Trees and Turf

Please take a look at the video from the USGA. We are working on the course in and around trees right now root pruning, removing surface roots and thinning canopies. This will help us out down the road when we get into the stresses of summer. Good sunlight and air circulation = Good Turf!

Josh Clevenger; Golf Course Superintendent

Putting Things Back Together

It's been a whirlwind start to winter this season. Over 13 inches of rain in December followed by two
strong wind storms followed by three days of frost followed by a few 70 degree days... What's the simple Greenkeeper to think? (See my head spinning currently)

I think it's gonna be a wet spring cause it sure doesn't look like there is rain coming anytime soon!

We are fortunate that the rain let up and gave us time to catch up on mowing, fixing of bunkers and the repair the 1st green.

Ismael working on the sod repair work on #1 green.













Miguel and Moises finishing up the repair work.












With all the wind just before the New Year, a few more trees came down.

A large Redwood in the grove between 18 and 9

Acacia trees down to the right of 15 green.

We also lost a large Eucalyptus along the fence line of #16.

The staff has been hard at work repairing damage to greens and fairways and cleaning up the golf course in preparation for play. They have done well despite being short staffed and I thank them for their work.

The course is playing nicely now that it's had some time to dry and receive some much needed TLC. I encourage you to come out for a round of golf and enjoy the fun winter conditions.

Cheers for a fantastic 2015!


Josh Clevenger; Golf Course Superintendent

Winter Storms Continue

Winter has started off with a bang this year, literally.

On Tuesday morning one of the old Cypress trees behind the 1st green came down.

The ground has become so saturated with all of the recent rains that the old tree gave way. When it did, it fell on the back of the green causing significant damage.

There will be a temp green in play on the first hole until further notice as the tree crew finishes their work and we begin to repair the green.

Two of the large limbs punctured the green over 5 feet deep!

Rain totals for the season are just over 15" with over 11" falling in December alone. We are out mowing greens and tees today for the first time in a week. Bunkers are being repaired for the third time this week. It will may be quite sometime until we can get out and mow fairways or roughs without causing any damage to the turf.

What a Difference a Week Makes

I'm happy to report that all of our cultural practices are now complete for the year. The last of these practices were wrapped up a few weeks ago with the aeration and sanding of the fairways. 

This is an important part of our agronomic plan for the golf course and we are quite pleased with the results. Applications of 10 tons per acre were made on Monday and again on Wednesday bringing the total applied sand for the year to 1200 tons. To work the sand into the turf, we drag the fairways with a plastic mat. This is disruptive especially to the warm season turf and due to the damp conditions we had to drag fairways again and again. All the sand and dragging made for some rough looking fairways and for a short time, less than ideal playing conditions. Just a week later, conditions have improved greatly thanks to the work of the staff and a light rain courtesy of Mother Nature.

This soil plug was pulled in 2012 and shows why we have modified our approach to the maintenance of the fairways. The layering seen in the top 4 inches shows each year of sanding (light color material) and the thatch that accumulated in between each of the sand applications. This kind of layering in the soil can result in localized dry spots, poor rooting and increased insect activity all leading to unhealthy turf grass. Due to this layering, we implemented a plan to core aerate fairways three time per year and apply sand at the same time. The results have been successful...

No layering found in the picture taken today.  Moving forward into 2015, we will use various soil testing methods to determine how we adjust our plan moving forward so as to maintain the sand base that's been built up throughout the years.

The fairway sanding program here at Claremont has resulted in an outstanding soil to grow turf on. It's also allowed the course to stay open throughout the winter rains with very few days when the course is closed to carts. Now, Let It RAIN!

Fall Greens Aeration

We are halfway through the aeration process on greens. The back nine will be closed for the day and we appreciate your cooperation with this important practice.

Please check out the video from the USGA detailing the how's and why's of aeration.

Josh Clevenger; Golf Course Superintendent

First Rain in 5 months!

He's baaackack...........

Yes, it's been some time since this blog was updated and I couldn't think of a better reason to do so... First rain of the Season! As I speak the creek is running, the rain gauge shows .5" with  more forecast to fall throughout the day. It's been a long year for all of us in the Turf Department and a good September rain gives us some hope that this season will be a wet one. Without a doubt, the best day of the year.

This rain will no doubt help some of the stressed areas on the course perk up as we enter our busy fall golf and tournament season. It will also get these greens growing nicely leading up to next weeks aeration helping to speed recovery.

Dave Procter - Lead Assistant Superintendent

I'd like to introduce Dave Procter as the newest addition to the management team in the Turf Department. Most of you know Dave by now. He's made his way to Claremont from across the pond in England with stops at Olympic Club and Ruby Hill along the way. Thanks to Dave, Assistant Superintendent Ismael Valadez,  Equipment Manager Mike Newbould and all the staff on the course for their efforts this year.

As we move forward the Turf Blog will evolve into just that, a true blog where we will update more frequently on a wide range of topics involving all things on the course and more. We will periodically send out an email to the members notifying of an update to the blog. With the addition of "On The Course" to the monthly newsletter, we are communicating to the entire membership with big picture stuff. Look for this page to include a wider array of topics... Stay tuned and check back often.

Thanks and we'll see you On The Course.

Josh Clevenger; Golf Course Superintendent