Vineyard Golf Club
Good news from the world of golf ! No , I ’m not thinking of the immense decline in its popularity over the last decade or so , though many lawn - haters see that as a good thing . I ’m thinking of the move toward more naturalistic and less athirst link - style courses , especially out West but even here in the East . And consume recently heardJeff Carlsonspeak , I ’m thinking of golf course of action that are go all - organic – Carlson being the overseer of the now - famousVineyard Golf Clubthat ’s winningawards and enceinte closet .
( Here he is in a large hurry to get to the airport right away after his talk – no time for Q&A ! )
Vineyard Golf Club
How the Vineyard course became constituent in the first place is sure a sign of the times – the locals ask it . They did n’t really need 235 acres of pristine island place train at all , but decided that golf game was preferable to the other choice – 148 fresh home base .
So constitutional it is , and here ’s how Carlson manage does it – by focusing on playability over ocular perfection , for one matter . ( The occasional “ dollar bill patch ” flaw ? Get over it ! ) But there ’s heaps more to it .
Now you wo n’t wish this at all but produce decent turfgrass organically requires full sun , no shade at all , so all nearby trees had to go – 30,000 of them ! ( Could I have heard that right ? For 235 acres , perchance so . )
Still , where there ’s wet there will be fungous disease , and Carlson ’s team works hard to keep the grass as dry as potential . That means “ dew ascendency , ” accomplished by frequent mowing and daily peal , which bear on the dew into the ground – and has the nice side event of make the course faster .
When all else fails , they apply constitutive antifungal agent .
The best organic smoke control usable , as we all be intimate , is a nice thick greensward , but until it occupy in , Carlson ’s crew did a whole lotta hired hand - weeding , which be $ 2,800 per acre . For killing off all vegetation before seeding Carlson recommend the Waipuna machine , which spews froth and hot water.(Hopefully it ’ll eventually replace Roundup as the principal method acting of remove trespassing plant . ) Carlson says that for big business , acetum is too expensive an herbicide .
His biggest challenge ? Insects , especially bloodless chow , for which he apply nematobes and pheromones , which interrupt their mating . But there are far enceinte animal out there tearing up the greensward – not groundhog or gophers but black crows and skunks . ( Since being introduced to the island in the ’ 60s , skunks have been breeding like crazy . ) So the local sheriff has been hired to fascinate and kill skunks for the golfers , for which he earns $ 40 each , and killed 150 of them last class for a tidy $ 6K.
Bill Murray , shown here in a view from Caddyshack , has really act as this course , no doubt to much mirth and some neat photo - ops .
Member reactionCarlson says the female members have become neat supporter of the all - organic method , but what about the men ? “ Environmental harm does n’t register with the men golfer at the guild ” . The fairway are n’t perfect - looking but they ARE a bully child’s play aerofoil , so even the men have correct .
Here ’s the official version of the member reaction fromthe club ’s website :
As a result of consistent communicating and education from Carlson ’s squad , Club appendage have adopt the program . Players ’ shoes and equipment are sterilise on a regular basis to limit the feast of disease and fungus ; and members understand that if disease pressure is severe , the layout may not be as pristine , putting surfaces may not be lighten up - quickly and pathogens such a dollar spot may leave their mark . Nature ’s challenges heighten the complexness of turn at the Vineyard Golf Club . ( Italics add . )
In selling organic methods to typically Augusta - lie with golfers , it ’s obviously fair biz to employ a little PRbullshitwordsmithing .
