Thursday, May 19, 2016

June News Letter


I’m excited to announce the purchase approval for the following equipment:



* 2 Toro 686 tee/fairway/rough aerifiers


* 2 Toro Groundsmaster 3280-D deck mowers. These are used to mow inside the tree lines and out of play areas.  We currently have 1 five year old unit for all three courses.


* 2 Toro Sandpro 5040 bunker rakes.  Currently there are 1.5 being used on all three courses.  I say 1.5 because half the time one or the other is not working.


* 1 Greenspro 1240 greens roller.  This will allow us the opportunity to roll greens more frequently


* 1 ProPass Topdresser for greens and tees.  Our current topdresser is a combination topdresser/heavy hauler.


* 1 Toro 7 gang pull behind rough unit.  This will be a tremendous help with rough mowing

http://www.georgebrowns.co.uk/userimages/L3200-A.jpg



* 2 Kubota Tractors.


* 1 Mantis Tree Root Pruner.  This will be used to root prune trees along the edges of our roughs and cart paths giving us an advantage to “push” Bermuda grass growth covering bare areas.



The addition of this equipment will make a huge impact on course conditions going forward and again illustrates ClubCorp’s commitment to Fords Colony CC’s Members



In the present, we are fighting our share of weeds.  The cool spring coupled with all of the rain has made it difficult to mow as well as treat the weeds.



My first year we were aggressive with our pre emergence weed control and used a product that, after evaluating throughout the summer, felt was more harmful to the turfgrass than I wanted.  Pre-emergent weed control products have a tendency to “root prune” turfgrass.  This is an issue when trying to promote the spread of bermugrass tillers.  The pre emerge prevents tillers from establishing roots in the soil.  So this year I used a less harmful pre emerge (lighter application rate), fertilized fairways and tees earlier than usual, and wished for an early, warm spring.  All of which back fired.  So in the interest of growing healthier, thicker fairways, tees and rough, I failed in weed prevention.



We are in the process of post spraying the weeds between rain drops and will continue to do so.  With a little help from Mother Nature as well, the weeds will be eradicated very soon.



Thank you for understanding and hope to see you on the course.

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