New Roller

Recently we purchased a new roller, for our greens here at Blackstone.  The new roller replaces one that was about 9 years old, and mounted on a triplex.  

This roller will allow us to free up a triplex that we can use for mowing tees, approaches, and dethatching.  It will also allow us the ability to roll, without leaving tire marks, ensuring that we can continue to provide the smoothest putting surfaces possible.

Respectfully,

Andy Perry

Fore The Golfer: Bunker Etiquette (+playlist)

Bug spray....

Upon driving the course Monday morning, I happen to notice many brown blotches near several greens.  These blotches are caused by bug spray.  Bug spray that contains the ingredient "Deet" kills grass.  We ask that you please apply bug stay on the cart path. 

Thanks!

Andy Perry 

Golf Course Superintendent 

The Rains Keep Coming...

We received 1.5" of rain on Monday night.  The course soaked it in fairly decent, and we were able to let carts go Wednesday.  

The bunkers are a bit of a mess, and the rough is a growing long, but we are hard at work getting to course back to shape. 

Respectfully, 

Andy Perry

Winter finally coming to an end!

After a very long and brutal winter, it is looking like spring and opening day are very close to reality. As you all know this winter has been cold, windy, icy and snowy for about the last 100 days or so. Snowfall that occurred in December is finally melting away, which has allowed us to to fully inspect the golf course. After walking the golf course several times last week and this week, it is safe to say that we are going to make it out of winter fairly successful. Greens appear to be in great shape, considering the amount of ice and snow. This is why it is important for us to keep Poa Annua out as much as possible which is very susceptible to winter kill. The golf course has very little snow mold, other than a couple of tees that lack air flow. The one thing that many of you will notice as you play your first round or two is the amount of Vole damage that we received is fairly extensive. Voles are large field mice that burrow under the ice and snow, and feed on plant tissue and insects. Damage usually occurs in taller grass, but as we have found, they weren't afraid to venture out on to fairways and a couple of tee boxes. Many areas will soon grow back as soil temperatures rise, and spring fertilizing takes place. Some areas may not, which we will take an organized apptoach in repairing with seed and or sod. Below is a few pictures of the damage which we have also began the process of repair...

http://purdueturftips.blogspot.com/2014/03/melting-snow-reveals-tiny-trails.html

With the soil temperatures rising, we will be actively be prepping the course for a much anticipated golf season at Blackstone. As the Golf Course Superintendent, I want to say that I am excited and look forward to another great year! Hope to see you all soon! Andy Perry Golf Course Superintendent Andy@blackstonegc.com

Winter Mainteance

Often times the question is asked, "what do you work on in the winter"? The answer is actually many things. Winter is a great time to recharge our batteries and reflect on what worked well, and what didn't. It is a time to prepare, plan, and strategize new ways to be more efficient for the upcoming year.

 Most of the winter is used to service and restore all equipment and hand tools. Each mower is serviced, sharpened, and checked over by our equipment technician Dan Dietz. All golf carts get serviced, cleaned and waxed.

In the winter, we also...
- Plow snow and clear walks
- Remove dead/dying trees, and prune low branches
- sand, paint and restore all acessories
 Below is a few pictures of what we have been working on lately.

Welcome!

As the Blackstone Golf Superintendent, I feel that it is important to be able to provide our members and guests with information regarding the Blackstone maintenance department.  In creating this blog, we are in hopes of being able to provide answers to many of the questions that you may have throughout the year.  We ask that you please join our page, as we will continually update with any new and exciting information.
Thanks!