Strong Finish
Minnehaha Country Club
The State of the Golf Course
January 2012
It is a pleasure to share this information at such an exciting time in Minnehaha Country Club history. In less than three years the golf course has gone through many significant changes raising the bar in terms of beauty, conditioning and playability. The purpose of this report is to show how far we have come in this short time and more importantly, where we will be in another few short years.
Take us to the next level
As time goes on, I struggle to identify what exactly the “next level” is. This is similar to the five hundred courses that are top 100 courses in some fashion. I brainstorm to what level is the next level for the Minnehaha member and what level is after that next level.
Starting a few years prior to hosting the PGA Championship in 2004, my sound bite to anyone asking about our daily activities was that “every day is the PGA Championship”. With that in mind, it is becoming clear to me and my staff that everything we do at Minnehaha is directly related to the next level.
I look back on my first three years as your superintendent and it is evident to me that I break it down into two parts; getting to know the golf course and completing the course improvement project. The first part resulted in getting the golf course to an acceptable level for member play while the second was completing the project as it was intended without spending unnecessary dollars. With both parts successfully behind us, now is the time that we implement programs as anyone would while operating in the “next level” capacity.
For the record, I confidently stated three years ago that I believed we would be where we need to be in five years or less. Until we can specifically identify what the “next level” is, perhaps my five years or less was an understatement. Until then, I would rather break down each obstacle we presently face while working towards a higher level.
Turf Conditions
Many of the best clubs across the country are very similar in the amounts and types of grasses found at Minnehaha. To the golfer, the typical vision of grass is like looking at a forest without specifically looking at the trees. With that understanding, my goal to raise the conditioning to the next level is to make sure that each grass area has the best quality species in order to survive long term without any additional or unnecessary inputs. The member may often hear of different species of grasses like poa annua and fescue without ever knowing how to identify them, nor should they have to.
Once at the next level, the greens, tees and fairways will consist of bentgrass and poa annua. The rough will consist of bluegrass, ryegrass, fine fescue and tall fescue. The specifics of each I will leave at the Grounds Meetings and will cut into what really matters in this report.
It must be noted that poa annua is Latin for annual bluegrass. Poa annua has and always will live in harmony with other grasses like bentgrass whether on a putting green or golf course rough. Poa is typically the weakest grass in a stand and is the first to die in times of stress. Our goal will always be to maintain and slightly suppress poa annua, but not waste the time or money to remove it, poa will die just fine on its own.
Bentgrass Fairways
As of today there are four bentgrass/poa annua fairways; #8, #9, #10 and #16. In order to avoid $42,000 in sod last spring we chose to sod #14 fairway with bluegrass. This fairway can and will be converted to bentgrass when the time is right, preferably the day after the last golf event of the year in September 2012 or 2013. The remaining 13 fairways consist of nearly equal parts of bentgrass, poa annua and ryegrass. Due to the money invested in the current stand of fairway bentgrass (about 30%), I believe the best strategy is to continue working on raising the percentage of bentgrass until it is the majority of the turf stand on each fairway.
There are several micro environments throughout the golf course that already consist of a high percentage (>80% bent/poa), they are fairways on short #1, #2, short #5, #6, #15 and #17. The reason for a higher percentage on these holes is directly related to limited golf cart traffic. Sometime in late 2012 or 2013, these six fairways with high percentages of bentgrass will be ready for a complete conversion by selectively removing the ryegrass with a special herbicide. With proper homework, this will be a great test to see how the process will work, similar to converting #14 fairway. I mentioned a great test as I believe that with proper communication we can convert the first few holes as they are approaches and par 3 fairways. This strategy will allow us to hone our process and complete the ryegrass removal on the other fairways a year or two later when they are ready without sacrificing conditions or receiving complaints.
Expect the fairway bentgrass conversion to be complete sometime in the next two to four years. However, soil compaction issues and mowing quality are directly related to the equipment used to maintain the fairways. Without upgrades to this equipment in this two-four year timeframe, the bentgrass conversion process and turf quality could be delayed by several years. The equipment details are explained later in this report.
Drainage
The golf course improvement plan shortly after the wettest year on record was a blessing. During the project we were able to install key drainage to avoid future loss of revenue by allowing carts and keeping the golf course open more often during wet conditions. This is critical as just over one mile of asphalt cart path has been removed in the last five years.
Typical of older courses, most of the drainage at Minnehaha relies on the water moving across the surface versus through internal piping. There are many areas that will continue to be addressed and improved on a smaller scale through annual maintenance dollars over the next several years. Once again, these installations are important to get to the next level and will be addressed in the off season like they should be at the next level.
It is important to communicate the strategy of installing drainage on the new pushup greens, #8, #9, #14 and #15. Due to the lack of surface drainage on these greens, we are currently in the process of completing the necessary internal drainage. The 2012 golf season will be a test to see if our drainage performs at a high enough level where no further action is needed.
We chose to build push-up greens for consistency with the older greens and to avoid spending a large amount of money. In the process, we received a design much different than the older greens particularly with the lack of surface drainage. A typical USGA sand putting green average cost is $90,000 each while we spent less than $30,000 total for 3 greens and two extensions. In the future if the internal drainage on these greens is not performing there is another option of hiring a company (www.greensdrainage.com) that specializes in drainage on push-up greens on high level courses across the country. If needed, the cost associated with professionally draining all of the new greens without closing for play could be up to 1/3 of the price of building a USGA sand putting green. This can be a touchy subject, but it is my personal belief that this option would be successful if implemented, but only if needed. If this situation arises, it would be obvious sometime in the next 1-3 years.
Aesthetics
Going back to the vision of the forest and the trees, I believe that we have a great opportunity to take the aesthetics to a much higher level than ever imagined. Much of this has to do with the contrast between different grass species currently being used and eventually seeing different shades of green. Much of this started immediately after the construction in late 2010 while we were grassing the project. This continued throughout the year in 2011 with the grassing of the levee. In 2012 this will continue throughout the grounds while we remove tree stumps and introduce a higher percentage of our newer varieties of rough grass seed.
The use of fine fescues on the levee and other droughty areas without adequate irrigation can have a dramatic impact on aesthetics. Much more will be said about this soon after the bentgrass conversion on the fairways. Regardless, work has been underway for over a year introducing grasses that take several years to mature. Expect to see some of this through contrast in late summer 2012 with most of the newest seedlings maturing in 2013 and beyond. My version of the “next level aesthetics” will create a steady flow of lighter green on the outside of holes, flowing into a darker green bluegrass/ryegrass rough adjacent to a bluish/green bentgrass/poa green, tee and fairway look.
Trees
By spring we will have safely removed nearly 100 trees throughout the grounds and trimmed several hundred more in five months. It is safe to say that we have completed more tree work this winter than the last three years combined. At this time, I expect to see much improvement in the turf throughout the golf course by the summer of 2012. Early morning sunlight, increased direct sunlight and air movement directly improve turf conditions and at times can drastically reduce inputs to the turf, particularly on the short grass.
The lack of pruning over the last two years was starting to show as typical summer storms and wind left many of the trees with dangerous and unsightly hanging branches. Additionally, the lack of pruning increases the amount of branches often found scattered throughout the grounds causing us to use valuable maintenance dollars to clean up during peak member play.
In three short years, over 400 hundred trees have been removed throughout the grounds. Although many species were removed, the silver maples tended to make up the majority. Silver maples are fast growers, messy and tend to rot from the inside towards the end of their life.
At this time there are still well over 600 ash trees and nearly 300 silver maples growing throughout the grounds. Efforts to remove the maples are slowing as we initially concentrated efforts to remove maples near greens and any other weak maple that could potentially fall at any time. Reducing the number of ash trees while many are still small to medium size is cost effective to combat the future arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer insect.
Emerald Ash Borer
Dr. John Ball from SDSU has recently said that eventually we will lose every ash tree to the EAB. The $64,000 question is when the EAB will arrive in Sioux Falls. Dr. Ball has recently been a little more positive as the spread of this pest has slowed and there are other strategies working to slow the spread even further. Regardless, sometime over the next decade or more the EAB will arrive in Sioux Falls and we will be ready. By slowly removing ash trees with poor growth habits and in non-strategic locations we will be ready to decide what strategic trees to treat or remove when the EAB does arrive.
Diversity
For obvious reasons, increasing tree diversity is probably the most important tree goal prior to the arrival of EAB. Numerous courses throughout the country are currently suffering from the dramatic loss of all ash trees. Selective removal of ash and silver maples over the next decade will create the opportunity to introduce a wide variety of other trees. In the future when EAB does arrive, a substantial loss of ash trees could perhaps go relatively unnoticed if we continue to increase the diversity of the trees.
Color
With the removal of so many trees over the last few years the opportunity to increase aesthetics with proper tree selection is more important than ever. Although, the ash, box elder and silver maples are native to South Dakota, the fall landscape in particular is relatively bland. The continued introduction of ornamentals and other trees with unique characteristics will result in attractive color similar to many of the greatest courses throughout the country. This is an important subject to get the landscape to a higher level as it takes many years to realize the benefits of certain plantings. Last, many areas of sumac and lilacs have old growth and competition from volunteer trees. Areas behind #5, #6 green and other lilacs throughout the course will soon be pruned in small portions to regenerate growth and color. Proper care of these areas could be attractive and memorable in the Minnehaha experience in the near future.
Equipment
Over the last three seasons we have purchased several pieces of equipment that are game changers in the turf industry. Some examples are, the Toro sprayer, greens roller and buffalo blower. The purchases raised the level of conditioning by producing cleaner, firmer and faster greens, and improved conditions of tees and fairways. Additionally, other purchases aided in the construction and maintenance of the new design allowing us to avoid additional needs in specialty equipment. They were the loader tractor, sand pro and Turfco Seeder. These purchases over the last three years were the highest priority and needed to move forward prior to, during and after the renovation. The average cost of capital equipment purchases over the last three years was approximately $40,000/year. The lease for two Jacobsen rough mowers in that timeframe was $22,600/year for an average total of nearly $63,000 per year spent on equipment over the last three years.
Many other pieces of equipment purchased in the years leading up to my arrival were also specialty purchases to aid in the bentgrass conversion and worm casting issues resulting in muddy conditions. Last, the club has also shown a commitment in conditioning due to the investment of a new irrigation system with a freedom decoder control system. All of these capital expenditures were extremely large obstacles to overcome to ensure success when taking the step to the next level.
Replacement
At this time, the largest obstacle remaining to provide the next level of conditions is the replacement schedule for the remaining turf equipment purchased from 1998-2004. Currently the golf course is settling back into maintenance mode as the final touches of the renovation are being grown in. New approaches to maintain the new design have been taken and other experiments in maintenance equipment have been tested.
A decision will need to be made on how fast the club is willing to replace the older maintenance equipment. The ever fluid 10 year Capital Improvement Plan suggests the items, details and prices of the equipment needed to raise the conditioning to high quality level and provide “championship type” conditions throughout the grounds for any club event throughout the year. This was the exact process we used at Whistling Straits from 2001-2004 while spending an average of just over $150,000/year in capital purchases for a 36 hole facility.
Useful Life
The majority of the equipment highlighted in the 10 year plan is a replacement for each piece we currently own. When reading, move your cursor over the cell of the future purchase to view the description for that item. Further information regarding the scope of each replacement item can also be viewed in the 2012 Capital Equipment Proposal. Preferably, all of this information can be used to answer all immediate questions regarding which item is the highest priority over the next three years. This is important due to the age of the maintenance fleet. Many items will be at the end of their useful life over the next three years. The 10 year plan shows an adequate replacement schedule for much less money than other clubs at our current level.
Lease/Buy
It is also very important to consider the many options we have regarding equipment packages from the larger manufacturers. Toro has pricing packages that could save nearly 7% if purchased in 2012. There are significant price increases on the horizon as the government mandate of higher emission standards will raise the price of diesel engines over 20% in 2013. I am free to further explain any of these options at any time.
Labor Savings
Perhaps the most difficult thing to measure at this time is the potential labor savings with some of the proposed purchases. Aerifying turf is a labor intensive task that needs to be addressed with quality equipment without sacrificing conditions. Frequent, efficient aerification without a mess or sacrificing conditions is the absolute most important function associated with long term quality conditioning.
Newer mowers in the proposal also have the ability to reduce hand labor up to $10,000 annually. The new design and desire for a higher level of conditioning will require an upgrade in two rough mowers this year and many other items over the next three years.
Infrastructure
The Grounds Committee has requested information over the last few months to aid in the new priorities set in December of 2011. The new priorities are: 1) Asphalt, 2) Equipment, 3) Replacement of the lower sheds.
Asphalt
All of the remaining asphalt on the golf course was measured and graded according to its current condition. It is recommended by the Grounds Committee that $95,000 be allocated to replace all worn asphalt and seal coat all asphalt in good condition over the next three years.
Storage sheds
Currently several sites have been discussed by the Grounds Committee for the relocation of the lower storage sheds. Several examples have been given with most discussion related to areas hidden from play near picnic and dump grounds. The Grounds Committee also understands the importance of the storage space and feels that up to $100,000 be considered until any examples and quotes are presented.
Bunkers
Currently there are 8 bunkers remaining from the old design. It is recommended that $6,000 be allocated for the purchased of new bunker sand to aid in the look and consistency of the new bunkers.
Irrigation
The irrigation of the driving range lacks the specific control and capacity to effectively irrigate the driving range. Although we can presently work around this issue, it must be noted that this will be the next large obstacle we will face 3-7 years from now. Upgrading this driving range irrigation system is a project that could be handled “in house” to avoid additional costs if necessary.
Summary
Today is a good day to be at Minnehaha. The current maintenance budget is adequate for progressive maintenance for many years to come. We have increased productivity and efficiency while controlling expenses over the last three years. All of this has resulted in a higher level of quality without the extra cost.
My goal with this report was to explain a timeline of what to expect while we work towards a higher level of conditioning that the Minnehaha membership deserves. This report, the 2012 Capital Equipment Proposal and the 10 year Capital Plan together will help outline the present and near future improvements needed to get to the next level after of many years of investing in the golf course.
Thank you,
Dave Swift
November 23, 2011
Normally at this time of year, Superintendents are dusting off their shotguns and ice fishing equipment looking forward to a little down time. Soon, I will join the ranks, but not until the weather forces me into it. For nearly 8 months I have been pushing myself to make sure that we finish this season as strong as we started. The fall season is busy enough with normal maintenance practices that it can be difficult to complete all those little projects that arise throughout the year. Fortunately, our grounds staff has pressed on and helped complete one of the most challenging years I have ever witnessed. With that, we can all ice fish in peace.
Aside from the normal fall maintenance, work is underway in so many different categories I am having a difficult time explaining everything. This is partly due to my excitement, but many of these tasks are slow processes that have been underway for months. After a long year and a dwindling list of tasks, I can finally say that we are finishing the season strong.
Although we were very dry, the weather throughout the fall was nothing short of fantastic resulting in healthy turf as we head into the winter months. Late this fall, we were able to complete the last of the internal (below ground) construction. Internal drainage was completed on the weakest of greens and the much needed sod leveling, topdressing, irrigation installation and the all important tree trimming has been started. As we look forward to the spring months, the enormous list of construction tasks will finally be completed, along with some much needed tree trimming and removal.
One last item of importance to note is the winter work list regarding tree removal. This should be exciting as addressing shade issues will have the greatest immediate impact on long term turf quality. Some examples of areas that will have the greatest immediate increase in quality from tree removal are; #12 green, #14 tee complex and the rough between holes #13 and #14. Additionally, many of the silver maples and ash trees with poor growth habits are being removed. I am willing to bet that there will be noticeably fewer samaras (helicopters) on the greens in May.
Notes
· 2012 is looking excellent already as the golf calendar is nearly complete. Expect great things from us as we will plan accordingly.
· Speaking of the 2012 golf calendar, as of today it is looking like a turf version of Cliff Clavin’s dream board on Jeopardy.
· Nearly 100 trees were planted this year in our tree nursery and throughout the grounds to increase diversity in the near future. The species are; Flowering Crab, Hickory, Ohio Buckeye, Elm, Oak, Kentucky Coffee tree and Sycamore.
· Work is underway to incorporate plant material with additional spring and fall color. Perhaps, we will catch your eye next year and beyond.
· Huge thanks to all of you who continually fill divots. My math tells me you alone have increased the fairway bentgrass population this year by 3.36%. I will break down that math in a future newsletter.
September 28, 2011
Update from David Swift, Grounds Superintendant.
Go Dog Go!
My favorite book to read my son is Go Dog Go!, by P.D. Eastman. If you are a fan of changing up the words when reading to a three year old, I highly recommend it. It talks about big dogs, little dogs, black dogs, white dogs, dogs in the shade, dogs in the sun, you understand. I often think about that dog book in relation to your golf course.
The last 16 months have been a challenge to say the least. Not only do I want your golf course to be conditioned to perfection, but I want it done now while exceeding your expectations. There are also realistic goals, budgets and tournaments to prepare for that throw a curveball in the mix while sorting out short and long term goals. I am proud to say that we have had a general focus on long term quality vs. short term in most cases, while trying to balance your expectations now vs. later. With this in mind, soon, many maintenance obstacles will be taken care of and we will be back to focusing on a high level of conditioning and detail work throughout the grounds. Similar to compound interest, we are starting to gain ground at a rapid pace.
In a nutshell, many of our obstacles are similar to the flow in Go Dog Go! let me explain. Tree… Big tree, small tree. Strategic tree, shade problem. Bentgrass, poa annua. Strong grass, weak grass. Quality turf, weak turf. Cart path with grass, cart path with red rock. Asphalt cart path with holes, Asphalt cart path with bumps. Dead tree, live tree. Maple tree, Ash tree. Good green, bad green. Good drainage, bad drainage. Great fairway, worn out fairway. Good soil, bad soil. Sodded turf, seeded turf. Weak root system, excellent root system. Older equipment, new technology. Within budget, overbudget. You get my point.
Looking back on the 2011 season there were many great accomplishments and a few minor problems that are being dealt with for long term quality. The best part now that the golf season is nearly over is that we can close the book on this levee project and get your golf course back to a level that hopefully exceeds your expectations, every time you play.
Notes
· There are dozens of trees marked with orange ribbon throughout the golf course for removal. Once approved, this removal process will start in the winter months.
· Many of the trees marked for removal are older, weak, Silver Maples. Silver Maples typically create the most litter and shade problems of any tree on the course. These trees are responsible for the “little helicopters”, (samaras) each spring.
· If my math is correct, we were $87 over budget for the entire Course Improvement Project.
· The task of fall aerification is currently underway. This necessary evil is important as it relieves compaction and increases infiltration rates. This is the difference between quality turf next year and marginal conditions when the turf is under stress from Mother Nature or excessive traffic.
· The levee has been seeded with a blend of fine fescues. Nearly the entire levee has germinated in a timely manner. Although slow to establish, look forward to an aesthetically pleasing stand of turf along the levee in 2012 and beyond. This look and turfgrass choice is much better to look at and play from than the original suggestion of side oats, barley and brome grasses.
· Ladies, I apologize for some of the necessary practices scheduled on Thursdays lately. Look forward to next year as the worst is over regarding maintenance inconveniences. Thank you for your patience.
Well over 300 man hours was spent on the installation and drainage on the left side of #15 this summer. That is well over 300 hours we will be spending on detail items next summer.
This was from early April after over 200 hours was spent on the prepping of #9 fairway. That was 200 hours we will gladly spend on conditioning the course in April of 2012.
Much time was spent this spring seeding many areas like this. We look forward to next spring as there will be valuable time spent bringing the golf course to another level of conditioning and detail work.
Some selective tree removal is needed in this area in order to have turf and cart traffic. This and many other areas will be dealt with over the coming winter months.
FYI, Bug spray can harm the short grass. Remember to always apply while standing in the tall grass.
This drainage area left of #13 is doing what we intended it to do. The problem this year was the heavy rains shortly after we sodded this area. Once the turf is established with a root system, our problem should go away.