Turf Talk with Charlie

As we come out of another cool and wet La Nina winter, things on the course are shaping up for a great golf season at Sahalee. Aerification of all turf areas was completed on the golf course(s) in March and April with great results despite battling some extremely adverse weather (see picture).

The Master Plan bunker renovation, which was completed in early spring will deliver exciting strategic changes and improved conditions in 2023 as we look forward to providing an exceptional golf experience for our members and guests this season

Bunkers Open for Play!

Following our off-season full of construction and grow in, in April the newly renovated bunkers were opened for regular play. The redesigned traps have been well received and there are a few keys that we can all apply to keep them in the best condition for both the golfers behind us as well as for golfers in years to come.

One distinct characteristic of the redesigned bunkers is the sod faces and rolled turf edges present around these hazards These features are not only aesthetic but also functional in mitigating sand contamination and slowing surface water moving into bunkers. To care for these surfaces please observe the following guidelines:

Always enter and exit bunkers from the lowest point. Some bunkers have one primary ingress/egress location, while larger traps may have multiple for access throughout the bunker. Avoid stepping directly onto the rolled sod edge when entering and exiting a bunker. Instead, use the level turf outside the bunker for footing with one’s entire foot. This is most easily achieved in the shallow entry and exit areas.

Unless necessary for the play of a shot, use walking routes away from the sod faces around bunkers. Some of these slopes are steep and present slipping hazards, and excessive foot traffic can result in damage to the newly sodded bunker banks.

New rakes are in place around all bunkers and the turf care team has applied white paint marks to indicate the best rake placements outside of bunkers and in line with play of the hole The painted marks for rake placement not only indicate position and orientation, but also signal acceptable areas for easy bunker entry and exit.

Natural Grass Range Tee and New Fairway Mats

With the natural grass range tee now open, I would like to extend a reminder of the best practice habits that will preserve this area as an excellent practice surface throughout the season. When taking divots on the practice tee, please note the below image of linear divot patterns that promote the fastest turfgrass recovery.

The natural grass range tee will be available each Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday through the season as well as for practice during SWD and SMD golf events. For those days when hitting off our artificial tee line, new fairway mats will be installed in May providing an improved practice experience throughout the week!