Tahoma Hybrid Bermuda #10

GBGC GCM has had a very active and productive few weeks despite the ongoing dreary and wet winter weather of February and so far, March. February started off with a Tree Toppling storm that to date knocked down or created dangerous situations requiring removal of now over 30 trees. I originally estimated it would take us two weeks to cleanup and process the mess. I was a bit off as we still have clean-up to do five weeks later. 

Additionally we repaired the #2 Fairway Exit, and this Monday 3/4/24, we did a new putting surface aeration process called DryJect which was a little sandier than I anticipated, but I'm hoping will be a good process for these greens moving forward. 

And as planned, following the DryJecting on Monday, we stripped out the bad sod under the #10 fairway tree and replaced it with Tahoma 31 Hybrid Bermuda. Tahoma 31 is a variety of hybrid bermuda that claims to be more shade tolerant then other hybrid bermuda varieties and is the same variety we installed on #2. Both sodded areas appear different because the Tahoma 31 on #2 was overseeded, and the Tahoma 31 on #10 was not for reasons explained below.

Here is the turf area under the signature Oak Tree in the middle of #10. The sprigging of the Santa Anna Hybrid Bermuda in 2021 never really took and the area has been one of the worst areas on the course even before we attempted to convert it to Santa Anna. Issues are shade and the common issue that impedes turfgrass quality on the course, our native soil.

In December we had our arborist's strategically work on this signature tree to mitigate shade issues

And now a few months later we start the process of replacing the turf.

Step #1 sod cut the bad sod.

Step #2. Remove the distressed sod and a couple inches of the native soil.

Step #3. Replace the 2" of removed soil with washed tee sand.

Step #4. Lightly rototill the new sand into underlying native soil to help with soil layering and water percolation. 

Step #5. Grade.

Finished grade awaiting sod. 

Step #6. Install sod.

As mentioned above we resodded with a Hybrid Bermuda variety,  Tahoma 31. Again Tahoma 31 is known for its shade tolerance. It should blend very well with our Santa Anna. so much so that you will likely not be able to tell the difference. Time will tell on it's shade tolerance in this important area as its success can prove to be a model of other fairway peripheral areas adjacent to trees. I am cautiously optimistic because of the variety's claims, and because of the shade mitigation of the tree pruning and most importantly the soil modification that will provide a much better growing opportunity.

Here is the finished product. Notice the shade pattern from the dormant tree branches. Almost exactly the area that was re-sodded.

The sod installed on #2 earlier in the month is Tahoma 31 as well but it was overseeded. The reason we chose overseeded was it was 4 weeks earlier and the Tahoma at the sod farm hadn't started waking up yet and the shade in this area on #2 is denser because of the amount and type of trees. We will transition the ryegrass out of this Tahoma 31 stand in the early summer. 

Rough Core Aeration

Next up for us is core aeration of the rough. This work is weather related and this essential task for the health of our rough in the summer cannot be done when it is wet. We have a good number of Mondays open through mid-April so hopefully the weather will cooperate and there won't be much of a disruption to the Membership. More on the process as we get started but basically, we aerify, allow the cores to dry and sweep them up. Holes we will be working on during golf play will be closed to cart traffic but won't be numerous if weather is dry and we are able to make good progress on Mondays.

Thank You for Your Support!