Maintenance Updates

 

1/26/12 - The aerification dates for the Pine are June 11-15 and the Cardinal June 18-22.  In August we will close the Cardinal 8/20-24 and the Pine 8/27-31. 

 

12/2/11 - #10 on the Pine golf course will be closed all next week.  Our maintenance staff will be repairing the bridge but there will be a make-shift bridge on #10 so golf car traffic can get through.  Also, you will notice that our new greens irrigation heads are being installed and drainage around certain greens on the Pine course.  We anticipate this lasting a couple of weeks and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.  Areas with weak turf will be replaced once the new sod arrives.

 

10/28/11 - Hole #15 on the Cardinal will be closed due for cart path maintenance Monday, October 31, 2011.  This hole from the men's tee forward will not be passable.  if you travel through #15 to the Club, please find an alternate route.

 

10/13/11 - The Cardinal course will be closed October 17, 2011 for Fall/Winter pre-emerge.  Please stay off of the course all day and evening.  If pre-emerge is tracked onto the greens the greens may be harmed.

 

10/5/11 - There will be on-going beautification projects around the Country Club and on the courses through next Spring.  Some flower beds will be relocated or replaced along with trimming and replanting of azaleas.  All of these areas will be rainy-day projects and will not affect our number one priority, drainage on the golf courses.

 

 

9/26/11 - The mowing height has been raised to accommodate new growth in weak areas in preparation for winter dormance.  The greens will be noticeably slower over the coming months.

 

   

 

6/20/11 - Verticut & Topdress Greens on Pine

  

 

7/5/11 - Aerify Greens on Pine

  

 

6/27/11 - Aerify Greens on Cardinal

  

 

Please note this schedule is subject to change.

  

 

 

May, 2011

 

 

 

 

NEWEST GOLF GREENS ALONG THE MS GULF COAST OPENING JUNE 1, 2011

 

 

 

Pam Tomasovsky, General Manager of the Diamondhead Property Owners Association has announced that after a closure of  year, the Pine course will re-open with the popular MINIVERDE Bermuda grass on June 1, 2011.  All 18 greens were resurfaced as well as the chipping and putting greens. 

 

 

 

According to Hoppy Smith, Head PGA Professional "our members and guests will find that these greens provide a consistent and truer putting surface and are the same greens as TPC New Orleans, TPC Sawgrass and Magnolia Grove in Alabama."  Golf Superintendent Jimmy Shannon stated that this surface "has been rated as the top ultra-dwarf Bermuda grass in the NTEP (National Turfgrass Evaluation Program) for the past 7 years.

 

Open to the public, Diamondhead offers two 18-hole courses, the Pine (rated 73.5) and the Cardinal (rated 72.6) as well as a full service restaurant, bar, 8 hydra clay tennis courts and more.  Tee times may be made by calling 800 346-8741 or 228 255-5517.

 

 

March 18, 2011

Information provided by Chris Artwiger, USGA

Frequently Asked Questions About Core Aeration

Core aeration is one of the dirty words of turfgrass management.  It is a difficult job for the turf maintenance staff and it severely disrupts putting quality until the aeration holes are healed.  Worst of all, it draws the ire of golfers because of the disruption to the putting surface.  With all these negatives, why even bother to do it?  I’m glad you asked.  The remainder of this article will answer the most common questions I am asked on core aeration.

What is it?

Core aeration is defined as the physical removal of cores with hollow aeration tines ranging from 3/8” to ¾”.  It does not refer to the non-disruptive practice of using solid tines to vent or allow the greens to breathe. 

Is core aeration necessary and if so, why? 

Yes, core aeration is necessary.  The moment turfgrass is planted on a sand based rootzone (i.e. a putting green), organic matter in the form of old plant stems, roots, shoots, etc. begins to accumulate.  Some organic matter is valuable to give the greens the ability to hold a golf shot and to better withstand traffic.  Too much organic matter clogs air filled soil pores and reduces levels of soil oxygen available to the root system.  It also makes the greens soft and spongy for golf.  Core aeration and surface sand topdressing are the two primary tools to manage organic matter levels and maintain desirable soil physical properties in the upper rootzone.  Maintaining good aeration and topdressing programs will promote healthy turf and will extend the useful lifespan of the putting greens, protecting this important course asset.   

When should aeration be done on the Gulf Coast?

Core aeration along the Gulf Coast should be done when the bermudagrass is actively growing.  This equates to times of the year when night time temperatures are in the upper 60’s to low 70’s.

How often should the greens be core aerated?

This is a site specific decision and depends on the conditions on your course.  Most courses on the Gulf Coast core aerate their putting greens twice a year.  If construction, organic matter, or soil related problems exist, more could be necessary. 

 Aeration & Topdressing for the 21st Century.  Click here for article