Belle Haven Country Club Agronomy

  Agronomy Update - August 27, 2026 Bermuda Grass Program Earlier this week, on Monday, we inspected each fairway to identify any skips in our Bermuda grass treatment. To improve visibility during application, we added green dye, which helped us clearly see the areas that were treated. Spraying Bermuda We are also beginning to see Poa germinating in some of the treated areas. This is a normal seasonal response, as Poa seed can remain viable in the soil for many years. Poa Annua Germinating This week, our turf consultant, Steve McDonald, visited to review the progress of the program so far. Based on his recommendations, we will be making a few adjustments moving forward. Our next herbicide application is scheduled for Monday, August 31, when we will treat the larger areas using our GPS sprayer. This application will consist of Roundup only, as we will be removing Fusilade from the mix. This adjustment is being made because Fusilade may interfere with sod rooting as we prepare ...

  Agronomy Update - August 20, 2026 Bermuda Grass Program This week, we continued monitoring the areas treated for Bermuda grass contamination, and we are encouraged by the progress so far. The affected spots on the greens are beginning to show clear signs of decline, which tells us the treatment is doing its job. 6 green Bermuda grass spray. Because of the 0.75 inches of rain we received on Sunday, course conditions were too wet on Monday to treat a few areas we missed last week. With improved weather in the forecast, we expect to return to those areas this coming Monday. We also met with the golf course construction project manager to discuss the upcoming fairway sodding project, which is scheduled to begin the week of September 14. As that date gets closer, we will share a more detailed schedule of the work ahead. Course Operations Ahead of Sunday's forecasted rain, we made the decision to mow fairways so we could continue lowering them back to their intended height....

  Agronomy Update - August 14, 2026 Bermuda Grass Program This week, we completed our second application of Roundup and Fusilade to fairways, roughs, and bunkers, covering a total of 13 acres. Applications began on Tuesday and wrapped up on Wednesday. To help ensure the herbicide remained in place and did not track into unintended areas, we kept all traffic off treated surfaces for 48 hours after application. By the end of that period, we were already seeing encouraging results: the bentgrass in treated areas had begun turning black, while the Bermuda grass was starting to yellow, a clear sign that the treatment is working as intended. Bermuda turning yellow 48 hours after application. We also used this opportunity to address small areas of Bermuda grass encroachment on the greens at holes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 18. While these spots were relatively minor, it made sense to address them now before they had the chance to spread further. Those areas will be repaired w...

  Agronomy Update - August 7, 2026 Bermuda Grass Program We are continuing to see Bermuda grass regrowth in the treated areas, which is exactly what we hoped to see. This is an encouraging part of the process, as the new growth will help the plant take in the next herbicide application more effectively when we treat again next week. Because of the heavy rainfall this week, those treated areas have become quite slippery. As a result, carts have not been able to scatter in fairways this week. Skid marks on treated area! You may also notice some yellowing in areas of the rough. This is a normal response to the Pylex and Turflon Ester application made two weeks ago and is an expected part of the treatment program. Bermuda grass, right side treated with Pylex/Turflon. Course Operations This week brought 2.5 inches of rain over a three-day period. With conditions so wet, we were unable to mow fairways for five days. To help reduce stress on the turf, we raised the fairway mow...

  Agronomy Update - July 24, 2026 Bermuda Grass Program We are starting to see Bermuda grass regrowth in the treated areas, which is exactly what we hoped to see. This is an important step in the process, as the new growth will help the Bermuda absorb the next herbicide application more effectively. Bermuda Grass regrowth Along with the Bermuda grass, we are also seeing some crabgrass and goosegrass in those same areas. These are summer annual grasses that we typically target with preemergent applications earlier in the spring. Goose grass germinating. You may also notice some yellowing in areas of the rough. This is a normal response to the Pylex and Turflon Ester application we made last week and is part of the treatment process. Course Operations It was a quiet week on the golf course. We were fortunate to miss the severe weather and rain on Tuesday, which allowed the staff to stay focused on hand-watering areas of the course as needed. Looking ahead, during the week...

  Agronomy Update — July 24, 2026 Bermuda Grass Eradication Program Areas that have been treated are now showing good response, with the grass turning brown as expected. We are currently waiting for regrowth of the Bermuda Grass before proceeding with the second application, which is scheduled for the week of August 10. Parts of 1 fairway dying from the herbicide application.   This week, we treated 26 acres of rough using Pylex and Turflon Ester to further suppress Bermuda encroachment. Two additional applications are planned over the next 40 days, after which we will begin reseeding the rough to restore turf quality. Course Operations Our team addressed two irrigation line breaks to the left of the 14th green this week. The first issue, a broken 2-inch tee, occurred Monday evening and was repaired by Tuesday afternoon. During that repair, a second break was discovered in a line feeding a quick coupler used for hand watering. That repair was completed on Wednes...