2021 Renovation Update #1

It's been only two weeks since the golf course was closed for play, but the progress on the renovation has been tremendous!!! 

The day after closing a cold front stalled on top of Southwest Florida. The chance for rain and a fair amount of wind delayed our second herbicide application for three days. Although it altered our schedule, it was actually a positive since it provided additional time for bermudagrass regrowth! 

My staff was able to complete the second herbicide application Thursday and Friday 4/22 and 4/23.

Second Hebicide Application on Hole 1 - 4/22

Bermudagrass Regrowth Prior to Second Herbicide Application  

During the second closed week we had three contractors on site each working on separate aspects of the project. Our main contractor, Leibold Construction is currently working on the bunker renovation. 

The first step in the bunker renovation is the removal of existing sand. After the first week the sand was removed from holes 1-10 and some of the bunkers on holes 11 and 18. We are anticipating the sand from all 148,655 square feet of our bunkers will be removed by the end of day on Wednesday 5/5. Leibold will then begin reshaping the bunkers incorporating some the original features that have been lost and begin the installation of the Better Billy Bunker system. 

I will provide more information on the Better Billy Bunker system in a future/separate blog entry 

Sand Removal 4 Green

Below is a video of sand removal on 4 green:

The contractor that performs our Drill and Fill aerification on the greens was also on site for the first three days of the second week. You may recall that last summer we did a single Drill and Fill aerification. This is a link to a blog entry I previously published on extending the performance of putting greens 

This summer, with the golf course being closed and the subsurface in need of continued modification to maintain the functionality of the USGA greens, we performed a "double". The "double" tightened the area impacted from 6" by 7" to 3" by 7". The holes are 1" in diameter and drilled to a depth of 10". Each hole was completly filled in the process with a total of 149 tons of dried, bagged sand.   

Drill and Fill on Hole 14 - 4/28

Drill and Fill on Hole 15 - 4/28

Below is a video of the Drill and Fill aerification process on our practice green:

Solitude Lake Management also had a productive week starting the installation of the Sox Erosion System around the greens complexes on holes 1 and 5. The Sox product is a bioengineered control system that halts shoreline erosion. 

In the 29 years since being constructed we have experienced a significant amount of erosion in these two areas. This process will restore the original slope and the product will prevent the areas from any future erosion. Once complete, sod is placed on top of the fabric. 

I will provide more information on the Sox system in a future/separate blog entry. 

Hole 5 - 5/1/21

The third contractor on site was Aeration Technology. They are performing a process known as fraise mowing. Seven days after the second herbicide application we began the fraise mowing. The fraise mowing is removing 1" of material, which not only removes the dead material, it also exposes rhizomes (below ground growing parts) that are still living. 

The additional sunlight and oxygen that the living plant material (rhizome) will now be exposed to will allow for increased bermudagrass regrowth prior to the third herbicide application. 

Fraise Mowing on Hole 7 - 4/29

A Living Rhizome Exposed 1" Deep After Fraise Mowing - Hole 7

Below is a video of the fraise mowing on hole 8:

My staff who were not involved in the loading of sand into the Drill and Fill machinery were doing our annual, or biennial (depending on the area) trimming of palms and oak trees. This will continue throughout the summer as time permits.

Trimming Palms and Oaks Hole 1/10 

Finally, my staff began the eradication of all "off-type" grass in the TifEagle greens. With the golf course closed for play this summer it was a perfect time to remove the small amount of invasive turfgrass.  After a week without mowing the areas could be clearly identified by their more aggressive growth habit.  

We carefully applied a non-selective herbicide to the small spots. In 30 days the areas will be retreated and a few weeks later will be plugged with TifEagle from our nursery green. The total area affected on the greens is less than 1%.

Marking Off-Type to be Eradicated on Hole 13

Marking Off-Type to be Eradicated on Hole 13