Cart restictions after overseeding Cancel The title field is required!

1. Conly Stephenson

   

   1 posts
   
   11/6/2012 8:11 AM

   Was wondering what some of you southeast guys that overseed fwys do in terms of restricting carts after overseeding. We generally pull the carts when we begin to see decent germination. Usually 7-10 days after seeding and keep them off until our second mowing, usually around a week to ten days. we have done this for years with good results. This year, however, some of the customers we had were downright ugly when told they were restricted to the paths and our shop staff was put under alot of pressure to issue handicap flags or allow limited access to fwys. They have asked us what would happen if we didn't restrict carts what the result would be. I said not good. We play on ryegrass a good part of the year when you consider fall and spring play and its not something I want to experiment with considering the resources that goes into it, both financially and the labor involved. Just wondering how some of you other guys handle this. Also seed date was first week of October. Thanks in advance for your responses.
   
   Morgan Stephenson
   Tobacco Road Golf Club

   
   
   
   
2. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   11/6/2012 9:11 AM

   Morgan, we are not in your part of the country but in the southwest, overseeding is also an issue. We have 419 bermuda in fairways and we stopped overseeding them 4 years ago. We overseed roughs and tee tops. We have opened the golf course to carts immediately after we open. We do close for 3 weeks to complete greens aerification, overseed prep and achieve germination. We have been allowing people to enter at the beginning of the hole and exiting in areas we have defined. Our goal is keeping carts in the fairway and out of the rough. As you can imagine, people just don't grasp the concept since it appears backward. With all the traffic that ends up in the rough, we find very little damage to our rye. I would say that the number of rounds you have could present bigger challenges than we experience because we may only have about 50 rounds a day those first couple of weeks. The first mowing usually occurs about the same time we open the course. Being a resort, the comfort of the guest takes priority over anything else. Under our conditions, which are generally quite hot and dry, we have not experienced a setback to our rye by letting carts out. We seeded roughs Sept. 8 and opened for play the last Monday of the month. We are in very good shape after 2 months of play.

   
   
   
   
3. James Smith_2

   

   0 posts
   
   11/6/2012 9:11 AM

   We had the same thing happen at my course, golfers pissed and the pro shop constantly asking if they can ride on fairways yet. Same seeding date at you Morgan. I made them go rough only until after the first mowing which was was 3 weeks after dropping the seed. I would also like to know what the results would be if the golf carts were to ride on the overseeded grass unrestricted.
   
   Rusty Smith
   Mid South Club

   
   
   
   
4. Jack Stephens

   

   0 posts
   
   11/6/2012 10:11 AM

   We are cart-path only for two weeks after the seed drops. We are lucky enough to have two courses seeded two weeks apart. This allows members and resort guest to play one golf course without cart use restrictions during the overseeding process. Not only does the lack of cart traffic prevent the seed from getting tracked all over the place, restricted use gives us time to do a quick greens syringe while golfers are walking back to their carts.
   
   Brad Stephens
   Assistant Superintendent
   King and Bear- World Golf Village Resort

   
   
   
   
5. Samuel Leatherberry

   

   0 posts
   
   11/6/2012 5:11 PM

   We overseed fairways and tees every year here in Atlanta. (One of only a few courses in the area that still do fairways). We try to cut the ryegrass 2 weeks after the seed goes down and then will allow carts off the path around a week and a half after that. From when the seed drops to carts back on the fairways is anywhere from 21-25 days. We get bombarded being a high end public course with the cart restrictions, but I always tell the pro shop staff that if we are going to continue to overseed and spend the money then we need to do it right as we will be playing on it for 8-9 months. It sure looks good, but I think we can have just as good of course without overseeding and save some money.

   
   
   
   
6. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   11/7/2012 5:11 AM

   The argument against overseeding is strong, but we are on small acreage with a large membership and even though our bermuda never goes totally dormant, it gets so beat down that it looks really bad by the end of January. I put the carts on the paths for 2 weeks beginning the day we drop the seed and the wailing and gnashing of teeth is of Biblical proportions. We take a hell of a beating for 2 weeks, but they are very happy with the results afterwards. That said, I am getting weary of the verbal assault every year. So much for the "Greatest Generation"....biggest bunch of self centered crybabies I have ever seen.
   
   Good luck,
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
7. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   11/7/2012 9:11 AM

   Dropped seed on the front 9 fairways today and will finish the back 9 tomorrow. Will go to cart path only on Monday until we do the first mowing approximately 10-12 days after seeding. After that we let them back on. During the cart path only time I am not responsible for any errant sprinkler heads. Let the whining begin.

   
   
   
   
8. Conly Stephenson

   

   1 posts
   
   11/7/2012 1:11 PM

   Thanks for the replies so far. Obviously it's important to all of us to have some type of cart restictions in order to be successful. It's amazing to me how many people get upset with COP rules. A little exercise never hurt anyone. Another observation that I have made,not nesessarily when overseeding, is that people that have handicaps or legitimate disabilities are sometimes the last ones to ask for handicap flags. They seem to have an "I don't need any help" mentality. When the guys who ask for the flags do back flips in joy back to their carts. Not trying to be negative, just an observation. Thanks guys.
   
   Morgan Stephenson
   TR Golf Club

   
   
   
   
9. Holt Michael

   
   11/17/2012 6:11 PM

   Never go cpo unless we get rain at seeding. Typically we have about 150 rounds per day when we seed. Water 10 minutes per night, none during the day and usually mowing in 18 days or so. We do such a great job protecting the golf course that we often forget that golf is what pays the bills. I hate cpo and I try to manage my course like I like a golf course. For 20 years its worked pretty well.

   
   
   
   
10. Steven Huffstutler

    

    11 posts
    
    11/17/2012 6:11 PM

    Michael Holt said: Never go cpo unless we get rain at seeding. Typically we have about 150 rounds per day when we seed. Water 10 minutes per night, none during the day and usually mowing in 18 days or so. We do such a great job protecting the golf course that we often forget that golf is what pays the bills. I hate cpo and I try to manage my course like I like a golf course. For 20 years its worked pretty well.

    
    
    
    I think that you are probably right. I will be overseeing on Monday and I am considering just letting them go.
    
    Steve

    
    
    
    
11. Holt Michael

    
    11/17/2012 6:11 PM

    Ryegrass will grow on concrete with a spoonful of water. Get good seed to soil contact by verticutting and drag after seeding is the key. Then let it roll. Now I'll hush before I give away all of my secrets. Good luck guys.

    
    
    
    
12. Steven Huffstutler

    

    11 posts
    
    11/17/2012 7:11 PM

    Michael Holt said: Ryegrass will grow on concrete with a spoonful of water. Get good seed to soil contact by verticutting and drag after seeding is the key. Then let it roll. Now I'll hush before I give away all of my secrets. Good luck guys.

    
    
    
    It grows in the trunk of your car and 3 feet up on a palm tree. I have actually seen it sprout on a guys shoes.
    
    S