Summer Update 2

The club is currently in the fourth of five week-long summer closures. While certainly not over, it has been an extremely productive summer! We are ahead of schedule having completed all of our aggressive cultural practices (aerification, vertical mowing and topdressing). In addition to the hard work by my team, we are ahead of schedule in part due to “normal” rainfall this summer. Year to date we have received 33.47” of rain. At this time last year, we had received 63.2” of rain. Twice as much! 

We are now focused on small projects, ancillary activities and beginning our detail work to be ready for the 2025/2026 winter golf season. 

Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension 

If you haven’t been to the club this summer, the first thing you will notice when you return is the progress on the Vanderbilt Beach Road extension project. With any project of this scope there have been challenges. Most GPS/directional programs have been affected, we’ve dealt with numerous road detours and other issues, but the end is in sight! Hopefully before the winter golfing season is over we will be utilizing the new road. 

The Big Cypress Canal that bordered our southern property line (#8 and #9) has been filled and shifted to the south. Our lake system was successfully connected to the new canal, which is located on the other/south side of the new six-lane road. Water exits our lake system through a 48” reinforced concrete pipe. As you can see in the pictures below, our original pipe has been connected to the same size pipe that was installed under the new road. This pipe also enables us to bring water into our lake system during the dry season. Everything is functioning perfectly. 

Canal Reconnection, May 2025

Canal Reconnection, May 2025

Drill and Fill

As reported in my inaugural summer update (click here), in addition to traditional core aeration, since 2019 we’ve hired a contractor to complete two, separate Drill and Fill processes. The Drill and Fill machine has a series of 1” bits that drill to a depth of 10” and then fill the created channel with bagged, dried sand. 

The second Drill and Fill of the summer was completed from July 21 - 25. During the process, an additional 70 pallets of bagged, kiln dried sand were deposited into the subsurface of greens #1 - #18 and the putting green. Each pallet has 56 bags weighing 50 pounds each. The total weight of the sand used in the second process is 196,000 pounds (98 tons). 

Between the two processes, 417,200 pounds (208.6 tons) of sand was deposited in the greens this summer during the Drill and Fill processes. 

SOX Erosion Control System

As part of the golf course renovation in 2021, we installed the SOX Erosion Control System to reclaim and stabilize the shoreline adjacent to #1 and #5 green (click here). These greens have significant sheet flow across their surface to a concentrated area. Both projects were successful and have performed exceptionally. This summer we repeated the process on 150’ of shoreline adjacent to #2 green.

The SOX system is a geotextile based system with a patented anchoring design used to stabilize shorelines and reclaim deteriorated or lost area and prevent future erosion. The Sox product consists of a double layer of knitted high-density polyethylene (HDPE) mesh. After being anchored, the mesh is filled with a soil mix and shaped to match, or change the slope or shape of the area. As with the areas on #1 and #5, the result on #2 lake bank is dramatic! We were able to regain over 10’ of lost shoreline! Before and after pictures are below. 

SOX Installation #2, June 2025

SOX Installation #2, June 2025

Finished Product #2, August 2025

Vertical Mowing

In addition to aerification, we have aggressively vertical mowed the tees, approaches and greens in multiple directions on several occasions throughout the summer. This process reduces thatch, firms the surface and reduces leaf-orientation.

Vertical Mowing #6 Approach and Green, July 2025

Vertical Mowing #10 Tee, July 2025

Tree Work

We continued our annual tree trimming this summer. All of the Live Oak trees in the clubhouse and incoming road have been “lifted and thinned.” We’ve also been working on the Oaks and Cabbage Palms on the golf course. We have trimmed over 2,500 Cabbage Palms this summer and should exceed 4,500 trees this year. 

Trimming Palm Trees #3 / #7 (Contractor), August 2025

Trimming Palm Trees #6 / #7 (Olde Florida Staff), August 2025

In addition, as we have done to numerous areas on the golf course (most recently #17), my team has initiated underbrush removal and cleaning of the area to the right of the landing area on #18. 

Approach Expansion

Olde Florida has three par-4 holes, #4, #7 and #14 that require a carry over rough on the approach to the green. Over the last few years we've heard a couple comments about the carry being more challenging on the longest of the three holes, #14. At the beginning of the summer we lowered the height of the rough, doubling the size of the approach on #14. 

The photo below depicts the change. The original approach is “greener” in the photo and the “less green area” is the expanded area now being managed as an approach. The change will enable the use of a less lofted club or putter if an approach shot comes up short. After a summer of aerification, vertical mowing and topdressing, the turf is consistent on the entire approach. We also expanded the approach on #4 to be consistent with #14. 

Approach Expansion #14, June 2025

Approach Expansion #4, June 2025

Drainage… Drainage… Drainage 

Sub-surface drainage is never ending! So far this year we’ve installed projects on #6, #9, #12 and #16 totaling 445 linear feet. Pictured below is a 125’ project on #12 that we completed this week. The excavated drainage trenches are 18” wide and 18” deep. 

Drainage Project #12, August 2025

Drainage Project #12, August 2025

See you soon! 

With one more closed week, and projects never ending, we are excited to continue our efforts to enhance your golfing experience. I hope you are having a great summer and we look forward to welcoming you home to Olde Florida! 

Summer Update

After a terrific winter golfing season at Olde Florida, summer arrived and that means it's "cultural practice season!” 

Each summer we schedule extended closures so we can perform the vital tasks of aerification, vertical mowing and topdressing. These are essential to insure the turfgrass remains healthy and the golf course is in the best possible condition for years to come. The cultural practices we perform this summer will be similar to most years.

We accomplish the majority of our cultural practices in the summer when our play is the slowest, but equally important, it’s the time of year when our warm season bermudagrasss is most actively growing. 

We are most aggressive with cultural practices in early to mid-summer. This is when the days are the longest. The summer solstice (longest day of the year) is June 20. We also want to perform them early in the summer in an attempt to avoid cloudy, rainy days. Weather is obviously unpredictable, but in general as summer progresses in Southwest Florida, we see an increase in cloudy weather. Clouds and rain reduce sunlight, and sunlight is essential to warm season turfgrass growth/recovery. 

Historically we also have a greater likelihood of severe weather from tropical systems or hurricanes as the summer progresses. The negative impacts from severe storms could delay or even cancel scheduled procedures. 

For turfgrass to thrive it needs sunlight, water, nutrients and air. All are critical, but the one we try to influence the most in the summer is air (in the soil). A well drained rootzone is critical for turfgrass. Aerification, vertical mowing and topdressing all help to dilute the natural occurring organic matter beneath the surface. This helps to increasing air in the soil, water infiltration rate and ultimately turfgrass rooting. The pictures below provide a visualization of what we are trying to accomplish. 

Soil Profile #8 Fairway.June 14

Soil Profile #3 Green. June, 14

In addition to traditional core aeration we perform on the greens, since 2019 we’ve hired a contractor to complete two, separate Drill and Fill processes. The Drill and Fill machine has a series of 1” bits that drill to a depth of 10” and then fill the created channel with bagged, dried “329” sand. The first Drill and Fill of the summer was completed from May 28 to May 31. During the process, 79 pallets of bagged, kiln dried sand was deposited into the subsurface of our greens. Each pallet has 56 bags weighing 50 pounds each. The total weight of the sand was 221,200 pounds (110.6 tons). 

Drill and Fill on Practice Green. May, 28

After the Drill and Fill process was completed, my staff cleaned and smoothed the surface, applied soil amendments, topdressed the surface with “304” sand and performed a 5/8” core aeration on 3” by 3” spacing. Plugs were removed and the surface cleaned and smoothed. 

Core Aeration on Practice Green. May, 29

 Practice Green on Flag Day June, 14

During this first closure we once again topdressed the fairways with 1/4” of “329” sand. The total weight of the sand was 1,760,000 pounds (880 tons). We will topdress our wetter fairways multiple times throughout the summer.

880 Tons of Sand. Clubhouse Parking Lot

Fairway Top-Dressing. Hole 16

In addition to the five, week-long closures, Olde Florida is closed for golf play each Monday from May through October. These Mondays allow us to perform additional cultural practices that generally take a single day to perform. For example, on Monday, May 19th all of the tees were aerified, and on Monday, June 9th all of the approaches/chipping areas were aerified. All of the process (soil amendments, topdressing, etc.) performed during greens aerification are replicated on tees and approaches. 

Tee Aerification, Hole 12 

I hope your summer is off to a great start! 

Annual Report to the Olde Florida Golf Club Membership

Annual Report to the Membership 

April 4, 2025

Prepared by:

Darren J. Davis, CGCS

Golf Course Superintendent

darrenjdavis@oldefloridagolfclub.com 

(239) 860-3920 - Cell

(239) 353-4441 - Office

www.DarrenJDavisGCS.com 

Weather 

We have been blessed with phenomenal weather in the 2025 winter golf season allowing my team to provide the membership with terrific golf course conditioning. This is a very welcome change from the previous year. 

Without a doubt 2024 was the most challenging year I have faced in my nearly 40 years in the industry. Last winter we experienced an extremely strong El Niño weather pattern. Due to the El Niño pattern, we experienced the cloudiest two months (December 2023 and January 2024) in over 100 years. We were additionally challenged with above average rainfall and below average temperatures in a time when our growth is the slowest and our golf play the highest.  

When sunlight and temperatures returned to normal levels in mid-February our hard work was rewarded and we finished the 2024 winter golf season extremely strong!  

The weather pattern reversed as we entered summer and we experienced a strong La Niña weather pattern. This resulted in impacts from three named storms, Debby, Helene and Milton.  In the four month period of June - September we received 73.65” of rain. The total rainfall received at Olde Florida in 2024 was 101.65”, which is close to double the historical average.

Of the three named storms Milton created the greatest challenge. Milton did not provide the beneficial flushing rain that reduces impacts from salt. After Milton moved through our area on October 9th, we went 21 days without rain and then only received .15” on October 30th. Then we only received .10” for the entire month of November.    

TifTuf

The 2021 renovation and re-grassing to TifTuf was extremely successful. When the turfgrass is receiving the climatical conditions it needs to grow, it has provided an exceptional playing surface! The goal of the 2021 renovation was 99% eradication of the existing grass, and we achieved that. However, as reported in previous annual reports, the level of purity will drop slowly each year. I would estimate that we remain approximately 94% - 95% pure TifTuf.   

Summer 

This summer we will continue similar work performed in previous years. This includes the crucial cultural practices of aerification, vertical mowing and topdressing. 

In 2023 we expanded our topdressing of tees and greens to include fairways. All 25 acres of fairways receive 1/4” of sand annually, with wetter fairways receiving additional 1/4” topdressing applications. It is a significant investment, but it results in firmer, better draining fairways.  This practice will continue this summer.

Since 2019 we have performed a minimum of two aggressive soil modification processes annually on our 33-year old greens. This summer we will once again utilize the Drill and Fill process on all greens.  The Drill and Fill machine creates a 1” by 10” channel that is completely filled with sand to provide effective channels through the root zone. 

This summer we’ll perform a reclamation project of the lake bank adjacent to 2 green with the SOX Erosion System. In 2021 we installed the product adjacent to greens  1 and 5.  The SOX product is a geotextile based system with a patented anchoring design that is used to stabilize shorelines and prevent future erosion. For more on the system you can read my blog entry on the process. 

https://darrenjdavisgcs.blogspot.com/2021/08/2021-renovation-update-6-lake-banks.html

Drainage, tree trimming and underbrush maintenance are also routine summer projects.

All of the cultural practices we perform in the summer months, when the turfgrass is most actively growing, greatly assist in winter conditioning. They are crucial to surviving challenging weather patterns. For a report on what we accomplished during the summer of 2024 visit my June 2024 blog entry: 

https://darrenjdaviscgcs.substack.com/p/its-summer-in-southwest-florida

Golf Cart Usage

I would like to thank the majority of the membership who are driving golf carts responsibly and according to club policy. As a reminder, we ask that all members and guests keep golf carts off turfgrass around tees (exiting the path after the last green and white post) and keep carts outside the green and white posts around putting greens. Your adherence to this policy will benefit your fellow member and provide the highest quality turfgrass for everyone to enjoy.  

Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension Update 

The Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension project is a 7-mile extension of the existing six lane road.  The extension begins at Collier Boulevard and it will end at 16th St. 

The project began in the fall of 2022 and at that time the county estimated the project will take approximately three years to complete. Due to the same weather challenges we faced at Olde Florida in 2024, progress was slowed. The estimated completion date has shifted from fall 2025 to spring 2026. 

The contractor, Sacyr is working hard to finish earlier, but the summer weather pattern is unpredictable. Currently, approximately 60% of the roadway is paved and Sacyr is focussed on installing all underground components of the project before the upcoming rainy season to minimize weather impacts.

While there have been some challenges for us throughout the project, due to the responsiveness of the project manager for the county and the contractor Sacyr, all issues have been addressed and handled promptly.  

It’s anticipated in June of 2025 we will be re-routed to the new east bound lane section of road just east of Collier Boulevard. This will allow for the construction of the west bound lanes in this section. The timing is dependent on work being performed by FPL. 

Our connection to the new canal has temporarily been made enabling is to utilize the new canal as water source as well as discharge if needed. The final connection will take place in a few weeks. 

The 8’ chain link fence that will border our entire property line and subsequent landscape planting can not occur until the end of the project. We are fortunate that we had the foresight to plant hundreds of cabbage palms in the narrow strip of our property to the south the berm on number 9. 

Furthermore, through negotiations with the county we are fortunate to have obtained the ability to plant and subsequently maintain a landscape barrier on county property at road elevation. This is significantly (approximately 10’) above the elevation of #9 fairway. In time this will provide a sound and visual barrier.   

For more information on the Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension project you can click here: 

https://www.colliercountyfl.gov/government/transportation-management-services/transportation-engineering-division/vanderbilt-beach-road-extension

Additional Information/Year-Round Updates

Please feel free to reach out at anytime if I can assist with anything, and if you are not already doing so, please follow the Olde Florida Facebook page and subscribe to my blog for more frequent updates on the golf course. Links to these can be found on my website:  www.DarrenJDavisGCS.com