Storm Damage 3/20/2011

Calabasas Country Club

Maintenance Department

Weekly Update

This somewhat unexpected storm brought with it 6'' of rain and winds up to 45 MPH. The saturated soil and the high winds caused 8 trees to fall and hundreds of branches scattered around the course. 

With the aerification only one day away it will take some time to get the mess cleaned up; I hope to have the course in good condition by Saturday but can't make any promises with the heavy work-load planed for this week.

Some activities planed for this week include:

• Greens drill and fill with 3/4'' drill bits at the depth of 12''
• Driving range tee & 10 fairway drill and fill with 1.25" drill bits at the depth of 8''
• Greens deep tine aerification with 1/2'' solid tines at the depth of 8"
• Fairway & tee surface aerification with 3/4'' solid tine at the depth of 4"
• Topdressing tee surfaces and greens
• Greens seeding with bentgrass
• Driving range seeded with perennial ryegrass and bermudagrass
• #10 fairway seeding with bermudagrass
• Greens fertilization
• Tee fertilization
• Fairway fertilization
• #1 cart path repair
• Painting ball washers and benches

 Attached is a few pictures of the damage

March Greens Aeration

Sprinkler Leveling

Leveling the sprinklers is a huge undertaking that never ends. Once the 3,300 sprinklers are raised the process will start again. It is a full time job in itself, it takes 40 minuets to level one sprinkler head. So 2,200 hours to complete; I have three crew members working every day when their is not more pressing tasks.

The low sprinkler heads create a big problem:

• Effects the sprinklers diameter (Causing dead or dry grass)
• Localized wet areas (Water is obstructed by grass causing wet areas around sprinkler)

Stump Grinder

The course accumulates a few tree stumps from falling or dead trees.

 Every 2 or 3 years it is necessary to remove them; they create a hazard to members, machinery, on top of being an eyesore.

 The stump grinder grinds the stumps 8 to 10 inches below the surface; then the hole if filled with soil and seeded. 34 stumps were removed this week.

 

Cattails Removal

We are still working on removing cattails around the course.

 Jose at the bottom of #1 fairway.

Reuben behind #4 green.

Greens Topdressing

Sergio and brother German the newest members of the maintenance crew applying sand to the large putting green on  3/1/2011

Applying sand to the greens lightly frequently helps the greens stay firm, helps control the thatch, and keeps the greens rolling smooth.

18 Hillside

 The crew has been working hard to maintain the course and has spent some time cleaning the slope by number 18 green.

 After removing numerous roots and debris a little bit of soil was added to aid plant growth.

The area was seeded with Sheep and Hard Fescue which is a low growing bunch grass that requires very little water.