Week 17
This will likely be our last update of the season.

With the onslaught of colder than normal weather in the forecast, we had to hustle to get our final snow mold applications down last Thursday and Friday.  We included a pigment to help darken our surfaces which will result in quicker green up in the spring due to the increased soil temperatures.  It was a relief waking up Saturday to an inch of snow knowing all chemical applications were in the books.
Now that we’ve made the conversion to bentgrass, covers will no longer be used.  We will instead be applying a healthy layer of sand to help protect the crowns of the plant from winter desiccation.  This saves a significant amount of labor by not having to go through the arduous process of applying covers.  Additionally, we have more options to get ice off of greens should we experience another unfortunate rain event in the middle of winter because we no longer have covers to contend with.  Minnesota winters can be a nemesis for poa annua survival.  They will instead now be a useful tool in preventing poa encroachment into our pure bentgrass surfaces.
                                       

9 green with its winter topdressing “blanket”
Overall I’m feeling very good about the condition of the golf course as we enter the winter months.  Considering the challenging weather we’ve been up against, I’m very proud of what our team has accomplished over these past few months and look forward to spring when the snow melts off and we can resume our efforts.
Lastly, I want to thank the golf staff for their contributions throughout the project.  It takes an army to complete a project of this magnitude and the golf staff has been happy to pitch in when they had some spare time.                                                                    

Dan’s staff laying some sod on the range.  I can attest, there was a little dirt stain on Dan’s knee!
I hope you all have a great off season and are able to escape to somewhere warm!  I’ll see you around!
Best regards,
Jared Keller
Golf Course Superintendent


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