Oakdale Greens Department

During our maintenance time this week we core aerated the tees and topdressed them. This will help us control thatch levels and improve infiltration. Similar to the fairways there is a build up of thatch over the years.    This machine is breaking up the cores so they can be cleaned up.  Then they are brushed to work sand into the holes and surface. A quick blow, water and cut and they are back and ready for golf.

 With the continued dry and warm weather we have decided to supplement the reservoir water with river water. The hope is the river water will get diluted with the existing water in the reservoir to help dilute its pure quality. The reservoir level is lower than we would like considering we are just at the beginning of the summer. Water is pumped from off site wells to help maintain its level but during a good watering it takes many days to replenish. Fingers crossed we get some much needed rains soon to help us catch up.

 This is a hydraulic leak from the mower that cuts the approaches(fairway infront of the greens). It will look worse before it gets better, we will make a plan to clean it up soon. More details to come.

 One of the challenges we have faced to start the season is the Spring drought. The rains have been nice but we are still have had the lowest rainfall total in over 10 years. This along with above average temperatures has added to localized dry spots on the fairways and rough areas drying out.

Just a few extra members that have been hanging around the course, some of them may not get along to well.

On a typical Monday maintenance day we like to do our cultural processes on the greens. This week it was a sand topdressing of all 30 greens. This adds a light coat of sand that is then worked into the upper canopy for the putting surface with a brush. This helps level the playing surface and dilute the organic matter making the greens smooth and firm. Brushing sand in A cut to clean them up Reset the hole for the day

 Our walking greens mowers have arrived and we will integrate them into our processes. Light weigh they will still get a good quality of cut and will reduce stress on the turf. To stay consistent with the fleet purchased John Deere machines. As our staff get more comfortable with them we will attempt to use them more.

This is a soil profile from a tee deck on Thompson. This is after a 1/2inch of rain, moisture is held up in the top inch of the sample. Below is very dry and is still in need of moisture, it can't push its way through the thatch near the surface. The roots are strong at the bottom of the sample, in time they will struggle if they don't get water.   We soaked the tee to the point of water sitting on top of the surface, looks very extreme. Slowly the moisture is working its way into the soil. After some time the moisture finally made it through the profile and now its ready for the next few days.