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, combined with the gentler action of the smooth roller, helps reduce stress on the turf during the summer months.

We also want to remind everyone to apply sunscreen and insect repellent on cart paths only, and not on greens or other turf areas. These products often contain oils and chemicals that can cause significant turf damage. Recently, an application of bug spray on the front of the 9th green resulted in injury to the turf, which we are now working to repair.

If you look hard you can see the outline of feet.
This the damage from the bug spray.  

Last week, we applied a combination of Pylex and Turflon Ester to the fairways as part of our Bermuda grass control program. This treatment causes bentgrass to turn yellow and Bermuda grass to turn white, making it easier for our team to distinguish between the two. This visual differentiation will guide our targeted removal efforts in the coming week.

The white grass is Bermuda

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation in helping us maintain the highest standards for course conditions.