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THE STANWICH CLUB |
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Capital Projects Completed
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Restoring Wooden Bridge at #15 Green
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If you may recall, last spring was a very late one getting started, with snow still on the golf course into early April. Thanks to the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon, we are tacking on those lost days and more as the record warm temperatures in November and December have provided a welcome extension to the 2015 golf season.
That warm weather also allowed us to complete many of our capital projects for the 2016 season and to do myriad other oddball improvements that we haven't had time to get to during the busy season when we are concentrating on producing excellent course conditions. By using our own talented grounds staff to do the sod work on the range tee and #12 gold tee, as well as the restoration of the Bradley H. Green bridge at the 15th green, we were able to shave about $40,000 off of the estimated cost for an outside contractor to do those jobs in turnkey fashion. It's always nice when our handy work can stretch the Club's capital dollars allowing us to complete many more projects.
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Sod Facts
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Range Tee Leveled and Sodded
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Much of the work we have done this fall involves installing new sod. I am often asked - " How late into the fall can you lay sod and will it root before the spring?" Well, we can put down sod anytime the ground isn't frozen and the sod companies likewise will continue to deliver it until the ground becomes too hard to allow for harvest. If the ground temperatures stay above freezing for much of the winter, sometimes the turf continues to extend roots into the soil and will be fairly well rooted by spring. During a very cold winter like the past 2, the sod may not be fully rooted until sometime in May. The sod we use for the roughs, Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass, is cut at about 1" thick and will survive the winter without supplemental water due to the typically very cold temperatures. However, the short cut Bentgrass we use on our greens, tees and fairways, will sometimes need to be watered during a snowless winter to avoid damage from desiccation. When that is required, we use our sprayers to apply the water, as the irrigation system has been blown out for the winter to avoid cracking of the pipes when the ground freezes. |
Winter Protection
To keep our turf safe from damage during the winter months, we spray all important play areas with a mixture of fungicides to protect them from cool weather diseases that can infect turf during the winter with or without snow cover. Except for that type of injury, there isn't too much that can go wrong with our cold and ice tolerant Bentgrass surfaces. The golf course is open for play all winter including the greens. We will only use the temporary cups cut in the fairway when freeze thaw cycles cause the greens to become ultra soft allowing for the potential of deep foot printing which can compromise the smoothness of the surfaces. It is also very important to stay off of the golf course in the early morning whenever frost is present.
On behalf of the grounds staff, we would like to sincerely thank you for your generous donation to our Christmas bonus fund which contributes greatly to the enjoyment of the holidays for us and our families. Safe travels to you if you are venturing down to warmer lands for some winter golf. We look forward to seeing you in the spring!
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#12 Gold Tee Under Construction
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#12 Gold Tee Completed
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The Stanwich Club | 888 North Street, Greenwich, CT 06831 | Telephone: (203) 869-0555 | Email: frontdesk@stanwich.com
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