Superintendent News

Clyde and his crew completed 2 new tee boxes this past season…  Holes #6 and #7 have a new area to hit from for the red tee and yellow tee (at times).

The new tee on #6 allows red tee players relief from hitting over the pond on the par 3.

The new tee on #7 gives golfers a nice flat, raised area to keep them from having to muscle a golf ball over the hill on the tee shot.

Come see the new tee boxes and enjoy your round of golf even more!

 

10 Most Common Questions & Answers Regarding Turfgrass/ Golf Course Maintenance

 

1. Why can’t we play when the greens have frost on them?
Frost on the blades of the bent grass makes the blades more brittle and susceptible to breakage. Breaking the blades and/or the root structure damages the plant and therefore the surface. Damage can be seen almost immediately as well as later in the growing season.

2. Why can’t we play when the greens are frozen and expected to unthaw?
Playing on the greens when they are unthawing creates a similar situation as playing on frost covered greens. Although damage may not be seen on the surface of the green, damage may occur just below the surface damaging the root structure.

3. Why do the greens seem so much faster or slower from one day to the next?
Humidity levels can effect how the blades of the bent grass lay. If the humidity level is very low the blades can lay down causing the greens to speed up. Conversely, if the humidity level is high the blades may stick up and cause the greens to slow down. The greens fluctuate in speed with no real changes in maintenance procedures.

4. Why do you use coarse sand sometimes when you top dress the greens in the spring?
The greens at McCanless Golf Club were constructed with native soil and do not drain as well as sand based greens. This native soil also has a lot of compaction which is relieved twice a year when aerated. The sand that is used to replace the removed soil helps water drain deeper into the green and reduce compaction. Therefore, larger aggregate allows for more water to drain through and less compaction. The result is a deeper root system that makes for a healthier green and a softer green that is more receptive to golf shots.

5. Why can’t I fish in the ponds?
The ponds are stocked with grass-eating carp and help keep the ponds clean. The carp are sterile and therefore do not produce offspring to replace them if they are taken out or injured unintentionally by fisherman. In the interest of fairness the golf club asks that no one fish in the ponds.

6. Are the pre-emergents going to hurt me?
Pre-emergents are used throughout the golf course in the spring and the fall to keep unwanted grasses or weeds from germinating. Golfers are not in immediate harm if they come in contact with pre-emergence because they are not allowed on the areas of the golf course that are sprayed until the area has dried. Golfers are informed of the use of these chemicals and encouraged to limit direct exposure. They are encouraged to wash hands frequently and to wipe off their equipment often.

7. Are the post-emergents going to hurt me?
Post-emergents are used in the fairways, the rough, the tee boxes, and some bedding around the golf course to eliminate unwanted grasses or weeds after they have germinated and popped through the surface. Golfers are kept away from the areas in which these chemicals are being applied until they have time to dry. After these chemicals have dried they should no longer be harmful to golfers. The golfers are informed of the recent application of the chemicals and encouraged to limit exposure.

8. Why don’t you mow cleanup laps on the greens everyday?
Given the small nature of the greens at McCanless Golf Club, the cleanup lap in the greens mowing process in which the very edge of the green is fine tuned next to the fringe is skipped several times per week. The reason this edging is skipped some days is because the riding mower used on the greens puts side pressure on the turf as it turns, especially in wetter areas. To keep the greens from degrading around the edges the cleanup lap is skipped giving the turf time to heal.

9. Why do you wait so long to mow the greens after aeration?
When the greens are aerated new bent grass seed and fertilizer is spread to fill in the turf taken out. This seed needs time to germinate (approximately 5 days) before mowers disturb this sensitive process. Mowing the greens immediately would cause the small, light bent grass seed and fertilizer to stick to the tires and blades of the mower. This would make the seed distribution uneven and result in wasted product and poorer turf quality.

10. Why do you take soil samples?
Soil samples are taken annually to determine the nutrients in the soil. Knowing the percentages of the soil make up allows for a prescription of nutrients needed to make for an optimum growing environment. Samples are taken from several areas on each green to make sure that levels are consistent making maintenance more efficient.

McCanless Golf Club Routine and Seasonal Turfgrass Calendar of Events

January/February
The pro shop will open at 8:00 am during the winter months except on days when inclement weather is imminent.

Please check with the pro shop daily for estimated time the golf course will open as temperatures fluctuate drastically day to day.

Post-emergents will be sprayed on the fairways and rough to help rid these areas of any unwanted grasses or weeds during the middle of January. Play will be diverted from the application areas however; the course will remain open.

March
The pro shop will be open at 7:00 am starting in March.

Tee times will begin at 7:30 am as weather conditions allow. Greens mowing will begin at this time and the first group will follow after the first green has been mowed.

Pre-emergents are scheduled to be spread on the fairways, rough, and tee areas during the last full week of the month. This process will not keep golfers from playing during this time however; carts may be kept on the path depending on weather conditions. Please call the pro shop for latest news.

April
Pre-emergents spread on Greens during the third week of the month to prevent crabgrass from germinating during the warm summer months.

Greens are scheduled for aeration during the second full week of the month. The front nine holes will be completed on the first day and will be closed for that day only. The back nine holes will be completed on the next day and it will be closed for the day.

May
The pro shop will open at 6:30 am and tee times will start at 7:00 am as weather conditions allow. These times will continue throughout the playing season until cooler weather returns.

The tees, fairways, and rough will be mowed 1-2 times per week beginning in May. All mowing will occur during the weekdays. No mowing outside of the greens will be performed on the weekend.

The tees and fairways will be aerated during the second full week of the month. The process uses a slicing blade that causes minimal turf disturbance and the fairways are playable immediately.

June/July/August
Fungicides will be used on the greens from approximately the middle of June throughout the hot, summer months. These fungicides will be used to help prevent disease from developing on the greens and will be applied every 21 days.

Afternoon watering of the greens may start in June as the surface temperatures of the greens escalates. Watering the greens will help cool the surface and prevent the greens from burning up.

September
Greens are scheduled for aeration during the last week of the month. The front nine holes will be completed on the first day and will be closed for that day only. The back nine holes will be completed on the next day and it will be closed for the day.

Pre-emergents are scheduled to be spread on the fairways, rough, and tee areas during the last full week of the month. This process will not keep golfers from playing during this time however; carts may be kept on the path depending on weather conditions. Please call the pro shop for latest news.

October
The pro shop will be open at 7:00 am starting in October.

Tee times will begin at 7:30 am as weather conditions allow. Greens mowing will begin at this time and the first group will follow after the first green has been mowed.

November/December
The pro shop will open at 8:00 am during the winter months except on days when inclement weather is imminent.

Please check with the pro shop daily for estimated time the golf course will open as temperatures fluctuate drastically day to day.

Please refer to the accompanying article for explanations as to why delays are often necessary in the winter months…

Contact

 

themacgc@gmail.com

704-637-1235

Location

 

3515 Stokes Ferry Rd.

Salisbury, NC 28146