Myphillygolf.com features Whitemarsh Valley CC

  

Joe Logan from "Myphillygolf.com" visited Whitemarsh Valley in the spring of 2013. During our golf round there was some discussion about improvements made in the last few years. During the video you will witness some terrible golf swings "PLEASE. DO NOT TRY THESE AT HOME". 

Merry Christmas to all WVCC members. There is split firewood(unseasoned) in the small parking lot behind the hedges . Please help yourselves !

Why is half the practice tee green and the other half straw brown?

With the change over to hybrid Bermudagrass at the practice tee, we are always trying to extend growth and color as late in the year as possible. These pictures show the results of material called Civitas. This was after the 2nd of two applications(early Nov.). I assumed that the color would fade by early December but I was surprised that the blue\green effect was still strong on Dec. 20th.
This test case could yield valuable information on managing the Bermudagrass practice area in the future.

The beauty of winter (ok, almost winter) !

This view was taken from behind the 18th green right after one of our recent snow falls. I reflects the quiet beauty of the golf course during the off season. With predicted temperatures in the 60's this weekend, be prepared to lose this view by Monday.
The good thing is that we could be able to continue the bunker project soon.

What a difference a year makes!

Phase I of the bunker renovation project started Dec. 6th of last year(2012). We had very little snow fall during that winter and moderate temperatures allowed the project to progress smoothly.
This year(2013) we were able to get a jump on Phase II with a start date of mid- October. With the good weather we had this fall we were able to complete the work at the following areas:

-#4 green and (2) greenside bunkers.

-#3 green and approach (removal of 2 bunkers).

-#18 fairway right side bunkers(4).

-#1 fairway (one bunker removed and fairway graded).

-Area between 1 and 18 (improved drainage with 8" pipe).

-#1 greenside bunker restoration(4 bunkers).

-#10 green and bunker work in progress.

This picture above shows that work has temporarily shut down due to the snow and below freezing temperatures. Hopefully the snow will melt and the work will continue.

New right greenside bunker on #1.

After the heavy rain last week that pushed back construction, this is the completed look at the right side bunkers on #1. This long bunker actually replaces the front right greenside and left approach bunker. From a distance this complex will look like three bunkers instead of two. 

The "mean 18" today!

New bunkers at #18 passes first test!

Tuesday night into Wednesday morning the golf course recieved over 3 inches of rain. The course started to flood around 8:30am but it is now receding. The water you see is the designed holding area for excess runoff. When the creek level lowers to the point that the backflow prevention opens up this water will be allowed to drain through a series of pipes from 8" to 36" diameter. The bunkers on 18 have been rebuilt and raised anywhere from 12" to 18" to keep this type of water out of the bunkers.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

After 4 years, this is the final green to have drainage installed.

The 2nd hole at Whitemarsh Valley is the last green to have drainage installed on these push up greens. Golf Preservations Inc. have done a fantastic job during the installation. In the past, right after a heavy rain we would close the course due to saturated conditions. Over the last 3 years we have been able to open up the course sooner and also cut greens earlier with this drainage in place. Now, we will still have some puddles on the fairways but the course would be open for play without causing damage to the greens.

Drainage being installed today at hole #2. The green will be closed today but may open tomorrow.
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Sand installation of bunkers on the right side of #18 fairway.

Bunkers on the right side of #18 fairway ready for drainage.

Tree removals next to #6 tee



This is the view from the back tees on the 6th hole. The Maple trees to the left have been growing into the launching area of this tee. The trees have also created a shade issue with the men's tee. We have noticed over the last few years that the tee would be in full shade until almost noon every morning. This lack of am sunlight has caused that tee to struggle during the late summer and early fall months.

   

You can now see that the teeing area has plenty of room for golfers to maneuver their tee shots from the back tee. Even though there is some shade from the last remaining Maple to the left of the 6th tee, it is just a fraction of the original amount.



Irrigation install at the 3rd green.

New irrigation being installed at the 3rd green.

This picture shows the beginning of the new irrigation pipe, wire and sprinklers being installed around the 3rd green and approach. All of the old system had to be hand dug out and removed before new materials installed. The old system was installed in 1985 with some of the original Toro 655 head still in use.

Left greenside bunker at the 4th green,with sand installed.

This is the old left greenside bunker at #4.

This is the new shape of the bunker, it is longer and narrower than the original.

New bunker with drainage and fabric installed. The fabric is used to help keep the sub-soil from mixing with the sand over time.

WHITEmarsh Valley!

Frosty morning!

Right side bunker at the 4th green roughed out.

Bunker renovations start today.

Work starting today on the 4th hole.

I have seen it all now!

Stump removal in process.

This bottom picture is what the area looks like after the stump grinding process. Next will be grindings clean up followed by filling the hole with soil, and the final piece is sod installation.

Dave Liotta captures"Belcher Tree Fund Shootout".

After almost sinking a 20 foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to avoid a chip off, Dave chipped in from the elevated area behind the green to win this years shootout. Bob Haas almost chipped in also, but his shot went a little right of the hole.

Atcavage,Haas and Liotta advance to the final hole of the "shootout".

Final three left in the tree fund shoot out .

No, this is not a halloween decoration!

 This is one of a few tree stumps we have on the golf course getting ready to be stump ground. I paint the stump for identification and an an outline for the machine to grind out to.

Testing products at the practice facility for extended fall color.

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Parts of the practice tee and approach have been sprayed with a product to extend green color into the cooler fall months. This is one of two products we will be using in order to extend the season at the practice facility.

Practice green is ready to accept play.

Ten weeks after seeding the practice green is open for play. It is presently mature enough to handle all the different ball marks that will come it's way. The cutting height right now is .170" and that height will be lowered to regular greens height by the end of the year. Enjoy!

Grand opening of practice green: Tues October 1.



The final piece of the "Short Game Area" will be in place with the opening of the practice green. This green was seeded on July 26th and after a short 10 week grow in it should be mature enough to accept chip shots. It is presently being cut at .180" and with our topdressing, height lowering program we will be at our regular greens height by next spring.



Practice tee recovery.......after 17 days.



Just 17 days of re-growth shows that this hybrid Bermudagrass has great potential.



This picture was 7 days after divots were filled.



Freshly filled divots.

Suggested practice tee divot pattern as recommended by the USGA.

You would think by scattering your divot pattern on the practice facility would allow the divots to heal the quickest. But the above pictures shows that if practice balls are hit in this fashion, less divot turf will be removed. This will hasten the healing of that area. This would also be true at the short game area.

Divot healing timeline on practice tee.



This picture was taken Sept 6th, 7 days after the 1st picture. You can see that significant healing has taken place on this L-36 Bermudagrass surface.



This photo was taken the following morning after use. The divots were filled with straight sand and no seed.



Jerry Stockmal celebrates 25 years at WVCC!



Grounds Department employee

reaches 25 years at WVCC !





Normally I would write about activities on the golf course but instead, I am sharing with the Whitemarsh membership a milestone achieved by one of our employees, Jerry Stockmal. Jerry has just completed 25 years of employment in the Grounds Department at WVCC. This length of service is very uncommon due to the demands that a job on the grounds staff requires.

I hired Jerry as an 18 year old kid just looking for a seasonal job; he has turned that “seasonal job” into a career. In the year following, he elevated himself to full time status but that was not enough for Jerry. He inquired about how to obtain a higher level position in the golf course maintenance field. Jerry decided to attend Rutgers University to enroll in their Golf Course Management program. After completing that program, he was promoted to 2nd Assistant Superintendent. His responsibilities and duties at WVCC have been growing from general maintenance and mowing to crew management, applying fertilizers, plant protectants and irrigation operations.

Eight years ago he was promoted to Senior Assistant Superintendent, making him second in charge in the grounds

maintenance department. His experience in this position has Jerry supervising installation of all new irrigation on the golf course that is done “in house” and even supervising contracted companies doing work at the club. Over the last three years with projects going

on in the fall, winter and spring he is there to make sure the grading, drainage and sod work is finished to WVCC specifications.

You will also see him involved in one of our many tree removals during the year that our own staff completes. So when you see Jerry out on the golf course working hard as usual, please congratulate him on the milestone he has attained.



Practice tee open for play.

With the new hybrid Bermudagrass tee open for play I will provide a weekly picture to follow the healing potential of this new turf. This turf was chosen because of it's playability,durability and rapid healing capacity. Along with the new turf the practice tee was widened 30 feet to give us even more healing ability.

Short game area open. Chipping green is still closed for a few more weeks.

Practice tee is open today!

Golf carts causing damage to the fairways......or is it the driver of the cart? Remember, this is your golf course.

Do we really need to do donut"s on the 8th fairway?