November - Green Superintendent Update

The month of November gave us great weather to finish the season strong. While the course was extremely dry we finally got our rain right in time for winter. The crew and myself focused our efforts on keeping the course as clean as possible. With the leaf cleanup being a daily activity and battle. The course is clean and minimal leaf debris is left on course for the winter. All native areas and fescue have been mowed down for the season. We have started the process of maintaining the pond edges, but this will be an all winter long endeavor. Conditions were slow for this time of year as we grew the plants up to help protect from winter damage. All winter applications have been applied. As well as the irrigation system being blown out. I thanked the course and tucked her in for bed. 

Blowout

At the end of each season we drain the irrigation system down and push compressed air through the pipes. We rent a 1200 cfm compressor that allows us to tie directly into the pump station and blowout the entire property. When water freezes, it expands by about 9%. This expansion can cause pipes to rupture, leading to costly repairs and potential damage to the surrounding turf. Blowing out the system removes all water, preventing the destructive effects of freezing and extending the lifespan of the irrigation components. The blowout was a success and the system is ready for the winter.

Greens Winterization

Snow mold applications are most effective when applied just before the onset of winter, allowing the chemicals to penetrate the turf and provide protection during the cold months.I have carefully selected fungicides based on their effectiveness against specific snow mold pathogens that we experience in the new england region. We have also used a product called wintergreen. This is a sprayable cover, and antidessicant. It protects the greens from wind damage as well as snow mold. With the spray application we also used our tractor attachment called a Deep tine. This penetrates the greens to a depth of 10”. This will allow rain or melting snow to drain down through the soil profile. One of the biggest causes of winter damage is constant melting and freezing. By allowing the water to drain we can further protect our turf through winter. At the end of all this we put a nice blanket of sand down to protect the plant. This sand will slowly push down into the profile giving us added benefits for next season.



Deep Tine

Deep tine aeration creates channels in the soil, allowing water to penetrate deeper into the soil profile. This reduces surface runoff and improves the overall drainage of the course. By reducing surface water accumulation, deep tine aeration helps prevent puddling, which can lead to root rot and other turfgrass diseases. We have deep tined certain areas on fwys to further protect from winter damage. At a depth of 12” this will help relieve soil compaction and provide overall healthier turf in the spring.


On behalf of the entire grounds crew, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for a wonderful season at Sky Meadow. Your support and understanding throughout the year have been invaluable. Your positive feedback and encouragement have motivated us to strive for excellence in every aspect of maintaining this special property.  We look forward to another successful season next year and the opportunity to continue providing you with a first-class golfing experience.

 

Golf course superintendent,

Cogan Register







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