3 minute read
GREENS REPORT
by Mirabel
Jeff Goren, CGCS Director of Golf Course Operations
Our goal as the Golf Course Maintenance Team is “to provide the Members of Mirabel and their guests with a world-class golf experience.” This lofty goal is a challenge and takes a year-round commitment from our entire team to reach. Over the past few months, the course has received high praise from Members and guests. I believe the Golf Course Maintenance Team has reached their goal! Their efforts throughout the year, and in particular many of the arduous agronomic tasks handled in the summer months, culminate every spring with some of the finest course conditions in the country. My Team deserves all the credit, and I am so appreciative of all that they do on a daily basis.
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Those of you who are in town are well aware that we recently aerated our greens. They have not fully recovered from their annual deep drill and currently are a little sandy. Once again, the greens were drilled to a depth of about 12” with a 5/8”drill bit. This annual procedure has proven to be very successful here at Mirabel. This process and timing of this event are critical for our greens to develop an extensive root structure while soil temperatures are ideal for root growth. This is critical for summer survival in our excessive heat. The greens should recover in about 14 days and provide an excellent putting surface. The next greens aeration will occur on May 31 and June 1 with traditional core aeration, just in time for the summer heat!
As we have seen, the Bermudagrass in the rough is starting to become active, and therefore it is time to start thinking about transition. The transition occurs every year and often is misunderstood and surprises Members. Therefore, keep an eye out for an upcoming Coffee Chat where we will discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly about transition.
In the meantime, we will be as proactive as we can in facilitating the transition from Ryegrass to Bermudagrass. We will be actively applying selective herbicides to suppress the Ryegrass throughout the next six weeks. We will also be dramatically reducing the height of the cut in the Ryegrass rough to allow sunlight to the emerging Bermudagrass.
Although we have started some of our summer cultural practices, the Golf Course is still in excellent condition for all to enjoy.
Stay Cool!
Jeff Goren, CGCS
