Written by: Bennett Samowich
The future of our golf course is literally taking root! We are thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated re-planting of our greens is officially underway. Our new partners, Jimmy's Turf, have brought their expertise to begin a fascinating, multi-step renovation that will restore our greens to pristine playing condition.
This isn't just about replacing old grass; it's a meticulous process of soil rehabilitation and planting. Here’s a look at the key stages involved in transforming our course:
The Transformation Timeline: Six Steps to Stellar Greens
The work is intensive and requires precision at every stage. You'll see the crew performing these steps over the next few days as they meticulously prepare the surface for new growth.
1. Clearing the Canvas: Preparation
The crew’s first task is to ensure the new grass gets a clean start. This involves culling the existing surface—a targeted application of chemicals to eliminate not just the remaining turf, but also the stubborn weeds and harmful fungus that have compromised our greens. This step ensures a sterilized, blank slate for the new turf.
2. Building a Foundation: Soil and Sand
Next, the team focuses on rebuilding the soil profile. They begin with the first of several applications of sand, which is critical for two reasons: it immediately improves drainage and provides the ideal medium for new roots to thrive. This initial top dressing is the essential first layer of the new foundation.
3. & 4. Breathing Life into the Soil: Aeration and Spinning
This two-part process is designed to refresh and prepare the deeper soil layers.
- Aerating the Greens involves punching thousands of small, strategically placed holes a couple of inches deep into the surface.
- Spinning the Greens follows immediately after. Using a specialized drag grate (which may remind you of how a baseball diamond is smoothed), the crew breaks up the core plugs and drives the new sand material deep into those fresh holes. This dramatically improves the crucial air and water exchange needed for healthy root development.
5. The Moment of Truth: Planting the Sprigs
This is the high-energy stage where all hands are truly on deck. Dozens of bags of "sprigs” (the beginning plant growth of our new turf grass) are delivered to the course. Quite literally, the crew spreads these sprigs by hand across the green’s surface. This planting technique ensures a dense, healthy blanket of new grass will cover the green as it matures.
6. Aggressive Care: The 'Water Baby' Phase
Once the sprigs are in place, they need constant care. The process kicks off with an extremely aggressive irrigation schedule, watering for approximately three minutes every half hour. This heavy watering is vital for the first weeks, encouraging the new roots to quickly 'grab' and anchor themselves into the fresh soil medium.
What Happens Next? The 90-Day Grow-In
For the next two to three months, the crew shifts into intense nursery mode.
- They will carefully manage the demanding irrigation cycle, slowly backing off the water as the grass establishes.
- They’ll also tend to any sprigs that shift due to the heavy water volume, rain, or wind.
- During this critical time, the team must pull all weeds by hand. The young grass, which you'll often hear the crew affectionately refer to as "babies”, is still too vulnerable to handle chemical application. This is a labor of love that ensures a pure, healthy stand of turf.
To give you an insider's view, the Greens & Grounds Committee is compiling a daily photo journal of the #12 green to assemble a full time-lapse video of the entire grow-in process!
We appreciate your patience during this exciting renovation. When these greens open, they will truly be worth the wait!
We've all been patient, watching and waiting as our greens and fairways get a much-needed makeover. It’s exciting to see the fantastic progress, and we're getting closer every day to having our course back in great condition. 