"That's not right"

"That's not right". I heard that exact line from a member today (Saturday) regarding how difficult it was to put spin on a wedge shot from our fairways as compared to a much newer golf course with totally different fairway grass. Now I'm a little confused here. The other course in question has a fairly pure stand of Kentucky bluegrass cut quite short and in good condition. We have fairways that are mostly annual bluegrass (Poa annua) cut quite short (1/2 inch) and in good condition (at least for how old they are and how much business they see). Is it easier to spin a ball from a fairway lie where a ball sits up due to the very upright growth habit of Kentucky bluegrass? Yes. But one should be able to do that at Highlands as well as there is very little grass getting between the club face and the ball. Maybe not on a Sunday afternoon but certainly during the week. What's not right? The fact we don't have the same fairway turf? That Highlands is about 70 years older? That conditions aren't the same at every course all things being equal? Which they certainly are not as we all know full well! That annual bluegrass isn't Kentucky bluegrass? Our fairways are not going to be mowed any shorter any time soon. We're doing what we can to improve the soil profile and we use our irrigation system correctly in order to improve the fairways. What is "not right" about different conditions? I'm not talking about drastic differences here but more subtle ones by the way. Golfing at other courses in our area is not another stop on the PGA Tour where conditions are standardized for the best players in the world.

I, for one, love going to other courses and playing in conditions that are different and maybe even better than Highlands. But before lamenting the fact we don't have this or we don't have that and somehow it's not right, all variables must be considered and appreciated. Then again enough money can change anything I guess. Although looking in my crystal ball I don't see a conversion to Kentucky bluegrass fairways in the near future.

Some might say I'm being defensive here. I'm not. I'm defending Highlands from an unfair comment. That's my nature. On the other hand if someone makes a comparison or point that has validity I will be the first one to agree. Usually. After I'm hit over the head a few times. Anyone laughing yet? Yes I can be stubborn but it is your golf course and I work for you. So say what you must but be ready for a response sometimes. Please enjoy Highlands for what it is. A pretty damn fine course in a great location that is improving year after year. My promise to you, the members, is to give you the best conditions that my budget, my staff and my expertise can deliver. Now, I'm going to go polish off a six pack of Diet Coke.

See you out there.

"That's not right"

Rough Around The Edges

I played on Saturday and there's nothing like it to really get a close look at the course. Aside from the usual divots and ball marks that I blather on about day after day and year after year the course looks very nice. A few people need to pick up their feet on the greens though. What did stand out for me was the rough. I know we have had our rough mowers out most of the time but it doesn't look like it. Now I'm asking myself what's the problem here? The weather is one of the answers. It has rained a lot and so be it. The rough has really flourished. Another reason as to why it is so thick is probably the fertilizer we applied earlier this season as well as the residual effects of fertilizing the last few years. Increased moisture and with it increased microbial activity has released locked up nutrients and boom!!! Deep green grass. Better than brown though.

The next step is to lower the height of the secondary rough mowers. Those are the big Toro 4000 and the Toro 328D's. They cut the rough in the tree lines and surrounding the fairways. You know? The area most of us spend our time in while playing golf.

Now that the Club Championship, Member Guest and the Edmonton Amateur are long over with its time to see if we can go lower without scalping too badly. The height will go from 2.5 inches to 2 inches on Monday. The height around greens will stay the same at 1.5 inches. We just need staff to drive the equipment. That is becoming an issue as well (the usual end of season routine).

I personally love the rough the way it is but I realize that a majority of the membership is having a tough time out there and I need to meet the demands of that majority. So with lower rough heights, a slowdown in the growing season and less moisture conditions should improve in the next few days. It was great while it lasted. Highlands is no pushover but the last few years made us a few strokes easier than usual. This year made up for it. Golf is a great sport and even greater when conditions change and you as a golfer have to adapt to the changes. Now, I have to go look for that Pro V that's in the rough on the right side of #10 somewhere. Later.

Summer's Almost Over. Now What?

It's the most wonderful time of the year. If you're a parent and the kids are going back to school that is. If you are a golf course superintendent its not so wonderful. The older "kids" can't get their 2 week notices in fast enough. Oh well. Its the same story every fall at most golf clubs. The good news is that there is certainly no shortage of work for the remaining staff. The same is true at Highlands. Aside from getting control of the rough and conditioning the bunkers after several Biblical rainfalls we have a few more projects lined up that will keep improving the course.

The week of August 23rd to the 27th has been scheduled for some irrigation work down the left side of the 18th fairway. What's that I hear?: "What for? Its so lush right now". The situation has been reversed in the past and we all know what a dry summer turns the course into. So lets add a fix or 2 (or more) until the irrigation system is eventually replaced. The same technique used down the right side of the 10th hole will be employed on #18. With 5 or 6 new sprinklers and the water robbing giant poplars removed this winter you had better hit it down the middle next season.

Remember Ted Locke and the Long Range Improvement Plan? I'm sure many of you were wondering if it would ever see the light of day again. Planning is underway for the renovation of the bunkers on #5. Ted will be here to meet with myself, the contractor and Ray to finalize the work that is scheduled to begin in early October. More details will follow on both my blog and through the Board. Suprised? Don't be. This project was budgeted for last winter and talked about by me throughout the golf season. That hole will go from "pretty good" to "tough" by next season. In my humble opinion anyway.

The worn out edges on greens 2, 3, 5, 7, 16 and the putting green can be attributed to three factors: too much shade, too much foot traffic and lastly, the equipment. The foot traffic cannot be changed. However steps can be taken to deal with the other 2 issues. When you have too much shade you reduce or eliminate the cause. Enough said. We all know what that holds in store for #2, #7 and #16. The equipment issue we are working on for next season (changing the mowing technique or the equipment type). As fall arrives and we raise mowing heights we will remove the worn out turf, modify the soil profile and then resod from our nursery. The foot traffic will be reduced in the fall as well so the sod will have a much better chance of surviving. The putting green on the other hand is going to be trouble. I have seen countless people standing in the worn out corner swinging a driver and twisting their feet on the green. To make matters worse it seems to be a gathering point for everyone. I might as well build a deck there. I'm not laying blame but its just our nature to hang out and chat, warm up, etc. while we wait for a tee time. I've likely done it myself too.

Oh ya. One more project. We're building a new maintenance facility this fall!!! On behalf of my staff I would like to express my sincere thank you to the membership for approving and funding this exciting project. We cant wait to see the finished product. I hope you will be at the open house to held next season. I'm sure free food and refreshments will do the trick. This is Edmonton after all. Later. Wade

Greens in a Box and other Thoughts

Greens on a golf course require a lot of "input". If you are a farmer you know what input costs are. As members you realize that a lot of work goes into preparing the greens for the winter and then getting them ready for opening day. You also see us out there verticutting, topdressing, rolling, etc. What you don't notice is what's happening below the surface after constant play, rolling and other abuses. Jamie and I do notice however. That is why the greens were sprayed with an innovative wetting agent and then mini tine aerated immediately following. Simply stated: water was not moving down to the roots and it was powder dry underneath the turf in many areas. A biological change was in motion and I took steps to stop it. Did it cause everyone grief? Yes. Was there little lead time to notify the membership? Yes. Were the greens ready for the Club Championship? Yes. Are we the only course that disrupts the golf season on occasion in order to solve a problem? Of course not. It just seems that way because you aren't playing those other courses all the time. I may be coming off a little abrasive here but I am only concerned with giving you the best conditions that time, budget, weather and my knowledge can deliver. A golf course green is not like an iMac. You don't just open the box, plug it in and run it 24/7 with no problems (sorry pc users).

About 6 years ago I thought we had seen the storm of the century when the parking lot flooded and the hillside ended up on the 9th green. Well Monday night came close to matching that storm. Fortunately we had taken steps to mitigate damage from future storms. The drain line behind the curbing worked (to a point) until it was overwhelmed. I know because all the runoff ended up on the 18th green. The waterfall area hung in there with some damage behind the 1st tee (my staff had it repaired in 2 hours). The wood chips washed out on the clubhouse slope. Again my staff had the area cleaned up by noon. The amount of water on the course was shocking but it has almost drained away except for the usual areas. The bunkers were wiped out but they should be pumped out and adjusted shortly. I'm betting many of you have no idea how severe the storm was and were suprised we were closed for awile on Tuesday. My staff pulled off a minor miracle in cleaning up the mess especially the disgusting "runoff" from the sewer blowouts on #9 and #4. Compared to the wind storm this was almost a relief! My thanks to my staff. We are now off to our own staff tourney at Pioneer Meadows today. Maybe they were motivated to work like dogs yesterday as I had told them we would likely delay the staff bash for a week in order to make sure the course was ready for Friday. I felt awful but they understood. A little bird told me they had their own private discussion afterwards and took matters up a notch. They made Jamie and I very happy. See you later.