HGCC In The Know: Fall Update

A long, dry, and challenging season has come to conclusion...but the course could not be in better condition heading into Winter. We have taken advantage of the warm dry fall to restore the back 2 tee boxes on hole 16, reclaim 2,000 sq ft of putting surface on 2, 6, and 13 greens, and make turf surface repairs to the range tees in an effort to begin 2023 with good turf cover. Irrigation improvements will occur on the tees over winter to provide us the tools to better grow in new, viable turf during the playing season. A practice tee is a major challenge, especially with current usage. Major improvements to bring the practice facilities up to today's standards are on the horizon!!

A very much needed Capital Improvement was the upgrade to our pump station. We were able to update the pumps, needed valves, resurface the skid and the control panel. These updates will allow the pump station to be a modern viable station for years to come. The new control panel allows us more efficient control of electric power and use of the pump station in a whole. This improvement lays the ground work for future upgrades to the irrigation system out on the golf course, clubhouse lawns, tennis facility and and new proposed short game practice areas.

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HGCC In The Know: Record Breaking June

The June chapter for 2022 has come to an end, but not before setting records for heat and lack of precipitation. Midwest golf course infrastructure and turf varieties are made to withstand short spurts of both heat and drought. Irrigation systems are designed, at their peak efficiency, to be supplemental to seasonal rainfall not as a long term lifeblood. Prolonged stretches of both strains the limits of infrastructure, plant survivability, staff, and ultimately playing conditions short and long term. I am very pleased with the results of the staff's hard work and diligence. In such a long term wave of tough conditions, we can work to mask infrastructure issues to an extent, yet some cannot be completely overcome. A prime example is irrigation coverage and control. This combined with other issues such as growing environment, shade, etc. rears its head. The 24 year old system has many deficiencies; with one of the most glaring be...

A little Defense goes a long way!

One of the greatest challenges maintaining a golf property in the transition zone is to have a sustainable product season long. A strong Defense is an important cog for a sports team, and it's an equally important part of turfgrass management. This time of year is the peak weakness for cool season grasses. Root systems have declined, months of mowing and traffic have occured, long and hot days are the norm, and rainfall is an all or nothing proposition. Within 48 hours turf can be lost to heat/drought stress and/or to disease from high heat and humid conditions. This time of year calls for the starting varsity defense. Defense comes in multiple forms. Most often it involves a combination of what we don't do with added measures to the to-do list. We remove unnecessary stresses by limiting processes such as grooming the turf, topdressing with a mechanical drag, and letting surfaces get to or past the wilt point. We add processes such as tigh...

Highland Agronomy

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