Member Newsletter - Hampton Hall Club

Golf News 9
By Matt Sapochak
Golf Course Superintendent
843-815-8710
msapochak@hamptonhallsc.com
The golf course continues to green up with warm weather and
our grass looks to be coming out of dormancy well, even after a
record cold winter. Problems transitioning from Ryegrass to
Bermuda should be minimal.
You might have noticed that we cut a 1 inch wide trench straight
away from the oak trees we planted over the last 3 to 7
years. The reason we cut trench was to cut choking or girdling
roots. Because of our heavy soil, Oak trees will grow a root
around the root ball choking off the tree over a period of
years. Irrigation adds to the problem of girdling root because the
tree does not try to push roots out the hole that it was planted in
to find water. Our trees receive water frequently because trees
are planted in areas were grass is maintained to a playable
conditions. Trees will be treated with both fertilizer and
pesticides by the end of March to help trees come out of winter
weather.
Golf course projects will be changing bunker
renovation to Zoysiagrass encroachment removal
through the spring and summer months. The first
two areas we will be working on will be at holes 9
and 10 approaches. You have probably noticed
we have sprayed out the Zoysiagrass
encroachment in these areas and will be replacing
it with 419 Bermudagrass. When 9 and 10 are
completed we will have taken 95% of
encroachment out of approach areas and will start removing
encroachment out of fairways and around bunkers. I feel this
removal process will be ongoing until a chemical is made that will
remove Zoysiagrass from Bermudagrass; currently there is not a
chemical available.
We plan to do a limited amount of projects this spring and
summer as 90% of the maintenance crew’s time will be spent on
daily preparation of golf course for play. Once greens start to
grow more in April, we will begin bi-weekly verticutting which
removes grain and increases speed. Please make a note that
aeration of the golf course will start at 1:00 pm on June 6 and the
golf course will reopen for play on June 9. If you have not
recently played the golf course, please do so as it is in excellent
condition.
Ready to Improve your Game?
Let your PGA Professionals help take your
game to a new level in 2011. Whether you
are just beginning or an accomplished
player, Skip and Gary have over 36 years of
experience and are dedicated to helping
you improve your game.
Lesson Rates
Individual 1 Hour Lesson ~ $50
Series of three 1 Hour Lessons ~ $120
To schedule your golf lesson please contact
the Golf Shop at 843-815-8720.
Save-the-Date
American Cancer
Society Golf-A-Thon
I'm happy to announce that Matt, Max, Skip and
Gary managed to reach our goal of playing 54
holes in one day. As a result of your support, we
were able to raise $1,445.70 for the ACS!
When this is combined with the money raised
during the tournament, I think we had a
tremendously successful event. I want to issue
a special “Thank You” to all that assisted and
participated. The entire Golf Staff is looking
forward to making next year’s event even bigger
and better!