Hurricane Katrina Volunteer Work In The Lower Ninth Ward

In February 2009 I had the privilege to attend the Golf Industry Show in New Orleans. This show brings the club managers, owners, and the superintendent associations together for industry updates and educational opportunities. Obviously there are still areas in and around New Orleans that are still devastated from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I decided to volunteer two days of my time at the Show and work with the St. Bernard Project. This is a group who have been recognized nationally for their efforts in rebuilding homes in the St. Bernard Parish area of the lower ninth ward which was totally devastated by the flooding. Pictured above are three of the individuals that I worked on the house with who were associated with the Americorps group. For more information on the Americorp program you can go to www.americorp.gov. This is a federal volunteer program for young adults between the ages of 18-24.




Flooding in this lower ninth ward area came up to the gutter line of this house pictured in the background. In the foreground is a FEMA trailer given to the homeowner by the federal government. Only about 30% of the homes in this area have been rebuilt as some decided to take the buyout and move on. Others such as this homeowner decided to live in one these trailers until their homes could be rebuilt by volunteers.



These homes had to be totally gutted and rebuilt with volunteers. The two days I worked we drywalled, taped, and painted. To the left of me is a storage box for building materials. Really a great experience and time well spent. The St. Bernard Project has been recognized for their efforts in this rebuilding effort and you can find out more at www.stbernardproject.org

Dollar Spot Disease 2009

Did you ever wonder what these areas pictured were on our greens this year?
2009 was a tough year at Rolling Hills and many other courses in the St. Louis area for this disease called "Dollar Spot".


Our fungicide program here at Rolling Hills is based on the "as needed" concept. During optimum disease pressure months we are continually scouting for signs of any disease.



Normallly fungicide applications for Dollar Spot can keep you free of disease for 14-21 days. In 2009 however there were occasions where at the 10th day we started to see disease outbreak. Low fertility and abnormally wet conditions only aided in the disease outbreaks.



Although there are advantages to low fertility based golf course greens, such as smoothness and green speed, the low fertility in 2009 worked against us. For more information regarding Dollar Spot you can read on it at www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-105-W.pdf

2009 Irrigation Winterizing

Here is a picture of the air compressor used to blow the irrigation lines free of water.


Hose runs from compressor in to pumphouse


Air hose attached to main irigation line that heads out to course


The first step in winterizing the system is to plug into all of the quick couplers seen above on the course and blow them free which will ultimately empty most of the main line water.

Here is another quick coupler being blown out. These quick couplers are located at all greens, front nine tees, and some landscape areas.



We have to ability to fill the back nine irrigation lake by pumping from the front nine lake. Pictured above we are forcing water out of 4" fill line into lake.


Another picture of 4" fill line from front nine lake to back nine lake being blown out.


Once quick couplers are blown we then move on to the regular irrigation heads. Pictured above we are blowing out the clubhouse grounds.


#14 Fairway heads being blown out...


#16 Fairway heads being blown out...


#16 Fairway heads again.

Winter Cart Covers For Our Golfers

Pictured here is one of our new RXV EZGO golf carts with cover ready for your Winter enjoyment. We have up to 20 of these covers so come out and see us.

Re-Sodding of Tees

Our tee sodding in the Summer of 2009 started with #2 White and Red Tees. Because of the stress that golfers impose on a golf course, from time to time grass replacement is necessary. Some other tees that were re-sodded in 2009 include....



#9 Red Tee



#11 Red Tee



#12 Red Tee



#15 White/Blue

Pierce Ln./Stamper Ln. Road Construction Update

Here is an update on the road construction on Pierce Lane. They were hoping to allow access thru by 1/1/10. This picture is from bridge back toward Rolling Hills
There will be a sidewalk on the left.



The left half of the road has been poured looking South from the bridge.



Looking North down towards the bridge



A look from the Stamper/Pierce intersection which is open. Sidewalk to be on right.

#17 Tee Renovation

Graded and leveled tee on #17. Picture from the front of tee back toward #16 green. Notice the shade on the back left of tee. The tree that creates this shade will be removed to allow more sun since we are converting the tee from a cool season grass to a warm season grass-zoysia-which needs more sun.



View toward #17 green with newly sodded tee in forground.




Dan drenches new sod in for the final step.



Picture of finished product with now dormant Zoysia. Bottom left of picture is where the old oak tree was that provided too much shade.

#12 Tee Renovation

The first step the this renovation was removal of old sod and leveling of tee.




Jordan, Jordan, and Dan admire zoysia sod during installation. A starter fertilizer was applied to tee prior to laying of sod




In the foreground is the Kubota tractor used for rolling out the 30 yard zoysia rolls. The rolls are picked up then rolled out backwards.




Sod is immediately drenched in and kept closed until sod has tacked down. In this instance tee was sodded in the middle of August and was open by the first week of September.




A picure of the finished tee after the Zoysia has gone dormant.

Winter Tree Removal

The back nine here at Rolling Hills has some older trees that need to come down. This is a Cherry tree right of 10 green



Notch, cut, and giver a push (;



See the pinched saw.....



this is what happens.



A few parts and the saw was back at it. We are looking for a home for the cut up Cherry wood.

There are little thing we try to do in the off season to fine tune the course. Trimming off the lower branches of these Spruce right of #18 green will allow you to more quickly find your ball if you happen to push one.



Keeping these limbs up off the ground will also eliminate any hiding areas for valuables.




Off to the burn pile.

New Golf Cart Fleet for 2010

Picture of our new 2009 EZ Go RXV golf carts. 72 new carts ready for your enjoyment. We are committed to providing you a quality product and experience here at Rolling Hills. Come out and see us this Winter as we also have no less that 20 carts with covers to use free of charge.

Synthetic Teeing Area ONLY in Winter

The above picture is the area immediately in front of our synthetic teeing area on our range. The turf is obviously exhausted from the long season. This area has been aerated, seeded, and fertilized this Fall 2009. Please stay off.


The area at the bottom of the above picture is the same area as the previous picture.


We made quite a financial investment to our driving range tee in 2009. We would sure like to keep it nice for years to come, and by having golfers use the synthetic area only in the Winter this will sure help.