GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2025
Dear Member / Property Owner,
Following on from the last Golf Course Superintendent’s Newsletter, which was designed to keep you up to date with all the important maintenance procedures which were scheduled to take place on The Indiana Course, we are pleased to be able to give you an update on the works carried out and to inform you of the schedule of works which shall take place throughout the first quarter of 2025.
QUARTERLY MAINTENANCE UPDATE
Cleaning of Desert Native Areas and Detailing of All Areas
The desert maintenance team has made significant improvements to the natural area on the right-hand side of Hole 1. The team has completely cleared and cleaned the area, including the removal and in certain areas the reduction of plumbago hedges. Additionally, weeds have been thoroughly removed, and the palm trees and yuccas have been pruned.
The end result of this work is a significantly improved and visually appealing natural area creating a cleaner and more open landscape, enhancing the aesthetics of the hole.
The team also cleared and removed the aquatic plants (Aeneas) from the river running alongside the left hand side of Hole 18. This work has transformed the area, presenting the final hole near the Club House with a much cleaner and more defined appearance.
The details of the river are now fully visible, showcasing its natural beauty, including the rocks, waterfalls, and the flowing water. Additionally, the cacti and other features on the opposite bank can now be appreciated, enhancing the overall aesthetic and appeal of this iconic part of the course.
The Driving Range tees have been fully over seeded and will continue to be reseeded regularly. This ongoing maintenance programme ensures that these natural grass surfaces can be used even more frequently throughout the year, providing golfers with consistent and high-quality practice conditions throughout all seasons.
Fairways
The fairways have been meticulously maintained to ensure the highest level of playability, preserving their density, uniformity, firmness, and vibrant colour.
With the drop in temperatures at the end of autumn, the paspalum grass in the fairways begins to slow its growth and prepares to enter a period of dormancy. To mitigate or minimise the intensity and duration of this dormancy, we have implemented a comprehensive strategy. This includes; Fertilization and Biostimulation treatments, the application of pigment, and careful irrigation combined with topdressing to maintain optimal soil moisture.
These efforts ensure that low temperatures have minimal impact on the paspalum, allowing us to maintain its green colour, density, and uniformity throughout the winter, provided there is no frost. This approach guarantees excellent fairway conditions year-round with only minimal growth during the colder months.
Roughs
The rough has seen significant improvement over the past three months. Our goal of achieving dense, uniform, green, and tall rough throughout the course for the DP World Tour Qualifying School was successfully met. However, this achievement required an enormous effort due to the numerous adverse factors we face, as detailed in the previous newsletter—such as clay soil, unsuitable grass species, recurring pests and diseases, and inadequate irrigation systems.
Looking ahead to this winter and early spring of 2025, we plan to implement improvements in the irrigation system and across the golf course as a whole. These upgrades will help streamline maintenance efforts and enhance the overall condition of the course, ensuring it remains in great shape throughout the year.
Greens
The greens on the golf course are in excellent condition. However, the greens colour has slightly faded, and some patches of darker green and brown have appeared due to the cold weather. This variation is normal for this time of year, as bent grass greens consist of different plant ecotypes that respond differently to extreme cold or heat conditions.
It’s important to note that turf grass growth on the greens is minimal during this period, which makes ball marks and any damage caused by play more noticeable. Recovery is slower in the colder months, requiring extra time and patience for the greens.
At present, the greens remain firm, dense, uniform, and maintain a speed of 10 feet. The ball rolling quality is excellent, and ball reception is performing well. To sustain the colour and encourage the minimal growth required for recovery, foliar applications of fertilizers and biostimulants are being carried out every 15 days. These treatments ensure the greens maintain the ideal speed and rolling quality throughout the season.
The greens aeration programme is also being adhered to, with micro solid tines being applied to all greens every two weeks and, in some cases, weekly. However, two greens (the original putting green at the Golf Academy and Green 8) have areas with low spots where excess moisture has created unfavourable conditions.
These areas have led to a decline in the bent grass, resulting in a loss of colour, density, uniformity, and root health. Efforts are underway to address and correct these issues to restore these areas to their optimal condition.
Tees
The tees are generally in excellent condition. They continue to maintain their density, uniformity, firmness, and vibrant colour. Additionally, all the ‘Non-Slip Step Guards’ have been installed on the wooden steps, ensuring safe and easy access to the tee platforms.
These critical areas of the golf course create the first impression for each hole and must always be in the best condition. However, due to the intense usage they endure throughout the year, particularly on the Par-3 tees, it is essential to actively promote growth and recovery in these areas.
To achieve this, divots are top dressed almost daily, and the tees are included in a maintenance programme that involves bi-weekly applications of fertilizers, biostimulants, and pigments. This proactive approach ensures that the tees remain in optimal condition to withstand consistent use and continue to enhance the playing experience.
UPCOMING COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
Cleaning of Desert Native Areas and Detailing of All Areas
We will continue with the cleaning and clearing of the desert areas throughout the course. Identified areas for work include:
- Right side of Hole 1: Further pruning of yuccas and removal of all dry leaves.
- Left side of Hole 2: The entire left side of the natural area will be cleaned and cleared, preserving existing plantings and improving them where possible.
- Earth mound adjacent to the 3rd Tee complex: Manual removal of weeds followed by the application of post-emergent and pre-emergent herbicides.
- Back of Green Complex 7: The area beyond the perimeter will be thoroughly cleaned and cleared of bushes and weeds.
- Left side of 12th Hole tees and dry river: The area will be cleaned and cleared to enhance the presentation and definition of the hole.
- Right side of the 13th Hole: Removal of all trees, bushes, and weeds from the perimeter of the hole to the dirt road.
As part of the ongoing effort to enhance the Indiana course, we are initiating a natural area recovery programme around the tees and green complexes. The focus is to restore these areas to their original state while ensuring they align with environmental best practices. This project is scheduled to begin in early spring 2025.
The recovery programme will commence with Hole 1, where we will repopulate tee complexes with native plant material. Efforts will focus on eradicating invasive species, fostering the growth of indigenous plants, and preserving the natural habitat. This approach will create visually appealing and environmentally sustainable areas that enrich the course’s overall aesthetics and ecosystem.
Aligned with previous initiatives, access to specific desert native zones around the course will remain restricted. This measure is essential for safeguarding native wildlife and plant life, allowing these habitats to thrive naturally. Furthermore, access to all Par 3’s, as well as certain holes experiencing compaction issues, will be temporarily restricted. This will facilitate recovery efforts and enhance the presentation and playability of these holes.
Ongoing Course Improvements
We will continue our programme of course fertilisation and biostimulisation during the first quarter of the year to maintain its optimal presentation, health, and resilience throughout the winter months.
Additional planned course improvements include:
- Short Game Practice Area Enhancement: The academy’s short game practice area will be elevated via the reconstruction of the Palm Springs Creek with an operational water fountain.
- Golf Course Signage: While significant progress has been made in upgrading course signage, a few remaining signs have been identified as requiring attention.
- Course Furniture Presentation: Enhancements to course furniture, including wagon wheel chairs, ball washers, bins, sandboxes, and other elements, are ongoing. While much progress has been made, we aim to complete all remaining details promptly.
- Greens, Collars, and Other Areas: Continued improvements will focus on greens, collars, and other key areas using sod where necessary.
- Irrigation and Drainage Upgrades: Plans include profiling and levelling sprinklers, a comprehensive inspection of the irrigation system, and targeted improvement works on holes requiring the most attention.
- Roads, Bridges, and Wooden Walkways: We will repair and replace bridges and sections of roads with deteriorated wood. For instance, the trial improvement carried out on the wooden walkway of Tees 14 serves as an example of the planned enhancements.
2025 Greens Hollow Coring Dates
In the knowledge that all Property Owners and Members need to have as much notice as possible concerning particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily affect the playing conditions of the green’s surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays, accordingly, please see below the hollow coring dates in 2025.
- Monday 12th, Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th
You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament calendar, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much more, by visiting either our official website desertspringsresort.es or by contacting the Resort Reception at Desert Springs.
We and the staff at Desert Springs are looking forward to seeing you on The Indiana course in the near future.
As always please remember to fix your ball marks and replace your divots.
Kind regards,
Ricardo Gonzalez-Carrascosa Almenara
Golf Course Superintendent
