9-21-11

A lot of ongoing improvements are taking shape on the golf course at Cherry Island.

New #10 Green update. The tee, surrounds, approach is all grown in and ready. Well after having some tough disease issues that hit that new turf on the green when we had some hot nights 4 weeks ago. We have some new germination in the affected areas and is getting back on track. I am aiming to have it opened by the first of November. I’m doing everything I can. Growing a green in from seed in the Sacramento valley is the hardest thing I have done in my golf career to date. I have never had the issues with grow-ins that I have had with this green. Mother nature has thrown me some curve balls this year.

The rest of the course has been really doing well this year. We have had a lot of success getting more Pennlink Bentgrass in the greens. I have been trying to out populate any Poa Annua (Annual Blue Grass) that we have. When I first started they where about 50/50 ratio. Now they are around a 70 bent / 30 poa. we are heading the right direction in having some pure Bentgrass greens.
The Bermuda grass fairways have been doing well this summer and will continue to improve things in the future. You might have noticed a little more crab grass and summer weeds this year than in years past. Due to some budget cut backs last year we did not apply any pre-emergent’s. Hence more summer weeds. I am estimating we will re apply and get back on track this current budget year.

You may have seen us starting to replace the wood on the bridges. We are starting the process. The wood sides are original and concreted in. They are very difficult to remove and replace. I hope to do the overlay on the #4/#9 bridge at the end of the month or the beginning of October.

We are always in maintenance mode mowing grass as much as possible trying to keep that manicured look. Irrigation is always a challenge this time of the year because the days are getting shorter and temperatures fluctuate between night and day time. It may be a little wet in the morning, but it will be dry by 2 ish in the afternoon.
I am always available by email or phone or on the course if you see me running around if you have any questions.