Nicklaus Course Update

With the Nicklaus course opening this Friday, it seems a good time to give an update on how we have fared through this time.  Area courses are recording some of the most challenging transition in recent years.  Several have sodded large portions of greens and fairways as extremely cool weather has provided an extended growing period for the rye and not the Bermuda.  During a recent meeting with a University Professor, he stated the Low Country to Myrtle Beach and much of the Southeast is a minimum of three weeks behind normal transition.  To put this into perspective here are a few facts comparing 2013 to 2012 and 2011 on our property:

· March’s average high was 9 degrees below normal (69 compared to 60)

· April’s average high was 5 degrees below normal (76 to 71)

· May’s average high was 6 degree below normal and only hit the normal 2 times in the entire month being 82 degrees

This type of weather pattern extended the over-seed season an additional month, allowing for deep rooting and a more established plant, outgrowing the Bermuda grass.  Early chemical applications to remove the ryegrass, or poa triv, have shown the Bermuda wasn’t ready to begin aggressively growing.  This is the reason why we postponed the Nicklaus closure by an additional week. This could not be postponed any longer due to the 4^th of July week and activities planned.  All of this has been compounded with over nine inches of rain and losing almost an entire weeks’ worth of work during the closure.  It has made it very difficult to keep things on task. 

While the wet/cool springs months made it very conducive for a difficult transition similar to the Dye greens, which has been the hardest we have had in the last decade, we would rate the Nicklaus fairways as average to slightly above average.  The hardest hit areas were on the front nine (specifically 3, 5, 6) with the driving range tee being hit the hardest, while most of the back nine has done fairly well.  There are still several areas throughout the course that are thin or look “pitted” which will continue to grow in.  Because of this, we do encourage “preferred lies” for the next few weeks as the fairways finish their recovery from transition.  Sixteen truckloads of sod were laid throughout the course, but 12 were by choice as we took the opportunity to “square up” and complete entire landing areas of holes with celebration Bermuda grass.  To put this in perspective, 28 loads were laid last summer and the course was closed for an additional week.  Additionally, by being efficient with our selection of areas to sod and the help of a little patience from the membership, over 90% of the grass installed on the fairways will be permanent if it is decided to change grasses next year or in the future.  Overall, the celebration has done quite well and noticeably exceeded the other grasses in its transition ability. (see pic)  Over the next 30 days, we will evaluate the best plan to transition the fairways over to celebration.  Both the financial and membership impact will be part of the evaluation.   

Number 11 - Left Side is Celebration, Right Side is Traditional 419

 

Other large projects completed during the closure are as followed:

· If you recall, last year we sprigged the driving range fairway and had solid results.  We attempted to use the services of another company to sprig the back driving range tee, to see their process and provide some competition, but unfortunately they were not able to stay within our time table as weather inhibited them on other projects.  We were able to obtain sprigs (2 weeks later than originally anticipated) from the original company and completed the project ourselves.  This tee will be closed until Mid-July and then a small portion of the back area will be available for lessons only.  Unfortunately, the front tee was hit hardest with transition.  We installed an entire truck load of Celebration on the very front of the front tee to provide a hitting service as the rest of the tee comes in.  We recommend that with the limited teeing area for the next few weeks, serious practice be done at the back of the Dye range.

· The team replaced two concrete trucks worth of cart path panels during the closure.  While we are still working on our “finish” work on the concrete, by performing the project “in-house” we were able to complete this work for .25 cents on the dollar compared to similar quotes.

· Drainage was installed on #2 fairway and rough area along the cart path where you exit the fairway.  This area is notorious for being wet and the new pipe and sand should aide in movement of water out of the area.

· While the word “good” comes to mind when speaking of our tees, rarely does “memorable.”  With this in mind, Tif-Grande was installed on all of the tees on #1 to experiment with a grass that is known for providing superior conditions on tees.  This will be evaluated to see if it’s a direction for Colleton in the future.  Additionally, all but the back tee on seven was grassed with Tif-Grande as it is also known for its shade tolerance.

· The third green on the Borland typically suffers from a difficult transition each year.  We have stripped off the existing grass and organic layer, tilled new greens mix back into the profile, and begun sodding it with one-half Champion and one-half Mini-Verde.  This will allow us to evaluate which is the better grass for the Borland’s future greens.

· Roots from trees have continued to grow into many fairways and greens causing many challenges with quality turf.  We have begun the selective use of root pruning to alleviate this and provide better turf quality.

Things should be back to optimum playing conditions within the next two to three weeks as things continue to fill in.  I hope thing provides some insight into what has been going on while the course is closed.