Co - Worker of the Month - Jeffery Crocker

Our Co - Worker of the Month for May 2014 is Jeffery Crocker. Jeffery has been working on the golf course maintenance staff (off & on) since he was 19 years old. Jeffery has seen the good and bad days. He is very reliable with historic information regarding the golf course. These include drainage, irrigation, different cultural practices, etc... Jeffery will be graduating from West Georgia this year and has committed to a teaching career with Cobb County Schools. He will be missed greatly. Great Job & Good Luck!

Co-Worker of the Month - Augusto Ayala

Our Co - Worker of the Month for April 2014 is Augusto Ayala. Augusto has been with Brookstone Golf & Country Club for over 12 years. He is very vital to our operation and brings a Great Attitude to the team each and every day. I have been here for 3 years and not one time has Augusto ever been late or called-in sick. He is very dedicated to his work and the satisfaction of the members and guests. Great Job!

Typical Day at the Office

I was speaking to a Member (Mr. Cole) the other day and he asked me "What exactly does a Greenskeeper (Golf Course Superintendent) do everyday?" I responded "A little bit of everything." Below is a typical schedule of what, where, when and with whom I relate to on a daily basis.

Safety Training

We are very complicit in the Safety of our staff, members and guests. The Golf Course Maintenance Staff meets monthly to discuss and demonstrates correct and incorrect safety measurements. Based on our Safety Matrix below, each month we cover different safety parameters that are specific for that time of year. These include safe vehicle operation, sun exposure, proper bunker raking, etc. I had a member ask me yesterday how I train correct safety measures and what exactly we train our staff in relation to safety. I wanted to share the Safety Matrix to give you the perspective of how important Safety really is pertaining to the maintenance of the golf course.

Geese Removal

A Certified Biologist from Georgia State Wildlife Services and his team came to remove the geese from the property. The represenatives trapped the geese and will move them to South Georgia. The geese will be tagged for future reference. The geese have been an ongoing issue causing many complaints. We have tried everything from decoys to screamers and the geese just don't want to leave. No geese were harmed and they removed 66 geese. I am confident this process will resolve the issue. Below are some pictures of the process:

Material Removed - Aerification

We aerified the greens with 1/2" hollow tines, 2 directions, 1.5" centers and a depth of 4". This process removed an estimated 25% of material from the putting surfaces. This percentage is based on the formula from the International Sports Turf Research Center (ISTRC). Aerification will improve turfgrass quality and longevity. Although many golfers despise this cultural process, this is a necessity for putting surface integrity. The holes should heal in 10 - 14 days.

Aerification Pictures

U.S.Senior Open Sectional Qualifier = Results

Brookstone Golf & Country Club hosted the U.S. Senior Open Sectional Qualifier on Tuesday June 17, 2014. We were very excited in hosting this tournament. The golf course is in really great shape and tested the tournament participants. The tournament consisted of an estimated 80-90 players competing for three spots in the U.S. Senior Open. The three lowest score were 67,68 and 70. I want to congratulate all the players and especially the qualifiers. We hope to host many more exciting tournaments like this one in the future. The GSGA (Georgia State Golf Association) was very pleased with the condition of the golf course and the service the staff provided. Below is a picture of the scoring.

U.S. Senior Open Sectional Qualifier

Today we are Hosting one of the Sectional Qualifiers for the U.S. Senior Open. This is a very exciting event for the staff and membership of Brookstone Golf & Country Club. This is the last significant tournament we have prepared for within the last ten days. The maintenance staff has been very busy in preparation for these tournaments. We hope all the tournament participants enjoy the beautiful Brookstone Golf & Country Club. GOOD LUCK!

Practice Round: U.S. Senior Open Sectional Qualifier

Practice rounds will be ongoing throughout the day. We started this morning at 4:30 am to setup the golf course. The golf course is much drier than last week for the Member/Guest. Once again, we are very excited in hosting this tournament.

Up Next: The U.S. Senior Open Sectional Qualifier

The maintenance staff is working diligently in preparation for the U.S. Senior Open Sectional Qualifier (Tuesday - June 17, 2014). The weather looks promising as there is no precipitation in the forecast. This is our third significant tournament in ten days. The staff is very excited in hosting this tournament. We are confident that the participants will be very pleased with the condition of the golf course. Good Luck to all the tournament participants!

Day 3 of The 2014 Member/Guest Tournament

The final day of the 2014 Member/Guest was a huge success. Although the golf course was still wet from the previous day of precipitation the tournament participants were very pleased with the condition of the golf course. The tournament ended with a very exciting shootout. I want to congratulate Mr. Freeman and his guest as the 2014 Member/Guest Tournament Winners! Below are some pictures of the shootout.

GREAT JOB!

Team, I would like to commend the Brookstone Golf & Country Club “TEAM” for a remarkable job in meeting the expectations of the members and their guests during the 2014 Member/Guest Tournament. This year was a challenge with the lack of leadership from a General Manager and Food & Beverage Director on site. The Department Heads and their staff met the expectations of the MGA and provided the tournament participants and guests a wonderful experience. The golf course and the upgrades at the clubhouse received rave reviews. The attitude of the membership is very positive with the direction of the club. Please acknowledge the hard work and dedication to your staff and encourage them to keep pushing in servicing the membership. Once again, THANK YOU!

Day Two Preparation 2014 Member/Guest 2014 - WET! WET! WET!

Once again we received another round of precipitation in preparation of Round 2 of the 2014 Member/Guest. We were able to roll and mow the greens this morning along with bunker raking and course setup. Unfortunately we were unable to mow any of the tees, fairways or approaches. The golf course is very saturated, so we will be Cart Path Only today. Hopefully the weather will cooperate for the rest of the tournament.

Clubhouse Addition Ready for Member/Guest

Our Clubhouse addition was completed just in time for the Brookstone Golf & Country Club 2014 Member/Guest. I took this picture this morning at 5:30 am, right after we turned the lights on. This addition will serve the members and their guests a different avenue of Southern Hospitality.

Early Tournament Preparation

The maintenance staff started very early this morning (5:00 AM). This is my favorite time of the day during tournament preparation and daily setup. I really enjoy watching all the lights in the dark as the maintenance staff is preparing the golf course for tournament and daily play. The scene this early in the morning is like watching an assembly line. Perfect flow through equals perfect setup. This is why our maintenance meetings in the mornings are the most important 15 minutes of the day. The staff knows exactly what to do and where to go. GREAT JOB!

Member/Guest First Round Preparation

We are finally able to mow the golf course in preparation for the first round of The Member/Guest Tournament. We did receive an estimated .15" of precipitation late last night, but was dry enough to mow all the short grass. The staff really worked hard this morning in preparing the golf course for our members and their guests. The morning began with the management team (Myself, Wes, Austin and Daniel) checking fluids, air and operation of the equipment for the maintenance staff at 4:00 AM. We met with the staff at 4:45 AM for the delegation of tasks and they were out the door at 5:00 am. We completed the golf course setup and mowing at 9:30 am. The tournament started at 10:00 am. The member feedback is very positive and this is the goal of the golf course maintenance staff everyday, especially during these events. The fun doesn't stop today as we will prepare the golf course tomorrow and Saturday. The maintenance staff wishes all participants the best during the Brookstone Golf & Country Club 2014 Member/Guest.

Member/Guest Practice Round

Once again we received another inch of precipitation last night. The storm knocked down several limbs and unfortunately broke 2 of our outdoor patio tables at the clubhouse. We will have the golf course cleaned of debris and ready for the practice rounds. We were unable to mow the tees, approaches and fairways. We did apply our growth regulator on Monday, so we don't expect the flush of growth on the shorter playing surfaces following these precipitation events. The greens were mowed and rolled this morning. Even with the continuous precipitation we gained another 1/2' on the Stimp reading. We will continue to monitor the weather and make any adjustments necessary. Thank You and Good Luck!

Greens Committee Letter

The Greens Committee and I discussed each member of the committee to provide a letter for the monthly newsletter and member's website to include their perspective of the maintenance staff, maintenance practices and information for the membership. This is a great representation of the Greens Committee to focus on communicating between the maintenance staff, the committee and the membership. I am grateful for the continued support and involvement of the Greens Committee. Communication between the staff and the membership is the most important aspect in a Private Club. Providing pertinent information to the membership and their guests will aid in many questions that may arise. Please view the blog for the monthly letter and also visit the member's website for this information. Below is the letter from Mrs. Welch (LGA Represenative). Through the Green Summer is in full swing! Warm weather and frequent rains have turned most fairways, greens, and tee boxes a lovely shade of green. The golfers are out sporting daily taking advantage of the greened-up course and the many improvements made in the last few months. While we are enjoying the many improvements, we don't want to forget about daily responsibilities like mowing that keep the course in the great playing condition that we all enjoy. In order to maintain desired green speed and proper fairway roll as well as fair bunker play, the grounds crew cuts, rakes, and rolls each of the 18 holes on our course on schedule. Weather permitting of course. Joey Franco, Brookstone's Golf Superintendent, gave the Greens Committee some insight into his daily maintenance requirements including the summer mowing schedule: greens are rolled 5 times each week and mowed 3 to 4 times; desired height of cut at this time is .118 inch. Tee boxes, fairways and approaches are mowed 3 to 4 times each week; desired height is .550 inch and .500 inch respectively. The rough is cut on a continual basis with mowers out 5 times a week, making it possible for the entire course to be cut 1 and 3/4 times each week; desired height is 1.25 inches. Keeping up with the grass growth is imperative to the grounds crew as is filling divots and cart path etiquette is to the golfers. Please remember to repair your divots! Golf cart signage is posted to remind experienced golfers and inform new golfers of "cart path only" restrictions (no rough either) and proper distance from the greens (30 yards) at Brookstone Country Club. Questions, comments, concerns are appreciated. Suggestion boxes have been placed in the locker rooms for your convenience. Green’s Committee representative’s: Newton Ticer, Glen Collins, Jim Glasgow, Norb Missler, John Barnett, Bob Visentin, Jeff Tally, and myself. Thank you for sanding your divots! Carol Welch

Tournament Week Update

We experienced 1.5" of rain late last night. Due to the precipitation we are unable to mow today. We are rolling the greens and will roll again this afternoon. Not able to mow, this will give the maintenance staff an opportunity to focus on other areas (tree trimming, additional mulching and last minute weedeating). I will update daily on the blog for any information regarding tournament preparation.

Tournament Update = Georgia State Amateur Qualifier

We set the golf course up for play this morning. I met with my Management team to discuss the tasks implemented for the tournament this morning at 4:30 am. We had our daily meeting with the maintenance staff at 4:45 am and they were out the door at 5:00 am. Everything was mowed out (Tees, Fairways & Approaches) and the Greens were rolled and mowed. The Stimp reading for the tournament was just over 11 at 11.3 We are very excited in hosting these tournaments and showcasing the Brookstone Golf & Country Club.

Interesting GCSAA Memo

I found this memo from the GCSAA this morning. We experienced one of the harshest winters in decades. The cold temperatures affected the turfgrass on many golf courses in the area. We were fortunate in not regrassing many areas as some of my fellow superintendents have in the area. All together we only had to regrass some tees and a few areas in the fairways. Many golf courses in the area are bringing in truckloads of grass to repair the winter damage. Many sod farms are unable to supply the demand for turfgrass this year. Some golf course in the area are going to Texas to get sod. In all we only had to get 2 truckloads of turfgrass. I would like to commend the GCSAA for developing this memo for improved communication between Golf Course Superintendents and the Golfing Community. Spring 2014 Course Conditions The winter of 2013-2014 will certainly be remembered in many parts of the South for temperature extremes, winter storms and extended periods of ice and snow coverage. Unfortunately, it will also likely be remembered for creating very difficult bermudagrass growing conditions during the spring. During our travels in the Southeast and South Central regions, we have seen a significant amount of winter related damage to bermudagrass. The damage we have seen is widespread and has affected courses of every type in the region. Only time will tell if this damage is temporary or permanent in nature. Temporary damage will result in slower ‘’green up” and area coverage, while permanent damage could require replacement of turf. We strongly encourage golfers and club members to be patient and supportive of your golf course superintendents. There are many agronomic practices and tools that can be utilized to help turf recover, but until the weather fully cooperates and enough time passes, it is unlikely that playing conditions will reach their full potential. Your superintendent is very likely considering practices that may disrupt playing conditions, limit traffic access or require additional resources. Again, your support and patience is essential during this time. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America is committed to providing our members with support and educational resources during this difficult time. We encourage you to speak with your golf course superintendent if you have any questions regarding your course’s condition and recovery process. Brian Cloud Ron Wright, CGCS GCSAA South Central Region GCSAA Southeast Region Field Staff Representative Field Staff Representative bcloud@gcsaa.org rwright@gcsaa.org GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to nearly 18,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Find GCSAA on Facebook, follow GCSAA on Twitter, and visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.

Greens Committee Meeting June 3, 2014

We had our monthly Greens Committee Meeting on Tuesday June 3, 2014. Topics discussed were: contamination removal update, aerification process and daily maintenance practices. Please view the slide show for very pertinent information regarding the meeting.

Tournament Preparation

We are implementing our plan for the preparation of the tournaments over the next 10 days. We will cut and roll the greens everyday starting this morning. There will be additional mowing and rolling in the evenings after tournament play. Our goal is to provide a firm and smooth putting surface with a Stimp Reading between 11.5 - 12. We will also mow all the tees, fairways and approaches. This is our opportunity to really showcase the facility. I will update daily during these preparations.

Busy Two Weeks

The Golf Course Maintenance Staff is going to be very busy over the next two weeks. We have several very important tournaments scheduled. The tournaments are as follows: LGA Member/Member = June 5, Georgia State Amateur Qualifier = June 9, MGA Member/Guest = June 12 - 14 and U.S. Senior Open Sectional Qualifier = June 17. This is an exciting time for not only the Golf Course Maintenance Staff, but also the membership of Brookstone Golf & Country Club to showcase this beautiful facility.