installation winter damage

Sod was laid behind 3,4,7,9,16, 17 greens along with some areas at the tee complexes.  Damage was from

winter cold, shade and traffic.  The heat has really came on strong over the last couple of weeks.  It is good for the Bermuda grass.  We see a lot of good Bermuda grass growth under the rye.  I would expect to be complete with transition from rye to Bermuda grass by months end.  The biggest areas of concern will be 8 approach, 9 tee, 10 white tee 10 front right fairway and 11 tee.  These were all the areas that were sodded last year.  The strongest areas on the course are where the Bermuda grass has been down for three years.  The areas we have to keep sodding have problems every spring because the root structure is not mature going into the winter Therefore it does not survive the winter. If we allow some of the thin areas to mature we will have stronger Bermuda grass

Fan installation

The fans are used to circulate the air at pocketed green sites.  If there is not enough air movement the bentgrass will stay wet and entice disease pressure. 

installing and wiring the support post.  The fan will then be ready for operation