GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 2020
Dear Member / Property Owner,
Following on from the Golf Course Superintendent’s News Letter sent to you in July, which was designed to keep you up to date with all of 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 in August 2020.
JULY COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE
Verticut and Topdressing Greens
The greens have been verticut and then heavily topdressed twice to promote a more vertical growth and remove the grain from the greens. This results in improved ball roll, speed and firmness of the green.
Hydrogen Peroxide application to Greens
The programme of the introduction of Hydrogen Peroxide to the greens was completed as per the schedule.
Its use provides the greens with numerous benefits; it is ecological and environmentally friendly; it assists in the control of thatch that can cause greens to become soft and spongy and is highly effective against the majority of diseases that can occur.
Golf Course Grass Conversion Works
The programme of the conversion of the ryegrass to Paspalum Pure Dynasty was completed on schedule. Regular videos of the work carried out have been posted on our official social media sites for all to view.
To date various applications of fertilizer have been applied to the newly germinated paspalum to help promote growth and establishment.
Paspalum Growth During Conversion Weeks After Seeding
AUGUST COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
Golf Course Grass Conversion Works
Now that the paspalum has completely germinated our goal is to promote establishment, density and uniformity throughout all fairways. This will be accomplished by encouraging the paspalum and simultaneously stressing the existing ryegrass. This will ensure a smooth conversion to paspalum that will allow the course to be open for play on schedule. We will continue our weekly fertilizer applications and continue to cut the fairways slowly, lowering heights of cut. Several applications of herbicide will need to be applied to eliminate any unwanted weeds that appeared during the early stages of grow in.
In essence the overriding message I wish to convey is for all to be aware that we are now at the stage with the grass conversion that; today we are better than yesterday and tomorrow we will be better than today!
Cleaning of Desert & Tee Areas
Designated areas of the desert and tee complexes will be cleaned of old plant material and if needed new planting will be added.
Verticut and Topdress Greens
Greens will be lightly verticut weekly and topdressed every two weeks. This will help improve ball roll, speed and firmness of the greens.
2020 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 2020.
- Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th September
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 www.desertspringsresort.es or by contacting the golf 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.
Kind regards,
Zachary LaPorte
Golf Course Superintendent
