Puzzle Pieces

February 26, 2012 By Pasatiempo Golf Club in Native Grasses, Projects, Tees Leave a comment

Previous green strip of grass that used to be maintained as a walk path

Every little piece counts. When fine tuning the irrigation system over the past two seasons, we have found many small areas throughout the golf course that are watered. These small areas are difficult to irrigate properly and because of their odd shape, tend to waste a significant amount of water. Throughout the winter months, the maintenance crew has been identifying these small puzzle pieces and converting them over to native grasses. The best example is below the forward tee on hole #2. This area used to be maintained as a walk path for golfers. The odd triangular shape required four irrigation heads to water this area of which a portion of the runoff spilled into the adjacent native area. Removing the sod and the four sprinklers creates a better flow of the native grasses and will not only save money on water, but fertilizer and labor resources as well. The area was then plugged with grasses from one of our native grass regions to fill in quicker versus seeding it.

Opposite view of this area with green turf and four sprinklers needed to maintain the area

Sod was removed and this area was plugged with grasses from our native area.

View after removal of sod and sprinklers. Goal is to have the grasses help mask the cartpath from the tee view, once they reach mature and grow higher.

Tee Time

February 7, 2012 By Pasatiempo Golf Club in Projects, Tees Leave a comment

Over the years the teeing areas have changed from being a series of smaller individual hitting platforms, to a larger, “one size fits all” approach. The majority of tees were separated by a thin strip of rough-height grass and and created a myriad of multiple hitting “islands.” While this old pattern easily designated each tee and sometimes multiple tees for each forward, middle, and championship tee, this was not an original MacKenzie concept. It also did not allow us to maximize all available space. The majority of teeing areas have been expanded during the previous two winters by removing that center stripe of rough. Over the past week our crew has been “fixing” the areas that used to be rough. When these areas were rough, they were not aerified or topdressed with sand, therefore they have been slightly uneven and less than ideal for teeing off. The crew has also taken advantage of fixing any mole or gopher damage in the tees by removing the sod, leveling out these areas, then replacing the sod.

Removed uneven area...leveled out section that used to be rough...then replaced with sod.

Previous 8th tee composed of smaller hitting areas separated by a thin area of rough

Current View from the 8th Tee...One large teeing area for forward and middle players

Driving Range Closure

February 4, 2012 By Pasatiempo Golf Club in Driving Range, Projects Leave a comment

On Monday the driving range will be closed all day to repair the sagging sections of netting. The process will begin around 8:00am and is expected to last all day. The maintenance crew will take advantage of the closure and complete any necessary maintenance tasks in and around the driving range. There is more Sta-Lok material to add behind the hitting areas and this project will be completed during Monday’s closure as well.

Two sections of netting need repaired

Driving Range Improvement

January 29, 2012 By Pasatiempo Golf Club in Driving Range, Projects 1 Comment

Current look of the driving range area

Previous look of the driving range facility. The Sta-Lok material was added to this area in 2010.

While Pasatiempo may not be admired for its driving range facility, we have spent the past week doing some aesthetic upgrades. Due in large part to the safety factor and proximity to the first hole and practice greens, players are required to hit off mats everyday. The only exception is during the mens and ladies invitational when the grass tee is utilized. During the Western Intercollegiate held each April we allow the college players to hit off grass as well. The back side of the driving range suffered in terms of aesthetics from poor turf quality, players sneaking in a few hits off the grass, and continous gopher activity. The decision was made to be consistent and turn this area into the same Sta-Lok material that is behind the majority of the mats. Also, the previous grassy area was minimized so that more native grasses could be added to help improve the area. With the sandy bio-swale in the front of the mats and now the decomposed granite material in the back it may be something more reminiscent of a desert golf course facility. However, it does fit our overall goal of reducing irrigated turfgrass and promoting more native grass areas.

The previous look behind the driving range mats

Cross Checking

December 21, 2011 By Pasatiempo Golf Club in Conditioning, Projects, Staff 1 Comment

For you hockey enthusiasts, cross-checking can be an exhilarating experience although illegal and results in a penalty. Cross checking at Pasatiempo is a legal and very useful way to track progress with projects and tasks. The business of maintaining a golf course can be very routine as the same practices are done nearly every day during the main growing season. Setting the course up for daily play involves all the basics and CrossCheck allows myself and my assistant to keep track of all the “other” detail tasks via an iPhone or iPad. Specific tasks can be added at any time, which then sync to other designated devices. Thus, if I add a series of projects, it will show up on his iPad. Similarly, if several tasks were accomplished and he checks them off the list, that will be reflected on my device. It keeps communication flowing and allows both of us to know what needs to be done and what has already been done. CrossCheck also archives everything so you can go back and look at what was done throughout the year and be reminded just how many “other” things it takes to keep a golf course in top shape.

Here is an example of a daily forecast that is emailed each morning. Click on the graph to visit the CrossCheck app website and learn more about this useful tool.

Crosscheck Daily Forecast for Dec 19, 2011

Due Soon!

Pick up 26 pavers for 12 staircase
Mow grass behind driving range mats Oct 20, 2011
Expand chipping area below 18 green to encompass drain Dec 14, 2011
Take out tee bricks and repaint numbers.
VIDAL Dec 26, 2011 thru Jan 1, 2011 Back to work on the 2nd
JOSE Dec 10, 2011 thru Feb 26, 2012 Return to work on February 27, 2012
JAVIER Dec 25, 2011 thru Jan 1, 2011. Back to work January 2
VIDAL Jan 10, 2011 thru Jan 23, 2011 Back to work on Jan 24th
VIDAL Jan 30, 2011 & Jan 31, 2011
RITO Dec 22, 2011 thru Jan 4, 2011 Back on the 5th
Spike and seed 4 collar Dec 14, 2011

Due Today

BILL Dec 19, 2011

Due Later This Week

HECTOR Dec 23, 2011 Dec 24, 2011
JORGE Dec 24, 2011

Two-Week Running Progress

Created

Completed

Created or Edited Yesterday

Overseed Bermuda on 3 bunker Cartpath side by Paul Chojnacky
Clean out drain along road at 11 tee by Paul Chojnacky

Completed Yesterday

Water satellite grasses Sep 27, 2011
Install rubber pavers to 12 staircase
Water Boston ivy Sep 9, 2011
Sakamoto to carve out parking area by 6 bathroom
Adjust native line to match up with sprinkler head 263 on 13 rough @Josh
Aerify bad areas along cart paths #’s 2, 4, 6, 11, 13, 14, 17…put Topper, crumb rubber, and Ryegrass seed
Bluebird overseed adjacent to 2 native bunker
Clean up piles of weeds in 2 creek
Bluebird overseed along 3 Teeing area
Bluebird overseed along native line 3 fairway
Cut liquid amber suckers along cartpath in 6 native area
Topdress 12 green collar expansion

CROSSCHECK

5 Years in the Making

September 29, 2011 By Pasatiempo Golf Club in Bunkers, Projects Leave a comment

View of the 9th Green Complex during Spring 2009 with landscaping behind MacKenzie Clubhouse

View of the 9th Green prior to installation of new bunker

An original pair of bunkers rested behind the 9th green when MacKenzie designed the golf course back in the 1920′s. Over the years these bunkers were filled in and the area was landscaped. Additionally, a cartpath directing players to the 10th tee eliminated the furthest left side bunker. During the renovation of the golf course in the 2000s, these original bunkers were supposed to be put back to match the original design. There was no way to eliminate the cartpath to add a bunker and the club elected not to remove the necessary landscaping for the other bunker to be built. In the winter of 2009 the maintenance staff took out all the overgrown landscaping below the clubhouse and converted this area to native grasses. Jim Urbina, who has been instrumental throughout the restoration process came on-site on September 12th and carved out a new bunker on the back left side of the green complex. MacKenzie’s vision was to alter the depth perception from a player’s approach shot from the 9th fairway.

Current view of 9th Green Complex with the addition of new bunker

Now…Let’s Get This Straight

June 9, 2011 By Pasatiempo Golf Club in New Tee Construction, Projects, Storm Damage Leave a comment

Existing cartpath and the Outline of where new cartpath will be located.

The big storm of March 19th not only took out the tree adjacent to the 3rd green, it significantly damaged the cartpath that circled around that massive tree. Losing the tree was great from an architectural standpoint as the MacKenzie bunker complex is no longer hidden from view at the main entrance. Another side benefit was the straightening of the new cartpath to go right through where the tree used to be. This eliminates the awkward curvature of the previous cartpath and significantly increases the playability from the right side of the green complex. Does it make the hole easier without the tree? Not sure how a 235-yard uphill Par 3 is easy to begin with…

Project began on Tuesday June 7th with the pouring of concrete to occur on Monday June 16th.