Golf Course Maintenance Update

GRANT SUDERMAN SUPERINTENDENT grants@lochlloyd.com

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Frost damage from foot traffic

Fall has arrived as cooler weather has made its way to Kansas City. We went from 90 degrees on October 9th to our first fall frost on October 16th! Although currently there isn’t snow in the forecast, over the past three seasons the first snow arrived about three weeks after the last 90-degree day. Let’s hope this trend doesn’t continue and that we get to enjoy great fall golf weather!

As the seasons change and turf recovery slows down, I want to highlight ways you can help care for the course. Golfers should always be willing to do their part in course care. The individual efforts from golfers can make a big impact on playing conditions. Here are four ways golfers can help care for the course:

Traffic Stress: Golf rounds at Loch Lloyd have risen significantly since 2020. This is great news for the Club and industry. What these added rounds also bring is added traffic. Cart traffic can be detrimental due to increased turf wear and soil compaction. Always check in with the Golf Shop to receive the cart rules for the day. Cart rules are posted in the ForeTees email, pin sheet, Golf Shop display board and cart monitors. This year we implemented an entry/exit cart system whereby carts are to enter the course from the path after the green post and then exit before the red post. These posts are moved daily to limit traffic stress in centralized areas. Please also abide by any cart signs or roped areas protecting either new sod, seeded turf or wet conditions. Frost delays are common this time of year; please keep foot and cart traffic off frost at all times. Frost damage is unsightly and can last for months during the winter season.

Ball Marks: Unrepaired ball marks can affect ball roll and take weeks to recover. A properly repaired ball mark gives the turf opportunity to heal faster. It can be very time consuming for the maintenance team to fix every ball mark. After fixing your ball mark, look for any nearby ball marks you can also repair. If you’re viewing this newsletter electronically, click the link below to watch a video demonstrating how to properly fix your ball mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ6CegCUPfw

Divots: Properly repairing divots helps the turf recover quickly and helps restore a smooth playing surface. An unrepaired divot can take months to heal and it may never fully recover. Repairing divots maintains good playability for your fellow golfers and sets a positive example of caring for the course. If there is not recoverable turf to place in the divot, use the sand provided on your cart to fill up and smooth out the divot.

Rake Bunkers: Being in the bunker is already a frustrating situation. Don’t make the situation worse for the next golfer by not raking out disturbed areas or footprints from your entry. Rakes are placed at the edge of every bunker for you to use. After you are finished raking, place the rake back at the edge of the bunker where you found it for the next golfer. We all take great pride in course conditions and thank you for your joint effort in helping maintain this beautiful course at its highest quality. Please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns or additional ways to help!

Best Regards, Grant Suderman Golf Course Superintendent grants@lochlloyd.com