Update March 26th 2013

The Grounds Department has been extremely busy over the winter months and we are looking forward to welcoming you back for a very exciting season. This report details a few of the projects we have been work-ing on while you’ve been away.

Spring Aerification

As of our last newsletter we were waiting on soil test results. We have since received these and have been able to plan our aerification accordingly. The results have pointed to an extremely high level of organic matter within the top two inches of all the playing surfaces, this is resulting in soft and wet playing condi-tions throughout the season. Our number one priority this year is to begin improving turf health and as a result, providing firmer and more uniform playing conditions. In order to achieve this we must be more ag-gressive with our aerification process, by doing this we will actually end up removing close to 20% of the ac-tual greens organic matter and replacing that with sand. The sand will help to dilute the organic levels, aid with drainage and provide firmness.

As mentioned in our last bulletin, we have changed the original aerification date. We began aerifiying Greens and Approaches yesterday with a hollow coring tine, we will have this completed today by mid morning. The greens are then heavily top dressed with sand, all of the holes are back filled with sand and the greens are rolled smooth. We will then begin the process all over again, this time however, we will be using a Graden to verti cut the Greens and Approaches. This machine removes thatch and also replaces it with sand. We are hopeful that all of the Greens will be completed by Thursday afternoon.

Cultural Practices

Although limited by weather restrictions, we have been able to carry out a couple of procedures on the course that will show benefit in the spring. Firstly we were able to Verti-Drain the greens with a 12” long, sol-id tine. This helped move water through the profile of the green which has allowed the surfaces to remain much drier over the winter months.

We were also fortunate enough to be able to apply the Lime to the entire course. We did this because the soil tests have pointed to us having very low pH levels on all the playing surfaces. The levels are so low on the fairways that we must now begin an aggressive liming program. This will help ‘release’ the plant and then the fertilizers that we use later in the year will be absorbed far better.

Front Entrance

As you begin to return to the club over the next few weeks you will notice the work that has been carried out along the main driveway. Last year, the first stage of cleanup in this area was approved. However, due to Su-per Storm Sandy, this work had to be postponed until spring. Most of the trees along the right side have been removed as they were restricting the ability to develop healthy grass and some were posing a hazard to the paddle tennis courts. We are due to begin work again on this area over the next few weeks with an aim to having the replanting done as soon as temperatures allow.

Tree Removal

We have continued to move forward with the tree removal program. Upon my arrival , Metropolis Coun-try Club had been contracting out all tree removal. We have since taken it upon ourselves to do this work. The remaining cleanup work from last year’s storm has all been completed and we have continued to ad-dress areas that were shading and restricting playing surfaces. The following is a description of several of the areas addressed during the winter;

On Hole #1 we have cleared the area to the right of the ladies tee, this will now allow for access to the fairway on both sides, reducing the wear pattern in this highly visible area. In addition, due to storm damage and in an effort to improve air and light for fairway and rough areas, the trees on the right of the fairway approximately 100 yards from the green were removed. To improve grass growth and to provide improved vistas, several trees to the left of Hole #1 and surrounding the pond were also removed.

Upon recommendations from the USGA and in concurrence with our new golf course architect, Ron Forse, we have cleared the trees away from behind and to the right of #4 green. This will greatly improve air movement around the green and also enhance the visual impact of the hole.

This work was also carried out to the right of #15 green and behind #17 green. The 15th green sits down in a bowl and the environment around the green can become stagnant, by removing the trees and lowering the existing hillside the green should become far more consistent. Along with helping #15 green we have also opened up incredible vistas of the property from #17 green while allowing extra sunlight here as well. On many of these newly opened hillsides, we will be planting native grass to minimize maintenance costs and improve aesthetics.

#4 Green Before #4 Green After

#15 Before #15 after #17 view

Tee markers

In an effort to enhance the golfing experience at Metropolis, the club has decided to update the course

yardage options. As part of the Master Plan visits we were made aware how difficult the course can be for

certain handicap golfers. With this in mind, we have added another set of tee markers. These markers will

be made up from yardages at both the blue

and gold tee boxes. This means that if you are

playing the “Member” course, you will be

playing certain holes from the blue tees and

certain holes from the gold tees. This will be

marked on the new score card and also on

the tee itself with a half and half marker as

pictured on the right. The Sports Committee

has also elected to change the coloring of the

markers for the entire course.

Black Markers 6795 Yards

Blue Markers 6518 Yards

Member Markers 6230 Yards

Gold Markers 5869 Yards

White Markers 5773 Yards

We look forward to welcoming you back to the course and look forward to an exciting season of golf.