The humidity hung around a bit for the Valentine but otherwise the weather shaped up nicely for last weekend and has been gorgeous this week. The drier air helped us get the rough chopped back down to 2.25" and cleaned up for the fall.
The best part about the Valentine is that we can squeeze in the fall greens aeration on Sabot immediately after. 3/8" cores were pulled out on Monday and Tuesday mornings this week. We have kept the growth rate low on the Pure Eclipse which has limited thatch buildup but pulling cores in the fall and topdressing will always help stay ahead of the bent getting too soft in season.
The smaller cores are easy to blow off and there is no abrasion to the greens surface.
Calcium, potassium, humic acid and some other micro nutrients are applied to the soil while we have holes open.
Close to 40 tons of kiln dried sand was spread on the Sabot greens. We also took the Monday closure opportunity to solid tine aerate the greens on Manakin that do not have fans and lightly topdress them. Those holes have filled quickly and those greens have responded positively to the weather.
It still got it up to 88 on Monday so we worked quickly to brush the sand in as many holes as possible.
The greens were mowed on Thursday and will be mowed for Saturday and the holiday weekend. The Pure Eclipse showed amazing resilience to the Valentine putting contest and has recovered easily. This is why the Sabot is set for the earlier fall aeration and we wait on the Manakin until September. These greens should play nicely this weekend and be in great shape for the fall.
The Harriman family had to make a tough decision about a week ago and that was to resign from the place we all love here at Hermitage and take on one more challenge at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, NC.
This
job was brought to me as I was not, and had never been looking to leave Hermitage.
With Avery and Amelia just entering 4th and 7th grade, the
opportunity to take another step in my career with Carmel was just too
attractive to pass up.
I
have poured a lot of blood and sweat into this property, mostly for my own
enjoyment but certainly to the benefit of this membership. We have, and the
guys will continue to bulletproof these golf courses against mother nature so
that they will remain some of the best in the state.
We
have built a culture on the Agronomy side at Hermitage where the membership
trusts what we propose and celebrates what we execute. Please continue to trust
the professionals and give them the tools they ask for. The 47 people I leave
behind are well trained and will continue to elevate the golf experience with another
knowledgeable and energetic Director.
I
am not looking forward to saying goodbye to so many members who have turned
friends over the past 6 and a half years. This is an extremely caring
membership which has made this decision so much more difficult. You all have
made sure my entire staff has been taken care of from day 1 and the results are
apparent.
Thank
you for allowing me to stretch my legs here at Hermitage. I have learned along
the way as we checked off project after project and these experiences will not be
forgotten. My last day here will be September 19th. I am happy to help and support the transition process as necessary
and will never be too far out of reach!
