SUPERINTENDENT
The Superintendent ’ s Cut
The maintenance team here at LGCC has dealt with Mother Nature and her will during the month of July . At least the weather was somewhat consistent during the past few weeks . The month began hot and rainy followed by high temperatures coupled with high humidity and finished with moderate temperatures , humidity and rain . The last few days of July proved too much for the property with overly saturated conditions leaving the course cart path only for the last few days of the month .
However , through the hot , humid and rainy days the maintenance team here at LGCC persevered combined with a lack of staff to begin the month . The good news is that the team is back to a full staff and are hitting our groove during training . The weather has not done the team any favors as the wet conditions have limited the amount of mowing , most notably in the rough and fairways at the end of July . Once the ground dries up , the team will once again get all the playing surfaces mowed down to an appropriate height of cut .
During the month of July , an application of herbicide was applied to the fairways to ‘ knockdown ’ the goosegrass growing in the fairways . A side-effect of the application is that the chemical tends to bleach the bermudagrass we are currently maintaining throughout . There should be no fear , as the bermudagrass will bounce back after the second week following the application . It should be noted another application of the same herbicide will be applied again in August to ‘ knock-out ’ the goosegrass . This should leave the fairways clean of the grassy weed for our fall golfing season .
Lastly , it should be noted to all the golfers that the fall aerification has been moved up in the season and is slated to be conducted on the days of
August 16th-18th . The course will be closed during those three days and re-open on August 19th . The decision was made factoring a few issues the club has dealt with the past few years . However , this will allow the greens to heal earlier in the summer season and leave the greens untouched for the remainder of the golfing season , barring a major event which will require the greens to be aerified again . Also , conducting the process earlier in the year , should allow the maintenance team to be more aggressive with topdressing the greens , ensuring a smooth and true ball roll for the following months .
Please do your part and help our maintenance team keep the course in the best shape possible by replacing your divots and repairing your ball marks . Not only will this enhance your experience , but it will also go a long way for the golfers behind you who may find themselves with a great lie on the green only to find their lie riddled with un-repaired ball marks . Provided on the carts are bottles of sand to refill your divot and ball mark repair tools are for sale in the pro shop !
If there are any questions or concerns regarding the course , please do not hesitate to stop me when you see me around the property and ask . And as always , we are continuing to work hard in order to provide you , the members , with the best possible playing conditions in the Valley !
By :
Jake Valintino
Superintendent & Interim General Manager
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