This morning was the first Frost Delay that I can recall in quite some time. Obviously the weather has been quite frigid for awhile, with no relief in sight for the next 4-5 days. Our Bimini Bermuda Grass has held up well heading into this weather pattern. Although the Frost this morning was not as heavy as expected, we will start to lose color in the effected areas. Our warm season grass needs soil temperatures above 55 degrees to start recovery. We will be boosting fertility to jump start recovery as soon as Mother Nature allows. We are expecting another round of possible Frost tomorrow morning, thankfully the Ladies Day events have already moved their tee times to a later start.
On another note, our team has worked hard to equalize moisture content on our putting surfaces. This is in direct response to findings brought forth by our newly employed course consultant. The undulations in our greens require pin point applications to control the Volumetric Water Content. To that end, we are adhering to a strict protocol of watering only where needed. This is determined by the use of a moisture meter. These readings dictate where and when water is needed. As you play the golf course you will notice some “off color” areas around a few greens. This is a result of reducing moisture content, coupled with the cooler temperatures. As the weather improves and the moisture evens out, these areas will bounce right back. The benefits of this process is numerous, most notably, stronger roots and a firmer faster putting surface.
Finally, I would like to give an update on our Lake Aeration project. Previous to the renovation only around half of our lakes had aeration systems installed. Our goal of “Maintainability and Sustainability” included aerating all of our lakes. This promotes a healthy vibrant water quality that extends the life and balance of our waterways. I have included a picture of one of our Solar Compressors that feed air to the diffusers in the lake. Without a reliable electrical source in certain areas, a solar panel was the only option. We currently have four solar compressors on site, eventually we endeavor to screen this panels as best we can without hindering the solar collection process. The remainder of the project should be completed in the next few weeks.
Thank you for taking the time to read this update and feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns, Stay warm (and Classy) Stonebridge!