Ballmarks

Ball marks, those indentations caused when a ball lands sharply on a soft green, have been ruining good putts since the days of Old Tom Morris. Unrepaired ball marks take two to three weeks to properly heal, leaving behind unsightly, uneven putting surfaces. On the other hand, a repaired ball mark only takes half that time to heal.

It is your responsibility as a golfer to fix your own marks. If you're truly a steward of the game, you'll fix any others you see while your partners are putting. There's really not much to it, but there are a few guidelines you should follow when making these repairs.

The Stimpmeter

Known as the father of the Stimpmeter, Edward S. Stimpson, left, was an accomplished golfer. (USGA Photo Archives)

The Stimpmeter was invented in 1935 by Edward Stimpson for the purpose of measuring the consistency of putting greens utilizing the component of speed. Stimpson's intent was not to create a device for comparing greens at one course with greens at another, but merely to allow a greenskeeper the use of a tool to maintain consistency from green-to-green within the same course. We utilize the device in it's intended manner to determine our preparation for play. Amongst golfers, green speed has become a incorrect measure of conditioning. I prefer to evaluate a green based on its firmness, shot acceptance, smoothness, and trueness. A green can be quick, but if the ball snakes, jogs, jumps, and wobbles the desired result may be compromised. Green speed can be impacted by weather (levels of moisture, wind), cultural practices (aerification, topdressing), agronomy (nutrient applications), and mechanical conditioning (rolling/mowing).

New Irrigation Satellite Installation

The new Toro VP irrigation satellite controllers have arrived and are currently being installed utilizing in-house labor. The securing configuration of the new controllers is consistent with the bolt configuration of the old Motorola DR2 controllers, which allows for a relatively quick interchange. We have installed 16 of the 26 satellites to date and hope to finish the project by the end of January. The upgrade to the VP controllers will allow for current course conditions to be maintained without fear of satellite failure. The old Motorola DR2 controllers contained components no longer available in the marketplace and represented a large challenge if rendered inoperable. The DR2 system allowed for a maximum of 32 stations per satellite and a majority of the stations operate three plus irrigation heads each. Worse case scenario, when a satellite went down, 96 irrigation heads would have to be operated manually at the head. As you can imagine, that would consume a vast amount of man hours and could potentially impact a large area.

DR2 Clock removal:

New VP satellite and internal components:

Deterioration

Combining satellites and the wiring "nest" that rests underground:

Frost

Luckily enough in Southern California we do not experience too many days throughout the season where frost becomes an issue. However, in the mornings where frost is present a delay in tee times is warranted. The frost delay is a protective measure to ensure optimal playing conditions. Frost can form when the temperature (or wind chill) is near or below the freezing point and usually at the coldest part of the day, which tends to be the minutes just before sunrise. With the sun rising at later hours in the winter months and tee times not adjusted forward from the standard 7 am start, it makes it difficult to predict the existence and degree of frost and the duration of the delay.

Frost is essentially frozen dew. It can indicate that water inside the grass blades or crown are frozen. The ice crystals that form on the outside of the plant can also harden or even freeze the cell structure of the plant. When frosted, the normally resilient plant cells become brittle and are easily crushed. When the cell membranes are damaged, the internal fluids can leak out causing the plant to die. Cart and foot traffic can be equally damaging, so please consider this even if you intend on going out for a jog or walking your dog in the winter season.

A photograph of a single person walking across the course this fall is present below. Can you imagine multiple people or golf carts? Underneath that photo is the typical traffic volume of a four some on a putting green. You can see the damage this would cause.

So once again please be patient when it comes to frost delays, they are in place to protect your golf course and it’s conditions.

Practice Bunker Renovation

As sand volume and consistency in the bunkers has migrated to the forefront of topics of discussion, several important issues have to be addressed. The misconception that just adding additional sand of any type is not always the best solution. Both player input and science must be taken into account.

From the golfers perspective, the ball-lie is probably the most important aspect of the performance of the sand. Sand shape has an affect on ball lie, with angular sands providing better lie than round sands. A penetrometer test is used to evaluate ball-lie in the sand and will identify a certain sands propensity to promote what is commonly referred to as a “fried egg” lie. Color may be desirable from an aesthetic viewpoint, but is often dependent on local availability and can drastically increase the cost of the product without providing performance.

From a maintenance standpoint, it is important to factor in particle size analysis and infiltration rate. Bunker properties, such as, drainage rate, crusting, and set-up are negatively affected by very fine sand, silt, and clay. Specifications have been determined based on years of testing to provide guidelines for selection.

In addition to the sand selection, several other variables deserve consideration when evaluating bunker renovation. The cost of sand alone can range from $35/ton to $70/ton. Factoring in the current conditions of the bunkers- levels of contamination, internal drainage presence and level of operation, floor contours, and desired style can impact the outcome of the product.

Prior to major bunker renovations it is customary to create a "test bunker". This allows for real world testing and evaluation on a given property. The practice bunker at Arrowhead Country Club was selected for this reason. The photos below illustrate the in-house renovation process. We defined the new sand perimeter; removed the contaminated sand; excavated a drainage sump; re-countored the bunker floor to allow for consistent sand depth and provide adequate slope for drainage; lined the bunker floor with a geo-textile, permeable liner to prevent subsurface contamination but allow water to still perch through; secured the liner with staples on 6" centers where available to prevent lifting; installed the sand to a consistent depth of 6"; applied water and compacted.

Please feel free to leave your feedback on the performance of the selected sand. The hand tamping, additional moisture from the rains, and time will assist in the firming of the surface.

Before:

Redefining the edge and re-countouring the floor:

Installing the liner:

Installing the sand after securing the liner:

Initial compaction:

Final product:

Bentgrass Root Development

Photos displaying extensive Bentgrass root density and depth on greens maintained in Southern California under the Greenway Golf Agronomic Program. The photos taken in August 2009, display the Bentgrass root system from 20-month old, sodded A4 greens.

Tree Root Competition

Trees are beneficial to the golf course environment in that they provide shade for the golfer in the heat of the summer, define a golf corridor, or present a vertical hazard given an errant shot. However trees in close proximation to high maintenance turfgrass areas such as greens pose problems that can be detrimental to turfgrass conditions. The tree canopies screen beneficial morning sunlight, impact air circulation, and compete with the turfgrass for water and nutrients. The photos show the dense masses of tree roots present in close proximity to the greens surface. All of the above factors impact turfgrass conditions and add additional stress to the bentgrass surface, especially in the heat of the summer. Root pruning is a tool that we utilize to limit the stress to these areas, but it needs to be completed every season to be beneficial.

Course Photos