We just received a couple new pieces of equipment that will help us continue to improve the playability and presentation of our golf courses.  The first picture is another pro force blower added to the fleet which is used for multiple things throughout the year from blowing leaves to helping with greens aerifications.  The bottom picture is that of another greens roller to help with greens smoothness and playability while providing a second benefit of increased greens speeds.  We now have the ability to actually roll greens twice as much as we did in 2012.  A third item was also purchased towards the end of the year and that was a new triplex greens mower. 

Got the water towered centered just right too!

The Driving Range opening is scheduled for this Friday, September 14th.  We have also scheduled a short ribbon cutting ceremony with board of advisers and golf committee members hitting the first shot on Thursday evening (September 13th) at 5:30.  Join us for complimentary keg beer during this time and bring your clubs as well as we will remain open on the range to all golf members until 7pm Thursday once first shot has been hit.  The Golf Course Maintenance staff is appreciative of everyone's patience during the entire construction and grow-in time that enabled us to deliver a first class practice facility.

We are currently enlarging the blue / copper and white tee boxes on the 8th hole of the Whitworth Golf Course.  These tees were severely crowned from being undersized for an iron-shot hole that par three's typically are.  The plan is to finish work this coming weekend and sod the area first part of next week.

Most of the construction to the practice facility is now complete and we are growing in the sod and newly sprigged areas.  What you can expect is two more weeks of heavy watering followed with an aggressive fertility plan to grow in these areas as quickly as possible.   

Both new chipping greens are officially being grown-in.  These greens were sprigged on Tuesday, June 26th with tifeagle bermuda grass.  The following pictures show bags that the sprigs were brought in, the actual hand sprigging, what these sprigs look like on a green afterwards, cutting the sprigs into the rootzone and the first irrigation to them.  Typically these sprigs will green up after watering, then go backwards and take on a brown tint the first several days.  However once leaf tissue forms, we will then begin the process of pushing them with nitrogen to grow these greens in as fast as possible.

The first grass is now growing at the new chipping green area.  On Friday we installed sod around the two new chipping greens.  It won't be long until first mowing to this area.

First off - The Golf Course Maintenance Staff wants to wish all participants in the Ladies Member / Guest the best of luck and nothing but “fairways and greens” during play. 

As we head into our summer months, everyone needs to be aware that protection from the sun’s intensity is extremely critical.  Several years ago I learned this the hard way on a routine check up at my doctor.  I don’t think I will ever forget when my doctor said “uh oh” on a follow up to a biopsy taken from my forehead.  All those years I spent working out in the sun and never did it occur to me that I was at risk, since I hardly ever got sunburned.  It turned out that I was very lucky as things were caught at an early stage.  Still, the fact of the matter is that skin cancer does not discriminate and we all must take measures to protect ourselves.

There are several types of skin cancer.  Basal cell carcinoma followed by squamous cell carcinoma are types referred to as non-melanoma.  Ninety percent of all skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma.  This type grows slowly and rarely spreads to other areas.  It is typically found on the head, face, neck, hands and arms but can occur anywhere.  The main cause of non-melanoma skin cancer is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources such as sunlamps or tanning beds.

Melanoma, which is less common but more deadly, is more likely to spread throughout the body.  This is a disease of pigment cells and typically occurs in the skin.  Melanoma also occurs in the eyes, digestive tract, lymph nodes or other areas where there are melanocytes.  It is one of the most commonly occurring invasive cancers affecting people of all ages and rates are increasing.

The primary way to prevent skin cancer is by reducing exposure to UV radiation.  There are several ways to do this but two that work best are wearing protective clothing such as long sleeves and hats in addition to remembering to use sunscreens.  In fact it has been proven through scientific research that daily sunscreen use is effective in protecting people from DNA damage in the skin due to UV exposure.  Clinical evidence suggests it is better to use sunscreens with both UVA and UVB protection then those with UVB alone.  UVB rays are more likely than UVA rays to cause sunburn, but UVA rays pass more deeply into the skin. 

So now that summer is upon us I would like to remind everyone to protect themselves from the sun’s intensity that a normal Texas day offers.  Drink plenty of water so you do not become dehydrated and ALWAYS remember to apply sunscreen several times to areas exposed directly to the sun’s rays.  Trust me, no one ever wants to hear the dreaded “uh oh” words.

Tim Dagg, Golf Course Superintendent.   

Back to verticutting greens.  We have begun verticutting greens again now that they have healed from aerification.  The biggest reason that we delay verticutting after aerification is that this practice brings too much of our topdressing sand used during aerification back to the surface.  Thus it becomes very difficult for the mowers to maintain a quality cut.  It is typically only delayed about 2 - 3 weeks at the most.  This year we have set a goal to maintain a more aggressive vertical mowing on a weekly basis.  Combine this practice along with routine rolling and we will achieve the quality greens that everyone desires.  This picture is of us on the 11th green of the Whitworth course yesterday and the immediate result afterwards.

I took this picture standing about a foot above what the actual elevation of the practice tee will be when done.  Our intention with changing the landing area is to help it become better defined with not only better positioned targets to hit towards but a fairway landing area as well. 

This is a picture taken Tuesday, May 8th showing grading being done to the lower chipping green area.  The white ribbon on the stake defines where a sand bunker will be constructed.  Work is really starting to take on some shape to this area and within the next few weeks we should be installing irrigation.

First week of work to practice facility - stripping tee, staking grades and stockpiling of topsoil

Driving Range Mobilization

Mobilization of equipment needed to build our new driving range has begun.  We will begin actual work on Tuesday April 24th.  On this day the driving range will close completely with estimated opening of the new range to happen first part of September.  We appreciate everyone's patience during this time.  For information on where you will be able to hit range balls just ask any of the Pro's within the golf shop. 

Practice Area Construction

Starting next week our contractor (Wadsworth Construction) will begin mobilizing their equipment and people to begin work of our new practice facility.  More news / pictures and information to follow soon!

Greens Aerification

Whitworth greens aerification is scheduled for this Tuesday 4/17 and Wednesday 4/18.  For this aerification we will utilize 3/8 inch hollow tines and topdress afterwards.  This cultural practice is critical for success and the one that is most beneficial towards overall plant health.  As always, the maintenance staff and I appreciate your patience during this necessary practice.