The season is upon us!

So many things on our lengthy list of things to do have been completed but it seems that the list never gets any shorter. That is the nature of a golf course at this time of year, particularly in Alberta with a relatively short golfing season where we try to fit as many things as possible into one day.

Tractor mounted aerator

Our maintenance practices are now in full swing and we are on a regular maintenance schedule that includes mowing, topdressing, aerating, fertilizing and watering. We completed the first scheduled tee aeration on May 31^st. We used two different aerators, one unit mounted on a tractor and one self propelled walk behind unit. The tractor mounted aerator is called a Weidenmann and was used on tee boxes that have a large enough area surrounding them to gently turn the tractor. The other, more tightly surrounded tees, were completed using the John Deere Aerocore 800 aerator. Along with the aeration, we also included a topdressing application and a scheduled fertilizer application. Everything went according to plan and without any large disruptions for golfers.

Dandelion suffering effects of herbicide application

Golfers may have noticed some “twisted” dandelions around the course. We are mid way through our broadleaf weed control program. We use a dedicated spray unit that has been calibrated to the specific operator using it so that we can carefully monitor how much herbicide we apply to areas on the course. Dandelions are an aggressive weed and can be difficult to manage. Complete eradication is almost impossible but using effective herbicide treatments before the plants go to seed can help to manage the weed population and keep it under control.

Our regular maintenance procedures include a divoting program for the tee boxes. Starting this season, we have developed a tee maintenance employee position that we use on a daily basis to fill divots, set tee markers, tidy tee stations and fill divot sand boxes. So far, we are happy with the consistency and result this new position is providing. As with any new process, there continue to be some wrinkles to iron out but we are constantly monitoring conditions and that helps us to provide more training as needed.

Water quality meter

Also new this season, we have started a pond monitoring program. This includes weekly testing of the water in some of the ponds on the golf course. We use a water quality meter that monitors eleven individual parameters. Of those eleven parameters, the depth, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen and oxidation reduction potential are of most interest. The meter also includes software designed to help collect and display the data. The meter requires precise calibration and is therefore used carefully but is still easy to use in most circumstances. Keith uses the row boat to reach the middle of each pond and the meter records the GPS coordinates of each test to keep each test site consistent. So far, some of the results are surprising including the shallow depths in each of the test ponds. The quality of the pond water is important because we use that water to irrigate the golf course and if the quality is poor, it can have damaging, adverse effects on the turf.

In addition to the automated sprinkler system, we also hand water specific areas usually on greens and tees but potentially anywhere that may have more specific water needs. Hand watering allows us to control exactly where and how much water is being applied to an area of turf. Depending on location, weather and soil characteristics, water needs of a given area of turf can change drastically, even over the area of a single green or tee box. For example, an area on a green that has been sodded or patched will require a different amount of water than an area on that same green that is already established. In that situation, we would dispatch an employee with a hose reel to water that area specifically. This prevents the rest of the green from being over-watered in order to provide the area of sod with adequate water.



Copper coloured disease discoloration



As usual in Alberta, the spring weather is always changing and is difficult for educated weather forecasters to predict, let alone a turfgrass professional. The cool, humid conditions we have been experiencing for an extended period of time bring a high level of disease pressure. We have completed one application of a systemic fungicide on both the greens and the tees. We have seen good control so far but because the weather conditions are favourable for disease development some symptoms have started to appear on some small areas of a few greens. We have prioritized the identification of the disease in order to treat it appropriately.



 As always, please feel free to leave a comment or email us with any questions or concerns. See you on the course!