Belle Haven Country Club Agronomy

  Bermuda Grass Eradication Program On Monday, we completed the first round of Roundup/Fusilade applications using our larger GPS-guided sprayer. In total, approximately 9 acres were treated, including 6 acres of fairways and 2 acres of rough. Initial signs of the treatment appeared on Tuesday, with more pronounced browning visible by Wednesday. Several of the rough areas treated are part of the ongoing bunker renovation project. Additionally, the large area between the 9th tee and approach—historically a persistent Bermuda grass problem—presented an ideal opportunity for targeted control during this phase of work. We are also treating select native grass areas that will be reseeded later this fall. The next herbicide application is scheduled for the week of August 10, coinciding with the course closure for aerification. 1 fairway starting to die 2 days after application.  The areas that are yellow is Bermuda grass. Below are responses to some of the common questions w...

  Agronomy Update — July 10, 2026 Bermuda Grass Eradication Program This week’s milder weather provided a welcome reprieve from the extreme heat experienced over the Fourth of July weekend. However, the changing forecast required us to adjust our Bermuda grass eradication schedule. With rain expected early in the week, we modified our plans to eliminate any risk of herbicide movement into non-target areas. As a result, no Roundup or Fusilade applications were made on Monday. On Tuesday, the team shifted focus to bunker areas, where applications of Roundup and Fusilade were made to address Bermuda grass encroachment. By Wednesday, with weather conditions still somewhat uncertain, efforts transitioned to smaller, isolated areas within the fairways using backpack sprayers. Over the course of the day, two crew members applied 55 tanks across approximately 2 acres, totaling 16 man-hours of detailed, targeted application. Aiden backpack spraying Bermuda grass spots in fairways ...

  Agronomy Update — July 4, 2026 Course Operations Happy Fourth of July! We hope everyone enjoyed the fireworks display at the club last night. Early this morning, our team returned to remove all fencing and thoroughly clean up debris from the event. This process requires a crew of four to dismantle and store the fencing materials, along with a team of five dedicated to collecting debris from greens and tees. Extra care is taken to remove all materials used in the display, as any remaining residue (Sulfur, Magnesium, Iron sulfate) can damage or kill turf if left behind. As temperatures rise, we make seasonal adjustments to our mowing practices to protect the greens. One key change is switching the front roller on our greens mowers from a grooved (Wiley) roller to a smooth roller. The grooved roller is more aggressive and allows for a lower height of cut, while the smooth roller increases the effective height of cut by approximately 0.05 inches. This slightly higher cut, combi...

  Agronomy Update — June 26, 2026 Course Operations This week, we applied a wetting agent to the greens, tees, and fairways. Wetting agents improve water infiltration and promote more uniform moisture distribution throughout the soil profile. In addition, we aerified the tees using solid tines to enhance surface permeability. As part of this effort, we also applied 2.5 tons of gypsum across the greens, tees, and fairways. These practices are specifically aimed at mitigating the negative effects of our well water. During dry periods, we rely more heavily on well water for irrigation, which contains elevated levels of sodium bicarbonate. Over time, this can cause the soil to seal, restricting both water movement and air exchange. The combination of wetting agents, aerification, and gypsum helps counteract these effects and improve overall soil health. Laz aerifing tees on Tuesday.  Our irrigation team has also been actively addressing system maintenance, including repair...

  Agronomy Update — June 19, 2026 Course Operations This week, we applied a preventive fungicide to 24 acres of fairways and tees to help protect against common summer turf diseases. Throughout the season, our short grass areas are treated every 14 days, while greens are maintained on a 10–14 day schedule, depending on weather conditions. With the recent heat and dry weather, a significant part of our focus has been hand-watering key areas across the course. Typically, 6–8 team members are out daily ensuring turf stays healthy and stress-free during these warmer stretches. We’ve also been working to improve course visibility and overall aesthetics. Tall weeds have been cleared to the left of the 16th green, behind the 15th green, and along the wetland right of the 4th tee, opening up better views of the ponds, river, and creek. Ongoing maintenance continues with edging cart paths and bunkers, along with filling divots on tees and fairways to keep playing conditions consis...

  Agronomy Update — June 12, 2026 Course Operations This week, we treated 68 acres of rough with a preventive insecticide targeting white grubs, along with a wetting agent to improve water infiltration. The GPS map below outlines the treated areas. Greens were sprayed on Monday with a preventive fungicide and received a light fertilizer application. The Gps sprayer map after rough spray What the operator sees on the GPS sprayer. On Hole 16, cart restrictions were adjusted to better manage traffic on the back half of the fairway, beginning near the second set of bunkers approaching the green. This change is intended to reduce stress on newly established turf. We will continue to monitor conditions and adjust as needed. On Thursday, a specialized contractor completed our annual irrigation pump system inspection. This included both the intake screen—located in the center of the No. 6 lake—and the wet well inside the pump house adjacent to the same pond. The lake intake scree...