(Photo A-Timarron 2019)
(Photo B-Timarron Current)
(Photo C-Sand Covered Ball)
I've had a few questions about why we don't sand and seed the driving range tee boxes during the winter months. Here is the process and mindset...
- We overseed the driving range tees with winter ryegrass around October 1st. This winter ryegrass will last until the end of May and dies with hot temperatures. The bermudagrass base breaks dormancy in March and fills in once the overseed dies.
- After the initial October 1st overseed, we do not apply more seed.
- Some golf courses apply sand/seed to the divots in an effort to repair. We do not so this.
- The issue with sand/seed is that in north Texas it is typically too cold for the seed to germinate during December thru February.
- (Photo A) is of the large driving range tee at Timarron during the winter of 2019. It was sanded/seeded, but as you can see, no seed has yet germinated. The sandy driving range experience is not a good one.
- (Photo B) is the current driving range experience at Timarron. Lots of Divots, but plenty of good turf, and no sand.
- Starting in March, bermudagrass will grow into the divots first, because it is exposed to sunlight and not covered up with winter ryegrass.
- Too level the turf and fill in the divots- we aerify the tee tops (March-September) and drag the soil cores into the divots.