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Last weekend was spent cleaning up after Friday's storms. Our crew once again did an outstanding job repairing bunkers and removing debris. Since then, we've remained rain-free despite exceptionally hot and humid conditions. Our maintenance efforts this week primarily focused on catching up with routine mowing, fairway vertical mowing, and keeping greens healthy.
Recent rains have resulted in thick rough. 10 Blue primary rough on 6.25
Bermudagrass tees, fairways, and roughs continue to grow rapidly. While rough mowing heights have not changed, the rough is certainly thick and playing more penal. To keep conditions manageable, we are mowing roughs twice each week whenever possible.
18 Blue Fairway three days after vertical mowing.
We have also continued battling fairway scalping caused by turf grain, recent rains, and the age of many of our fairways. To improve mowing quality, crews are vertical mowing several fairways each day. In July, we'll expand this program with more aggressive vertical mowing followed by sand topdressing across most fairways.
Applying fertilizer to #7 Gold Fairway.
This week we also began applying our summer fertilizer program to all tees, fairways, and roughs. While it may seem unusual to fertilize during a period of rapid growth, the turf is using a tremendous amount of energy this time of year. The product is approximately 80% slow-release nitrogen, providing a light, consistent feeding over the next 10 to 12 weeks to help the turf remain healthy through the summer.
Bentgrass greens continue to perform well, although putting speeds have naturally slowed with the heat and humidity. Our summer focus is keeping the greens healthy by reducing mechanical stress, light venting/aeration (last completed on Monday 6.22), precise hand watering, and commitment to a comprehensive spray program.
We're also planning to install a new fan at #9 Gold green. If it performs as advertised we may also replace the existing fan on #18 Blue green with the same style. We'll share more about the benefits of fans in an upcoming update.
Thanks for your continued support, and stay cool out there!
Long Branch Creek flowing over the walk bridge on 10 Blue. 6.19.26
We received just under 2.5 inches of rain in approximately one hour Friday morning - bringing our 30 day total to just over 8 inches. While no major damage occurred, the intensity of the storm resulted in significant—but temporary—flooding, large amounts of debris, and washouts in nearly all bunkers across both courses. Check out photos and video taken immediately after the storm here: Storm on 6.19.26
Storm Debris on #11 Blue cart path and fairway.
Our staff worked throughout the day to ensure both courses remained passable and playable. However, due to continued wet conditions, most cleanup efforts had to be postponed until Saturday morning. We will be exceptionally busy this weekend completing normal course setup while also focusing on debris removal and bunker repairs.
Prior to the storm, weather conditions were extremely hot and humid, with heat index values consistently exceeding 100 degrees. Fortunately, conditions remained dry enough throughout the week to mow all roughs twice while also completing routine mowing and spray applications on tees and fairways.
Vertical mowing 17 Blue Fairway
This week we also began vertical mowing fairways, a process that removes excess grain and helps prevent unsightly scalping during mowing. This work will continue next week, with crews targeting two to three holes each morning.
Planting new sod at the cart barn on 18 Gold
Newly planted sod behind 2 Gold.
Additional work included sod installation around the cart barn and behind #2 Gold green on Tuesday. We also repaired and re-sodded several weak turf areas throughout the property.
For the weekend, golfers should expect carts to remain on paths only. Green speeds will also be slower than normal for this time of year due to the significant moisture and humidity we have experienced this week. Thanks for your support and have a great weekend!
Water flowing over the dam on 10 Blue - Sunday 6.7.26
Last weekend’s 4-Ball Championship was certainly a wet one, with nearly 3 inches of rainfall arriving between Saturday and Sunday. Despite the challenging conditions, our crew did an outstanding job Sunday morning getting both courses back into shape and playable for the event. Thank you to everyone who braved the weather and participated.
Rain leaving the property after Sunday's heavy rains
Aerating 6 Gold green on Monday 6.8.26
On Monday, we completed a light sand topdressing and venting (also known as light aeration) on greens. While golfers may still notice some of the small vent holes on certain greens, the impact on ball roll is minimal. This practice improves airflow to the root system and is especially important during periods of high humidity - which have certainly experienced for the last several days. By Tuesday, course conditions had dried considerably, allowing our team to focus on catching up with routine mowing of tees, fairways, and roughs which continue to grow in full force thanks to the rain.
BEFORE Front entrance island on Monday 6.8.26
AFTER: Front entrance island on 6.10.26
Our staff also worked alongside a crew from Southern Botanicals to refresh the landscape islands at the front entrance and along the main drive. Existing plant material was relocated, and a combination of liriope and caladiums was added to create a denser, fuller appearance.
AIT, Bobby Enriquez using the areation cores to level an area in rough.
We also put a new aerator into service this week that will be used extensively on tees, fairways, and roughs throughout the summer. One of the biggest advantages of this machine is its ability to pull and collect cores simultaneously, eliminating much of the labor-intensive cleanup traditionally associated with aeration. The collected cores can then be repurposed to help level uneven areas in the rough. Members can expect to see this machine in action regularly throughout the summer months.
Foreman,. Ollie Carreon inspects granite installation and grade work on Friday 6.12.26
Finally, progress also continued around the cart barn area where we were able to complete additional drainage work and install decomposed granite. The remaining areas are scheduled to receive a combination of Bermuda and Zoysia sod early next week.
As always, thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on the golf course.
Drone shot of the 2nd, 10th, and 12th greens on the Blue Course (6.4.26)
Last week, we received nearly 3" of rainfall across the property. Fortunately, course conditions dried out nicely by the weekend, and we have remained dry since. Hot and humid weather has dominated this week, creating ideal growing conditions for bermudagrass. As a result, tees, fairways, roughs, and other bermudagrass areas are now growing aggressively and responding well to the summer weather. All tees and fairways were also treated with foliar fertilizer and plant growth regulator to help maintain color and minimize grass clippings.
8 Gold on 6.4.26
While these conditions are excellent for bermudagrass, they present additional challenges for our bentgrass greens. Overall all greens are in great shape heading into summer, but elevated temperatures and humidity increase disease pressure and place added stress on the turf. To help maintain healthy playing surfaces, we have continued our light aeration (venting) program on greens across both courses and applied preventative fungicide treatments on Monday and Wednesday. Check out the video below of our latest GPS enabled sprayer in action on #7 Blue green.
Root Pruning around Greens and Fairways
Root pruning scars on 3 Gold three days after.
Another project completed this week was root pruning around selected greens and fairways. This process uses specialized equipment to create narrow slits approximately 10 inches deep, severing shallow tree roots that compete with nearby turfgrass for water and nutrients. Root pruning is minimally disruptive to golfers and does not harm the trees, while providing significant benefits to the health and performance of adjacent turf.
Finally, we continued making progress on improvements near the cart barn adjacent to #18 Gold. Our staff is currently regrading the area in preparation for the installation of decomposed granite and new sod. We expect the sod to arrive by the middle of next week and look forward to putting the finishing touches on this highly visible area of the property.
Crew working to finish grading and granite installation at the cart barn on 6.4.26
Next week we will also continue moving forward with seasonal flower replacement and landscape upgrades in the parking lot area.
As always, thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing everyone on the course this weekend. Hopefully the weather hold off for the 4BALL tourney!
