Skokie CC Golf Course Management

During my search over several bogs, Icame acros a blog about Skokie CC. One of the things tha cought my atention was the organization of the blog. It provides information and diferent methods to prepare the golf course for the coming winter.

Aerification and top dressing were done in the fall. By early december the greens were cover and prepared for the cold weather.

The site provides updates with scheduled blogs about situations and upcoming situations about how the weather was going to impact the course.

In some post the superintendent and his crew took advantages of some warmer days and went out ice melting on the greens. shovels and hand tamper were used to crack the ice and remove it. He also explains the importance of these activities when it comes to turf health.

Other topics included the pets walker on the course during the winter. He explains some of the risk that they experience if their do not have their pets on a leash. In one case, a couple of dogs were at risk because they felt into the water on a pond and the ice was so thick that one of the dogs need it assistance to get out of the water. there may be at risk interfering with wild animals and they may suffer severe consequences.

the blog intrigued me because the information provided was up to the date. Even when the the topic of turf was the main topic it also provided the members with some advices for they own sake.

Profesor Lecture soils 921a

During this year we have been introduced to many topics in our soils class. Professor McNitt is the person responsible as he is the source of our information. Every class has a variety of information and challenges that make his class stand out from many others.

The information provided to us is developed later as a lab which it makes the student get a better understanding of the material covered in class. At lab 1 we determined bulk density, particle density and total porosity of diverse mixes and different types of soils. Getting involved with the material is always very interesting. I am one of the students that learn actually by interacting with the material.

As every lab is done the students must create a lab report. On these reports we must incorporate the information that we have learned in our own words. Another way to make sure that the student is getting the material discussed in class.

By making these kinds of assignments the students are getting ready to make a good performance during the internship. Who knows if the superintendent may ask some question about the type of soil on his course or even ask for some suggestions about the top dressing program that he is incorporating on the course.

Also we get an idea of the different strategies to manage sand based soils and native soils. This is important to students as future managers of turf because it is a topic which is easy to get confused.

Other topics discussed in class are drainage, bunker renovation, sand selection for the bunkers and greens as well, organic matter management and the importance of having a little amount on sand base greens.

I personally have enjoyed his lectures the best. The more complicated classes get, the more I realize the importance of the material discuss in class. I encourage my colleagues to realize the importance of these topics in our future.

Try to get as much knowledge as you can.

Impact of Verticut in Turfgrass Management

Every person managing turf understand the challenges of managing thatch requires. This layer of organic matter can build up quick, and it needs to be managed to promote healthy turf. For golf course managers it is even harder to manage because they have to be concerned with the members not liking surface disruption affecting playability.

Aerification is one of the must effective methods managing thatch, However thatch removal is not the primary practice. Aerification is beneficial to turf because lets air penetrate the root zone and also removes organic mater.

Even with the benefits of aerification, it can be the members worst enemy. This procedure requires the golfer to play against holes on the surface making aerification the golfers number one enemy.

There are other options for turf managers when it comes to thatch removal. Verticutting has similar benefits to turf in terms of thatch removal. A verticutter is an several of alignment knifes that penetrate the soil and harvest organic matter.

Verticutting is less disruptive as it is not a hole on the surface. This method is actually removing organic matter in a pattern with several directions and can be an effective practice. Another of the benefits of verticuting is that it promotes microbial activity leading to thatch breakdown. it will increase infiltration of water into the soil.

Effective organic matter removal is required. These are some procedures to control this bothersome problem for the turf managers. It is very important to know that verticutting does not substitute for aerification. The turf manager should be coscious of the steps required to achieve their goals. If the turf requires thatch control, do not hesitate to verticut. However keep in mind that aerification its still going to be required.