St John's Newsletter P1_STM75945 August 2018 Newsletter | Page 6

LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
A U G U ST 2 0 1 8
Letter From Your Superintendent
The maintenance staff has been working hard this summer on numerous course projects,
tackling some key areas of the golf course to improve.
Our nursery green is looking spectacular and has grown in well. Recently, we tested
the transplant process by replacing a small section on the 9th green. We will be closely
monitoring its recovering before moving large sections onto the putting surfaces. Once
satisfied, we will continue methodically through the course, replacing key sections of
intrusive grasses.
At the end of July, a full course aerification was completed on greens and fairways. This is
a key agronomic process to eliminate compaction, allow air and water to reach the plant
roots, and gives us an opportunity to amend soil composition through the course. We
expect to recover well in time for fall golf.
Lastly, we are very excited to be renovating our course’s
bunkers and assisting in building a new Short Game Area
and Putting Green. All projects will begin at the same time
in early August. The Short Game Area will be complete with
a pitching area, practice bunker, and varying undulation
so you may practice different types of shots. The Putting
Green will be expanded and releveled to provide more areas
for practice and consistent surfaces. All bunkers have been
identified and graded for varying levels of renovation; the
worst of which will be fully cored out and regraded before
sand is replaced. We will be using a specialized sand that will
adhere to the bunker faces better, helping to eliminate wash
outs during heavy storms.
6
Andy Maguire
Superintendent