Arrowhead Country Club

When filling your divots, please fill the divot level to grade and do not leave it mounded. If excess material is applied, disperse the mound with your shoe. Raised divot mix can dull the reel mowers utilized to cut the surface thus causing more stress to the turfgrass and additional maintenance.

As always- Thank you for your dedication to your course and it's upkeep, presentation, and playability.

Incorrect divot repair (mounding)

Correct divot repair (smooth and level to grade)

Vinyl Guard

Would you believe that the putting green flag sticks are as expensive as a normal size flagstick? With our flagsticks looking a little worn and tired we searched for an economical solution to improve their appearance. We purchased a product named vinyl guard and "sleeved" our original sticks. They are holding up well and look brand new. The process was quick and easy. Clean the stick, measure the length of material required, slide the material over the stick, and heat via professional heat gun to "shrink" the vinyl around the pole.

Old versus New (left to right)

Measure and Cut

Heat from bottom of stick upward and along creased edge

Another Spring- Two More Hawks

Another spring has arrived and two new additions to the ecosystem can be located high above in the Eucalyptus on Hole #10. The pair of juvenile red tailed hawks wait patiently for their parents to return with food. They are occupying the same nest that was utilized last season to harbor another pair of hawks. On many days, you can see the adults perched at the tops of the pine trees located near the tennis court.

Post Aerification

One week after aerification, we were mowing the greens (at a higher height of cut) and picking up minimal sand. Although many golfers complain about the sand, it is the key to a smooth, firm surface. The Bentgrass will grow through the sand layer in week two and by week three, the current concerns will be forgotten.

The surface will not be back to it's exceptional condition for about five weeks, weather dependent. Next season, we scheduled to core aerify the second week in April. The day length will be longer and the weather should be warmer and more conducive to re-establishment. Additional light topdressings will be required to perfect and smooth the surface for the remaining forty seven weeks of the season.

One Week Post Aerification & Topdressing

Five weeks after Aerification & Sanding- back to exceptional conditioning

Putting Green Tree Root Pruning

The photos below illustrate the roots present and encroaching into the Practice Putting green. With the removal of the Sycamores, additional severing of the roots via root pruning, and stump grinding complete, the undersized putting surface will be better capable of handling the high volumes of traffic. The turfgrass will now have adequate sunlight, air movement, and lack of root competition for water and nutrients. By eliminating these compounding stresses and correcting the irrigation layout, the Bentgrass will sustain density and discourage poa annua establishment.

Root Pruning Time Again

Every two years we prune the roots of trees that reside within close proximity to greens. The tree roots compete with the high profile turf for water and nutrients. Since tree removal is a sensitive and emotional issue, it is necessary to utilize alternative measures to limit their impact on the turfgrass.

Green Waste Stockpiling

The volume of tree debris that is generated from storm clean-up, annual pruning, strategic/dead tree removal is hard to accurately quantify. This green waste is gathered and stockpiled throughout the season within the "Nursery Area" (located between Hole #16 and Hole #18). The debris will eventually be ground into wood chips via a large Tub Grinder and recycled. The stockpile requires monthly management throughout the year and when it expands to a point where it presents a fire concern to the overhead lines that provide power to our well motor, it must be consolidated and compacted. This past month, we rented an excavator with a thumb for a day to perform the consolidation work. Fifteen months worth of collected material was addressed in four hours. I was pleased with the results and optimistic that by building the pile vertically we can prolong the time between grinding. Tub grinding can be a costly expense, but with the volume we generate, it is much more economical than filling and hauling off 30 yard dumpsters.