Winter at Pueblo del Sol
As turf growth finally slows we can shift our focus from the
every day grind to equipment preventative maintenance, limbing up trees,
deadwood removal, installing drainage in low areas that tend to collect water
and continue with course cleanup like sweeping leaves and debris.
Throughout the golf course there are tree limbs that have grown low and impede the irrigation throw preventing the water from getting onto the turf areas that need it. We will go through and selectively prune these limbs to get the irrigation watering more efficiently providing adequate water to the turf and making for a healthier more playable turf. Along with selective limb pruning, we will go through and remove any deadwood that could be a falling hazard to the golfer. Some of this work will be contracted out as we are not set up to prune anything above 20 feet in house. A good example of this is the eucalyptus tree on #15.
Also, around the golf course there are areas that hold water
along the edge of the cart path/grass. In these areas we will go through and
install drainage to move the water down off path and turf. There are also areas
that any excess irrigation or rain water will collect and run down onto the
playing surface making for poor playability. In these areas, we will also try
and install drainage to catch the water before it makes its way onto the turf
keeping the areas firm and playable.
As always, we still want to provide the best conditions for
the golfer, so we will still be out setting up the golf course, blowing and
sweeping fallen leaves, mowing or rolling greens as needed, touching up bunkers
when we can and keeping a light layer of sand on the green for smoothness and a
little bit of warmth during these cold months.
Clay McKinley
PDSCC Golf Course Superintendent
