Course Condition Report
As is often the case in Wisconsin, the anticipation of warm spring days is often replaced with the frustration of an extended winter. Just as golfers were filled with excitement due to some warm March days and then discouraged by late season snow, so was the turf at Hidden Glen—especially the bentgrass putting greens, tees, and fairways.
One of the advantages that Hidden Glen has compared to most other clubs in the area is the abundance of creeping bentgrass on its closely mowed playing surfaces. In many ways bentgrass is far superior to its often maligned rival Poa or annual bluegrass. This is especially true when it comes to tolerating ice accumulation in the winter and extreme heat in the summer. These beneficial characteristics are made possible by the genetics of the turf plant. These same genetics can also work against course conditions as the plant activates its defenses to protect itself against the continued cold temperatures and frosty nights. The purplish color of the fairways and greens is a perfect example of this. The purple leaf color is caused by anthocyanin production. Anthocyanins are produce to help protect new leaf tissue from the cool temperatures. As temperatures, especially those at night, continue to rise, the purplish color will no longer appear.
Even though the course might look a little purple, brown and “off” right now, it is still playing very well for early in the season. The biggest mistake turf managers often make in spring is to over fertilize in order to get the grass green and growing. While this may help in the short term, the results can be overwhelming once warm temperatures return. Excessive turf growth means additional time spent on mowing for turf managers, and lost golf balls in the primary rough for players. In many ways the lack of turf growth can be an advantage in early spring, as we have been able to work on other small improvement projects.
A summary of the projects is listed below:
- Refinish all clubhouse patio furniture
- Replace sand in the bunkers on chipping and short game areas
- Thin tree line between #4 green and #5 tee
- Pressurize irrigation system and repair leaking pipes and sprinklers
- Fill divots on all tees and fairways
- Edge all sprinkler heads
- Diagnose drainage problems on waste bunker #11 (repairs ongoing)
- Solid-tine all greens, tees, fairways, and high traffic areas in rough
- Rake and clean all debris from the course