First Topdressing of Greens This Year

The GCM staff completed the first topdressing of greens this year. Weekly topdressings provide a smooth and consistent playing surfaces. Topdressing fills in minor imperfections in the playing surface and helps manage organic matter accumulation within the soil profile.

We will be applying topdressing sand differently this year. Sand topdressing will be applied on a weekly basis using walk spreaders and dry bagged sand. Using the dry bagged sand will help incorporate the sand into the turfgrass canopy easier, resulting in less disruption to play.

The sand comes in 50 lb bags and is applied using walk spreaders. 

Dry bagged sand being applied to #1 green.

Final product after the topdressing has been applied and broomed in.

18 Bulkhead

The bulkhead around the back side of #18 green has shifted causing a partial collapse of the area surrounding the putting green. More information will be available once the proper engineers come out and inspect the damage to the area.

There is a temporary putting green in the approach. Please stay off the green until we are able to stabilize the bulkhead and the back side of the putting green.

 

Deterring Geese from Putting Greens

If you golf much at The Peninsula Club you know the geese have been damaging #4, 7, 9, 16 and 18. These greens are located directly next to the water making it very easy for geese to fly directly onto the greens or swim up to them. Furthermore, they are attracted to the bright painted putting greens in the middle of a dormant, brown golf course. Geese cause damage when they get on the green and begin looking for food in the soil. 

The GCM department is trying multiple avenues to deter geese from further damage. First, is tying string between red and yellow penalty stakes. This will make it more difficult for geese to swim up to the edge of the bank and walk up to the green. 

Secondly, we are using coyote decoys. During the middle of the day the decoys are set up around the greens. At the end of the day the decoys are set up on the greens for better protection. We currently have two of them and it is working very well. We have ordered three more so we have a decoy on all problem greens. 

Jesse Cigary setting up one of the decoys on #18 putting green.

"Palmer", one of our coyote decoys keeping guard over the 9th green. In the background there is string between all red stakes.

Employee Education

Golf course maintenance dedicated an afternoon to educating staff on the standard operating procedures for walk mowing and rolling of greens. The staff was educated on how the equipment works, how to use it and what goes into the processes of taking care of our greatest asset, the putting green. Having everyone on the same page is important to the success of our department. 

After a long education session everyone took part in a putting contest. Margarito won! 

The staff learning how to use a roller properly.

Jesse showing the men how a greens mower works.

Margarito learning how to use a roller.

Alberto lining up his putt on the 6th green.

Jesse Cigary Promoted to 1st Assistant

Jesse Cigary was promoted to Senior Assistant in the Agronomy Department.

Jesse has been with The Peninsula Club since April 2011. He has worked his way from Turf Technician, Assistant in Training, 2nd Assistant and now to Senior Assistant. While working at the Peninsula Club, Jesse, earned his A.A.S. in Turfgrass Management Technology from Central Piedmont Community College.

When you see Jesse on the course make sure to congratulate him on this promotion.  We are happy and proud of Jesse for this accomplishment.

GCM Takes Advantage of a Rain Day

The Golf Maintenance Crew took advantage of the rainy morning and did a deep cleaning of the shop and equipment bay area. The crew worked in the bay and mechanic shop cleaning the walls, sweeping the floors, dusting and cleaning the equipment. Maintaining a clean and organized shop will helps us produce a better product on the golf course.

After the equipment has been removed, the floors are swept and mopped.

Rearranging and wiping the walls.

Paulo and Cesar clean all of the equipment while the shop is being cleaned.

Arnold dusts and cleans cobwebs from the walls.

Alberto and Margrito clean the ceiling of the shop.

Goose Damage on #9 Green

Last Monday Canada Geese that reside on Lake Norman caused damage to #9 green. The geese were averted from damaging other greens after our staff found the damage on #9. 

The Canada goose population in our area is becoming a concern. Damage caused by "resident" geese to public property-- lake shore property and the golf course is becoming more common. The GCM department is formulating an action plan plan to discourage the geese from residing on or near the golf course. 

Below are pictures of the damage that the geese caused on the putting greens.

Goose damage to #9 green. The plugs seen in the picture are from previous damage earlier this fall.

Close-up of damage caused by geese.

Close-up of damage caused by geese.

Cesar placing plugs into damaged areas.