Vert-Cutting & Top Dressing Greens

 Here's some pics with detail included:

Verti-cutting machine. These are attachments that are put onto our existing greensmowers. We verti-cut 1/8" below the height of cut. Theory is, to reach the soil line. We are currently mowing at .117 and we vert-cut at .125 below the height of cut!!!
Vert-cutting is a necessary tool to remove thatch. This grass is not the same as what we used to have during the 1990 years. A whole bunch of maintenance is required to keep them up.

Here's a front view, look at the grass coming out of the verti-cutting units. We make a pass in one direction and then turn around and vert-cut directly on the top of what we just verti-cut one more time. Why, GRAIN, when you go down grain the cut is smooth, when you go against the grain the cut is rough. I like rough, so when you go back and forth over the same cut you are now consistently removing thatch and grain throughout the entire green.

Next step; the greensmower now mows the green, following the same steps as the verti-cut machine did. mows the green in the same direction as the verti cut and then turns around and mows the same cut again. Now you have mow everything down grain and up grain. There's no favoritism here.

Next step, the blower is brought to remove any excess grass clipping from the putting surface. Look closely and you can the clipping that are being removed.

Around the edges is where large amounts of clipping can pile up, so it's important for us to clean up the edges.

Next step; top dressing greens. A dusting application is applied to help in filling the lines cut in the grass.

Greens are generally top dressed 2 to 3 times a month. Most people do not even realize we top dress so often. Back in the old days, when we top dressed, well everyone new it because sand was all over the greens for days, causing so much inconsistency. In todays time, we top dress by dusting the green surface with sand and very little disruption happens.

When the top dresser is filled up to 4 greens can be top-dressed without refilling. When we aerify greens 2 hoppers are applied to each green.

Next step; dragging in the sand. By dragging the sand we are moving the sand around and filling gaps, voids, lines, etc. A huge step in maintaining a consistent smooth putting surface.

Will drag the sand in multiple directions if needed. Under this circumstance only one drag over the entire putting surface was needed.

Finally, the last step; After the dragging is completed the irrigation is turned on to work the sand down into the turf.

Surfing to a course near you

Coming in our near future

  Bubba Watson has his hovercraft, but surfing legend Laird Hamilton thinks the GolfBoard is the next big mode of transpor-tation on the golf course.
 Voted Best New Product at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show, the GolfBoard takes the idea of a skateboard or a snowboard and applies it to the golf course. Details on the product can be found at GolfBoard.com.
 For superintendents who wonder what the aftermath of a foursome “surfing” down a steep, wet fairway would look like, former superintendent Jim Black assures them that they have nothing to worry about. The boards have 4-wheel-drive posi-traction, 9-inch turf tires and apply a quarter of the pressure of a normal golf cart.
 “The GolfBoard was on the drawing board for two years, and they always kept the superintendent involved,” says Black, media director for GolfBoard and a former contributing editor for Golfdom. “It’s built with turf tires. Any superintendent who sees it is just going to say, ‘Wow.’”
Production of the GolfBoard began last month with an initial run of 500 boards retailing at $3,995. That run was sold out before they even came off the line.
 Black believes that the GolfBoard could be a product that would draw a new crowd to the golf course.
“It has a ‘wow’ factor. And the pro shop can charge $10 to $15 more per rental,” he says.
The GolfBoard can travel 15 miles on one charge, or 36 holes with a 180-pound passenger on a normal golf course. Black believes that one day, superintendents might even look into getting their own GolfBoard.
 “I could see, as a superintendent, going on my morning run, searching for disease, check-ing irrigation,” Black says.
 Go to you tube and type in-- GolfBoard Owner video--and check it out or got to GolfBoard.com

Back on the wagon

 I was on vacation, visiting Washington State and Oregon. Thought I would share some photos.

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park Wildlife

Lake Cresent

Lake Cresent

Lake Cresent Lodge

Washington State Pacific Coastline

Washington State Pacific Coastline Driftwood

Olympic National Park

Walkway to the falls

Marymere Falls

Marymere Falls

I FOUND BIGFOOT!!!

BIGFOOT hand carved from wood. This is actually the second one know, the first one was burned up from Mt. St. Helens in the 80's.

Mt. St. Helens

Oregon

On the way to Prineville, Oregon I crossed this sign. We don't see this sign everyday.

Back road in Oregon

3 Volcanic Mountains outside of Bend, Oregon
Right-North Sister
Center-South Sister
Left-Broken Top-extinct

Volcanic Black Crater Mountain

Multnomah Falls outside of Portland, Oregon

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Columbia River Gorge

And last but least--the west coast sunset