2018 has started off challenging for the maintenance team. We have endured quite the winter weather for south Florida. The good news is the golf course has held up great and continues to be in good shape. We would like to take the opportunity to update you on some things going on around the golf course.
The greens are healthy and continue to roll smoothly. Over the next few weeks the golf maintenance team will be working on increasing speed on the greens. The greens are slower due to managing mutations, also known as off-types, in the greens. Some practices we will be using include, grooming and topdressing more on the greens. The weather forecast over the next few weeks is calling for warmers temperatures allowing us to, with caution, be a little more aggressive in managing the greens.
Ryegrass tees have held up nicely allowing better hitting space around the course. We will continue innerseeding areas where heavier traffic has occurred. In March we will slowly begin transitioning the ryegrass out of the tees in preparation for the bermudagrass to begin growing without competition.
We are quite pleased with response from our foliar fairway program that is currently being implemented, starting back in November.
Weeds have emerged in certain areas around the course in which the maintenance team has already begun addressing.
You may have noticed sodding in the recent weeks. We have been diligently working to improve some identified areas with replacing of turf. These areas will stay marked ground under repair until they are ready to be played off of. Please avoid hitting from them.
As we continue forward this season please continue to avoid driving carts in areas that are roped off. The ropes are there for a reason to help reduce traffic in these areas. We look forward to seeing you on the course soon!
Buck Deibel – Director of Golf
Kevin Dunn – Golf Course Superintendent