Week of July 4
- matthewbehl
- Jul 9, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 15, 2022
The bunkers work to hole three was completed this week and the aesthetics from the top of the fairway have been improved. The new sand that was added will continue to be compacted. Once compacted playability out of these bunkers will be improved. Next project for hole 3 is leveling the drains at the base of the approach. This project will be completed this season. My team and I have not decided on a start date for this work yet.
A variety of cultural practices took place this week. Greens were groomed, lightly topdressed, and brushed to work the sand into the canopy. Once brushed the greens were watered to push the sand further down into the canopy and to prevent pickup from the mower. The pictures below capture the topdressing process.
We also tried the samurai/emperor tines out on a few tees that were becoming hydrophobic and not taking water. With our sand based root zones they performed great at a shallow depth.
The crew also spent a good deal of time working on prepping the area just past the fairway bunker on 18. This area has been completed and is ready for seed. The next area at the end of the 18th fairway where the large cluster of trees were removed will be addressed next week.
Ipswich CC is a member of the Audubon program and we are currently working on our recertification. Part of the program is creating or bettering wildlife habit for a variety of species. Below is a picture that illustrates the work that we do. In this native area, milk weed has been left untouched and not sprayed. Milk weed is crucial to the life cycle of the Monarch Butterfly. Monarch Butterfly numbers have been declining. Below is a wonderful picture taken by Kevin Bird of a Monarch Butterfly utilizing the Milk Weed.
We will close out this weeks post with our usual pictures from the week and course wildlife
