To wrap up what has been a very busy but productive year, we have 3 major tasks to finish of 2021.
Finish off the project on #1 tee
Our goal with this project was to re-establish a solid pond wall bank, alter some of the growing medium of the tee decks, the irrigation surrounding the area, as well as develop a nice showcase hardscape as you play 1, 2, and 18. We hope to have the whole area shaped and some of the tees sodded, weather permitting. Tasks we will leave for 2022 will consist of finishing the cap work on the wall, the reinstallation of the irrigation, sodding the surroundings and any final details that remain.
Leaf and debris management
As we wind down the year we try and gather/ mulch the heavy amount of leaves that fall. This task will be continuous until the snow falls. We do our best to get the majority picked up before the snow season for a few reasons. Firstly, fall golf is slightly impacted with leaves such as losing golf balls, struggling to find them and challenges on the putting green. Secondly, is if an abundance of leaves are on the playing surfaces it can create an area for mold to grow under the snow cover and negatively impact the playing conditions for next season. Lastly, by having the leaves picked up this season it allows for a smoother opening as the spring tends to leave the course moist and we cannot access a lot of areas to pick up remaining leaves.
Winter preparation for greens and short grass areas
Winter preparation is a long process but coming to the end of the season for us always has small tasks. We remove all water features and fountains, blow out any irrigation water lines and/ or washrooms to prevent freezing. For our greens preparation we apply a sand layer to protect the crown from winter desiccation and damage, then we vent with a bayonet tine to allow for air and water exchange, followed by a slight brush and roll to allow for proper displacement of the sand. The final stage of the plan is to apply a plant protectant application to minimize and disease activity. Tees and fairways have already been vented throughout the fall and the last of them is the plant protectant.
We as the Maintenance team at Kelowna Springs thank you for your patience as we slowly put things to rest after a great season and we look forward to seeing everyone in 2022.