Sample Site

This website was developed by Steffie Safrit for MacGregor Downs Country Club for the informative education of members. The website is dedicated to providing up to date information regarding cultural practices, biological aspects, and weather events that may effect or raise any questions involving the golf course. Also many useful tools such as videos, pictures, and publications are utilized for various topics like golf course etiquette. Please enjoy this sample of service that can be provided.

Cultural Practices - What does this really include? Part 2

Topdressing is a major component of an effective aerifcation program.

• Topdressing adds new sand to dilute and reduce the amount of organic matter
• Todressing sand provides water/air channels through the green in the aerification holes

Typically there are two types of topdressing practices implemented

• Infrequent heavy topdressing performed after aerifications
• Frequent light topdressings or a dusting of sand throughout the year

Infrequent Heavy Topdressing

• Primary purpose is to fill all holes and enusre a smoother putting surface after an aerification
• Sand disappears approximately in 10-14 days during the growing season

Frequent Light Topdressing

• Primary purpose is to maintain smooth playability, firmness and dilute organic matter
• Sand disappears approximately in 5-7 days during the growing season
• Light topdressing offers the least amount of disruption to golfers versus infrequent heavy amounts of topdressing sand
  

Fairway Height of Cut

MDCC's Bermudagrass fairways, during the active growing season, are mowed at 1/2" in height. The fairway units are set by an Accu-Gauge measurement tool that measures to the thousandth of an inch to ensure each cutting height is exact. Measuring out in the field is nearly impossible without a prism gauge. A prism gauge allows the golf course superintendent or equipment manager to relate the height of cut to the actual measured height of cut. Below are pictures illustrating an Accu-Gauge measurement tool and a Prism Gauge with the actual reading of a fairway measurement height.

Accu-Gauge Measurement Tool for setting cutting heights



Prism Gauge Measurement Tool used to measure actual height of cut in the field



Below is the actual cutting height measured in the 13th fairway. The current reading measured is slightly above 1/2". 4 hours after mowing, approximately 1/3 of the total area sampled have leaf blades measuring up to 5/8". By the next scheduled mowing, which is every other day, an 1/8" to 1/4" of growth will have occurred.

Prism Gauge Measure of the 13th fairway

Cultural Practices - What does this really include? Part 1

Cultural practices would include, mechanical procedures preformed on turf to reduce stresses and promote proper health. Such practices include aerification and topdressing to name a few. Aerification is an extremely important cultural practice. Although it results in a temporary disruption of the green, aerification improves water penetration into the soil, reduces soil compaction, stimulates turfgrass root growth for a healthier plant, helps control thatch build-up, and improves overall growing conditions.

• Core aerification is necessary to maintain appropriate organic matter content, which over time decreases the lifespan of a green

• Not aerifing will cause organic matter to build and increase disease pressure and reduced gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen

Approximate Recovery Times after Aerifications:
(depending on weather)

• Spring Aerifications (March) have an expected recovery time of 3-4 weeks to heal 100%

• Early Summer Aerifications (May) have an expected recovery time of 2-3 weeks to heal 100%
  

• Summer Aerifications (June) have an expected recovery time of 1-2 weeks to heal 100%

• Fall Aerifications (September) have an expected recovery time of 2-3 weeks to heal 100%

Brief description of each aerification:

• Spring aerifications open the green's surface to allow more heat into the soil profile and increase growth due to warmer soil temperatures. Spring aerifications also remove organic material generated from the previous fall and winter months.
  

• Early summer aerifications remove orgainc material when the plants are at their hgihest peak of growing and generating orgainic material.
  

• Summer aerifications provide open water and air channels to allow thundershowers to past through the green and allow CO2 to escape from the green's soil profile and allow O2 in.
  

• Fall aerifications remove orgainc material from the stressful summer months when turf plants are performing their life cycle of growing and dying.
  

Golf Course Status and Upcoming Events

Located throughout the property you can see monthly updated information of the golf course status and upcoming events. This is information to keep the membership up to date with cultural practices, projects and other vital information for members to know. These informational sheets can be found on the Men's Locker Room Board, Women's Locker Room Board, Pro Shop Information Board, and each restroom located on the golf course.

Spring Dead Spot Disease

If you have noticed the dead patches in some of the fairways, the patches are caused from a disease. The disease is called Spring Dead Spot Disease or SDS. This disease attacks Bermuda grass in the fall from soil borne pathogens. These circular patches of turf can range from 6 inches in diameter to several feet and remain dormant as the surrounding turf turns green. The patches of dormant turf eventually disintegrate, leaving depressions in the playing surface. In the fall, the pathogen infects the turf and penetrates root systems inhibiting water and nutrients to be transported. Over the course of the winter when the turf is dormant, there are no symptoms evident and everything appears normal making it unable to predict the severity of the disease. In the spring, as the weather begins to warm, the infected turf is unable to draw water and nutrients to break dormancy. For decades this disease has plagued Bermuda grass in the transition zone and extensive research and trails have been performed with no luck in confirming cost-effective and reliable fungicide treatment. The magic bullet for solving this disease has not been found. To reduce the amount of time that these spots are apparent is achieved by continuously verticutting and reapplying fertilizers to encourage the healthy turf outside of the patch to fill in. Currently after our fertilization and verticutting, 3-4 inches of new growth encroaching into the patch has already been observed in the infected areas.

Spring Dead Spot

June 9th 2009



July 12th 2009

#6 Green Back Drop

#6 Green back drop transitioned to Master Plan of utilizing native grasses, pine trees, and hollies all native to this area and consistent with the surroundings of MacGregor Downs Country Club.

#6 Green Back Drop before Master Plan Transition



#6 Green Back Drop after Master Plan Transition