WINTER PREPARATION PART 2

 Course Shutdown Programs

Here we begin the deep tine work on all greens this season.  It has been 3 years since we deep tined all the greens so it was time to go back to this process to assist with root deepening and moisture and nutrient penetration.  Here we apply the process to #10 green

 After a full, heavy topdressing of the greens to fill the holes in completely we install protective elk fencing around all the greens.  Here #7 green recieves the treatment.

In addition to cultural programs we continue with our drainage improvement program in the fall.  Here we are using the drainage camera to scope #5 green through an access port at the front of the green.  We found a full collapse at this point and also added a vent a the back left of the green in the collar.

WILDLIFE

End of Season Elk Damage

Almost as if leaving us a big send off for the winter the elk decided to tear apart #4 fairway the second day we were officially closed for the season.  This required 6 manhours to tidy up once the frozen turf thawed enough to manipulate the remaining pieces of the Elk "jigsaw puzzle".

WEATHER

Late Season Snowfall

Late in the season if we get a snowfall the snow can take several days to melt away due to the sun angles and ambient temperatures.  Here #6 green is shown with the shorter cut turf having melted clear and the rough still holding the snow.  This is due to the fact the ground temperatures were still warm enough to melt the snow in short turf while the longer turf insulates the snow from the warmer temps.

WINTER PREPARATION

IRRIGATION SYSTEM SHUTDOWN AND BLOWOUT

Each fall we blow our irrigation system clear using compressed air.  With the warm weather we have had this September the blowout has resulted in fewer broken sprinkler heads and caps due to warmer ground and air temperatures.  Typically we can break heads and caps frequently if temperatures are cool due to the violent nature of the operation.  Here is an example of the remaining mist on green #1.  When we have completed we will have put over 50 hours of runtime on a 1600 cfm compressor and consumed over 4,000 litres of diesel.

WEATHER

GOLF COURSE FALL COLOURS

Despite late into September, most trees still have all their leaves.  The turf is holding up well and the native grasses have started to head out.  The top photo is taken from hole #11 tee and the bottom is taken from hole #10 tee.

WILDLIFE

ELK DAMAGE AND REPAIR

Elk damage in the morning to hole #5 green.  12 manhours later and the smooth surface is back.  Unfortunately the later into fall we get the less chance the turf has of mending back to health with any subsequent damage.  This was just one green to deal with on a day there was 4 greens that had varying elk traffic damage.  The photo below shows the repaired green and also a photo of hole #1 green a few days later.  All part of golf in the Canadian Rockies.

WEATHER

LATE SEASON WEATHER

We have had great weather the last part of the season.  Here is a terrific August 30th sunrise on hole #7, Pigeon Mountain in the background and an irrigation cycle finishing.  The photo was taken using a Blackberry so apologies to those photography enthusiasts who would have had been using something far more substantial.