Annual Report to the Olde Florida Golf Club Membership

Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension Update 

The Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension project is an approximately 7-mile extension of the existing six lane road.  The extension will begin to the west at Collier Boulevard and it will end to the east at 16th ST NE. The county reports the project will take approximately three years to complete. The project began in the fall of 2022.  

What we will see over the next 6-months is more of we are currently experiencing. Clearing and organic debris removal will continue, but there should be no more burning. The contractor will also continue to dig the new Big Cypress Canal. It’s a slow process since the county is not allowing any blasting to breakup the subsurface limestone. 

The original plan was to start road construction (paving) on the west end at Collier Boulevard. The section between Collier Boulevard and our southeastern property line (8 tee) is the most complicated section. For one reason the contractor will have to connect all existing drainage that currently exists into the existing Big Cypress Canal into the new canal. This has to take place prior to filling in the existing canal.

Due to some challenges (environmental and the complexity of the construction at the west end) the county and contractor made the decision to start road construction at the east end. What that means for us is we won’t see the existing canal filled in until next winter. Beginning around January of 2024. 

We will probably see some road construction at the end of 2024. So the next winter golf season (2023/2024) will be similar to this one. The following season (2024/2025) paving at our end will be occurring and if they stay on schedule the project should be complete in the fall 2025 (the start of the 2025/2026) season. Unfortunately the 8’ chain link fence and plantings on our southern property line will not be complete until the end of the project.  

Golf Course Update 

We had another warm winter, due in part to the La Niña weather pattern that has been in place over the last three seasons. Numerous heat records were set this winter. The weather was great for turfgrass growth and recovery, with the only challenge being green speed. With growth regulation and other processes we have provided very good green speed. We check soil moisture with a digital sensor and green speed on two greens daily. The average green speed since January 1 has been 11”6”

Sunrise - Hole 10

It has been very dry this winter and spring. In fact, since January 1 we have had only 1.18” of rain. The average for this three-month period is 6.63” The average annual rainfall for Southwest Florida is just under 60”

Hand-watering in the rough - Hole 1 

Purity of the existing TifTuf turfgrass remains very high. The goal had been 99% eradication for the 2021 renovation. We achieved that and maintained that percentage last winter. As the 2022/2023 winter golf season progressed we have maintained approximately 98-99% purity, but in time that will continue drop. 

Practice Green - December 21, 2023

The nesting program at Olde Florida continues to be a huge success. This year three screech owls utilized our nesting boxes and had a combined nine fledglings. 

"Ginger" and her fledglings - 5 Green

 

Year in Review: 2022 in Photographs

As many do, I take the holiday season to reflect on life and things experienced over the last year. This blog entry provides an Olde Florida Golf Club, "Year in Review" through photographs. 

A greens foliar application   1/19/22

LED light towers, practice green   1/25/22

An employee wearing an LED headband while operating
the Hydroject on the practice green   12/23/22

The agronomy staff begins work each morning at 6:00 a.m., with the exception of tournament days when the start time is as early as 4:00 a.m.. Most of the equipment at Olde Florida is outfitted with lights and employees are assigned LED headbands when needed.

 

When a greens foliar application of nutrients or a plant protectant is made portable LED light towers are also utilized. 

An American Alligator crossing 10 fairway   5/9/22

An Eastern Screech Owl with two eggs in her box
behind #12 tee   4/19/22

Olde Florida has an abundance of wildlife that reside on and around the golf course.  

I am particularly pleased with the increase in our bird population. Since 2013 Olde Florida has worked with an ornithologist, Brian Beckner, Founder of Native Bird Boxes, Inc, to provide increased nesting opportunities for a variety of species. Though provided nesting structures, in particular, the Eastern Screech Owl and Purple Martin populations have soared.  In 2022 Olde Florida fledged 9 Screech Owls and 82 Purple Martins. 

Hole 1   10/24/22

 

Hole 4   3/12/22

    

4 green 12/12/22

A modern, computerized irrigation system is instrumental in producing healthy turfgrass and a quality playing surface at Olde Florida. 

The water coming out of the 1,253 Toro "Infinity" series heads is also very majestic!

Frost on #1   1/31/22 

The winter of 2022 (both early, and at year end) was mild although Olde Florida did receive a significant frost on January 31. 

Fairway #12
Member/Guest Invitational Week   2/19/22  

 

Olde Florida Logo on #1
Member/Guest Invitational Week   2/20/22

The annual Member/Guest Invitational is always a speacial week at Olde Florida Golf Cub

Sunrise, #1   3/5/22

Sunrise, Hole 10   10/12/22

Sunrise, Holes 1/10   12/13/22

A sunrise is Nature telling you that it's time to cherish another day on Earth, and the opening hole of both nines at Olde Florida are a great place to start the day.

Drill & Fill, practice green   6/1/22 

 

DryJect   10/4/22 

Drill & Fill (circle in bottom) DryJect (sides)

Solid tine aeration, Hole 1   5/23/22

The summer months are when the agronomy staff performs various cultural practices, such as Drill & Fill and DryJect on the greens. 

Solid tine aeration was also performed on the entire golf course several times.

 

Practice green/clubhouse   9/30/22

Hurricane Ian, one of the strongest landfalling hurricanes in U.S. history powered ashore in Southwest Florida on September 28th as a category 4 storm with 150 mph winds and a devastating coastal storm surge. 

Fortunately the only impact to Olde Florida was wind damage to trees and scattered debris that took the agronomy staff numerous days to clean. 

Vertical-grooming, 16 green   12/7/22

Vertical-grooming, 16 green   12/7/22

Due to a La Niña weather pattern in December, Olde Florida experienced numerous record high temperature days. The heat and humidity were terrific for turfgrass growth. 

To increase green speed the agronomy staff "vertical-groomed" the putting surfaces throughout the month. Vertical-grooming removes leaf tissue and decreases leaf orientation increasing smoothness, trueness and the speed of the putting surfaces. 

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that you enjoyed this "Year in Review" through photographs.  

Here's hoping that 2023 provides a terrific year for you, your family and of course for your golf game!  
 

The Winter Solstice

Today is December 21... and all golf course superintendents in the south are keenly aware of the importance of this day. It means the winter solstice has arrived! This is a key date for those of us living in the northern hemisphere because it marks the shortest day of the year. 

The winter solstice is when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, or 23.5 south latitude, which is the day when the sun rises and sets to our south at the lowest angle. Because the earth orbits around the sun on a tilted axis, between September and March the entire northern hemisphere gets less exposure to sunlight. It’s also not surprising that these months coincide with the seasonal influx of residents to Southwest Florida, and golf play is at its peak. 

So why is this important to a golf course superintendent? In basic terms, for turfgrass to thrive it needs sunlight, water, air and nutrients. Of these needs, the one that is least in a golf course superintendents control is sunlight. This is why an understanding of the earths rotation and the winter solstice is vital. Also influenced by the angle of the sun are air and soil temperature. Bermudagrass, the turfgrass that comprises the playing surfaces at Olde Florida, is a warm season turfgrass. Warm season grasses grow best when the average daily temperatures are above  75°F.  In addition, soil temperature, as influenced by air temperature is also important to the growth of bermudagrass. Soil temperatures above 65°F are required for significant growth, and the optimum soil temperature for root growth is around 80°F. 

Since the duration and intensity of the sun's rays (and air and soil temperature) is out of our control, it is extremely important to have plant health peaking on this day and then do everything in our control to maintain plant health for the next 60 days or so. By March, the nighttime temperatures have increased, the sun is high enough in the sky and  the days are long enough that sunlight essentially becomes a non-factor.

December 2022

Holes 8 and 9 are the southernmost holes at Olde Florida. Both play from east to west, so on December 21 the sun rises to the southeast of  8 and 9 tee and it sets to the southwest of  9 green.  

Tomorrow, the day AFTER the winter solstice, the sunrise and the angle of the sun will slowly begin to shift to the north. This will bring a little more sunlight to our turfgrass each day! 

Practice Makes Perfect

Olde Florida Golf Club is a true golf club. Our primary amenity is the golf course and practice facility. 

With that in mind, in 2015 when tasked with redesigning and rebuilding the practice facility, considerable thought went into not only the design, but also the size of the teeing area and the short game practice area. By all accounts what we created was exceptional. 

However, regardless of the amount of teeing area, golfers can help maximize the use of the practice tee and short-game area by considering the impact of their divot pattern. This is important year round, but even more essential in the winter. 

The winter is our busiest time of the year for golf. It's also the time that turfgrass growth is slowest! Turfgrass growth (and divot recovery) is slowed due to shorter days, the lower angle of the sun and reduced air and soil temperature. With this said, members and their guests can help fellow golfers and the agronomy staff by considering the impact of their divot pattern. 

Taking divots in a linear pattern, instead of a concentrated or scattered pattern damages a smaller area of turf and helps the practice tee recover faster. 

Here are a few tips provided by the United States Golf Association (USGA) that can help golfers use the linear method to minimize practice tee damage:  

1.    Once the first divot is taken, the next ball should be placed in the healthy turf directly behind the initial divot (1/2 to 1" behind the previous divot).

2.    A total of 15-20 shots/divots can typically be taken before it's necessary to create a new line of divots alongside the first line. 

3.    The next line of divots should be taken approximately 4" to the side of the initial line. Getting the lines any closer will remove too much turf and recovery will be slowed. 

4.    Golfers who "cut across" the ball can still use the linear pattern. The line may not be perfectly straight, but any linear pattern is better than the alternatives. 

Understanding the agronomic reasons of why the linear method is superior is fairly easy to explain. 

Our hybrid bermudagrass (TifTuf) is not viable by seed. Therefore, we can't add a "soil/seed mixture" to regrow the turf. In bermudagrass the majority of the recuperative growth is lateral, moving in from each side of the divot. This is why the linear pattern will recover quicker than a concentrated pattern. 

Hurricane Ian, A Deadly and Destructive Storm

Hurricane Ian was a deadly and destructive category 4 hurricane that caused widespread damage across the southeast United States, especially in Florida. Ian originated from a tropical wave east of the Windward Islands on September 19, 2022. The wave strengthened to a tropical storm in the Caribbean, before rapidly intensifying to a hurricane as it made landfall in western Cuba. The storm slightly weakened over land, but re-strengthened once it moved into the Gulf of Mexico. 

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida on Wednesday, September 28 as a very strong category 4, tying with several other storms as the 5th-strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the United States. Ian caused catastrophic damage in parts of Southwest Florida, mostly from flooding due to extreme storm surge and rainfall. All of Southwest Florida was impacted, in particular the areas along the coastline in Collier and Lee County were devastated. Millions were left without power in the storm's wake and the cleanup will take months and rebuilding in some areas will take years. 

The Track of Ian

While there is never a good time for a hurricane, the timing of Ian was particularly bad for Olde Florida. Last week was the last scheduled closed week of the summer, in addition we had already received just shy of 13" of rain in the month of September. We had several projects and numerous tasks that needed to be completed during the week in preparation for the upcoming winter golf season that could not be accomplished. 

Obviously Ian required us to change our agronomic plans and the staff worked diligently on Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 26/27) to prepare the golf course and the buildings for the storm before returning to their own homes Tuesday night to prepare for Wednesday's landfall. 

The staff was asked to remain home on Thursday to asses their own personal situation and I inspected the golf course  and the buildings. I also needed to make a determination on the safety of travel for my team. Fortunately, all of my staff are okay and they have homes to return to at night. 

Friday, September 30, 2022

After the storm passed and the roads were safe, beginning Friday, September 30 my team, along with a half dozen temporary staff have worked daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. cleaning up debris and repairing damage to the golf course. That schedule will remain in place this week. Several of my team are still without power, but they have been at work each day and remain in good spirts!  

All three of our rain guages were destroyed during the hurricane, but we estimate Olde Florida received approximately 9" of rainfall. By the end of today, Monday, October 3 we are hopeful the water will have receded into the lakes and all turfgrass will be accessible. We are confident that we will have no turfgrass loss. 

September 2022 was one of the wettest on record. As I previously wrote, prior to Hurricane Ian we had received just shy of 13" at Olde Florida, with the rainfall from Ian, the total for the month of September was 22". Year to date we have received 82.85" of rain. This significantly exceeds the average yearly rainfall in Naples, which is 55.64". 

By the end of the day today, most of the turfgrass will be clear of debris, but much work remains to remove the debris along the edges of golf holes and repair the cart paths. 

On a positive note, the Better Billy Bunker system that was installed during the 2021 golf course renovation performed phenomenally.  Other than debris removal, bunker repair will be minimal and no sand replacement will be necessary. Having the Better Billy Bunker System in place not only saved us hundreds of hours of labor to repair bunkers, it also protected the stability of the bunker faces. A detailed report on the Olde Florida Better Billy Bunker renovation can be found by clicking here.

Hole 3 after debris removal and NO sand repair or replacement 
 

We were scheduled to perform our last greens aerification (DryJect) last Thursday, September, 29. Unfortunately, we were forced to postpone this. Prior to the storms landfall on Wednesday, we had tentatively re-scheduled it for Friday, or if needed Saturday, October, 1. However, the personal home of the Southwest Florida DryJect franchise owner/operator was flooded by the storm surge and is inhabitable. In addition, several of his staff were in similar situations. He is busy handling his personal affairs and could not complete the process. 

Fortunately, I was able to secure the services of the Southeast Florida DryJect franchise owner. They will arrive in Southwest Florida tonight and will begin the process tomorrow, Tuesday, October 4.

DryJect (last year) September 27, 2021

To understand the necessity of the annual DryJect aerification process you can click this link.

We appreciate the patience of the Olde Florida membership and we are confident that we will have the golf course in great shape and open for play on Friday, October 7th.        

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program at Olde Florida Golf Club

Olde Florida Golf Club Recognized for Environmental Excellence

Naples, Florida - 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, under the guidance of Darren J. Davis, Certified Golf Course Superintendent, Olde Florida was the 4th golf course in Florida, and the 50th in the world to achieve certification. After designation, courses go through a recertification process every three years.

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 Christine Kane, CEO at Audubon International. 

This year the recertification process required a visit by a third party. Brian Beckner, Founder Native Bird Boxes, Inc, was given a tour of the course by Davis and sent his observations to Audubon International. “Olde Florida has gone above and beyond with Audubon Internationals certification program. Mr. Davis uses every opportunity to promote the importance of wildlife habitat management,” Beckner reported.  

“We see the site visit as an important component of a course’s recertification,” stated Kane. “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 behind the scenes to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them.”

Olde Florida Golf Club is one of over 900 courses in the world to hold certification from Audubon International. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Central America, Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program. 

                                                                                              

In 2020 Olde Florida Golf Club celebrated its 25th anniversary as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, a program established and administered by 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 on the program you can contact Audubon International at 120 Defreest Drive, Troy, NY 12180, 1-844-767-9051, e-mail at acsp@auduboninternational.org, or visit the Audubon International website.

The Great, Great Crested Flycatcher

On a routine golf course inspection this morning, out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a bird peeking out of a previously unoccupied Screech Owl nesting box. With all but two of this years Screech Owl hatchlings fledged and moved away, I was curious who was inside the box. As I approached a Great Crested Flycatcher flew away. Upon inspection inside the box my identification was confirmed by the very unique nest inside. 

The Great Crested Flycatcher is easily identifiable by the unique nest construction and the eggs. Our ornithologist, Brain Beckner, Founder of Native Bird Boxes, Inc, had shown me a nest a few years ago. A very interesting aspect of the nest is that it usually includes a piece of snake skin lining. The snake skin lining is brought into the nest by the flycatcher as a natural predatory defense mechanism. 

A Great Crested Flycatcher nest at Olde Florida 

Both sexes help build the nest. They carry in large amounts of material, to bring the nests level close to the entrance.  The flycatcher nest seen in the picture was constructed on top of previously placed nesting material placed in the box by Beckner to encourage nesting by a Screech Owl. The flycatcher nest is made of grass, weeds, strips of bark, feathers, or other debris, lined with finer materials such as pine needles. 

The Great Crested Flycatcher usually lays five eggs that are creamy white and marked with brown, olive, lavender. Incubation is by female (13-15 days), but both parents bring food for nestlings. The age of the young at first flight is about 12-18 days. The male defends nesting territory with loud calls, sometimes by fighting with other males. Nest sites are usually in the hole of a tree, either natural cavity or old woodpecker hole, but the flycatcher will also nest in artificial sites. 

 
The species is known to forage by flying out from a perch to catch insects. They often hover momentarily while taking insects from foliage or twigs, or may catch them in mid-air. 

To see, and hear a Great Crested Flycatcher you can click this Link.

Screech Owl Box, 14 Green