What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time we were discussing the precautions we were going to take in how to deal with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we are still dealing with this deadly disease, it looks like progress is being made and the end may finally be in sight. As restrictions ease, we will evaluate how to reincorporate certain things like water on the golf course and other amenities such as ball washers. Until its safe, we will continue with the same safety protocols in place. As we break out of winter there are several key tasks the Golf Course Maintenance team executes to get the season started on the right foot. I will cover those in this edition as well as what to expect for the upcoming season. Some new faces have joined our staff and I will introduce those individuals as well. Regards,
Gary Sailer
Director of Golf Course Maintenance The National Golf Club of Kansas City garys@fivestarlifestyles.com
Meet Archie … a Red Tri Mini Australian Shephard who recently joined the team as Ambassador/Goose Chaser. At just five months old, Archie has already mastered his job of chasing geese off the course. He has a big job ahead of him, but he is up for the challenge. Archie likes treats, pats on the head and belly rubs if you see him on the golf course. We look forward to introducing him to you as we see you out and about. Follow @GarySailer on Twitter to see videos of Archie in action as well as other GCM updates. Archie with GCM Director, Gary Sailer and Gary’s daughter, Gretta. 2
Each year we plant Pansies which are spring annuals around the Clubhouse. This adds nice color and bridges the gap until we plant our summer annuals in May. All of the landscape beds will get a fresh layer of Java Brown mulch to start the season as well.
Due to the number of trees that have been removed for safety reasons or to improve playing conditions over the past several years, we will be starting a tree planting program this fall. We will identify the best species for this environment and find ideal locations throughout the golf course to ensure their long-term success. These photos show several areas where new tree plantings have already occurred in the past few years. New trees behind #1 tee box
New trees on right of #14 cart path 3
PoaCure Update As stated in previous updates, we will be going forward with the PoaCure program to mitigate poa annua contamination on our greens. This program will consist of three applications which will start the beginning of April and end the beginning of May. We will also make two fall applications starting in September. Expect major discoloration of the poa during this period. It will turn a yellowish/orange and eventually brown when it completely dies toward the end of May/beginning of June. Additional fertilizer and growth product applications will be applied to accelerate the growth of the bentgrass into the voids left by the poa. This will take place throughout the growing season on twoweek intervals. Some poa will return. That is why this will be a three-year process. Each time we apply in the spring and fall, more poa will be eradicated with the goal being 95% poa free. (We just don’t want to move too fast in the beginning since we have such a large population of poa annua.) At this point, any remaining poa can be more easily controlled with growth regulators and a sound agronomic program going forward. The photos below show the success we had in reducing the poa population on our test plots on the back of #7, on the west half of the chipping green and on the north half of our nursery green during this past season.
August 28, 2020 May 28, 2020 March 15, 2021 This most-recent photo shows the PoaCure treated area on the top of the red line and the non-treated area below the red line. Poa can be identified as the lime green colored speckles or patches. 4
Getting the Season Started
Drainage Update
As usual, the GCM team kicks off the year with greens aeration. This occurred on the 8th and 9th of March. This practice is vital to the health of our greens as it removes organic matter and improves oxygen exchange to the roots of the grass plants. The weather this year during aeration was unseasonably warm in the 70s and breezy which helped make the process go very smooth.
We continue to address drainage issues on the course. March is a good month to perform this maintenance task. The photo below shows new drainage that was installed on #14 tee in an area that was difficult to mow and walk across. This was a very flat area that did not surface-drain well. This area will heal up nicely and should no longer be a problem.
A fertilizer application is done post-aeration to help expedite the healing process. Healing time in the spring is usually three to four weeks. Our next aeration of the greens will take place in August.
#14 Tee Box Aeration on #5
The GCM team still plans to add drainage to the approach on #17 and to a small area at the end of the greenside fairway on #18 (shown below).
Zoysia is starting to come to life with the warm temperatures we’ve had, especially on south-facing slopes (like #3 fairway pictured below). We expect the rest of the Zoysia to be completely green by mid-April.
#17 Approach
#18 Fairway
Zoysia on #3 5
We are excited to introduce Frank Keller Twigg who joined the Golf Course Maintenance team in early March. Frank comes to us from Brighton, Colorado where he worked at Dos Rios Country Club. For the time being, Frank will be training at The National and will then split his time between The National and The Deuce. Frank enjoys playing hockey; he started playing at a young age and continues to play in men’s leagues. He also played college football. After being together for more than 10 years, Frank and his high-school sweetheart, Lanie, recently got engaged! Frank credits Lanie with helping him to stay grounded and stick to his goals. Please help us welcome Frank to the team by saying hello when you see him around the Club!
Frank Keller Twigg
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We invite you to visit the Golf Course Maintenance facility to meet the team and get a behind-the-scenes tour. Please email me and we’ll schedule a time to get together: garys@thenationalgolfclub.com.
Gary Sailer Director
Cesar Villaneuva Lead Assistant
Graham Edelman Assistant
Trevor Reid Assistant
UPCOMING EVENTS The Masters ......................................... April 10th & 11th Memorial Day .................................... May 31st The Watson Challenge .................... June 3rd-5th The White Alloe ................................. June 9th-12th
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#13 Fairway 6700 N. National Drive Parkville, MO 64152 816.746.0200 www.thenationalgolfclub.com
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