March 24, 2012

My last post was about stripping and sodding the forward tee on 9 and the middle tee on 12. Yesterday we pulled the covers and I have to say that I am amazed at the results. The short cut bluegrass sod was growing wild and had already rooted down more than 2’’! Since it had grown so tall so fast, we used the push rotaries to cut it. We will gradually lower the height of cut over the next few weeks, let the roots get stronger, and get the tees in condition to open.

Clara helping to remove the turf cover on 9.

The short cut blue really took off!

Ryan and Clara "pushing thru the blue"!

All mowed.

March 10, 2012

Last week we stripped, leveled and sodded the forward tee on 9 and the middle tee on 12. Over the years these tees became camel backed from divot taking and divot filling. We sodded both tees with short cut bluegrass, which we are trying out after it was suggested and recommended by Dave Oatis, our USGA consultant. Last fall we sodded other tees on the 7^th, 9^th and 13^th holes with short cut blugrass. Short cut bluegrass is being used at Bethpage and other courses with much success.

The 12th middle tee stripped and leveled.

Silvio and Isidro sodding the 12th tee.

Silvio rolling the sod after installation on the 9th forward tee.

March 3, 2012

On Friday we lifted the covers that are on the 5, 7, 9 and 13^th tees. The covers protect the turf from drying winds and act like a greenhouse, trapping radiant heat. The results are less winter damage and earlier green up and growth....and better and earlier seed germination.