Hedge Trimming Work

As I introduced yesterday, we are aggressively pruning the hedge along Dillard Road to rejuvenate the Rhododendron growing there, expose more of the stone wall and layer the Rhododendron so they aren't growing, arching towards the road.  By next next spring, new leaf buds will break on the trunks and the shrubs will fill back in as the season goes along.  Once the front is nice and dense again, we can start doing the same with the practice green side of the hedge and then ultimately the middle of the hedge.  By phasing it like this, we are minimizing the impact that the pruning has on this critical screen between the Club and the road.

This is one of those projects that has to be done or this hedge will continue to deteriorate until the point nothing can be done to salvage it.  Fortunately, Rhododendron are aggressive growers in the mountains.  I will continue to update you on this project so you're not surprised when you see it.  While it is being done with care and sharp tools, I can understand to some, that it might appear that we are being too aggressive.  That is not the case but seeing exposed and some bare Rhododendron trunks, it may seem like it will be years until these shrubs fully recover.  If you've done any aggressive pruning around your Highlands home or even watched the havoc the NCDOT does to road sides, you know they will flush back out in no time and will be far better for it.  As we work on this project, I'll admit we get some questionable facial expressions from those coming and going from the Club.  Unfortunately, like a lot of Highlands CC, this area is front and center for all to see.  Questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me!

Stone Curbing

Another project we are working on now that we have some more time due to reduced mowing is the installation of additional stone curbing.  You're aware we've been adding stone curbing to areas for the last few years, as time permits.  This year, continuing along the tee complex of #12 is our priority.  You might remember this summer, during wet periods, when some mud spots developed on the edge of the cart paths, as a result of cart tires getting off the path.  In many ways, it is unavoidable in areas but it becomes a major eye sore.  This curbing will prevent that in years to come.  Curbing is one of the primary ways to protect turf around tee and green complexes, where all carts must be on paths.  One day, I'd love to see us have every tee and green complex curbed in the same type of stone, for a uniform look.

Rhododendron Hedge Pruning

As the temperatures cool off, the grass in areas is slowing down, meaning it doesn't need to be mowed as mush as it did just a couple weeks ago.  Tasks like weed-eating creek banks, fly-mowing and push-mowing are all slowly coming to an end for the season.  This opens the door to get a lot of other projects completed that all to the wayside during a busy growing season.  We are now starting to get caught up on those kinds of job tasks.   

One example of a project is the hedge that boarders the Dillard Road and the practice green.  You can see above, the Rhododendron are growing too far out towards the road.  The historic stone wall below them is even disappearing.  If we let these Rhododendron continue to creep outward, the lower portions of the shrubs will begin to die back, making for an unattractive appearance.   Aggressive action is required.  

In the short term, the hedge may look thinner and leggy and may even draw some complaints by those who see it.  But the short term pain is better than the alternative of loosing control of the hedge.  We need to prune these Rhododendron back to the stone wall and get the Rhododendron curved back to the Clubhouse compared to curving towards the road.  These aggressive growing shrubs will break new leaf buds and throw a flush of new growth in the spring and all will be forgotten.  In less than a year, you'll be looking at a much more vibrant, healthier barrier that won't require aggressive pruning for another ten plus years.

The best part is, the wall is visible and clean of pinestraw and debris.  Now that air and sunlight can get to the bottom of the Rhododendron, we'll be planting more creeping phlox in the spring that will once again drape over the wall, creating a beautiful corridor on Dillard Road.  Incidentally, did you realize this wall (and the steps to the left of the administration building (below/next to #1 tee) are the only aspects of the original Club, from 1928, that exist today?  Many years ago I looked into the process of getting Highlands CC listed on the Dept. of the Interior's Nation Historic Landmark register.  Working with a local historian familiar with the process, it became clear that it would be a difficult process.

While there is more pruning to do at the top of the hedge, we completed approximately 30 to 40 feet of hedge today.  This process will go on for a few days as nearly all the branches are being trimmed by hand to ensure sharp, clean cuts.

Tuesday Update

Next Tuesday, October 20th, we'll be removing the trees from around the Club Lake dam.  As you've heard by now, the NC Dept. of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) and Dam Safety are requiring this work to be done because the root growth is affecting the dam structure.  In late November, we will be started the phase-2 renovations to the abutment walls on the dam.  In Mid-November, the lake level will begin to be lowered until the lake is empty.  The dam will certainly take on a different look next week but rest assured, when the work is complete, we will be implementing a dam landscape improvement project.  If you have any questions or concerns about this project, don't hesitate to reach out to me.

No one ever said eliminating Bentgrass from our roughs would be pretty!  However, this is a necessary step to maintain the nice contrast between fairway and rough through the season.  We've made two of three applications required to eradicate the Bentgrass with the third and final application occurring at the end of this week.  Over the winter, we'll re-sod these areas and with the Bentgrass dead, we won't have to worry about it returning as quickly as it would if we didn't spray it.

The ultimate end result is dead Bentgrass, like you see above.

Sunday Plans

By 2:30PM on Saturday afternoon, we received 1.75" of rain with more to come, off and on, throughout the evening.  Fortunately the wind has settled down quite a bit.  We do have a lot of leaves and debris down on the golf course and while we'll start picking up larger material on Sunday, the blowing will not happen until the golf course can dry out a little more.  Sunday morning, the game plan is to blow off all greens and tees.  No mowing will take place until Monday at the earliest after getting the course cleaned up.  The golf course will reopen Sunday morning at 9:30AM.  I've been around most of the golf course and so far, it doesn't appear that we lost a significant trees.  Thank you for your patience and understanding!

-Brian

Course Closed

The golf course is closed today (Saturday 10/10) for your safety and the health of our putting greens.

DryJect Date Postponed

Our original date for our fall greens aeration (Dryject) has been postponed until November 9th instead of November 2nd.  This allows you to have great greens for another week.  This morning, I spoke to the DryJect contractor who mentioned they had the following Monday available on their schedule, which I took advantage of.  The course will obviously remain open until after the Thanksgiving Holiday, but the greens will have some sand on them following this Dryject aeration on Monday, November 9th.

Rain the Weekend/ 7-Day Forecast

 

Looks like this weekend we'll be experiencing some rain associated with the tropical storm currently in the Gulf.  Several inches of rain could fall on Highlands.

Golf Mornings!

 

I always feel blessed and lucky to be the golf course super at Highlands CC!  There is nothing better than beautiful golf course mornings in the mountains!  I took these photos on the 2nd tee this morning as the sun started peeking through the trees...

It's a Boy!

Congratulations to Matthew Green, Highlands CC's Head Equipment Technician (and employee since 2008), on the birth of his son, Danny Green! Danny was born on October 1st and weighed 7lbs 10oz and 21” long. Mom is doing well and Sunday evening, they were released from Mission Hospital in Asheville.  Congratulations, Matthew!

USGA Green Section Record

CLICK HERE 

Click above for the latest edition of the USGA Green Section Record.

Bentgrass Encroachment

With the Men’s Member Guest Tournament behind us, we picked back up with Mesotrione applications in the rough- a chemical that selectively removes Creeping Bentgrass in stands of Kentucky Bluegrass, where the Bluegrass is the desired species of turf.  This does turn the Bentgrass a bleached white color before it starts turning brown and dies. You’ll start seeing this in the next couple days on the first few holes on the golf course. Nothing is wrong, the chemistry is doing exactly what we want it to do.  

Upcoming Maintenance

As you plan the remainder of your season at the Club, I wanted you to be aware of some maintenance occurring on the golf course.

Greens will be DryJect aerified two directions on Monday, November 2nd.  This is the same program we've done to the greens over the past 15 plus years.  No greens aeration of any kind, will be done before this process in November.  

Tees on the other hand will be aerated on October 20th.  We'll be withholding the application of sand until after we close the golf course in November.  Again, this is not a very disruptive process to the tees.  

In mid November we will be aerating approaches and also starting on roughs.  This will be accomplished as weather allows.  Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to November.

Divots

This divot, taken on the 1st fairway measured over 12" long and at a minimum 2.5" wide and an inch deep.  In short, it was a healthy piece of sod more than it was a divot.  After this golfer took this shot, the turf that was displaced landed less than 24 inches from where the shot was hit from.  Yet, the golfer still elected to fill the void with sand, rather than replace the turf.  As I walk the golf course most mornings, I find myself replacing dozens of divots everyday.  The point of this post isn't to be negative, rather to educate members on what we'd prefer you do with divots.  On Bermudagrass golf courses where divots aren't taken, filling the damaged area with sand is preferred.  On cool season grasses, replacing the divot is a must.  We don't have the luxury of the aggressive and fast, weed-like growth that southern turfgrasses, like Bermudagrass or Zoysiagrass, provide.  A divot like this won't come close to healing this year, if it's not replaced.  Please don't underestimate how much you can impact the day to day condition of the golf course by replacing divots and properly fixing ballmarks!!  You can help keep your golf course in top shape with little effort.  I'd be happy to talk more about this if you're interested in more information!  

Club Lake Dam Work

 

This afternoon, divers were in the lake, removing the old drain valve from the inside of the dam.  At this point, the new drain valve, installed last spring, is fully functional.  You can see in the photos, the diver bringing the valve to the surface.  The divers are also installing a piece of half round pipe that will prevent sediment loss when the lake is drained in November.  We are on schedule to have the dam abutment walls renovated starting in late November.  This is a 2.5 month project and should be complete by mid March, with the lake back to full capacity at that point.