Men’s Invitational

The biggest tournament of the year is wrapping up today. Members invite a guest of their choosing to compete in two man teams over 3 days.

Set-up/mowing has been taking place in morning before tournament and in the evening behind the last group.

4:30 start time certainly allows for a unique work environment.

(4:30a.m)

(7:00a.m same location)

Morning and evening mowing/rolling on greens has been going on since Wednesday to create the smoothest/competitive putting surface possible.

The stimpmeter is a great tool that is used to determine the Green’s “speed”. (The distance a golf ball travels from a set height).

Here is a video with an explaination below it.

The “stick” that the golf balls are rolling off of is called the stimpmeter.

Three rolls take place as you can see. The average distance between the golf balls is marked and the same process repeats in the direction where the process began.

The distance is measured. Which gives the “speed”.

Our greens averaged 11′ 6″. Which is a fun/competitive green speed.

In my opinion, the soil profile in these greens holds more water. (A sandier profile is more desired). A sandy profile would create a firmer surface and a leaf blade that would not be as “lush” or “succulant” but thinner…creating less friction between the golf ball and blades of grass. Allowing the ball to roll further.

Due to this, I believe a green speed of 11 is great but could be improved with more topdressing and continued turf practices.

Empress Tree Update:

Picture taken April 1st 2017:

Today July 22nd: