Fall Maintenance Update

Now that we finally seem to be moving away from warmer temperatures in 2016, I wanted to take a minute to update everyone on what has been accomplished.  While the first half of the year seemed to be filled with rain days, the latter part has been mostly warm and dry.  This has enabled our staff to accomplish many task.  Some of these task we consider to be "regular", yet weather dependent.  However, other accomplishments have been more project or improvement based.  The following is a bullet point list of some of what has, or will be achieved. 

• Improvements/fixes to the irrigation system (This continues to be an ongoing battle)
• Leaf cleanup
• Weekly verticutting and topdressing to greens surfaces
• Dead Ash tree removals
• New tree plantings
• Greens aeration
• Tee aeration
• Fairway aeration
• Aeration to ALL course rough areas
• Equipment repairs and improvements
• Stump grinding
• Chip removal from stump areas
• Soil, seed, fertilizer and strawing of stump areas
• Seeding of thin fairway areas
• Tall Fescue seed incorporation at greens surrounds
• Pruning of shrubs and ornamental grasses
• Winterization of irrigation systems, course restrooms and irrigation pump houses
• Applications of chemicals and fertilizers to all surfaces
• Rock work in an attempt to control erosion to creeks and other waterways
• Native rough areas cut to 6-8 inches

As you can see from this list, many areas have been addressed in some fashion.  The course has played fast and firm for most of the latter part of the year.  This is much easier to achieve with less precipitation.  We will continue to deliver the best conditions possible considering the hand we are dealt.  I hope you all have enjoyed Stillmeadow Country Club in 2016 and rest assured that we are taking the necessary steps for more of the same in 2017.

Thanks,

Klint Ladd

Golf Course Superintendent