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Superintendent reports new equipment, pest treatments and tee-box work at Toccoa Municipal Golf Authority meeting
Summary
The authority heard a superintendent’s report detailing a newly arrived greens brush, routine fungicide and fertilization, plans for fairway spraying (~$4,000), a new gold tee box at No. 17, and preparations for a 72-player Thunderbird youth tournament.
The Toccoa Municipal Golf Authority heard an operations update from Superintendent Harvanek on course maintenance and upcoming events, including the arrival of a new greens brush and plans for targeted herbicide applications.
Superintendent Harvanek said the greens brush arrived last week and that staff tried it on a morning when play was light. “It works great,” he said, adding that brushing before mowing made grass blades stand up and produced a noticeably better cut. He said staff will brush at least once a week and double-cut on brushing days to improve evenness and rolling speed.
Harvanek reported routine fungicide applications to the greens every 14 to 21 days to address early signs of pythium and said staff had fertilized greens and tee boxes. He described a proposed fairway spray package priced at about $4,000 to target goosegrass and crabgrass, plus follow-up MSMA treatments on non-play areas; he cautioned that overlapping applications can produce yellow striping and said the crew will consider using a half-rate then retreating to avoid that effect.
On capital improvements, Harvanek said crews demolished and painted an old bathroom and marked a new gold tee box behind the bathroom on No. 17; the tee box has not yet been constructed and will be roped off during establishment. He also reported preparations for the Thunderbird youth tournament, a 72-player event that will close the course on Friday and is expected to generate clubhouse revenue from concessions.
The superintendent and trustees discussed turf management details including verticutting later in June, cutting heights (currently 0.130 inch on greens), and possible use of growth regulators when nighttime temperatures support horizontal growth. Harvanek said course condition has improved markedly and that increased out-of-town play has begun to raise revenue but could create crowding concerns.
The board approved the superintendent’s report by roll call vote. The meeting then moved to the purchase-orders item on the agenda.
