"The course is in great shape but why isn't there any grass left on the practice tee by August every year? "

The driving range tee is the most heavily used turf on the golf course. It is open every day from dawn until dusk, from mid March to the end of November. The simple answer to why turf conditions decline in August is the turf is removed faster from divots than can be replaced by new grass.

An aerial view of the driving range tee. The yellow dots show the current practice line. 
The front of the tee is at the bottom of the picture.

Each day the markers are moved back 6 feet to the next row.

The practice tee is 1.25 acres in size. Of the more than 2 million shots hit off the tee each year, an estimated 1.5 million shots result in a divot of turf removed from the surface. While divots come in all sizes, the average divot is 3" wide by 6.5" long, a total of 19.5 square inches.Over the length of the season more than 200,000 square feet of divots are removed from the tee. That's more than 4.5 acres of turf from a 1.25 acre surface. The only reason there is any turf on the tee is because of an intensive maintenance plan. 

The driving range tee is wide enough to accommodate 28 hitting stations each day. The marker rotation begins at the front of the tee surface and moves back 6 feet each day. The marker location keeps moving back each day another 6 feet. After 25 days, the markers have run out of room at the back and are rotated back to the front of the tee to start the rotation process all over. This allows only 25 days to regrow new turf before it will be used again for practice. Five days a week we seed the previous days divots. Different grass types are used depending on the time of the year. We use a variety of seed mixes containing perennial rye and Kentucky bluegrass blends. As we seed, a light mixture of soil, sand and humus is spread over the seed and leveled to provide an even surface. The seed germinates within a few days. During the cooler, wetter months of April, May, June, September, October and November, the grass fills in quickly due to high fertility levels and adequate moisture. In July and August when conditions become hot and dry, the grass seed often withers quickly after germination. To keep the new seedlings from dying we would have to water them every couple of hours making the tee unavailable for use. Some years we are able to maintain acceptable turf coverage on the tee even during the hot summer months. The hotter than normal summer temperatures of 2010 made it impossible to keep a good turf stand on the practice tee.

During July and August the tee surface becomes infested with Goose Grass and Crab Grass. These 2 weedy annual grasses easily invade turf stands that are weak. There are products to prevent these invasive grasses from germinating but they can't be used on the practice tee because that would also prevent the desirable grasses we plant from germinating.

The only way to improve the existing practice tee is to remove less turf. The good news is we can hit the same number of shots off the tee while making smaller divots. How?

"Practice Like a Pro"

Most of us take random divots on the practice tee. As was mentioned earlier, this removes a divot of 19.5 square inches each shot.

After just 30 shots, more than 4 square feet of turf is removed using the normal practice routine.

When you watch the pros practice you will notice they take their divots in a pattern. They place the ball directly behind a previous divot. This results in the 2nd divot being a much smaller size of 3" by 3". Each subsequent shot results in only a 3" by 3" divot.

 

The pros place the ball behind the previous divot. They will repeat this for up to 10 shots.

After 30 shots, the pros only remove 2.5 square feet of turf.

When you "practice like a pro" you remove 60% less turf. This keeps the tee in better shape all year but especially during July and August when the turf is the weakest. If all of us adopted the "practice like a pro" method we would reduce the annual divots removed from 203,000 square feet to just 93,750 square feet.

The best solution in the long term is to enlarge the tee surface but until then, please "practice like a pro". You'll be amazed at how your divots shrink.

" Why are our greens so slow. I heard they are only 9.5' on the Stimpmeter. I played at the Grass is Always Greener C.C. and they said their greens were running 12'. "

We try to maintain our green speed at 10' during the summer months. Any faster than 10' and we start to see putts rolling off steeper slopes on the greens. Fast greens are good until you start to see 3 and 4 putts. There are a few factors that determine how fast the greens putt. They are:

Height of Cut - The shorter the grass the quicker they roll.
Rolling Frequency - Rolling = speed.
Sand Top Dressing - Applying sand tightens up the turf canopy effectively making the grass shorter.
Fertility - Greens are faster with lower levels of fertility.
Weather - Dry weather & low humidity = fast, Rain & high humidity = slow.

The most important is height of cut. Our 18 hole greens are mowed at .118" height throughout the season. Every course has reasons for choosing their height of cut. Many Chicago area courses mow their greens higher and a few mow lower. We chose our height because we can insure the greens will be healthy and can recover from normal wear and tear.

The second most important factor is how often the greens are rolled. We roll the greens with a vibratory triplex roller. Each time we roll, the green speed increases 6". We normally roll 2 to 3 times per week often substituting rolling for mowing.

A vibratory roller smooths the green and increases Stimpmeter speed by 6".

This season it has been very difficult to find days when it is not too wet to roll. Rolling when the turf is too wet will cause the surface of the greens to compact. Once compacted, it is difficult for water nutrients and air to reach the turf's roots causing a rapid decline in quality. Rolling is also tough on the turf when temperatures are high. The turf on greens is under great stress in the summer heat. Rolling at the wrong time can cause a quick decline in plant health. The third factor that controls green speed is how often sand top dressing is applied.

A thin layer of sand is applied to greens to smooth the surface and reduce thatch build-up.

A light application of sand every 10 to 14 days keeps the greens rolling smooth and fast.

Sand top dressing is applied to greens every 10-14 days to control thatch build-up and to smooth the greens. We have only top dressed greens a few times this year because all the rainfall has made it difficult to find a window when conditions are dry enough to work the sand into the turf canopy.

Another key to maintaining a consistent green speed is controlling fertility levels in the grass plant. To avoid spikes of flush growth, we apply very small amounts of nutrients every 7 to 10 days throughout the growing season. Some golf courses will 'starve' their greens by applying very little fertilizer. This makes the green speed quicker but can result in poor turf conditions in the long term.

The last factor in determining green speed is the weather. High humidity and wet conditions result in a slower green speed because the grass blades hold more water and are thicker and wider than when the air is dry. We have experienced over 18" of rain during June and July. The excess rain has slowed the green speed down to 9.5' but fall is just around the corner and things should dry out and return to normal in a couple of weeks. Until then, we will do everything we can to keep the greens rolling smooth so you can enjoy your game.

And by the way, just because the Grass is Always Greener C.C. says their greens are running 12' on the Stimpmeter, doesn't make it a reality. It is very easy to manipulate the Stimpmeter to get any results your golfers want.

For more information on green speed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stimpmeter

"Business is tough. How do we spend less?" Updated October 2011

The economy has impacted all business the past couple of years. As a matter of fact, the golf business has been declining for the past decade due to the construction of  too many new courses and the improvement in golf equipment. The improved technology in golf equipment helps hit the golf ball a lot farther than in the past. Golf courses can on 'fit' 75% of the rounds they used to play in the past because players are spread out farther apart on the course. When you add these 2 factors to the current economic crisis, it is not surprising to see many golf courses closing. The Village Links has done an excellent job of recognizing the decline in golf and adjusting expenses accordingly. The Village Links may be the only public run facility in the nation that does not receive tax subsidies.We routinely work with all our vendors to receive the lowest possible price on all purchases. While there are many golf courses that make purchases because of personal relationships, we make purchases using efficient business practices. We never pay more for a product or service unless it is done ultimately to save us money in the long run or to provide an improved product for our customers.

Our staff has demonstrated fiscal responsibility for decades. We routinely implement procedures to reduce expenses. One example of this is our long time practice of recycling all of the wood chips produced by our staff and the Village of Glen Ellyn Forestry Division to be used for landscape mulch. This effort saves up to $40,000 per year. We also have an excellent track record of project management. The 5 million dollar 2001-2003 renovation of the golf course and irrigation system was below budget and on time. Our staff also completed $500,000 of ‘grow-in’ work at a substantial savings to the project.

While we have performed well in the past, I realize it is necessary to always find areas to improve. Since I became Grounds Superintendent in 2007, I have continued to devise ways to reduce expenses and improve our product. The Grounds and Mechanical Maintenance Division budget for fiscal year 2010-2011 is 37.5% lower than our budget 5 years ago. The following are examples of progress we have made in this area the past few seasons. We will continue to strive to reduce our expenses going forward.

 2007 – There is a triple basin sewer system in the storage building that captures dirt washed from turf maintenance equipment. The dirt includes grass clippings, sand, leaves and oil residue. The basin system removes the contaminants from the wash water before it enters the sanitary sewer system. Prior to 2007, we were paying $1,200 four times per season to have the build-up of contaminants removed from the triple basin system. We started using a bacteria that digests the grass clippings and leaves. This reduced the build-up of solids in the system reducing the waste removal cost to once per year. We also found a company that charges less for the removal process. We reduced our total expense from $4,800 per year to $450 per year. Annual saving is $4,350.

2007 – Many of the turf maintenance products are available in generic form at a significant savings. The generic products need to be tested for efficacy because even though they contain the identical Active Ingredients in the name brand products, the inert ingredients can differ.  We have been testing and converting to generic turf care products resulting in saving $8,000 to $12,000 per year. Annual savings $10,000.

2007 – Prior to 2007, our fuel supplier would make weekly in season deliveries to top-off our 3 fuel tanks. An average of 25 deliveries would be made per year. It costs approximately $75 per delivery for us to be present during delivery, process the paper work and have the invoice paid. In 2007 we reduced the number of deliveries to 10 by adopting an on-demand order system. Annual savings $1,125.

2007 – The restaurant kitchen sewer drains empty into a grease trap. The grease trap prior to 2007 required annual clean out to remove accumulated grease. Every other year, the main drain line would require sewer rodding to keep the system flowing. In 2007, we began using a bacterial grease digester bi-monthly. We have not had to perform any additional maintenance on this system for the past 3 years. Annual savings $1,950.

2007 – Approximately 5-8 seasonal staff members per day purchase their lunch at the golf course restaurant. Individual employees were each placing their order and often had to wait 10 to 15 minutes for their order to be completed. In 2007, we assigned the daily supervisor to take lunch orders before the morning crew is assigned their duties. The supervisor drops off all the orders at the restaurant and the orders are all ready for pickup at 10:30 A.M. Annual savings $750.

2008 – Com-ed bills a monthly Demand Charge for the 3 electric meters that feed our well and 2 pumping stations. We time spring start-up and fall shut-down of these systems to avoid monthly demand charges. Annual savings $2,500.

2008 – We began using synthetic blended motor and hydraulic oil in our equipment fleet. We were able to increase our equipment service intervals. Annual savings $6,000.

2008 – We researched and found an improved bearing grease for our equipment fleet. The more effective grease reduced bearing failure and replacement especially on mowing reels and rollers. Annual savings $3,000.

2008 – We supplement our irrigation water supply with a deep well. Prior to 2008 the well would automatically turn on when the water level in our north irrigation pond would drop 6 inches. We now control the well with a manual switch. Before we turn the well on we factor in current and predicted weather. Annual savings $1,000.

2008 –  We developed a program to reduce poa annua which is a weedy grass that has a negative impact on golf course turf. The program utilizes a turf growth regulator that in addition to reducing poa annua also slows the rate of growth of bentgrass turf. The slower growth of bentgrass turf which is used on our greens, tees and fairways allows us to reduce mowing frequency of these surfaces. Annual savings $24,000.

2008 – We have more than 500 bunker rake with fiberglass handles that wear out and need to be replaced every 3 to 4 years. In 2008 we began using a shrink wrap coating on the worn out handles to eliminate replacement costs. We also began using the shrink wrap on the golf green pins to improve their appearance and prolong their life. Annual Savings $1,200.

2008 – Prior to 2008 we used disposable tee towels on the club and ball washers on the golf course. We began using washable, reusable towels. Annual Savings $2,400.

2008 – Some of the items we purchase from traditional golf vendors can be purchased at a lower price from alternate sources, ie. a cocoa drag mat used in baseball field maintenance is the same mat used to drag in top dressing sand on golf greens. The cost of the mat is 50% less if ordered from a baseball field vendor. Purchasing items from non-traditional golf vendors saves 20% to 50%. Annual savings $1,000.

2009 – Higher fuel costs in recent years has resulted in higher shipping costs for deliveries. Since 2009 we have combined multiple orders into a single delivery to reduce shipping costs. Annual savings $1,500.

2009 – Our 2 fire sprinkler systems at the maintenance facility require inspection once per year. The inspection has to be performed by a certified company to meet fire code regulations. In addition to the annual inspection, the dry systems need to be drained and reset for maintenance and in the event of a compressor failure. This maintenance was previously performed by the certification company. Our staff researched and began performing the additional, non-certified maintenance at a significant savings. Annual savings $2,000.

2009 – The equipment parts solvent washer used for equipment maintenance and repair cost $1,500 per year for rental and servicing. In 2009 we purchased our own solvent washer and reduced solvent recycling from 8 times per year to 4 times per year. Annual savings $950.

2009 – The fairway mowing pattern was altered to reduce the number of times the mowers would have to lift their units and turn around to complete a mowing pass. Annual savings $1,600.

2009 – The task of hand mowing around trees on the golf course is labor intensive. In 2009 we experimented with an application of growth regulator around trees to slow turf growth. Annual savings $2,000.

2010 – An electronic, self calculating time clock was purchased. The new time clock will reduce math errors and save the labor to calculate payroll and produce paper time cards and labels. Annual savings $1,500.

2010 – A 12 volt, 25 gallon self contained sprayer was purchased to apply growth regulator around trees and mowed lake banks and to apply chelated liquid copper to suppress pond weed and algae. These applications were previously made with a 3 gallon hand pressurized sprayer. Annual savings $1,200.

2011 - A 12 volt variable speed fertilizer spreader was purchased to apply granular fertilizer in 'tight' areas on the golf course. Two small 50 pound capacity push spreaders were previously used to fertilize these areas. The new spreader is mounted on a turf truckster and has a 250 pound capacity. One operator can finish the same task which used to be performed by 2 people in 1/3 the time. Annual savings $620.

2011 - Following core aeration of our greens each fall, we topdress the greens with sand to fill in the aeration holes. Prior to last year it would take up to 20 man hours per green to work the sand into the aeration holes. We purchased a 'Fill'n'Sweep' rotating brush attachment which performs the same job in 1.5 man hours per green. Annual savings $8,000.  

2010 - 2011 - The grounds division operates 7 days per week. Our seasonal staff was scheduled to work 5, 8 hour days and 1, 4 hour day each week. This resulted in more than 600 overtime hours each year. Last year we changed the schedule to 5, 7 hour days and 1, 4 hour day each week for a total of 39 man hours. We now work less than 50 hours of overtime each year.

The operational changes we have implemented the past few seasons result in an annual savings of $80,000.

The golf market has gotten smaller each year for the past 10 years. Many golf courses have been slow to react to the reduction in revenue and find themselves in dire financial trouble. The Village Links has been fortunate to recognize the business trend and make appropriate cuts. During a time when golf courses are closing daily and virtually every municipal, county and park district run golf facility is subsidized by tax dollars, often to the tune of $500,000 to $1,000,000 per year, the Village Links still operates using no tax dollars. In addition to operating the golf course without tax money, Glen Ellyn Residents also benefit by receiving some of the largest resident discounts anywhere in the country. But perhaps the greatest benefit of our effort to be fiscally responsible is often not realized by our customers. Ten years ago the grounds crew worked 54,000 man hours to maintain the golf course. Due to our efforts to become more efficient over the last decade, we will work less than 30,000 man hours in 2011 to perform the same work and playing conditions are better than they were ten years ago. So next time you are playing golf, there is a good chance you won't see the grounds staff. Instead, you can concentrate on hitting that next great shot and having a fun, relaxing round at the beautiful Village Links of Glen Ellyn.

Greens Aerification

"The greens were perfect. Why did they have to tear them up? Now the greens are ruined"

Core aerification is the most disruptive maintenance activity a golfer faces. The golf industry has struggled for several decades, trying to find the best ways to minimize the impact to golfers. I recently 'attended' a live web-based meeting to discuss aerification. The meeting moderator began the session by stating the golf industry is being hurt by the misconception that aerification is a practice which leads to poor putting conditions and aerification isn't really that bad. He went on to say complaints were unfair to the hard working maintenance crews who performed the difficult work.

What? With all due respect to the moderator, our maintenance crew is supposed to work hard and aerification does ruin the putting surface, often for a several days. 

Serious golfers know the importance of aerification. It is a necessary short term disruption that has benefits that lead to long term improvements in playing conditions. It is our job to complete the process as efficiently as possible and take measures to quickly restore the putting surface so that normal playing conditions can resume. 

What is aerification? Aerification is any practice that pokes a hole through the turf canopy creating channels so water and air can move more freely to the root zone. There are several types of aerification. Some aerification methods are barely noticeable and most golfers don't even realize any aerifying occurred. 

Solid tine aerifiction, using 1/8" diameter solid tines to make very small holes in the surface, is performed once or twice per month at the Village Links.

The resulting holes are barely visible and do not impact ball roll.

Some greens have micro-climates including too much shade from large trees or water soaked root zones due to low lying compacted areas. These sites require more aggressive spiking using 1/4" solid tines to allow more air to reach the turfgrass roots. During this process, we only spike the portions of the greens that require it to keep them healthy. 

 

 The 1/4" solid tines are noticeable to players but putting is not impacted.

The aerification process that is dreaded by everyone is core aerifying greens. Cores spaced in a 2" X 2" pattern are removed using hollow tines up to 5/8" diameter. 

Turf on a golf green is highly maintained to provide a firm and smooth putting surface. The use of fertilizers and micro nutrients are necessary to help the turf recover from foot traffic wear and low mowing heights. The intense maintenance results in the development of thatch just below the surface. Thatch is an organic layer made up of dead and dying roots and grass plant parts. Thatch accumulation is a normal process in any turfgrass stand. A moderate amount of thatch is needed to hold the turf together but when too much thatch develops water is unable to penetrate the surface and roots will not get the nutrients, moisture and air they need to survive. Researchers have determined that when the organic matter in the the top 2" of the root zone contains more than 3.5% organic matter by weight, the turf conditions begin to decline to an unhealthy condition. If organic matter isn't reduced, the turf health will decline, reducing playing conditions. 

There are two ways to control the percentage of organic matter in the root zone. Mechanical removal of thatch through core aerification is the most efficient way. After the physical removal of the cores is complete, the resulting pattern of holes are filled with sand.

  

A layer of sand is spread on the green surface and brushed into the aerification holes.

This profile of a golf green root zone shows the light colored sand which replaced an aerification core.

Sand filled aerification holes will slowly recover each day over a 2 to 3 week period if all goes well and putting will return to normal. This process may need to be repeated up to 3 times per season to keep organic content at proper levels. To reduce the need for core aerification, we make sure we don't over fertilize the turf and topdress the greens with sand lightly every 10 to 14 days. Light topdressing does not remove any thatch but helps dilute the organic matter content over time.

A very light layer of sand is applied to the greens 2 to 3 times per month. Vibratory rollers are used to push the sand into the turf canopy helping to dilute the organic matter build up in the root zone.

Winter Work

"You work at a golf course? What the heck do you do during the winter?"

The Village Links golf season is from mid-March to mid-November. During the golf season, we have 3 full time and 30 seasonal employees maintain the golf facilities. We work every day during the 8 month outdoor season including weekends and holidays. In October and November we transition from full staffing levels down to our winter crew of 3 full time and 2 seasonal employees. The off season staff is kept very busy during the winter months. The main difference during the 'slow' time of the year is most of the work is performed Monday through Friday. The only weekend work required is snow removal at the Clubhouse or a mechanical failure at one of our 4 main buildings.

There are 8 main tasks we need to perform during the off season period.

Mechanical equipment repair and preventive maintenance.

Green and tee equipment and course accessory  maintenance.

Building maintenance and repairs.


Program evaluation and planning.


Employee education and certification.


Budget preparation.


Advance bulk purchasing and capital equipment bidding.


Golf course monitoring and tree maintenance.

Mechanical equipment repair and preventive maintenance

The maintenance equipment fleet consists of more than 100 pieces including reel and rotary mowers, tractors and loaders, sprayers and aerifiers, turf trucksters and 2 man carts. There is also a rental fleet of 87 golf carts. Much of the equipment is used seven days per week during the golf season so it is important to have everything in perfect operating condition to avoid costly break downs during the busy summer months. All equipment receives servicing of engine oil, air filters, spark plugs, fuel injectors, hydraulic oil and hydraulic filters to meet recommended maintenance intervals. Any worn belts, bearings, grease fittings, rollers and oil seals are replaced. All wiring harnesses and hydraulic motors and hoses are inspected and replaced as needed. Ninety reel mower cutting units are inspected and worn parts are replaced before they are sharpened. Each unit is set at a precise height of cut to mow it's designated turf. Greens are mowed at a height of .118", tees and fairways at .406", intermediate rough at 1.50" and rough at a 2" height.

The golf cart fleet is cleaned, serviced and repaired in preparation for the golf season.

Green and tee equipment and course accessory  maintenance

Every amenity the customer touches during the golf season receives attention. Seventy wooden benches, 18 wooden trash cans and 10 wood picnic tables are sanded painted and stained. Thirty golf ball washers are repaired, sanded and repainted. More than 300 tee markers are cleaned, inspected and replaced as needed. Twelve divot seed bins and 60 trash/recycling bins are cleaned and treated with UV protection. Dozens of cart direction and 'ground under repair' signs are cleaned and repaired. New flags are installed on 80 pins that have been cleaned and coated with shrink wrap vinyl. Hundreds of stakes used to control traffic are repaired and painted. More that 500 bunker rakes are repaired and handles are coated with vinyl shrink wrap as needed.

Building maintenance and repairs

The Club House, Halfway House, Maintenance Buildings, and Pump Houses receive off season maintenance, repairs and improvements. Ten HVAC units are serviced. Worn lighting and plumbing fixtures are replaced. Door closers are adjusted and weather stripping is replaced when needed. Battery back-up emergency lights and exit lights are tested. Interior painting and staining is performed. All restaurant kitchen equipment is serviced.

Program evaluation and planning

We are constantly focused on improving the facility. Most improvements in golf course conditions begin in the off-season. The previous years fertility program, disease control efforts and cultural practices are reviewed. Maintenance plans that did not produce improved conditions are modified to produce better results. Research on a variety of turf grass issues is on going at the national level through the United States Golf Association Green Section and various universities and at the local level through the Chicago District Golf Association. Positive research results that are relevant to our operation are reviewed and implemented.

Employee education and certification

There are many opportunities for continuing education and staff training at the local and national level. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) conducts webcasts via the internet. Their annual education conference provides dozens of education sessions ranging from half hour presentations to in depth 2 day training on specific topics related to golf course maintenance. The GCSAA annual trade show is held in conjunction with the GCSAA education conference and is the one place to see the new equipment, chemistries, products and technologies used in course maintenance. The local chapter of the Midwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents provides educational sessions monthly. The Chicago District Golf Association conducts two off season seminars addressing local issues and highlighting their research results. The United States Golf Association provides "live meeting' webcasts throughout the season.

Several vendors provide training relevant to their products. Staff also receives annual pesticide training, testing and licensing by the Illinois E.P.A.

Budget preparation

Each year the effectiveness of the current budget is evaluated and a new budget is created with a focus on creating a better product for our customers while working more efficiently to reduce expenses. The golf business has declined during the past decade due to performance improvements in golf equipment and poor economic conditions. We continually adjust our staff levels and maintenance practices to meet the changing golf business. Our 2010/2011 expense budget is 37% lower than it was 5 years ago. We have been able to improve course conditions during this same period. 

Advance bulk purchasing and capital equipment bidding

Significant savings are realized through bulk purchasing of fertilizers, pesticides, grass seed and other maintenance materials. It is essential to properly forecast the necessary items quantities that will be used throughout the growing season. Product specifications and quote forms are developed and supplied to vendors. Expensive equipment and services are purchased through a formal bid process.

Golf course monitoring and tree maintenance

The health of the golf course needs to be monitored all year including the winter months. Diseases can occur during certain winter conditions and treatments are sometimes necessary. The build up of ice sheets, especially on golf greens, can prevent the release of toxic gasses in the soil leading to turfgrass decline or death.

Winter can be an ideal time for large tree removal if the ground is frozen. The frozen ground allows us to bring large equipment into sensitive turf areas without cause damage to the golf course.