Southwind Turns Green for the Winter

Southwind Turns Green for the Winter

This year TPC Southwind decided to try something different for the winter. Over the past few years Jon and I have seen several courses that have painted fairways and tees green for winter play. We felt like this would be something very unique for Memphis. So this year we took on this challenged. From the Member comments, I would say it was a BIG success. The contrast between fairways and roughs looks like you are playing a desert course.

Here are a few pictures of the final product.

HOLE # 1

HOLE # 3

HOLE # 13

The process is very similar to what we have done on the greens for the past 10 years since converting from Bent to Bermuda. The results were even better than I expected. In the picture below we are tying in the approaches and collars with a hand wand. We were able to boom spray all of our approaches which help save time. The tees were also sprayed with hand wands.

This last picture is showing you how we painted fairways and the difference just one application makes.

Stay tuned for more updates and our current winter projects currently on going on the course!

Bermuda Contamination Eradication with Turf Ester/Fusilade

With the tournament behind us, it is time to start doing our annual chemical applications to kill off the Bermudagrass contamination within our Zoysiagrass fairways and tees. We apply a combination of two chemicals with the trade names of Turf Ester and Fusilade. When used in conjunction with one another, these chemicals stunt the growth of Bermuda, sending it into dormancy. These chemicals also regulate some growth in the Zoysia. However, it quickly recovers within 10 days. With the growth of the Bermuda completely stunted, an opportunity is created for the Zoysia to spread in the areas that are contaminated with Bermuda, thus completely choking out and eradicating the Bermuda.

As you can see in the three pictures to the left, several of our tees have Bermuda contamination around the perimeter of the tees. This is most likely due to encroachment from the Bermuda in the stepcut areas.

Here, we see a couple of tees with larger masses of Bermuda contamination. From a distance, these areas appear to be "hot spots" - areas that have dried out in extreme temperatures.

However, if you look closely, you can see live green tissue within these areas. This is the Zoysia grass that will eventually spread and close in the areas where the Bermuda had existed.

Here, we have a look at a couple of the Fairways that were treated with Turf Ester and Fusilade. Again, there are spots that appear to be affected by drought. However, these areas will soon grow in with just Zoysiagrass.

Below are a couple of helpful links to USGA reports that explain the use of Turf Ester and Fusilade for Bermudagrass control.

Selective Control Options for Bermudagrass Contamination in Zoysiagrass Turf: A Preliminary Report

Selective Control Options for Bermudagrass Contamination in Zoysiagrass Turf

ANOTHER TOURNAMENT BEHIND US!!

After countless hours of hard work, another tournament is behind us here at TPC Southwind! It was a tough road with a rocky start, but we finished strong. We are very proud of all of those who put forth so much  effort to make this year's FedEx St. Jude Classic a great one...one to remember. The wretched winter left the golf course with several dead areas in the rough, fairways, and tee boxes. Graciously, we were able to sod those areas. However, the sod still wasn't in the best shape due to lack of growing we were having all the way into May. With just a few weeks left before tournament time, Mother Nature finally lended a helping hand with temperatures in the 90s. With proper chemical and fertilizer applications along with diligent watering, the sod came along just in the nick of time. The course looked great for the tournament, but our job was nowhere close to being finished. The week of the tournament brought with it more than average rainfall. We were hit with thunderstorms and had to quickly adjust changes in schedules to meet the needs of the PGA Tour and its players. As a team we worked like a well-oiled machine in between rounds of golf to clean debris and prepare the course. It was a tough job, but our crew got it accomplished. The compliments came pouring in from announcers on TV, old friends, family, members, the PGA rules officials, volunteers, and other TPC golf courses. It made it all worth it - all of the hours, all of the sweat. I can't wait to see what challenges come our way next year! Bring it on! We're always ready at TPC Southwind!

With apologies, a little time has passed since the last post. We have been busy, busy, busy here at TPC Southwind with preparations for the 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic, which is only 3 weeks away! Over the past several weeks we have taken on a few projects. Mother Nature did not treat us very well over the winter. We had several areas of Bermuda grass within our Fairways, Stepcut, and Rough that suffered from winter damage, thus these areas did not grow in when the rest of the turf did.

Aesthetially, it was not up to par with what a TPC course should look like. We decided to bring in a sod company from Paris, TN to harvest the dead areas and replace them with live sod.

In a matter of approximately 2 weeks, about 10,000 square yards of sod was installed, with approximately 48% going into the rough, by a diligent and hard working crew of guys.

In addition to doing a "little" sod work, we also installed several recycling trashcans on the course and we are asking for member support and participation in our recycling initiative. The green cans are for plastics, aluminum, and paper. Thanks from your GCM staff at TPC Southwind.

Golf Course Maintenance is asking for a little member support. There are some areas that were affected by the harsh winter and are having some trouble recuperating. We have set up several stakes and ropes in the fairways. These are in place to keep traffic off of these areas, which will give the turf a better chance of healing before the 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic. For any employees or members of TPC Southwind who might read this blog, we ask for your support and assistance in making the course the best it can be for this years tournament. Thanks!!!

#18 Lake Bank Erosion Project

Our big golf course maintenance project this year was correcting the issues that erosion has caused on the fairway side of #18 lake bank. Over several years, the lank bank had eroded away, causing unsightly aesthetics. We chose to make this a priority for the fact that this is one of the most televised and characteristic holes at TPC Southwind during the FedEx St. Jude Classic. We brought in Sanders Golf Course Construction, a company that has helped us on other erosion projects, as well as tee construction, and drainage projects. They brought, with them, the proper heavy machinery and expertise to get the job done efficiently. 

The project started with the lowering of the lake. Several boards were removed from the weir of the lake, which allowed the water to drain into the creek that flows through #18 and #17. 

Next was the removal of the aquatic plants along the fairway side of the lank bank. 

Then, came the dirt work. We wanted to have a gradual slope from the fairway. This allows water to gently roll off the slope in the lake. 

As the grade of the land was set, an erosion blanket was installed. This is a thick blanket that is tucked into the soil at either side and stapled into the ground and prevents erosion from occurring in the future. 

Lastly, Zoysia sod was laid across the erosion blanket, down to about a foot below the water line. 

The finished product looks great and will be long lasting!