'Improving our course' - A message from the Director of Golf

Although the golf season is over, this is the time that our golf maintenance crew uses to work on and improve our course.

We continually work to combat the changing characteristics caused by the growth of the community surrounding the course over the past fifty years. As the trees get taller and thicker each year, sunlight and airflow are negatively affected. Likewise, as homes have been built bordering the course, stormwater runoff and drainage have been affected. These changes through the years provide constant agronomic challenges that we continually work to over- come.

The golf maintenance crew has been busy with several projects throughout the fall and will continue through the winter season:

• Over the past three months, we removed tree stumps and added topsoil and seed over several areas of the course that improved playability on the holes.
• Through the first week of December, we aerated and top-dressed greens using Ninja Tines, which helped in the removal of the layer of organic material two inches below the surface. This work will allow roots to go deeper and stay healthier under the stress of the summer season. It will also help with drainage. The holes created by the Ninja Tines were so small that they did not affect playability of the greens and the results have already helped. We are planning to start again in March to continue the removal of the layer.
• We are currently working on several tree removal and drainage projects and will continue throughout the winter to help improve sunlight, air flow and water removal.

Our winter rates for Ocean Pines residents are $30 for 18 holes and $20 for 9 holes, so now is a great time to get out and play. Call 410-641-6057 or visit oceanpinesgolf.org for tee times.