Wiring Project on 18 Completed!

As  we stated before, there have been irrigation wiring problems for the last ten years with the 18th hole on Newport.  We had an independent contractor come in and assess the situation.  We determined there were too many splices and broken wires and wires falling into the Bay to make this a reliable operating irrigation system.  Any time you make a bunch of splices by different people, it leads to loss of electrical conductivity and corrosion.  Rather than have one laborer manually turn heads on and off, we chose to rewire the hole and run it by our Site Pro Central Computer..   The wire was pulled with a vibratory plow.  We ran the new wire in a conduit UNDER the rocks and bridge, so we did not have to cut the cart path.  We ran the new wire to 18 tees through a conduit and attached it to the cart bridge.  I am very confident turf conditions will be better because of this project.  A total of 45 wires were run.

What Are the Blue Spots on Newport Greens?

We treat the greens at OCGC twice a month with a soil surfactant. This helps lessen the surface tension of water applied and allows it to penetrate the sandy soil rather than bead up and run off. It helps keep the greens firm.  Sometimes chronic areas dry out and this is known as a localized dry spot. We hand treat those areas with a water retaining agent to retain moisture and turf health, especially on the windswept sand greens of Newport.  Today our applicatior was a little generous with the indicator dye.  This requires only 16 ounces of material to treat Newport.  We will see improvement over time of these areas.

Critters

You may have seen some of these bugs on the surface of the greens this week.  They are Black Turfgrass Aetinius or BTAs.  We try to reduce the adult populations before they lay eggs.  It is when the eggs hatch and the tiny larvae eat the roots of the grass plants.  We treated them with an insecticide made from chrysanthemums!

Rough Clumps

In our first month here, we observed the rough looking uneven and unkept, even with regular mowing.  We discovered problems with the large Progressive unit.  The decks were set at all different heights.  We did a LOT of work to repair and correct the situation.  The decks are now all set within 1/4" of each other.  We are mowing roughs now at 2 1/2".  Now that the height issues are taken care of, there will be some clumping of grass for the next week or so.  Hopefully it won't be too bad, but the upside isa more playable rough for our members and guests.

What are the Flags and Markings on 18 Newport?

The flags and markings are in preparation for our rewiring of #18 Newport.  The original satellite box was moved, as it was slipping into the bay.  We understand this has been a problem for ten years or so.  It made no sense to manually irrigate this area, when we have a computer operated system.  We hired an independent evaluator before making the decision to completely rewire the hole.  Manual irrigation causes the turf quality to suffer.  We are using a vibratory plow to set the wires in about 18 inches deep.  We are rerouting the new wires through a conduit attached to the bridge.  The old wires crossed our power lines to the shop, causing some radio interference.  We hope to have all the work done by Thursday.  This is a permanent solution to a long time problem, to make YOUR course better.

Storm Damage

This half dead tree was the only casualty from last nights storm. This is to the right of #2 green Newport 

USGA Visit

Yesterday, we had Darin Bevard in from the USGA for a Turf Advisory Service visit.  We spent the whole day discussing various items about the golf course.  It was an extremely interesting and educational day.  We spent a lot of time discussing the bermudagrass fairways on Newport.  As the final report becomes available, I will share some items on the blog.  We are definitely heading in the right direction to improve your Club!