Under Pressure!

Those of us of a certain age may remember the David Bowie/Queen collaboration "Under Pressure". Its an apt tune to think of as the back ground music to this week's blog as I comment on a couple of different types of pressure the course is currently facing. 

Some of you may have noticed Len, Russ or I rolling sideways across greens on Links latest mechanical acquisition - the greens roller. The machine looks a little bit like a cross between a 70's era bicycle and a small steam roller with high y shaped handle bars sitting atop three heavy rollers. It scuttles across greens with all the agility of a drunken crab, although the lack of precision may be due more to operator inexperience than mechanical design. Its steering takes some getting used to as it reacts very differently from the power assisted greens mower. The purpose of the device is to roll the greens after they are cut to further smooth the the grass and provide a smoother, faster putting surface. The roller is also fitted with brushes so it can be used to assist with top dressing and sanding processes, quickly spreading and smoothing sand into holes punched in the green. The roller improves the distribution of sand and allows the course to return to optimal playing conditions much more quickly than in previous years. Once we master its steering, members can expect to see this machine fairly frequently as we try to improve roll and green speed through out the year. In the past one of the knocks against frequent rolling was that the process caused compaction on the greens and damaged the turf. New research and technology has shown that carefully managed, rolling will not hurt the greens and will actually improve their playability. We'll be monitoring this process carefully through out the year and welcome feedback from members as to how things are going.

Only a few weeks ago I was lamenting how wet the course was due to the late spring, high run off and over abundance of standing water. It is a true testament to how changeable our north Peace weather truly is that now its the absence of water that is putting pressure on the greens. Sunny skies and high winds have sucked much of the moisture out of the ground and turf that was just weeks ago struggling to stay above water has now been left high and dry. The result is that turf that drowned or froze under too much moisture, hasn't been able to fully recover because now there is not enough water to promote new growth. Greens that came through the winter relatively healthy are now becoming stressed by the dry conditions and are at risk of becoming burnt or browning out.Grounds crew are currently looking at other options for delivering moisture to the most affected area and are hoping for frequent over night rains.

Normally the greens are watered nightly by means of our sprinkler system but the rapid thaw at the surface has not necessarily been matched below ground. Getting the water system reconnected to the city's water lines has communication and coordination challenges all its own. A number of other jobs including the clearing of clogged lines, repairing breaks in the lines and servicing sprinkler heads that were damaged by the winter or the snow removal process have all delayed the return of water pressure to the course irrigation and water systems. 

The lack of running water also puts unwanted pressures on the maintenance of course equipment. Normally all mowers and equipment are washed out after every use. Without pressurized water, clean up procedures are restricted to wiping machines down or blowing them out with compressed air. Given that most of our equipment comes with sharp cutting surfaces, the jets of a pressure washer are much safer and easier cleaning procedures than are reaching in and wiping things down with a cloth.


The lack of water also puts unwanted pressures on some of our members too, as the on course bathrooms can't open until the water is restored. Until the water issues are resolved, seeking relief on the course will have to be restricted to bad lies. Dealing with this different sort of pressure will involve its own unique hazards for at least a few more days.


Dealing successfully with pressure has always been important both in golf and life in general. A chunk of carbon is just a lump of coal until applied pressure turns it into a diamond. While we can certainly do with a little less pressure than that, rest assured we will be doing our best to help the course live up to its reputation as a gem of the north! Until next week, may all your pressure putts drop!