Course Managers Update - Around the Greens in May 2025

April started off nice and warm, hitting about 25 degrees daily. Then we had a lot of rain, with 75mm falling in the last week. We’re hoping for a few warm days to dry things up before winter kicks in.

The greens are looking great as we head into autumn. They’re rolling true and fast, averaging 9’8” in April. We’ll keep an eye on the speed during winter since the greens usually get firmer and faster. We’re also using growth regulators to keep the surfaces in top shape through the cooler months. We’re applying herbicides to the green edges to tackle Kikuyu grass and will do the same for the Couch collars. It might look a bit rough temporarily, but it’s necessary for improving the greens. A solid tine will be done soon to help with airflow. Overall, the greens are in excellent condition.

We’ve treated the tees with herbicides for Kikuyu and pre-emergent Winter grass management. The 3rd tee is struggling due to shade and wear, so we’ll move the markers forward to help it recover during the cooler months. Divot repair is ongoing but needs more attention.

Ground Pearl activity on the fairways has dropped off as the insect enters its winter stage. We can’t lay new turf now because it won’t establish well in the cold, but we’ll aerovate some patches to boost root growth. (An Aerovator is a machine used to stir and loosen the soil beneath the turf without destroying the turf.)

The fairways took a hit from the rain in April but have bounced back nicely.

Please remember to use sand from your buckets to fill any divots.

The rain affected the bunkers, but they’re recovering after draining. We’ll soon start repairs on bunker faces, especially on the right side of the 11th green. We also plan to replace sand in bunkers that drain slowly. Grass faces and edges have grown a lot due to the warm, wet weather, so we’re mowing and edging frequently.

Here’s to a cold, dry winter.

Shay Tasker

Course Manager