Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Two Majors, On Deck, Short Game Area, & Major Milestone!

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"!  Today is Tuesday, May 31st and it looks like I'm going to barely sneak this update in before the curtain closes on the month of May.  What can I say, May is definitely one of our busiest months annually with two major tournaments, the Member-Guest and the Member-Member.  With these two events played just two weeks apart it is easy to forget what day it is sometimes.  Not to mention, we are aerating the putting greens today!

 Now I know what you're thinking, why would I aerate the putting greens when they are so darn good right now.  In fact, this past weekend one Four-Ball (Member-Member) participant exclaimed them to be the best putting surfaces in the region!  Thank you for the kind words and vote of confidence.  The truth is today we are removing the smallest core possible (0.25" inside diameter hollow tines) in an effort to alleviate compaction from the intense mowing and rolling regimes employed during our recent major tournaments.  Also, with summer heat and humidity on the horizon, now is the time to provide oxygen to the rootzone.  Today we are also beginning the process of reinstalling our Turf Breeze fans near those putting greens located in the more difficult micro-climates. There are currently eight of them and they are important agronomic tools necessary for the long term health of those putting surfaces. Friendly reminder to please refrain from turning fans off when playing the course!
Earlier this month the PGA Tour was in town for the annual Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club.  For five years (2010-2014) we had the pleasure of hosting the qualifying tournaments for this event.  With the qualifying tournaments at Gaston Country Club this year and the event not coinciding with Member-Guest like last year, several of my staff members were able to join the agronomy volunteer team.  It was a great opportunity and learning experience for Assistant Superintendents Ben Albrecht and David Sherwood, along with Equipment Manager Bob Hall.  
Ben Albrecht Mowing Tees

David Sherwood Mowing Greens


Bob Hall Adjusting Mower

 Of course they weren't the only guys having fun that week.  With them splitting time between here and there it allowed me the opportunity to get reacquainted with some of my favorite tasks.
I have always loved mowing fairways!  It's a great way to either clear your mind, or think of a million things the staff needs to do.  And speaking of needing to do, with the busy spring tournament schedule behind us and small tine greens aeration almost in the books it is now time to focus our efforts on other areas of the golf course.  In the coming days and weeks you will notice us performing some sod work (mainly bunker faces and cart path edges).  We will be trimming the willows and birches growing along the creek just below the 13th tee complex.  Of course we will spend a good deal of time weeding the natural/native areas and it's time to edge bunkers again.  Before you know it we will be topdressing fairways and surrounds as fairway aeration is scheduled for June 20th & 21st.

 But before I get too far ahead of myself, I need to take a moment and inform everyone this coming Monday, June 6th we will begin the Fraze mowing project on the driving range tee.  You may or may not recall I first mentioned Fraze mowing in this forum back on October 23rd.  At that time I talked about how we would overseed the Primary Range Tee for winter use but then renovate the surface this spring via Fraze mowing.  For a better understanding of exactly what I'm talking about CLICK HERE to watch the same brief video I posted then detailing the process.  The plan all along has been to get beyond the busy spring tournament schedule, so this coming Monday we will Fraze mow approximately half the tee (lower tier and portion of the upper tier) and while those areas recover and grow back in, you still have full access to the back half of the tee (you also have access to the Back Range Tee as an alternative).  The recovery process should take approximately 14-21 days, thus we have scheduled our contractor to return on Monday, June 27th to perform the operation on the remainder of the teeing ground.  When all is said and done we will have a freshly renovated range tee for everyone's enjoyment this summer and fall.

 Speaking of practice areas and renovations, I know some of you are dissatisfied with the current condition of the Short Game Area.  It may or may not come as a surprise but the Greens Committee has not been overly thrilled with the area in its entirety either.  In fact, recently we approached our architect about producing a Short Game Master Plan in order to discuss possible improvements and perhaps an entire new space plan.  Let's take a closer look at the area as a whole and discuss.  Here are two recent Google Earth images depicting the areas commonly referred to as our Driving Range and our Short Game Area.


















If we now focus our attention on just the Short Game Area you can see it is broken down into several components.  It contains a large (greater than 9,000 sq. ft.) putting green, a separate chipping green, two practice bunkers, three pitching greens and an uneven or irregular lie area.  I flipped the photo because most everyone uses and views this area with their back to the Cart Barn located in the lower middle portion of the photo below.

One of the items the committee wants to address is the chipping green.  It is believed the green does not adequately serve its purpose because its shape and how it ties-in to the surrounding terrain does not allow for, or replicate chip shots commonly played on the course.  Although this may be true, another issue we have with the Short Game Area is common use does not match the area's intended design.  You see, most individuals practicing in this area rarely venture past the small grove of trees on the left side separating the Short Game Area from the Driving Range.

It is not uncommon to never find evidence of use in the far bunker and rarely do we need to patch and fill divots farther down the closely mowed area past the chipping green.  I understand most individuals are most likely electing to remain safely guarded by the trees and thus the largest percentage of all traffic, divots, etc. are contained within a small confined space closer to the Cart Barn.    

 Now, I'm not telling you this to make excuses for what is currently some pretty rough conditions.  My staff and I were recently asked to landscape behind the cart barn and we are close to wrapping that project up.  Once complete we will replace all the damaged turf in the Short Game Area caused by high traffic volume.  In fact the Golf Shop has relocated their range picker and altered their traffic pattern which will help greatly reduce future turf damage.
New Shrubs Behind Cart Barn
Short Game Tee (Former Range Picker Parking Area)
Common Range Picker Traffic Pattern 













































I merely want to help you better understand all the factors effecting the overall condition of this club amenity.  Besides, now that you have seen the overall area from a different perspective you may venture down to the far bunker and practice hitting your 6-iron out into the main range floor.  Or hit a few shots with the ball below your feet in the uneven lie area.  The possibilities are numerous, but also understand club leaders are currently examining all possible methods to enhance this important amenity and your experience.  If the area does not get used as it was designed, then maybe redesigning the area to better fit the way most everyone practices will pay dividends in the long run.  In the meantime, my staff and I will do everything we possibly can to improve the turf and the area's overall condition.

 And finally, in international news.  I recently appeared in an article by Golf Business News, a U.K. publication, regarding my involvement with the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA).  
I have been an International Member of BIGGA since 2010.  Please CLICK HERE to see the story from Golf Business News to read and learn about a recent achievement.

See you on the course,

Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG
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Thursday, April 28, 2016

Blown Away and On The Way!

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"!  Today is Thursday, April 28th and it is time to bring everyone up to speed with what has been going on in my department and what will soon be going on as May arrives.  May is one of our busiest months at Carolina Golf Club with two major events just two weeks apart, not to mention other golf related activities about town!

 When we last met here we were on the verge of spring putting green aeration.  That process took place March 14th and 15th without any hiccups this year from Mother Nature (2014 Aeration).  With cooperative spring weather the stars seemed to be aligning themselves for a speedy recovery, and I truly believe we definitely managed to get off the starting blocks quickly, but then something bizarre occurred.  Cool, northeasterly winds began to blow across the region and quite frankly, I didn't think they would ever stop.  For over a month you could have easily referred to Carolina Golf Club as the "little course on the windy hill".  
Now what does that have to do with putting green recovery you ask.  Quite simply the ever present winds continuously dried things out, stressing the turf and making it difficult for the holes to completely close over. This symptom occurred most noticeably on the interior of the golf course and along the ridge where greens 3, 15, 5 and 7 are positioned, but all greens with severe humps, bumps, and spines would show excellent recovery in the lower lying portions while those areas more exposed to the constant breeze lagged behind.  
April 9th, Green No. 4
April 9th, Green No. 11


















Greens 11 and 12 healed up completely as much as ten full days before all others on the course simply because they are located in an area of the property sheltered from most breezes (this is why those greens have fans in the summer).  In the end everything turned out just fine as the greens have been back to normal for quite some time now, I even heard a rumor they were a little too quick for some's taste this past weekend.

With a new season upon us it means we have new staff members here to help beautify Carolina Golf Club for your enjoyment.  Once again we are hosting six young lads through the World International Student Exchange. This year's group is from Vietnam and they are all very pleasant, eager, hard working young men.  

Front row L-R is Minh Hau, Quang Hai, and Tien Manh.  Back row L-R is Van Loi, Huy Quang, and Van Tien. They are all agriculture majors back home.  They arrived March 21st and have now spent over a month getting acclimated to the course and their new surroundings.  Some of their English is still a work in progress in case you encounter one or more, but they are very friendly and very eager to please. I sincerely hope you will help me make them all feel welcome and appreciated over the course of this year as they are very far from home.  

 Recently we removed the last few lingering dead trees from last season.  Monday we had all stumps ground and the staff spent a couple days earlier this week hauling away stump grindings, back filling holes with soil, compacting, and seeding.  With all the removed stumps located in natural/native areas it made the work easy to accomplish without disrupting play.  If your ball should encounter one of these recently seeded areas please take free relief from the Ground Under Repair.  While on the subject of trees, the large Oak located left of the path approaching No. 5 green is exhibiting some bizarre stress symptoms.  

You may recall it did something similar last year that lead to us selectively removing the effected wood.  Our consulting arborist was here to examine the tree this past Monday morning and a climbing inspection has been scheduled in order to get a closer look.  Please know we are working very hard to accurately diagnose and treat this specimen and making every attempt to preserve it.

 Next week is the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club and that signifies May's arrival in the Queen City.  I'm sure most of you will head out to watch the best players on tour try to tame the Green Mile.  Course Superintendent Keith Wood and his team have the course in fabulous tournament condition, and I wish them all the best.  The following week we will host our annual Member-Guest (May 12-14) and then two weeks later it will be time for the annual Memorial Day Four-ball, our 54-hole Member-Member Championship concluding on Memorial Day!  We also have our first Dogfight of the season, our first 9 & Dine, and the OMEGA team is back in home course action in May.  Wow, I haven't even flipped the calendar and already next month is full of lots of activity.  And finally, the new championship tee for hole No. 10 received its first mowing today.  Tips players, don't be surprised if you find the markers placed there real soon.

 See you on the course,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS
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Saturday, March 12, 2016

El Nino, Waking Up, Greens Aeration, Event Lawn, and Groucho!

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"!  Today is Saturday, March 12th and I can't believe it has been over a month since my last update.  My sincere apologies for losing track of time, seems like just yesterday we were still in the grips of winter and then BOOM, it's an early spring and things are happening fast.  In fact things are happening so fast our first official event of the 2016 season is taking place as I write this.. The Donald Ross!
Donald J. Ross
While 64 players representing teams Muirfield and St. Andrews battle it out today for the Donald Ross Challenge Cup, please permit me to briefly explain the impact of this winter's El Nino.  The effects of the El Nino (warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean waters) have been far reaching this year. In a typical El Nino winter, low pressure systems travel across the lower portion of the United States and bring us above average rainfall.  This started here at Carolina Golf Club in early fall and continued through the end of February.  On average the city of Charlotte receives about 40 inches rainfall per year.  At Carolina Golf Club we received 31.73 inches rain between October 1st and February 29th (leap year).  Now, think about that statistic for a second.  We had approximately 75% of one year's worth of precipitation on the golf course during a 5 month span when things are not quite actively growing!  I can understand if you thought you were being punished because golf cars were constantly restricted to the paths, but this truly was the wettest the golf course has ever been since the 2008 restoration.

 Thankfully, the El Nino is weakening and in fact is predicted to transition to the opposite La Nina (cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean waters).  During a typical La Nina period our region experiences warmer and drier than average weather, so don't be surprised if we go from one extreme to the other (seems like that is the "new normal").  Currently spring like weather is early with above average temperatures and the dormant bermudagrass is beginning to show signs of new life.  When you think about the past two winters it is nice to see the bermudagrass responding positively to nature's cues.  At this point you are all wondering the same thing, "Matthew, did the collars survive the winter?" and I certainly don't blame anyone for asking.  I for one have nightmares about the "ring of death" at times, but I can say during my travels around and across the course thus far my inspections have all appeared promising.  
Front Left 6 Green
Back Left 16 Green


















Back Right 16 Green
New Green Leaves Back Right 16 Green


















There have seen signs of a healthy, dormant canopy throughout most of this past winter, and now early greening.  I believe we may have escaped the bulk of nature's wrath this year (we deserved a break after the past few years anyway).  Seeing new green leaves emerge in areas that were resodded the last couple years really does wonders for a golf course superintendent's spirit... just saying!  Granted we are not completely out of the woods as the majority of the turf is still yet to break dormancy and fully green up, but the early outlook is positive.

 Well, if I'm talking about an early spring, bermudagrass breaking dormancy, etc. it must be time to aerate the putting greens.  Historically we have aerated the greens on the 3rd Monday of March but this year that is late (March 21st) so we moved it ahead one week to this coming Monday and Tuesday (March 14th and 15th).  After nearly 6 long months of close mowing, rolling, high traffic volume (have you seen the tee sheet on the weekends lately) and well above average rainfall, the turf is ready for a breather, pun intended.  ;) 

 This coming Monday morning you will hear me exclaim "I love the smell of aerator cores in the morning!"  I know, the putting surfaces at Carolina are absolutely fabulous right now, but they need to be in order to tolerate the mechanical stress imposed by the aeration process.  Aeration is a mechanical cultural practice that creates more air space in the soil by decreasing bulk density.  It removes excess thatch, alleviates compaction and promotes deeper rooting helping the turf stay healthy.  In most cases it's done by removing small cores (approximately 1/2-inch diameter) and the space is filled with sand.  The topdressing helps the soil retain the precious air space making it easier for roots to grow.  

Like so many things, the quality of a good putting green is more than skin deep.  In fact, the quality of the putting surface has more to do with what your eyes cannot see.  In order to grow and maintain quality turf maintained at 0.110 inches or less you have to have deep, healthy roots.  Good roots demand oxygen and in good soil they get the oxygen from tiny pockets of air trapped between soil and sand particles.  Over time the traffic from golfers' feet (as well as mowing and rolling equipment) compacts the soil under the putting green.  When soil becomes compacted, the air pockets on which the roots depend are crushed and the roots are left gasping for air.  Without oxygen, the grass plants eventually wither and die.  The bottom line is aeration is a necessary practice and I sincerely hope you will think of it merely as a short-term disruption with the best long-term benefits.

 Earlier this week we finally broke ground on an approved renovation project that El Nino delayed for months.  The Event Lawn is being reshaped by our good friends at Golf Course Services.  The project is remedying a drainage problem we had due to an improper elevation on the lawn in relation to the clubhouse patio.  When complete everyone will have a larger, smoother lawn space for outdoor seating, and the tenth hole will get its own true and proper championship tee incorporated into the toe of the slope near the bottom of the lawn.  My team worked hard to assist in removing the existing sod and we have plans to reuse in areas requiring attention after we wrap up greens aeration next week.
Golf Course Services, Inc.
Hardest Working Team in NC!

Grading Has Begun!
Digging Out for Championship Tee No. 10
Kris Spence was on site yesterday to check on the progress of this project and we should wrap things up before Easter Sunday.  It is very important to note although the lawn will be sodded when the project is complete, the new sod will not be ready for traffic and thus the entire lawn space will be off limits during Easter Sunday.  We apologize for the inconvenience, but we would hate for someone to potentially ruin their Sunday best!

 Before I go I want to share with you a wonderful story about the cutest little Great Horned Owl you ever saw, Groucho!  It seems back on March 1st Groucho became separated from its family and was wondering around the golf course (you see Groucho is only about 4 weeks old and too young to fly right now).  Spotted by several members including Chris Hughes, attempts to locate and rescue Groucho were implemented.  Members of my staff contacted Marsha Gaspari and after spotting his beautiful yellow eyes she took Groucho to the Carolina Raptor Center (CRC) to be checked out.
Hiding to Avoid Predators!
What a Cute Face!


















After receiving a clean bill of health, folks from the CRC returned Groucho to the golf course the next day in hopes to reunite Groucho with its parents.  Here is a link to the story posted by the good folks at the Carolina Raptor Center on their Facebook page. CLICK HERE 
Renested Near Hole No. 5

 Considering our proximity to the city center, after all we are very much an urban golf course, it always does my heart good to see the variety of wild life that call Carolina Golf Club home.  Golf courses are typically viewed unfavorably by the general public when it comes to the environment, but the reality is we (golf course superintendents) are highly educated and well trained scientists that make every effort to preserve and protect the environment.  When animals such as owls, hawks, herons, ducks, turtles, rabbits, squirrels, deer, and even coyote all call Carolina home, I cannot help but feel we must be doing something right!  That's all for now.  If you would like more information or have any questions or comments about any of today's topics don't hesitate to send me an email or just ask next time you see me on the course.  

Until next time,

Matthew Wharton, CGCS
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