Course News

Course Update – July 18

After a great week of dry weather for the Manitoba Junior Championship, the rain unfortunately returned on the weekend and into the start of this week.  We were in position to handle some rainfall after some significantly warm days.  This has helped the turf across the property.  The unfortunate part of the rain is we lost control of moisture on the greens.  Greens are soft and running a little slower than we would like.  With the forecast we should be in good position for ball roll by weeks end. We are still experiencing large flushes of growth on greens and a regulator application took place on Wednesday to assist in controlling growth to hopefully provide the later day golfer with better conditions.

The large flushes of growth continue across all areas of the property.  We are challenged currently with controlling and maintaining clippings.  We are currently having some equipment challenges with our blowers so for the next little while the course may not present as well as we hope while we wait on parts for repairs. Please be patient while we do what we can to keep the course neat and tidy.

Course Update – July 10

This past Monday July 8^th the Turfcare team was able to complete many vital agronomic practices to set the stage for the prime playing season of golf ahead.  We would like to thank the membership for its support in allowing additional time for these practices to be completed. We were able to complete a vent on greens along with a topdressing and fertility application.  Large acreage saw the fairways and tee boxes receive a fertility application and fungicide application to assist with the disease pressures due to the high humidity. Greens will remain a little soft and slower to start the week with the watering requirements for fertility but should soon firm up and regain the pace expected.

This week we are fortunate as a club to host the Manitoba junior golf championship.  We made great efforts on Monday with the course closed to mow all rough on the front nine holes.  We finished up the back nine rough on Tuesday.  This will be all the rough mowing for the week with the junior event. Rough should start to stabilize with the warm forecast.

The warm forecast also has us in a spot to begin watering the property essentially for the first time this year.  We will be out hand watering greens and other areas throughout the day.  Please be aware of the team as they work to keep the course healthy.

Have a great week ahead.

Respectfully,
Shawn Major, AGS

Weekly Course Update

Once again rain has been the story as it relates to weather, course care and the game of golf.  With the most recent rainfall this week we have surpassed 15 inches on the property since May 1^st.  Annual precipitation numbers over a year are generally in the 20 inch range.  Needless to say this rain will have us behind in mowing and other practices on course while we dry out. The last week of June provided enough relief that we were able to mow and maintain all aspects of the property for the first time this season.

Green speeds continue to be inconsistent day to day.  We have at no point this season had control of moisture with all the rain.  We are hopeful that we will have the opportunity to manage moisture levels soon and when we do we will see green speeds become more consistent and in line with the pace we expect. Moisture levels have a significant impact on green speeds.

Some general reminders as it relates to course care.  We are asking that all rickshaws remain off of tee boxes and collars while enjoying your round.  This will assist in managing wear on collars and remove the unsightly look of tires across tee boxes.
The naturalized area to the right of hole 10 is marked with white stakes that have solid green tops.  These stakes and this area are mandatory relief.  Please do not play your golf ball if it ends up in this area.  There is no penalty for relief and is considered an environmentally sensitive and protected area. 

As always please put forth your best effort with ball mark repair.  The relentless rains have had greens soft and vulnerable to larger ball marks.  If not repaired these ball marks become a great environment for poa to encroach which hurts the investment made by the club in these bentgrass greens.  Playing conditions also suffer with unrepaired ball marks.  

Please ensure you rake your bunkers once you have played in them.  We continue to find an unacceptable amount of bunkers not cared for each morning.  The turfcare team does not have the ability or resources to maintain the bunkers daily and your efforts with this basic and expected course care item can provide all members and guests a better golf experience.

This Monday July 8^th the tee sheet will be closed until 3pm.  This additional time is required to complete some key agronomy practices.  These practices will assist in setting the stage for the remainder of the summer on greens and assist in ensuring turf health.  We will look to topdress, vent and fertilize greens as well as complete spraying practices across all fairways and tees. These items have not taken place to the level required with all the weather challenges of the season to date. 

Respectfully,

Shawn Major, AGS

Course Update

A wonderful stretch of dry weather this past week allowed the Turfcare team to complete mowing practices across the entire property for the first time this season. It was great to see all rough cut and perimeter areas that had been too saturated to mow finally attended too. We are hopeful that the forecasts for significant rainfall to start July in inaccurate so we can continue with some good weather for both the game of golf and course maintenance.

On Monday July 1^st the driving range will be closed at 1:00pm to allow the climber’s time to replace the missing range net panel.  This should take approximately 1.5 hours for them to complete and we will look to have the range re-opened as soon as possible.  We apologize for this inconvenience.

Have a great long weekend ahead!

Respectfully,

Shawn Major, AGS

Message from the Course Committee Chair

As was communicated in my previous message, I will be sharing some best practices on these and other course etiquette items. This information is intended to provide members with the necessary knowledge to ensure that we are doing our part to protect and care for the golf course.  By doing so we will help the maintenance team focus on their most important tasks while also providing every member and their guests a memorable experience day in and day out.

For this week we will be dealing with bunker care and raking. Below you will find some information provided by the course team:

Bunker Care and Raking:

• We have a significant number of bunkers at Niakwa.  These bunkers are labour intensive – it takes 6 team members to rake bunkers for play in their entirety ahead of the game of golf. 
• The Turfcare team does not have the ability to rake bunkers every day. 
• As members, if we are doing our part, the bunkers can remain in presentable and playable condition each day regardless of if they have received a rake for play.
• When your ball inevitably lands in a bunker, please note the following:
  • Never enter a bunker from the high side.  Always walk around and enter the bunker at the lowest point.  This prevents deep depressions on the faces of the bunkers, protects the integrity of the turf surrounding the bunker and provides the safest option for a golfer to enter and exit (see Figure 1 below).
  • While using the rake, ensure that both hands are utilized on the rake handle.  One handed raking will not provide enough down force to properly smooth the entire area of impact.
  • Bunker rake placement is also important: 
    • Once you are finished raking the bunker, the head of the rake should be placed in the bunker with the handle in the air on the perimeter of the bunker (see Figure 1 below).
    • There are ample bunker rakes on course.  If the rakes are simply returned to the general position they are found, then each golfer will have a rake within a short distance of their bunker shot.  Misplaced rakes create more work for our fellow members and slow down the pace of play.
• The following two links will provide you with information on how to care for bunkers
  • https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/58/17/how-to-rake-a-bunker.html
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBQwc8RjzFA

Figure 1  – See the placement of the rake above.  We want the handle in the air on the perimeter of the bunker.  The head of the rake in the bunker. When entering avoid the steep faces shown by the X above.  Please enter from the low side where the green arrow is.

Respectfully

Paul Beatty, Chair

Course Committee

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBQwc8RjzFA

Weekly Course Update

Mosquitos are beginning to buzz around the property.  A reminder to apply bug spray on asphalt or gravel paths and not while on turf.  Bug spray will kill the turf leaving unsightly areas that will take time to recuperate. The City of Winnipeg has been on property three times this spring and will continue to assist in the battle with mosquitos every few weeks.  Some dry weather would help!

With June 15^th upon us we are now entering the prime 90 days of golf at Niakwa.  We are happy with how greens are performing considering the weather challenges of the spring.  There is still recovery needed across the property from a fairway and approach stand point.  These areas will continue to recover. Mowing frequencies will increase on tees, approaches and fairways. We will do our best to stay on top of rough mowing.  Some dry weather would also benefit slowing down the rough.  Overall details are still behind but we are slowly catching up in some areas.

• A reminder to keep rickshaw traffic off of tee boxes and collars around greens.  This will help keep wear to a minimum.
• We have completed an herbicide application to the front nine fairways.  We are beginning to see the weeds die back.  As soon as we have another good spray window we will complete the back nine fairways.
• We are behind and need to apply herbicide to many out of play and rough areas on the property. Once other spray programs have caught up we will continue to work our way through this program.
• We beginning to catch up in areas that had not previously been mown with standing water.  With some of these areas clippings are left behind.  We are working to ensure that clippings are blown and you may experience the blowers out during the day to manage this issue.
• Flowers continue to be installed for the season.  We are hopeful that we will complete planting in the next few days.
• We are beginning to see algae blooms in the ponds. We are working on a long term solution to this issue.  The past two seasons we were fortunate to trial electromagnetic technology that kept our ponds free of weeds and algae.  Without these units this season we have seen the return of the algae blooms.
• On Monday June 24^th the Audubon resource group is having a member volunteer event.  We will be physically removing thistle from the property.  This program was successful last season making a significant improvement to the hazard area between #10 and #18 green.  If you are interested please meet at the clubhouse for 8:30am.

Have a great week ahead!

Respectfully submitted,

Shawn Major, AGS

Course Update

This past Monday the Turfcare team made a repair to the collar on the right hand side of the 5^th green.  Please refrain from taking your rickshaw over this collar as we work to establish it.  A reminder that the club asks for rickshaws to stay off of tee boxes and avoid walking them over the collars of greens.  With some weak turf from a difficult winter the traffic will hinder recovery and wear these areas down.

• The rains have continued making it difficult to meet the demands and expectations of the property.  We are still behind in many facets of course maintenance. 
• Rough is growing rapidly.  We have been challenged to get equipment into all areas in need of mowing due to soft grounds conditions and standing water.  When we do mow we are leaving clippings which we are working to disperse with the blowers.  Please be patient as we navigate this early season growth which has been greatly assisted by the relentless rain events.
• We will button up the 10^th tee surrounds repairs on Monday June 10^th.
• With the standing water on the property and general wet conditions around the city we are beginning to experience some mosquito activity.  A reminder that bug repellent kills grass and is not to be applied while on turf.  Please apply on asphalt, concrete or cart paths.
• Flowers have begun to be planted on the property.  This process has also been hindered by rain events.  This will continue into next week.
• Cart paths continue to require attention after each rainfall.  If you come across a path with water and pot holes please just slow down and travel through the area using the path.  When we start to go around the rough areas of paths we are beginning to wear out the turf in that area.
• On Monday June 24^th the resource advisory group will be having a volunteer thistle pulling event in the morning.  We had great success with this last season making a significant improvement to the area between #18 & #10.
• This Saturday June 8^th if you are golfing you will see a large volume of canoes and kayaks in the Seine River. Please be aware of these folks as you play your game of golf to ensure everyone is safe.
• Our working relationship with Save Our Seine continues to be a very positive one for the club.  This weekend June 8^th and 9^th they are looking for volunteers to assist in planting 1000 trees at Marlene Park.  If you are able and want to contribute to this great cause for the City of Winnipeg they are asking for volunteers to show up between 10am and 3pm each day.

We are hopeful for some sunshine and warm weather for both the game of golf and course maintenance. Have a great week ahead.

Respectfully submitted,

Shawn Major, AGS

A Message from the Chair of the Course Committee

As members of the Niakwa Country Club we have the privilege of playing on one of the best conditioned golf courses in the province thanks to Shawn Major and his staff.  That privilege comes with a responsibility.  Members and their guests are expected to do their part to help care for our course. 

Contributing to course care includes the following general items:

• Abiding by power cart rules and traffic restrictions
• Ball mark repair
• Bunker care and raking; and

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some best practices on these and other course etiquette items. This information is intended to provide members with the necessary knowledge to ensure that we are doing our part to protect and care for the golf course.  By doing so we will help the maintenance team focus on their most important tasks while also providing every member and their guests a memorable experience day in and day out.

For this week we will be dealing with power cart rules and traffic restrictions. Below you will find some information provided by the course team:

Power Cart Rules and Traffic Restrictions:

• Power cart traffic control is an important item as it relates to course care.  We have a historic property.  With that comes a lack of space.  We do not have cart paths tee through green.  With the lack of space and cart paths, wear patterns and damage can happen quickly if we do not control where power carts travel.  Weather variables can also add to the challenges of power cart traffic on course.
• We utilize stake and rope in many areas to protect turf.  Without this in place we would have many soil voids on the property taking away from the playability and presentation. When you see stake and rope in an area or white and black traffic control posts the goal is to keep power carts from travelling in that general area (see Figure 2 below).

Figure 2 – These traffic control stakes and rope are preventing this damaged area from becoming worse due to power cart traffic.  If you see these setups simply keep your power cart away from the area and travel around it. We would ask for no travel in the red “X” areas but follow the green arrow around the challenged location.

• As a club we have a rule that power carts are to remain in fairways.  This is done for a couple reasons:
  • We have great drainage in our fairways.  If conditions are soggy our fairways will have the best chance at successfully handling the traffic as there is generally minimal standing water. 
  • There is a lack of irrigation and drainage in our rough areas.  When we get into wet periods we hold water in the rough.  Driving through saturated areas displaces the turf and with enough receptiveness we will see the turf die back creating unsightly conditions. On the flip side when we are in drought periods the rough can wilt with the inability to handle the traffic and recover.  Please keep carts in fairways.
• Travelling near a green or tee is not permitted. 
• Generally, we ask to keep power carts a minimum of 30 yards from greens and approaches. 
• All tee box locations all have a cart path.  Please keep power carts fully on these paths with all four tires on the cart path and off of the turf.

Thanks for your attention to this very important matter.  A little extra effort on our parts will enhance everyone’s experience at the Club.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.

Respectfully

Paul Beatty, Chair

Course Committee

Course Update

As we make the turn into June we are hopeful to see some warmth and reduced rain events.  While it has created significant challenges with course care and the game of golf the above average moisture most certainly played a vital role in the improvement of our fairway conditions.

• There is still recovery needed on course as it relates to the large acres.  We will have a good sense of what will not recover in the next week or two.  We have minimal sod options available for repairs but we will begin to button up some areas around greens this Monday June 3^rd.
• On Monday June 3^rd the Turfcare team will be utilizing additional time to look after the property.  There has been significant challenges with weather variables that have some critical programs behind.  We will utilize the additional time to topdress, vent and fertilize greens. We will look to spray large acreage with liquid fertility.  We will do some collar repairs with the sod we have available.  Providing the weather cooperates these programs will aid in providing the membership with better course conditions as we close in on the prime 90 days at Niakwa.
  • In the event that we receive poor weather on the Monday and cannot topdress greens we will capitalize on the next sunny day to make this application in play.  This will mean the topdressing sand will be evident on greens until it dries and then we will brush the sand in through golf. We have not been able to achieve enough sand this spring to protect the greens and smooth them out.  At this point we need to find a way to complete this program around bad weather if required. The sand will not affect the ball roll negatively it will only be beneficial.
• We are asking all members that walk and use rickshaw’s to refrain from walking the rickshaw on tee boxes and collars.  Please keep the rickshaws to the areas around these key features.
• With standing water we may soon begin to experience the return of mosquitos. A reminder that bug repellent kills grass.  Any use of repellent should be applied on cart paths or away from turf.
• Our partners Save Our Seine are looking to plant 1000 trees on June 8^th at Marlene Street Park.  They are looking for volunteers to help with this goal.  We have a great relationship with Save Our Seine that has seen them provide and establish 50 trees in the past year at Niakwa.  If you are available and interested we know they can use the assistance.  Save Our Seine will be providing Niakwa with some additional trees to plant this fall. 
• Flowers are beginning to be planted for the season.  Daphne and her team will continue to plant daily once course preparations are complete and until all flowers are planted.
• The rough on course continues to thrive and grow with the rain events we have had.  We are doing our best to stay on top of this through the weather challenges.
• Cart traffic with the wet weather continue to be challenged.  Protecting our course has served us well this spring as we have seen major improvements on the property.  Please remember the clubs rules for keeping carts in fairways when playing and obeying any traffic control in place.
• Greens are at their summer heights.  We are waiting for control of moisture which assists in increasing green speeds.  While these rain events continue we will not roll as desired.

Respectfully submitted,

Shawn Major, AGS