Maintenance Day

Yesterday was the second of our four summer maintenance days.  We use these days to perform cultural practices which would otherwise be impossible during normal play.

Maintenance Day Goals

• Remove Thatch
• Increase Air Movement
• Push Water Through the Profile
• Flush Salts and Bicarbonates

Order of Operations

1. Mow greens
2. Verti-cut greens ( thick slice for thatch removal )
3. Blow greens
4. Planet-Air (deep cut into the greens for air and water movement)
5. Roll greens
6. Top-Dress greens
7. Spray greens with wetting agent, fertilizers and other amendments to assist with flushing salts and bicarbonates
8. Apply more granular amendments
9. Water greens .2"
10. Water greens Overnight .35"

Planet Air

These procedures are vital to the health and playability of the golf course.  We thank you for allowing these days and apologize for any inconvenience.  The next maintenance day will be Monday, August 10th.  

New Sod

We recently sodded several areas around greens and tees.  These areas look like drought stress but are actually dying due to a fungal disease.  At any given time we attempt to control 20 different fungal diseases on the golf course.  Fungi are always present waiting for the right host and environmental conditions to reproduce and continue their life cycle.  The fungi we are seeing around these areas do not respond well to chemical controls.  We sprayed several times before we experienced activity with little to no efficacy.  Our plan is to control the pathogen by cutting out the sod and removing the top 2-3 inches of soil.

MacKenzie

I take pictures almost everyday on the golf course but rarely post them.  I couldn't help myself with this one of MacKenzie.

Well Update

After nearly seven months of drilling and over a year of work, the test hole for the well on #12 is complete and at a depth of 1340'.  The well was tested last week for potential output and water quality, with results indicating the potential to produce 100-200 gal/min from water sources above 800’.  Below 800’ the test results indicate only limited amounts of brackish water.    Such tests do not actually test the water; surrounding rock formations are tested and from that data potential output and water quality is calculated. Actual output and water quality cannot be quantified until we develop and utilize the well.  

Possible Production

• 100 gal/minute pumping 24hrs/day will produce 144k gallons
• 200gal/minute pumping 24hrs/day will produce 288k gallons
• We use an average of 300k gallons of water per day on the golf course, May-September

The information we have encourages us to complete the well to a depth of 800’, filling the hole below with concrete in order to prevent the brackish water from contaminating the usable water above 800’.  As stated throughout this entire process the well is not an absolute and may go dry or not recharge itself at any given time.   

We will not be able to utilize the well water or any other alternative source without a storage tank and a pump station. In order for us to develop such onsite infrastructure the Shareholders will need to approve the necessary funds. A detailed presentation of our options and a Shareholder vote are planned to take place within the next 90 days.

We appreciate your understanding during this process and look forward to completing the entire water project as soon as possible.  

Cart Traffic

Every year during spring and fall aeration we remove all stakes, ropes and cart signs from the golf course.  The improved visual impact on the golf course during this period is dramatic from all vantage points.  We always try to limit the use of these tools but as the season goes on and compaction increases we tend to expand their use.  

The stakes, ropes and cart signs take up a significant amount of labor and resources.  We not only move them to divert traffic but we also move them everytime we mow these areas.  The rope is replaced several times a year and the cart signs are removed 3-4 times a year and pressure washed.

During a recent green committee meeting several ideas were proposed from experiences on other golf courses.  After discussing the ideas with Pasatiempo staff, board and committee members we decided to change how we direct traffic throughout the property.

Starting today you will see a 3' tall wood stake at the beginning and end of each hole.  Please take a moment to read the new cart policy below.  

• Drive on the cart path as far as possible past the first stake   
• Exit the cart path using the 90 degree rule and proceed to your ball
• When off the cart path utilize the fairway as your primary driving area and avoid driving through the rough when possible
• Exit before the last stake back to the cart path
• Never drive through native areas or on designated walking paths

The stakes will only be successful with your participation.  Ken and his staff will do a great job getting the word out to members and guest in the pro shop and on the first tee.    We are treating this as a trial period and welcome input from the membership.  Please contact myself, Ken or Scott with any questions. 

 

 

Aeration

Spring aeration is finally here.  The crew stepped up and put in a full 13 hour day yesterday.  We were able to finish all the greens and the front nine fairways.  We had no mechanical issues yesterday which is unusual for an aeration.  This can be directly attributed to the investment the club has made in new equipment and the great job our service manager Mario does everyday.  We understand this week is an inconvenience to the membership.  We appreciate your understanding during this important and necessary process.

Spring Aeration

Spring aeration is around the corner and it looks like the weather will cooperate.  We will be closed April 13th-16th.  The driving range, putting green and chipping green will reopen on Wednesday, April 15th.

• Greens will be aerated with 5/8" hollow tines, verti-cut, top-dressed and fertilized 
• Fairways, tees and approaches will aerated, seeded, top-dressed and fertilized
• Weak areas in the rough will be aerated, seeded, top-dressed and fertilized

We received over an inch of much needed rain today.  This brings our winter total, since September of 2014, to 23.5".