Rolling Road GC Golf Course Management

  Last couple days of February and the start of a new month.  This week the weather was up and down.  We had a touch of spring temperatures then a cold front moved through bringing back some colder temperatures.  Our team was busy this week starting to clean up from all the winter projects.   With the warmer temperatures at the start of the week the crew mowed all short grass areas before our first spray of 2024. After the short grass areas were cut, we were able to spray greens, tees and fairways for the first time this season.  The spray was targeted for Poa-Annua seed head control. The reason for keeping the seed heads under control is for a better and more consistent playing surface.  Also, preventing the grass plant from producing its seed head will make the plant stronger for the summer months.   This week the team continued working on stump holes.  They topped off the stump holes with fresh topsoil and started sodding some areas.  Over the next couple weeks we will continue to p

  Last full week of February.  We did receive another shot of snow last weekend.  It wasn't the full amount they were calling for but still made the course beautiful.  The maintenance team was in full swing again this week finishing up some projects around the course and starting some new ones.   Here are a couple more pictures from around the course.   The team started off the week filling in stump holes around the course.  We used the material that was left over from last winter's stump grindings.  This material was stockpiled in the shop area and left to sit for a whole year to decompose.  We were skeptical on how this would work out but we were very happy with the results.  Using this material to fill stump holes prevented us from having to purchase top soil and saved us over $4,000.   The annual Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents Education Seminar was held this week.  On Tuesday I attended this event with over 100 other Golf Course Supers, Assistants a

  It was a beautiful first full week of February.  Frosty mornings and mild afternoons was the story this week.  Our maintenance team hit the ground running this week.  The team started off the week tackling the irrigation expansion on hole 18.  This area has never had irrigation, and with the addition of heavy cart traffic this area was always the first one to show summer stress.  Just in this area alone we would spend 12+ hours a week watering with hoses and portable sprinkler heads.  With the addition of 4 sprinkler heads, over 300 feet of pipe and wire, we should be able to almost eliminate all hand watering.     Now that ground conditions are right we were able to get the root pruner back out this week.  Pruning tree roots helps reduce the competition for water and nutrients between trees and turf-grass, leading to healthier turf and better playing conditions.   Our team of equipment managers continued servicing mowers and carts this week, ensuring that all equipment will be ready

  Last couple days of January and start to a new month.  We finally got a couple days in a row of no rain or snow this week.  Weather this week started off cold and cloudy with the sun coming out on Thursday.  The maintenance team continues to be productive with another great week.   We started off the week by finishing cutting down stumps on holes 11, 12 and 13.  Also, the team finished off clearing and cleaning up the area left of the 6th tee box.   The stump grinder showed back up Monday and hit it hard this week.  By week's end we should be close to completion.  Once completed we will start the process of cleaning up the grindings and back-filling with fresh top-soil.   While the team is waiting on stump grinding to be completed they switched gears and started on some irrigation expansions.  We have 4 areas we will be focusing on this winter.  Hole #8 green surround which was completed on Tuesday, right side of the 2nd fairway in anticipation of expanding the fairway, and the r