GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
APRIL 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 during quarter one, 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 through the second quarter of 2025.
QUARTERLY MAINTENANCE UPDATE
Cleaning of Desert Native Areas and Detailing of All Areas
Significant improvements have been achieved over the winter months in enhancing the desert areas of the Indiana course, with key developments including:
- Hole 2: Extensive clearing of weeds and unwanted shrubs to the left side. Opportunistic herbaceous plants have also been removed, and the dry riverbed has been thoroughly cleaned.
- Hole 7: Removal of weeds on the outer mounds behind the green, with the surface areas fully conditioned. This area now boasts spectacular visual appeal.
- Hole 11: Comprehensive pruning and elevation of previously overgrown trees around the tees, along with weed clearance. The dry riverbeds have been meticulously cleaned by removing unwanted vegetation and pruning plant life along the banks.
- Hole 12: Complete remediation of the desert area, with only the right-hand side of the forward tees and outer mounding remaining to be completed.
- Hole 13: Thorough cleaning and clearing of the area surrounding the tees and the right-hand side leading towards the lake. Refinement and rolling of ground surfaces are underway and nearing completion.
Hole 7: Completion of the removal of the weeds on the outer mounds with the surfaces reconditioned
Hole 11: Completion of tree pruning with the area cleared of weeds and the reestablishment of the dry riverbeds
Hole 12: The desert areas have been completely reconditioned.
Hole 13: Right Hand side cleared of unwanted vegetation and prepared for rolling
A major renovation of the wooden walkway in front of the 14th tees is near completion. The walkway is being completely renovated using new wooden sleepers and interspersed with tinted concrete, aiming to create a natural effect that blends with the surrounding and improves players passage.
Tee 14: Complete renovation of the wooden sleeper pathway
Fairways
Throughout the winter months, the fairways have consistently remained in excellent condition, maintaining both their vibrant green colour and uniform density. Currently, the paspalum grass on these playing surfaces is experiencing vigorous growth due to rising temperatures, recent rainfall, and targeted applications of fertilizers and biostimulants.
Our objective is to ensure that fairways remain at their highest quality to provide optimal playing conditions. Frequent mowing will commence in April, followed by scheduled maintenance activities planned for early May. All maintenance procedures will be conducted thoughtfully, aiming to minimize any disruption to regular play.
Roughs
The rough has remained consistently green, uniform, and dense throughout the winter. The over-seeding conducted before and after the 2024 DP World Tour event has proven highly effective, helping maintain excellent conditions that persist today. Recent rainfall, along with targeted applications of foliar fertilizers and rising temperatures, has further enhanced the turf’s quality and playability.
Last week, the rough was fully mowed using a rotary mower, resulting in a uniform and even surface. The current condition and height of the rough significantly enhance both the aesthetics and playability of the course, providing clear definition through the contrast in height, texture, and colour between the rough and the fairways.
Greens
The greens have remained in excellent condition throughout the winter months and are now showing clear signs of vigorous growth, evident in their vibrant colour and quicker recovery from ball pitch marks. Recent increases in temperature have allowed us to perform various maintenance tasks to enhance ball speed and roll quality, including micro solid tining, verticutting, and light topdressing, which are carried out bi-weekly.
Following recent rainfall, the greens’ soil has been thoroughly flushed of salts, resulting in a significant reduction of any black layer presence. This improved soil condition supports healthy turfgrass growth. We continue to meticulously adhere to our greens’ fertilization and biostimulation programmes, complemented by the monthly application of beneficial microorganisms. These practices help ensure the greens remain at peak health, visually appealing, and highly playable.
Tees
The tees are currently in excellent condition, offering an appealing presentation for play. They exhibit consistent density, uniformity, firmness, and vibrant colour. Having transitioned out of their winter semi-dormant phase, the tees are now actively growing.
This week, a foliar application of fertilizers and biostimulants is being performed to fully address and repair any remaining divot damage on the tee platforms. Maintaining these areas is particularly important, as tees represent the starting point for each hole and greatly influence the initial impression of the course.
UPCOMING COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
Cleaning of Desert Native Areas and Detailing of All Areas
The golf course maintenance team remains committed to enhancing the desert areas. Our upcoming projects include:
- Comprehensive cleaning and clearing of the desert area stretching from hole 9 to hole 13. This includes pruning and raising all trees, trimming selected bushes, removing weeds, trees, and bushes from riverbeds, and improving the external mounds on holes 12 and 13.
- Thorough improvement initiatives for holes 7, 12, and 14. In these locations, we will clear desert areas of weeds, repair pathways and bridges, and replant with aesthetically pleasing, low-maintenance native plants suited to Almeria’s climate. All existing olive trees and other trees will be pruned, and irrigation enhancements will be implemented to further improve turfgrass quality. Our approach will initially focus on these specific holes, with future expansions across the entire course.
- Continued improvement on Hole 1, specifically repopulating tee complexes with carefully selected plant material. Our goal is to eliminate invasive species, encourage native plant growth, and preserve indigenous habitats, thereby creating visually appealing and environmentally sustainable areas.
- Consistent with our ongoing environmental initiatives, we will continue restricting access to certain native desert zones around the course. This strategy is vital for protecting and encouraging the natural development of native wildlife and plant species. Additionally, access restrictions will remain in place on all par 3 holes, and temporarily on select holes experiencing compaction issues, allowing for effective recovery and enhancing their presentation.
Ongoing Course Improvements
Planned improvements for April include targeted fertilization and biostimulation treatments with high nitrogen content to assist the turfgrass in emerging from dormancy; application of wetting and rooting agents to both rough and greens; comprehensive aeration across the entire course; initiation of a transition plan to convert the rough to paspalum; bunker conditioning with fresh sand and redistribution of existing sand; and enhancements to greens, including micro solid tining, Dryject Topchanger deep air injection, verticutting, and light topdressing.
Additional planned course enhancements:
- Academy short-game practice area upgrades, including the reconstruction of Palm Springs Creek featuring a functional water fountain. This project is scheduled tentatively for completion during the upcoming winter months.
- Golf course signage improvements, which have already seen significant progress. Completion of remaining signs is ongoing.
- Upgrading the appearance and functionality of course furniture, such as wagon wheel chairs, ball washers, bins, and sandboxes. Substantial progress has been made, with remaining details targeted for completion.
- Irrigation and drainage enhancements across the golf course. Work commenced with sprinkler profiling, levelling, and comprehensive irrigation system checks. In April, targeted minor improvement works will begin in areas with the greatest need.
- Repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges, and wooden walkways. Projects include replacing and repairing wooden structures in poor condition.
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 of May
You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social 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
