Course Winterization

As the weather continues to change, so do the conditions on the golf course.  Different types of grasses need certain protection and are maintained differently over the winter months.  These changes are made to insure that when Spring hits and things start to wake up for the next season, we don't have any set backs or issues with turf coming back out of dormancy.  Course accessories are also removed for various reasons and to protect them from the harsh winter cold.
We have moved all tee boxes off of the warm season zoysia grass.  Most tee boxes at MP have a cool season part of the box already built in.  Others do not.  The ones that don't, we mow in a temporary tee box in the most practical and accessible spot we can find close to the normal tee box.  This insures us that we can keep traffic off of the dormant warm season grass thus helping the turf come back strong and healthy at the beginning of the next growing season.  We also restrict cart traffic to path only to protect our zoysia fairways.  We do not mow any of our zoysia during the time they are dormant.  We leave them slightly taller to create somewhat of a blanket or cover to protect them.  Like I said with the tee boxes, less traffic on the dormant turf is a huge reason we can and will have nice healthy fairways during the regular golf season.  We appreciate the golfers cooperation with the cart rules and hope that they understand we aren't just restricting carts to the path for no reason.
On the greens, we have two cups cut in each green.  We use this practice for a few reasons.  As the ground freezes and temperatures continue to drop, it becomes impossible to change the cups.  Having two cups on opposite sides of the green allows us to spread out the foot traffic.  We ask that the golfers help us in rotating the flag stick.  Once the golfer has landed his ball on the green, he would putt to the hole that the flag is in.  When they have holed their ball out they would take the flag stick and put it in the opposite hole that they played/putt to.  Then the next group of golfers behind them would play to the other hole which now has the flag stick in it. We greatly appreciate the golfers understanding and help with this one small thing that can be a major help to course conditions throughout the winter.
As most people know, cold harsh winters are hard on everything that stays outside in the elements.  This is very true for our course accessories.  Ball washers, signage and other non permanent accessories are removed and stored.  We then take all of our accessories and refurbish or replace and update these items.
We hope that the golfers understand we do not do these things to make the course different or less player friendly.  It is simply to protect and preserve what we have so that when the golf season ramps up after the winter, these things are in great condition and in place to make the golfers experience the best it can possibly be.

Trick or Treat Scramble

   First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.  My name is David Carlson, and I am the new golf course Superintendent here at Minor Park.  I am not exactly "new" to Minor Park, as I have been the assistant Superintendent for the past 6 years here under our former Superintendent Matt Delventhal.  I would like to thank Matt for his guidance and hard work at Minor Park over those 6 years.  We wish him the best in his new sales position and look forward to seeing him around once in awhile. Thanks Matty D!
   This past weekend we held our 3rd annual Trick or Treat Fall Fun Scramble.  We had  21 teams play in the 3-man tournament.  It was a great turnout considering the weather conditions were not ideal with a temperature of 48 degrees and a 10-15 mph chilly wind.  We have added to the layout of this tournament over the past few years, and this year it was a big hit.  I really enjoyed setting up the golf course for this event, because it is unlike any other typical day of course set-up.  In some ways it is sort of like a "Superintendents Revenge" type of event for us. Although it takes quite a bit of extra time to set-up, it is well worth it due to the positive feedback we have received.  We used pumpkins on every hole as tee markers.  On some holes the tees were in different locations than normal.  For example, on #7 we moved the tee box to the fairway to create a Risk/Reward shot where players had to decide to risk hitting their drive over the water from 220 yards away.  The reward if you were able to clear the pond and land the ball on the green was having an eagle putt opportunity!  Other "Tricky" holes included a hose around the cup to create a "putt putt" atmosphere on the green, hitting your tee shot while sitting on a hay bale, a tire covering your view of the hole, and even a tractor parked in front of a green blocking the approach shot. Some of our "Treat" holes had things like a 15 inch cup on a shortened par 5, six different holes on one green, and a boat serving as the hole where you had to make your pitch shot into the boat to hole out.
   Our entire maintenance staff, as well as our Clubhouse staff, really enjoyed creating, setting up, and having this tournament.  We look forward to growing it each year and adding new things each year to make it as fun for the golfers as it is for us.  Any and all feedback is always welcome!  I hope you will come out and join us next year for this fun event and check out the unique set-up of the golf course.

#5 - Tire blocking the view of the hole

 #14 - 15 inch cup

 #17 - Lots-O-Holes - 6 holes to putt to

 #13 - Tractor blocking the green

 #18 - Pumpkin over the cup - only one way in

#3 - Tee off while sitting on the hay bale

Thank You Minor Park

I would like to say "Thank You" to all the employees and patrons of Minor Park Golf Course. As some of you may know I have accepted a position with SiteOne Landscape Supply and will be leaving Minor Park on Friday, October 6th. Over the last 6 years I have work diligently to turn Minor into the golf course that it is today.  I have had the privilege  to work for and with some awesome people in our company. I have also been able to share my love of Minor and its conditions with our patrons of this facility. Even though I will be leaving on Friday, Minor Park Golf Course will continue to be in good hands with the promotion of my Assistant Superintendent David Carlson.  Once again "Thank You" for allowing me to opportunity to help make Minor Park what it is today.

White Goose Grass

If you have played Minor Park in the last week or so, you may have noticed our cool-season tees and the collar on 6 having a white tint to it. Last Friday we sprayed a Herbicide called Pylex that helps remove goose grass. Here is some information and pictures on what Pylex does:

http://betterturf.basf.us/products/related-documents/pylex-herbicide-sell-sheet.pdf

6 green

Cool-season Tees

Japanese Beetles

I wanted to talk about an issue people may be dealing with at their house.... The emergence of the Japanese Beetle. At Minor Park this July, Japanese Beetles have reek havoc on the American Lindon trees we have on holes 14, 16, & 17. You also may have noticed them on your roses bushes at home. These pesky insects love to defoliate the leaves, eating everything but the veins. Luckily for the American Lindon when a tree defoliates, as long as it was healthy to start it will not die. So after the beetles emerge, mate, eat every leaf in sight, and return to the ground to lay eggs, the tree should be able to regenerate its leaves. Here is the life cycle of the Japanese Beetle.

Here is also a link for more information on the Japanese Beetle and how to control them

Japanese Beetle Wiki

Japanese Beetle Feeding

New Mowers and Roller

About 2 weeks ago Minor Park was able to purchase 2 brand new John Deere 2500B Riding Greens mowers to replace our 10 year old Jacobsen GKIV.  One of the Jacobsens was rotated down to our tee mower to replace a 15 year old unit. The other was shipped over to HOA to update one riding greens mower. We were also able to purchase a 5 year old Graden Tournament Roller. This roller will allow us to skip mowing on really hot days and be able to keep greens smooth and consistent on those days. These pieces of equipment are very important to keep greens in great shape at Minor Park. Here are a few photos of our new equipment:

Native mowing

Its that time of the year..... Native mowing! This bi yearly adventure will allow you to find your ball easier and possibly an extra one to continue your round with. Come out and see us at Minor Park.