Llanerch Golf Course and External Activities

We have started our Winter Tree Management Program. This is the process where we identify trees that need to be either trimmed or removed. The tree pictured here was an Eastern White Pine that had to be removed because of extensive insect damage. The winter is continues to be the best time to perform this type of work. 

Today we verticut 11,13 and 6 fairways. Verticutting is a process where we use a machine with spinning circular blades (the attachment on the tractor in the picture) and run it across the fairway bentgrass. This reduces the thatch layer, improves air movement in the turf canopy, make the bentgrass "stand up" for a better lie and assists in drying the surface out faster. We have done all the fairways on the Clubhouse side of the course and hope to get the remaining fairways done next week.

Yesterday we mowed greens for maybe the last time in 2011. The mild weather and rain had made them grow a little more then we expected. This will increase the speed a little and smooth them out. We are also starting to pull in the ballwashers and rakes in for the winter. There will still be a few ballwashers out on the course for our winter players.

The 18th Restoration is moving along quickly. With all this unseasonably warm weather, the grass has started to grow roots and "fill in". We have been spreading sand and rolling the green and new fairway to continue smoothing out the surface. We have already mowed the green over 15 times! More sod will be installed on the right side of the rough next week.  

Today we trenched the wet area on 1 fairway. The Greenkeepers are installing 4 inch perforated pipe with pea gravel to catch the water. It seems that the water is coming from a spring in the middle of the fairway. We hope to get all the drainage in today before Wednesday's rain. We will sod the trench line some time next week, weather dependent.

As we start a new week today, I thought I would blog about the planned activities on the golf course. First, Countyline Fence started installing the new fence on Steel Road this morning. The Assistant Superintendents are focusing on mowing, rolling and sand topdressing the 18th green. The Greenkeepers are still working to clean up the leaves. We also plan to trench in new drainage for the 1st fairway. I will post some updated pictures later. Enjoy the great weather!  

Our contractor is wrapping up the project today! They are finishing installing sod and compacting sand in the bunkers. Some of the bare areas in the rough will be seeded Monday. Some excess soil left over from the project will be used to fill in the stump holes. We are going to give the new sod some much needed water and fertilizer to promote root growth. I hope you like the end result as much as we do!