Golf Maintenance Update

DIRECTOR OF AGRONOMY |

ADAM MILLER CHAMPIONSHIP-READY:

ON THE GREENS

Fall in the Lowcountry is spectacular, particularly so on the courses. We have an exciting golf season ahead, and our focus turns to conditioning, staff training, and detail work around both courses including mulch areas, pine straw beds and natural areas, restoring them to premier shape for fall play. Member tournaments have always been one of my favorite aspects of Club agronomy, and our team is geared up as prepare for our busy tournament season. Now that aerification season is over, we turn our focus to getting ready for the fall golf season. With all the work completed during summer course closures, the agronomy team has successfully positioned a great foundation to improve the soil and help improve fall and winter conditions.

ON THE NORTH:

At the same time, we are hard at work preparing the North Course for the USGA Women’s MidAmateur at the end of September. With the USGA championship, we have a great opportunity to showcase Berkeley Hall to some of the best women amateurs in the nation. Our pristine conditions will ensure an exceptional backdrop for this exciting Mid-Am. Behind the scenes, our agronomy staff will start prepping for the day at 4am, and then return in the evening for evening maintenance, while limited daylight at this time of year further adds to the challenge.

Berkeley Hall’s Strategic Plan provides a strong course to follow as we work in tandem with the Golf and Greens Committee on improvements needed to advance the courses over the next few years.

LOOKING FORWARD:

Berkeley Hall’s Strategic Plan provides a strong course to follow as we work in tandem with the Golf and Greens Committee on improvements needed to advance the courses over the next few years. We are concentrating on projects which improve playability, aesthetics, and reduction of labor inputs. We begin with overseeding of the North Course this fall. Another big area of emphasis over the next few months is staff training, development, and retention. With any transition there is turnover, and our efforts are dedicated to building a great environment and implementing new ways to execute certain agronomy tasks. With a team comprised of experienced Berkeley Hall employees and recently added new staff members, it’s very rewarding to see everyone come together as we continue to build a strong team and refine our agronomy needs for the Club.

I greatly appreciate the membership’s support, as we transition from summer aerification to our fall and winter seasons ahead. Both course aerifications went extremely well and it is important we continue these processes for years to come, to build more consistent golf courses 12 months out of the year. While I share your emails of support and encouragement with the team, should you see an agronomy team member on the course, feel free to tell them “thank you” as they are the true drivers of our success.