Summer Update

After a very dry winter and spring, we have had an abundance of rain this summer! In June we received 22.56" at Olde Florida and we are currently over 11" in July. Even with the excessive rainfall, we have had a very productive summer!

The two most significant projects we undertook this summer, the collar renovation and bunker addition are now completed. Since my earlier blog entry on the collar renovation in May, the eradicated turfgrass was removed and new TifGrand sod installed.

Removing Eradicated Sod #4

Preparing Collar for Sod

TifGrand Sod Practice Green

#3 July 22, 2017

This week our golf course contractor, Glase Golf also completed the additional bunkers on holes 4, 6, 7, 17 and 18.  They look awesome! Photos of the completed bunkers will be provided in a subsequent blog entry.

The exact location, sizes and contours of the new bunkers were determined during a site visit from Greg Muirhead, Senior Vice President at Rees Jones, Inc.  After the bunker perimeters were established a significant amount of irrigation re-routing and relocation had to take place. Our irrigation contractor, Leibold Irrigation, Inc. completed this work in late May.

Moving 6" Mainline on 18

Constructing Green-side Bunker on 17

Adding Sand to 4 Fairway Bunker

In addition to the two significant projects, my staff have also completed the routine cultural practices. Information on aerifictaion and other cultural practices can be found in my May, 2016  cultural practices blog entry. 

Fairway Aerification June, 2017 

Fairway Vertical Mowing Clean-up June, 2017 

Greens Topdressing June, 2017

If you utilize social media and would like updates on the golf course, you can find links to the Olde Florida Facebook page, as well as my Twitter, Instagram, etc accounts on my webpage. 

Darren J. Davis, CGCS

DarrenJDavis@aol.com

TifGrand Collar Renovation

This summer, in addition to the routine cultural practices (aerification, vertical mowing, etc.) we will undertake a couple of significant summer projects at Olde Florida. The first is an in-house collar renovation.

The collar renovation will be a repeat of a project we performed in 2013. In 2013, the existing 48" collar surrounding our TifEagle greens was converted to the turfgrass variety, TifGrand. TifGrand, which was released to the market in 2010, is a semi-dwarf bermudagrass with a naturally blue green leaf blade that performs exceptionally well in shade. The dense turfgrass also has a vertical blade orientation, requires less nitrogen, less water and has better cold tolerance than older bermudagrass varieties. In addition to the aesthetic value of the TifGrand collar, the collar provides a barrier/buffer between the TifEagle greens and the surrounding, more aggressive turfgrass varieties.

TifGrand collar/TifEagle green interface

Since 2013, we estimate that approximately 50% of the existing TiFGrand collars has been contaminated by the surrounding bermudagrass varieties. Therefore, it has done its job of maintaining the integrity of our TifEagle putting surfaces. Due to the contamination, it is now time to repeat the process.

Encroachment of surrounding bermudagrass into the TifGrand collar on #11 green

Encroachment of surrounding bermudagrass into the TifGrand collar on #11 green

The initial non-selective herbicide application was made to the collars on Monday, May 1. A second herbicide application will be made in approximately three weeks.

Applying a non-selective herbicide to the 48" collar on the practice green

After eradication by the herbicide, removal of the dead turfgrass will be the next step, followed by leveling the 48"swath with greensmix (sand/peat mixture). Clean TifGrand sod from Pike Creek Turf in Adel, Georgia will then be installed.

Darren J. Davis, CGCS elected vice president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

It is truly an honor and a privilege to represent the nearly 18,000 members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

1421 Research Park Drive • Lawrence, KS • 66049 • 800-472-7878

Contact: Craig Smith, Director Communications and Media Relations (P) 800-472-7878, ext. 4431 or (c)785-691-9197 csmith@gcsaa.org

Florida’s Darren Davis elected vice president of Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Davis enters sixth year on association’s board of directors.

Lawrence, Kan. (Feb. 14, 2017) – Darren J. Davis, the golf course superintendent at Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples, Fla., was elected vice president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) at the association's annual meeting, Feb. 9, 2017, in Orlando. He also serves as a member of the board of trustees for The Environmental Institute for Golf (the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA).The (GCSAA) is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to nearly 18,000 members in more than 78 countries. The board sets the strategic direction for the association as it strives to serve its members, advance the profession and enhance the growth, enjoyment and vitality of the game of golf. Davis, a certified golf course superintendent, is serving his sixth year on the GCSAA board of directors. He was first appointed to a one-year term in 2012, re-elected to two-year terms in 2013 and 2015, and elected secretary/treasurer at the 2016 annual meeting in San Diego. Before becoming superintendent at Olde Florida GC in 1992, Davis previously was an assistant superintendent at the Loxahatchee Club in Jupiter, Fla. He also served two stints at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club, the first as an apprentice superintendent in 1990 and then as the integrated pest management technician in 1991.  A 27-year GCSAA member, Davis is a past president of the Everglades GCSA, and a past president of the Florida GCSA and Florida Turfgrass Association. He is currently a director with the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation. In 2004, the FGCSA honored him with its Distinguished Service Award, and in 2011 the FTGA presented Davis with the Wreath of Grass - the association’s highest award.  A native of Tallahassee, Fla., he earned a turfgrass management certificate from Penn State University in 1991. He also obtained an associate in arts degree from Tallahassee Community College in 1987 and a bachelor of arts degree in communications from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2007.

About GCSAA and the EIFG The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to nearly 18,000 members in more than 78 countries. The association’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org or find us on  Facebook or Twitter. The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. Its mission is to foster sustainability through research, awareness, education, programs and scholarships for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game.

Olde Florida Golf Club Recognized for Environmental Excellence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- December 2016

CONTACT:  Allie Smith, Program Specialist

            (518) 767-9051, Ext. 116

            allie@auduboninternational.org

Olde Florida Golf Club Recognized for Environmental Excellence

NAPLES, FL – Originally certified in 1995, Olde Florida Golf Club has retained its designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. In 1995, Olde Florida was the 4th golf course in Florida to achieve certification and the 50th in the world.

Participation is designed to help course personnel plan, organize, implement, and document a comprehensive environmental management program and receive recognition for their efforts. To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas including: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.

"Olde Florida Golf Club has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," said Tara Donadio, Director of Cooperative Sanctuary Programs at Audubon International. 

Olde Florida Golf Club is one of 110 courses in Florida and 892 courses in the world to hold the honor. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Central America, Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program. The golf course was designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 1995. After designation, courses go through a recertification process every three years.

This year the recertification process, coordinated by Darren Davis, Golf Course Superintendent, required a visit by a third party representative. Delphine Tseng, Manager of Member Services at Audubon International, was given a tour of the course and sent her observations to Audubon International. “Olde Florida Golf Club has gone above and beyond with Audubon International’s certification program.  Mr. Davis uses every opportunity to promote the importance of wildlife habitat management,” Tseng reported. 

“We see the site visit as an important component of a course’s recertification,” stated Donadio. “It provides an objective verification of some of the more visible aspects of the course’s environmental management activities. In addition, it offers an opportunity for golf course representatives to share publicly some of the voluntary actions they have taken to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them.”

About Audubon International

Audubon International is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) environmental education organization dedicated to providing people with the education and assistance they need to practice responsible management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources. To meet this mission, the organization provides training, services, and a set of award-winning environmental education and certification programs for individuals, organizations, properties, new developments, and entire communities. 

For more information, contact Audubon International at 120 Defreest Drive, Troy, NY 12180, 1-844-767-9051, e-mail at acsp@auduboninternational.org, or visit the website at www.auduboninternational.org.                     ###

Social Media ... Changing How Society Communicates

There is no doubt "social media" has changed how society communicates today! Both the scope and pace of information dissemination are drastically different from just a few years ago. Consequently, as communication and information travel faster, the world seems to get smaller and smaller. An argument can certainly be made for this being positive, and negative. However, for many social media is a primary communication method.

if you are not a Millennial you might be thinking, "what exactly is social media? The best way to explain the term is to break it down. "Social" refers to interacting with other people by sharing and receiving information and "media" refers to an instrument of communication, such as a newspaper, television or the Internet. After breaking down the term down, a basic definition is easy to assemble.  "Social media are web-based communication tools that enable people to interact with each other by both sharing and consuming information."

Traditional or regular media is a one-way street where you simply read or watch and have minimal feedback opportunity. On the other hand, social media is Internet based and is a two-way street. Social media doesn't just give information, it allows instant interaction. The interaction can be as simple as a "like", a "share", a "retweet", or it could be in a more traditional method, a "comment"

In the golf business, prior to social media, to keep members or players informed facilities were limited to personal interaction or traditional communication methods such as a hard copy newsletter or a letter sent by U.S. Mail. Social media has drastically changed how the golf industry communicates with clients.

At Olde Florida Golf Club, I utilize numerous social media tools to keep members, players or other interested individuals informed of what is occurring on the golf course or in the industry. One method is this Blog, which I periodically post a fairly lengthy seasonal or project update. I also provide additional information through different social media outlets, often daily. Some of the social media tools that I utilize more frequently than Blogger include Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Twitter, Vine, YouTube, LinkedIn, Flickr, Google+ and Swarm. Links to all of my social media outlets can be found on my Website: https://www.darrenjdavisgcs.com

Cultural Practices at Olde Florida Golf Club

It has been an extremely productive week at Olde Florida. This was the first closed week of the summer and the golf course operations staff was busy performing the beneficial cultural practice of aerification.  

Aerification is the mechanical process of creating air space in the soil, which promotes a healthy rooting system. Turfgrass on a golf course endures significant stress and compaction from golf play and equipment traffic. Through aerification, an infusion of air, water and nutrients brings a resurgence of growth, keeping turfgrass durable during stressful conditions. While somewhat disruptive to golfers, aerification is absolutely necessary to maintain a healthy stand of turfgrass. Failure to perform sufficient aerification often results in poorly drained soil, thin turfgrass stands, and problems with disease and insects.   

Aerification of #8 fairway

Greens aerification on the short-game practice area

Aerification and topdressing are also vital in the management/reduction of thatch. Thatch is a loose, intermingled organic layer of dead and living shoots, stems and roots that develops between the turfgrass and the soil. Thatch build-up occurs when turfgrass produces organic debris faster than it can be broken down.

Thatch can be beneficial and detremintal. The detrmining factor is the amount and composition of the thatch. For example, a thin layer of thatch provides insulation against temperature extremes and fluctuations in soil moisture. Some thatch also provides the much-needed resiliency of the playing surface. However, excessive thatch causes numerous problems including poor rooting, scalping and pest problems.

Topdressing #1 green

Topdressing a tee on #5

Thatch on #8 fairway

National Golf Day 2016

Today I am in Washington D.C. to participate in the ninth annual National Golf Day, which is organized by WE ARE GOLF. WE ARE GOLF is a coalition of The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the Club Managers Association of America, the National Golf Course Owners Association, the PGA of America, the World Golf Foundation, the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the Golf Course Builders Association of America, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the National Alliance for Accessible Golf, the National Club Association, the PGA Tour, The First Tee, the United States Golf Association, and the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Council. 

Florida GCSA Past Presidents Kevin Sunderman, Greg Pheneger and I, National  Golf Day 2016

WE ARE GOLF was founded in part because it was evident the golf industry was misunderstood by many elected officials. Perceptions of the game simply did not coincide with reality. By focusing on the nearly two million Americans whose livelihoods are tied to golf, WE ARE GOLF has helped to level the playing field for the thousands of small businesses that make up the industry. As a result, golf is no longer being excluded from important legislation and our elected officials have a better understanding of the myriad of benefits the game brings to their communities.

With 2016 being an election year, it's more important than ever for the WE ARE GOLF coalition to continue to educate our nations lawmakers on golf's economic, environmental, charitable, and fitness benefits. This years event will feature special attendees Davis Love III, 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, Vice Captain Steve Stricker and LPGA legend Nancy Lopez. Throughout the day golf industry leaders will meet with members of Congress, the Executive Branch and federal agencies to discuss the game's nearly $70 billion economic impact and its nearly $4 billion annual charitable 
giving. 

Speaker of the House John Boehner and I, National Golf Day 2015