Agronomy Department and Course Weekly Update

March 22, 2016

Medalist is going full bore on #16 this week and has already shaped in the greenside bunkers. Billy Fuller is scheduled for a site visit on the 24^th and will make any necessary changes to the shaping, once approved they will begin installing drainage, gravel and sand. If the weather continues to hold true they should have #16 completed late next week.

It is late March and Fairways (.450), Approaches (.450), Roughs (1.25”) and Tees (.400) have all been mown for the first time during 2016. Everything is starting to come to life: Dogwoods, Azaleas, Camellias, Cherries and Redbuds are all blooming.  It is hard to believe its only 15 days until they tee off at Augusta!! Golf season always seems to come quick in Atlanta; during the off season we trained hard on staff etiquette and paying attention to the fine details.  I know the team is ready to provide the membership with a great season.

If you notice blue dye on the tee boxes this week, we are spraying the Zeon Zoysia that has been contaminated with Bermuda grass. This won’t be a one shot kill, it will take all summer (approx. 6 applications) to weaken the Bermuda to the point the Zeon will overtake the area. We will see some discoloration but the end result will produce a better mono-stand of turfgrass and a better teeing experience (if possible!!)

The last item to mention is that we are done with the cup liners until next winter, we have already begun painting the cups on the course!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at kmacdonald@valleycrest.com and for more information and plenty of pictures and videos follow us on Twitter @stivescc_vcsup and the Blog: http://vcgmstivescountryclub.blogspot.com/

See you on the course,

Kyle Macdonald, GCS, Class A