Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 Heavy frost this morning, frost delay.

Sat.Nov.12 Frost delay this morning.

Final phase of double row irrigation.

Senior asst. superintendent Jerry Stockmal has a big smile on his face knowing this is the last fairway we are installing double row irrigation. The original single row system was installed in the 1950's (yes, I said 1950's) and was updated with pop up heads in 1988. In the early 2000's we started upgrading to a double row system that provides wider coverage with accurate water patterns. These upgrades included brand new pipe, swing joints, sprinklers and controller wire. The majority of this work has been done in house by Whitemarsh employees and was lead by Jerry, John Fleming and more recently asst. superintendent Jim Dennisson.     

Damage caused by a golf cart after 10:45 on Friday Oct.28th.

This damage to our 11th fairway was during play on Friday October 28th. PLEASE be careful when making turns!

Doug Miller celebrates 25 years on WVCC's grounds staff.

Please join me in congratulating Doug Miller for 25 years on the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club grounds staff. He started his employment with us in 1991. I am sure Doug has seen many changes here at the club and he has been a big part of it. He joins Jerry Stockmal, John Fleming and Gary Farrer with over 25 years on the staff.
Other things that happened in 1991:
-George H. W. Bush was President (not his son)
-Cold war ends
-Gulf war I started .....and ended
-Backdraft with Kurt Russell was a new release movie.
-Freddie Mercury past away.
AND!!!
-The Phillies missed the playoffs

Penacale Derby Saturday results

Pool area gets fresh sod.

After a couple of aerations, some fertilizer and a hand rake the pool lawn gets fresh sod. The sod we placed in the spring was behind the 8 ball from the start. We were in such a hurry to get everything finished, proper preparation of the area was not able to be accomplished. The new sod will enhance the area right away and now has months to root in and establish.

 

NASA close up picture of Mars ? No, this is a picture of the soil at the pool after sod removal.

We are in the process of old sod removal, multiple aerations and placement of new sod at the pool area.
This picture is an example of how far I could push a screwdriver  into the soil (that is as far as I could go). During the pool and halfway house construction, many pieces of heavy equipment drove back and forth across the pool grounds. This resulted in severely compacted soil not capable of healthy turf growth.
We have aerated the area multiple times and hand raked to remove large stones. Sod is on the schedule and will be installed shortly, pictures to follow.

Fore The Golfer: The Benefits of Sand Topdressing on Golf Courses