This week we were lucky enough to have Richter Park chosen to be used as a location for a special light hearted feature to run during the US OPEN in June.  The taping took place on Wednesday the 23rd and should be a great little plug for Richter.  The pictures capture some of the day, without divulging the main topic.  Once the exact run time is released I will update the blog for all to enjoy.

#6 Green with Sun Angles

Richter has tree lined fairways that play a very important part in the aesthetic qualities of the golf course.  Unfortunately trees and grass do not always get along.   Trees compete for nutrients, water and most importantly hog the sunlight.  Last season we started looking at morning shade patterns to come up with a tree removal / thinning program that will help our problem areas.  Over the next several weeks and months you might see ribbons around some select trees throughout the course.  These ribbons are only going to be for internal record keeping and will allow the Greens Committee and authority to access our program and recommendations that will be presented during next years budget process.

It is easiest to determine what trees are causing the problems during the season when the leaves are on the trees causing the problems.  We are trying to locate old photographs to restore the course to more of an original state of when the course opened.  On the turf crew we are looking ahead to minimize and correct future problems that are in our control.

It must be stated that we are not going into this plan with the goal of cutting down trees.  We are using GPS and other programs to selectively target the trees causing the problems.  Trees are extremely important to a golf course and we plan on highlighting the important trees while eliminating the problem ones.

OH JACK – WE COULD USE YOUR HELP!

Rickie Fowler beats Mcllroy and Points for the first win of his career and I can honestly say I enjoyed witnessing it.  Tiger Woods missed the cut for only the 8th time in his career, and I can honestly say I enjoyed that even more!

Divot on 18 Green

Anyone who knows me can tell you - I am no fan of Tiger.  Quite frankly, I have found great pleasure watching his struggles on the course. He is no Jack Nicklaus – on or off the course - and in my opinion has no business ever topping him for number of major championships.  Jack’s shoes are too big for Tiger.  Too big!

Yes, Tiger lovers, I’ll give you this - Woods has accomplished many positives during his career.  He’s help to grow the game of golf by encouraging youth participation, setting attendance records at every event he’s a part of and, creating merchandising opportunities for courses throughout the world.

But, from the eye of this superintendent, it comes at a cost.

Think of the negatives we witness on a regular basis and have come to expect with every appearance.   You know the ones I am talking about – those nice guy role model moments gone terribly bad. Throwing (in some cases hurling) of clubs, profanity-laced tirades and constant disrespect of the course. This behavior is mimicked on courses from coast to coast. Just this weekend alone we had to repair 5 divots on our greens at Richter Park.  We work hard to create a positive experience and divots in the greens – those that should never happen - take away from the enjoyment of everyone playing the course.

As you enjoy your next round, whether at Richter or another great course, I ask that you leave the Tiger in you for the 19th hole.  And, on 1 – 18 make a more conscious effort to leaving the hole better than when you found it. Fix extra ball marks, rake a trap that was not groomed by a previous player or pick up trash left in a fairway or rough.

The gentleman’s game – Golf - needs more Jack Nicklaus’ on the course. The more we all work together the better the experience.

The link below explains in detail the required conversion to narrow band that has been mandated by the FCC.  Our irrigation system at Richter is 100% wireless and a complete conversion is required to ensure that come next year we are able to continue irrigating the course. We are currently experiencing bleed from the westside campus at Westconn so this problem of crowded airwaves is a problem that hits close to home.   We have started the process of getting new narrow band radios and will update repeater and satellites in the fall to minimize any potential communication issues.

To further explain the way our system operates, we have a main central irrigation computer. The computer is the hub of all information from the hydraulic tree to sprinker information. This main computer also has our soil sensor information to read % soil moisture, temperature and salinity in real time.  Connected to this computer is a base station that sends signals wirelessly directly out to the field satellites.  From the field satellites we have each individual sprinkler head hard wired with power from the satellite to operate it nightly.  As the airwaves get more congested the signals from the repeater to the satellite get interupted causing improper irrigation cycles to run when requested.  We also have the ablitiy to irrigate from our radios.  In this way we enter a code from our radio that goes to the base station and then out to the satellite. 


http://digitalgcm.gcsaa.org/DigitalAnywhere/viewer.aspx?id=36&pageId=54

Today is the first day of our bi-weekly topdressing schedule that will take place throughout the growing season.  Topdressing of the greens is treated in the same classification of priorities as watering, fertilizing and mowing.  This practice requires constant attention and implementation to make it a success.

Incorporating constant topdressing into the agronomic plan has many benefits:

• Ensures a smooth and level playing surface
• Grain is held to a minimum
• Thatch is controlled by incorporating mineral matter into the organic biomass
• Speed Management

#1 Green while being dragged

#1 Green being dragged

#1 Green on last drag pass