Golf Course Report – April 26, 2014 for Annual General Meeting

#3 Green – February 23rd, 2014

Recap of the Winter Snow arrived mid December – 100+ days of snow cover Ice encased all surfaces on January 9th

Polar Vortexes were introduced into our vocabulary Greens cleared on March 13th – 64 days Fairways cleared with over 85+ days Saturated green surfaces were then exposed to -20C to -11C night temperatures 4 times over the next two weeks Snow and -7C night temperatures on April 15th and 16th

Started overseeding process April 17th – 4 to 8 weeks of recovery time from time of overseeding – Best case scenario

Practice Range – Irons tee on March 20th, 2014

April 15th and 16th, 2014Night temperatures: -7CThis did not help tender, vulnerable crowns/plants

4 Ways for Poa to Die During the Winter Anoxia – Gas build up/suffocation – Poa dies after

45 days Low temperature kill – Direct low temperature

can kill Poa at -21C in January but only -8C in March.

Crown Hydration – Poa breaks dormancy, absorbs water and is exposed to freezing temperatures (Freeze/thaw cycle). This can happen every winter even during a mild winter.

Desiccation – Exposed turf is dried out by the wind.

This winter was “EPIC” because at least 3 caused Poa death.

#15 Green –Anoxia and Crown hydration injury

Anoxia, crown hydration and LTKGreens PG,6,7,12,13,15-18

#7 Green – Anoxia and Crown hydration injury to Poa only. Some Poa survives if ice was cracked. Green in picture is creeping bentgrass.

Anoxia death under a solid cover – 2,5,9,10

Crown Hydration injury by water seeping under solid covers 3,11,14

Crown hydration injury

TODAY

Good news! Damaged Perennial Ryegrass on Fairways

5 Management Methods used this Winter in Ontario 1. Creeping bentgrass: Only successful program – Lambton,

Mississauga, Donalda, St. George’s short game practice green 2. Complex cover system includes: Solid covers, plastic edge overlap

and/or bubble wrap underneath/straw covers. Results were inconsistent at some courses and very good at others.

Protects weak Poas to be dealt with in summer and not sustainable. 3. Removing snow prior to January 6th thaw

4. Leaving snow in place until March 13th complete melt

5. Removing snow mid February to March 1st : 3” of snow and ice layer

Used black sand and sunflower seeds to melt ice when/if possible

It did not matter. Damage to only Poa recorded not to Creeping bentgrass

POA ANNUA

CREEPING BENTGRASS

Bentgrass plugs

#6 green – Poa annua trying to recover

Greens Recovery Program – 4 to 8 weeks after seeding (Or longer)

Started Irrigation system on April 14th Seeded creeping bentgrass seed into greens April 17th, 18th, 21st

Fertilize greens every 4 to 7 days Spray fungicides every 14 days until recovered Keep greens covered until recovered or in play – lots of handling

of covers Frequent and light watering – grow in method Greens will require 4 to 8 weeks depending on

extent of injury and weather – Patience and time! Recovery Costs will be approximately: $70,000 +

Expectations after Recovery Opening day: Greens in play are 1,2,4,5,8, 10

` Temporary greens: 3(in rough), 7,9,11-18Hole #6 is closed until green is recovered (3 weeks?)

Final temporary greens could be in use until sometime in June (3,11,12,13,14,15,17)

Poa will return. These will not be pure creeping bentgrass greens following recovery but being patient will allow some creeping bentgrass plants to mature.

Turf will be vulnerable to traffic damage and heat due to young age of plants

Height of cut will remain at .150” until greens are fully recovered. This could mean for the rest of the summer (Normal height of cut is .110”)

Green speed will be 1980’s of 8.5 to 9.0 feet (Normal speed is 10.5 to 11.5’)

WINTER COMES EVERY YEAR!