ON THE GREENS: LOOK AHEAD

s we move into the Spring season, we are starting to see the Bermudagrass green up. This is exciting to see, particularly after a cold, wet winter which brought 27 rain days since November. With low sunlight levels and cool temperatures, this is the most challenging time of year to fight wet conditions. While we experienced temperatures into the teens in December, conditions that would normally require greens covers, the greens on both golf courses have come through healthy and robust.

In February, I attended the Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Florida along with some of our Agronomy team. Geared specifically for golf course maintenance, it was a great opportunity to network with other superintendents across the country and learn new techniques we can successfully implement in our agronomy practices. From hands-on tools to wider reaching progressive ideas, the educational topics ranged from mower maintenance and sharpening, being more efficient with your resources, to how to build a better culture, and managing the next generation, along with autonomous mower technology, new weed control techniques, and how to have the best re-grassing project. Investing in continuing education and learning from industry peers what’s been most successful with their re-grassing projects will allow us to make informed decisions for both ongoing projects as well as when we re-grass the North Course in 2025.

Technology is coming fast to our industry, and it is exciting to see how far it’s come in such a short time. From moisture sensors and meters to new turf health products, drone technology, stress mapping sensors, and GPS-guided fertilizer applications, the industry is adapting quickly. We’re already implementing some of this technology at Berkeley Hall, with plans to integrate more in the future.

As stewards of our two spectacular Tom Fazio courses, our continuing goal is to provide the premier golf experience that our membership enjoys. We look forward to a great Spring season and seeing everyone out on the greens!