Tree Trimming

 Any of you out playing golf in last couple of months should be seeing a change in the trees on the back-9. The staff has done an incredible job in trimming so many trees. Plus a very nice supply of fire wood and/or BBQ wood is in stock at the maintenance shop.
 Our general schedule of tree trimming will be to trim trees on the front 9 one year and then the back 9 the following year.

Leveling Tee Boxes

We have began to level out some of the uneven tee boxes. Hole #5 & #7 gold tee box is completed. Each tee box, we will inspect around the sprinklers, quik coupler, and the level of the ground. From there we'll repair any uneven ground to help your stance while on the tee boxes. Thanks Willy Plowman

Tree Trimming

Tree trimming has began here at Willow Fork Country Club. We will be starting on hole #10 and contuning with #11,12,16,17. Once we finish up #17 we will then evaluate the remaining holes to decide where we need to be next. Thanks Willy Plowman

Greens Aerification

 On August 12th, the greens were aerified for the 3rd time and should be the final time for the year. All went well during aerification and the greens are recovering well. It has been 2 weeks now and I'm  rather pleased with the recovery.
 On Monday August 26th we will double verti cut, double cut, top dress, and roll the greens. Then the following day I will spray a fertilizer application with the growth regulator at the full rate. We will also be lowering the height of cuts throughout the remainder of August. Currently we are set .117 and be lowering to .109, that's just above an 1/10th of an inch.
 So September and October should be setting up nicely.

Thanks
Willy Plowman
Golf Course Superintendent

Back in operation

 My computer had been acting strangely here lately. Especially if I tried to enter the blog and attempt to enter articles onto the blog. A couple of days ago I came into the office to use the computer and was completely blocked out by a virus.
 After a full day of the corporate folks working on it, I was able to get back in it again. So we'll see if all works out. Thanks for being patient in waiting for a post.

Willy Plowman
Golf Course Superintendent

Greens Management In July

This coming Monday July 15th will be three weeks since the greens were last aerified. The putting surfaces have smoothed out nicely and are now beginning to gain speed. Management to this turf still continues.
On Monday we will be double vertical cutting the greens, to help keep the grain and thatch under control.  From there, the greens will be double cut, top dressed-lightly, double rolled, sprayed with fertilizer and a growth regulator. These are a few of the ultimate steps in getting the putting surfaces to rolling smoothly and rolling out.
These steps will be repeated on weekly or bi-weekly pending on the putting speeds and performances  plus monitoring the root system for new growth. My goal is to provide nice greens for all of the members here at Willow Fork Country Club and to provide a nice golf course overall as well.

THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING A MEMBER OF WILLOW FORK COUNTRY CLUB!

Willy Plowman
Golf Course Superintendent

Roller Machine

THE ROLLER IS BACK INTO OPERATION!!!

Finally after eight weeks of waiting for the hydraulic pump to be shipped out, it has arrived and has been installed. (In case your wondering, the pump came from Australia, no air shipments). So know there's two brand new Toro mowers and the practically brand new roller in operation mowing and rolling the greens. 

AERIFICATION UPDATE

 After 10 days the greens have healed well. We did begin mowing them three days after aerification and after ten days I have lowered the height of cut from .128 to .117. One more week and I'll restart the Primo (growth regulator) applications and as stated the roller is back into action on daily basis.

DISEASE UPDATE

 The circles on the greens are from a disease called Fairy Ring. There will be three application of a fungicide put out. The first was applied four days after aerification and ten to fourteen days later a second application will be applied. Then ten to fourteen days later a third application will be applied.

BLUE COLOR ALONG FENCE-LINES

Some of you may have a noticed a blue color along the homeowners fence lines. I have began to spray this area with RoundUp and a Pre-emerge mainly to cut back in our labor output. It's a win win deal for the homeowner plus the golf course maintenance. Overall it will stop invasion of grass from the golf course into your planter beds plus your fence line will not be overpowered with weeds or high grass.