Summer Update

Over the course of every summer Olde Florida closes for five weeks so the agronomy team can perform necessary, aggressive cultural practices. The cultural practices, which include aerification, vertical mowing and topdressing are vital to help insure the turfgrass remains healthy and the golf course is in the best possible playing condition for years to come. The first closure of the 2023 summer began the day after Memorial Day and it was a WET, but ultimately productive week! 

The weather in SW Florida in the summer can be unpredictable! We are hopeful that Mother Nature will cooperate with us on our closed weeks, but last week she did not! In the first five months of the year we only had 6" of rain at Olde Florida. Thanks to Tropical Storm Arlene, last week we matched our year to date 6" with an additional 6" of rain! The rain caused several delays, but ultimately we were able to complete our desired tasks. 

The primary goals for the week were to perform a "double" Drill and Fill on the greens, a fairway topdressing and a "wall to wall" Chipco Choice application. 

This is the fourth consecutive year we have performed the Drill and Fill process on the putting surfaces. Even with frequent traditional core aeration, vertical mowing and sand topdressing, organic matter accumulates. Consequently, to extend the performance of mature greens, traditional thatch control methods can be supplemented with soil modification techniques that deposit sand completely through organic matter accumulation. One of these processes is the Drill and Fill. Click here to read a detailed report on extending the life of mature greens.

Drill and Fill, Practice Green

Drill and Fill increases soil porosity and drainage significantly more than traditional aeration due to the significant amount of sand that is delivered much deeper into the soil. When the drill bits are inserted and lifted from the subsurface, organic matter is removed from the profile leaving channels that are backfilled with dried, bagged sand. 

Last week at Olde Florida 1” drill bits were utilized to penetrate the surface of the greens to a 10” depth. The holes, which are spaced approximately 3.5" by 7" apart were then immediately filled by the machine with a total of 168 tons (336,000 pounds) of the bagged dry sand. 

Below are videos of the Drill and Fill being performed on the practice green at Olde Florida. 

Another of the primary goals for the week was topdressing all 22 acres of fairways (this included the 1 acre short-game practice fairway). 1,100 tons (2,200,000 pounds) of sand was applied by a contractor to a depth of approximately 1/3". Because of the volume the clubhouse parking lot was utilized to stage the sand. 

Clubhouse Parking Lot

Topdressing 1 fairway 

11 Fairway After Topdressing 

This is a video of the contractor topdressing 11 fairway. 

Last week Chipco Choice was also applied to the 104 acres of tees, fairways, approaches and rough on the golf course. Chipco Choice is an insecticide that is used to control mole crickets. The product is a very safe, target specific insecticide that is applied at an extremely low rate. It's slit directly into the soil/thatch by licensed contractors with certified application rigs. The product has a long soil residual that withstands the frequent rainfall in the Southeast.  

Mole crickets are a very serious pest that left untreated can do major damage to turfgrass. The insect tunnels through the soil, often close to the surface, severing grass roots and causing the earth to bulge upwards. They also eat the roots and shoots of plants where they are tunneling. Mole crickets are active year-round in Florida, but do the most damage during spring (March through June) or fall (late August to early October) when they are mostly adults.

In addition to the Drill and Fill and fairway topdressing, all of the tees, approaches and chipping areas were topdressed by Olde Florida employees. 

Note: In the picture below you can see the slits in the turfgrass where the Chipco Choice was cut into the surface.   

Topdressing 13 Tee