Hermitage CC Golf Course Management

  Manakin aeration week got off to a slow start with the Virginia Tech Lunch Pail outing falling on the first day of our two-day closure. After setting up both golf courses and clearing out, we were still able to check a few much-needed items off the list. First task being “blowing up” the bentgrass nursery tucked to the left of  3 on Sabot. This nursery is an important tool for us throughout the season, providing plugs to repair damaged areas on both courses, everything from scalped plugs to heron droppings. We’ve made full use of it this year, and it was time to reseed and start fresh for next season. A couple of the guys were also able to get some divots filled in on the range tee. It’s a simple yet effective task, but an important one in keeping the range tee level and well-maintained. Over on the Manakin, we had a not-so-simple task waiting for us. Last Friday, we spotted a leak between 15 and 17 rough. Since you never really know the extent of a leak until it’s uncovere...

           Monday we got off to a great start with some perfect weather. Even though it’s not officially fall yet, the "fall like" weather has been a huge benefit for our bentgrass greens and staff. We were able to remove a good number of trees along the right side of 13 cart path before the not so perfect weather started. With these trees gone it will open up the fairway to more sunlight and help us reduce the risk of winter kill that tends to occur in that area year after year. We also managed to seed a couple of cool season grass areas along with the clubhouse lawn just before the rain moved in. The timing couldn’t have been better, as the moisture should give us a great boost in germination. Tuesday and Wednesday, however, were far from ideal. A rain front settled over the golf course for what felt like an eternity—but in reality was just two days—dropping 2.5 inches of rain and thoroughly soaking both courses. We started Thursday morning with carts re...

  We kicked off maintenance this Monday by removing the fans from both golf courses. With overnight temperatures beginning to drop, we felt it was the right time to get the fans off the course, especially ahead of this weekend’s Member-Member tournament. More importantly, this timing lines up perfectly with our upcoming pre-emergent application around the greens. Having the fans out of the way ensures we get complete and even coverage, helping to prevent any weed breakthrough.  It’s great to have this job checked off the list and the timing couldn’t be better. The team is focusing on fine-detail work across both courses to ensure everything is in top condition for this weekends Men's Member Member. This includes edging all fairway and greens irrigation heads for a cleaner, more defined appearance, as well as edging along sidewalks and drains to enhance the overall presentation of the property.  To stay ahead of the curve, we made a  preventive insecticide applicatio...

This week, we completed our first application for spring dead spot. The second application is scheduled in a couple of weeks. These treatments are done in the fall when soil temperatures begin to cool, as this is when the fungus becomes most active. Targeting it during this period helps maximize the effectiveness of the control measures. Despite the recent lack of rain and low humidity, the new irrigation system on Sabot and the fully operational 2-wire system on the Manakin course have been instrumental in maintaining excellent course conditions. These upgrades have also made watering in our spring dead spot application much more efficient and effective. One week after aerifying the Sabot greens with the 3/8" quarter tines, they’re healing up well thanks to this stretch of great August weather. With the Men's Member/Member coming up next week, they should be rolling nicely. With the recent drop in nighttime temperatures, the Bermudagrass has noticeably slowed its growth. As ...