Maintenance & Course Updates
4/3/13 - On both courses we have lost turf on some greens due to the cool, wet, and cloudy conditions we had in January and February. Since the first of March, we have been fertilizing and venting these spots to recover from the turf loss. We were on the right track until a week ago when we had lows in the 30's for several nights and one night in the upper 20's. The optimal temperature for turf growth for Bermuda grass is 80 degree days and 60 degree nights for four to five consecutive days. Until we have fully recovered, we will continue to vent and fertilize the troubled spots. We will keep everyone updated on the greens progress in the next few weeks.
Thank you.
4/1/13 - The renovation on the back nine of the Cardinal course will begin today. Work will start on #15 and they will also be stripping tees and doing irrigation work at the same time. As the renovation proceeds, we will set a date when the back nine will open. While the Cardinal back nine are being renovated we will aggressively aerify thegreens to remove extra thatch that has built up over the years.
2/13/13 - While golfing Diamondhead, you may have noticed that certain greens and areas on the greens are thinning out. This is due to the lack of sunlight and/or wet & cloudy conditions that we have had this year. Golf course maintenance has been spraying preventative fungicides to prevent further thinning through diseases. We have sen about 15 sunny days out of the past 30 which is not ideal when trying to grow turf at low mowing heights. As the days grow longer and warmer weather approaches, we will start recovering, instead of losing turf. Please bear with us for the next couple of weeks until we get consistently warmer day and night temperatures (60's & upper 80's). Once the tempeatures are consistently warmer, particulary in the 60's during the evening, the greens will start recovering. Thank you.
1/16/13 - Due to weather conditions, both courses are closed today.
1/3/13 - Beginning today, #18 on the Pine course will be closed to carts. The closure is due to cart traffic wear on the fairway. The turf condition will be re-evaluated in the summer.
12/26/12 - Beginning 1/2/13, the golf course maintenance staf will begin trimming back and removing any plants, limbs, and objects that hinder a golfer's view from one Out of Bounds stake to another Out of Bounds stake. This will allow the golf staff to properly mark the out of bounds on both golf courses for upcoming events. The maintenance staff has been instructed to trim back a foot on either side of the OB stake for golfr's view and yearly maintenance. This will also be trimming any low loying limbs that obstruct the mowers. The have been instructed not to trim any limbs, or cut any trees down via the home owner's request. Thank you.
The Golf Academy of Diamondhead is now open. Call 228 255-3910 for more information.
8/15/12 - The Cardinal course will be closed August 20-24, 2012 for aerification. The Pine course will be closed August 27-31, 2012 for aerification. The August aerification will be similar to the aerification that was completed in June. The golf course conditions should return to normal approximately two weeks after each course aerification.
7/24/12 - We are going to open #18 of the Pine, #12 of the Cardinal, and the top half of #16 of the Cardinal to cart traffic. We will monitor these holes to see how they hold up to cart traffic. If we start seeing traffic damage that can't be repaired by aerifying or fertilizer, we will return these holes to cart path only.
A reminder that the golf course maintenance staff will be aerifying the Cardinal course the week of August 20, and the Pine the week of August 27. This serification will be similar to the aerification golf course maintenance performed in June.
7/7/12 - We hope everyone can come out and enjoy our new practice facility as it will reopen at 7am on Friday, July 20th.
The fairy ring circles that have appeared on the Pine greens will be treated Monday, July 9th. This treatment should mask the fairy ring for a month. They will be treated monthly as necessary. In most cases fairy ring does not kill turf but only releases extra nitrogen which creates the dark ring.
In the weeks to come the maintenance staff will be doing some drainage work on the Cardinal. The work will be done on left of #4 green and left of #17 green. We have recently found drain tiles that have been cut or crushed over the years. The maintenance staff will replace these drains in the next several weeks.
We will continue to vent, spike, veritcut, and topdress greens throughout the summer and into the fall.
The Golf Course Maintenance staff wants to thank you for your corporation
6/21/12 - Due to our aerification work over the past two weeks, the Golf Course Maintenance staff has not mowed out of play areas. The staff has been working hard to complete the aerification and the Cardinal will be finished this week and open for play Saturday, June 23, 2012. Next week the staff will begin mowing.
6/11/12 - The Golf Shop email address has been changed to dhccgolfshop@cableone.net
6/6/12 - We will be aerifying & closing the Pine Course the week of June 11, 2012. The Cardinal Course will be aerified & closed the week of June 18. Golf Course Maintenance will be pruning the azaleas throughout the Cardinal & Pine courses that are overgrown & full of vines. This will help to control the unwanted vines and weeds that overtake the azaleas during the summer months. We will start on #1 of the Cardinal behind the tees. This will be an ongoing process until they are all pruned.
5/30/12 - It has been almost a month since we have had any measurable rainfall in Diamondhead. Because of this, you may notice areas of the golf course dry and turning brown. These areas either have no irrigation or the soil has turned powder dry. Without help from Mother Nature, it is difficult to maintain the optimum moisture levels to promote the best growth. Once we do get some much needed rainfall, the soil and turn will return to normal. We are efficiently working to correct any irrigation problems as they arise.
The driving range project went well and is complete. We hope to have it grown in and ready for use in mid-July.
5/8/12 - The Golf Course Maintenance staff will be treating both of our courses this week for mole crickets. Mole crickets are laying their eggs this time of the year and the best time to control them is when they are in the nympth stage, right after the egg stage. We will treat again in a month to control any late hatches. Golf Course Maintenance will also begin an aggressive venting Monday, May 14. We will be pulling core a little larger than the previous venting. We will also verticut and topdress. We anticipate only a minimal disruption for 2-3 days.
5/7/12 - Click here for the Driving Range Renovation plan. Please note this is subject to change without notice.
4/23/12 - The Driving Range renovations have begun!
3/28/12 - Due to some upcoming tournaments in the early summer, we are changing the sequence of the projects this spring.
The Tee Renovation will start April 2, 2012 on the Pine Course. The renovation will start on #1 and go forward. We will prepare temporary tees for the golfer to hit off of once the contractor gets to those holes. We anticipate all of the tees on the Pine Course to be completed in 2 - 3 weeks. After the sod has been laid, it will be approximately 2 weeks before the par 4’s & 5’s will be playable and another 2 weeks for the par 3’s.
The Driving Range renovation will start after the Pine tees are complete. The Driving Range will be closed until the construction and grown in are complete.
3/21/12 - The early spring & summer like temperatures have brought mole crickets up earlier than the last several years. They tunnel under the turf canopy, right under the soil surface. If not controlled, they can cause a lot of damage, and this time of the year it is hard to control the adults. The best time of year to control mole crickets is in May when they lay their eggs. We will be treating in May for the mole crickets and in the next few days the worst areas that they are attacking will be spot treated. We will treat green surrounds, tee boxes, fairways and some rough spots. They are most active during the night so we will be treating these areas in the evening. Thank you.
3/7/12 - Golf Course Maintenance will be venting & topdressing the greens the next two weeks. the Cardinal was done Monday, March 5 and the Pine will be vented Monday, March 12, 2012.
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.
Please note this schedule is subject to change.
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 GulfCoast
?
Core aeration along the GulfCoast 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 GulfCoast 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