This document has been created by the Greens Committee of Maplecrest Country Club and approved by the Golf Professional and the Board of Directors, to help define how our golf course will be maintained. It is a living document which will be evaluated and modified to meet the changing needs and desires of the golfing membership. From fairway height to greens mowing frequency, these standards will become the benchmark for our golf course. 

Putting Greens 

Objectives 

• To maintain a smooth and uniform surface with a medium-fast speed for putting (medium-fast defined as a minimum of 10 on the Stimpmeter during the growing season 
• To develop on all putting surfaces a fine texture Poa Annua/Bentgrass surface with minimum thatch and grain 
• To maintain a basic agronomic program for all putting greens to include aeration, soil fertility, drainage, pest control, and traffic wear strategies 
• To provide adequate sunlight, air circulation and soil moisture content for Poa Annua/Bentgrass growth 
• To maintain a high density and weed-free Poa Annua/Bentgrass turf stand around all putting complexes 

Maintenance Standards 

• Mowing with greens mowers 7x/ week during the growing season 
• Rolling putting greens on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday during the growing season to achieve extra speed and to enhance surface smoothness; extra rolling during major tournaments as deemed necessary 
• Daily monitoring of the root zone to determine exact water needs of each green, to maintain the greens as consistently dry as possible without effecting turf’s health. Hand watering will at times be an integral part of daily greens water management 
• Topdressing 2 times a month as conditions and the schedule allow 
• Solid tine venting and Hydrojet aeration as needed during summer stress period 
• Greens will be cut at a height of .120” depending on weather conditions and time of year 
• Cups to be cut 4x weekly (Mon., Wed., Fri., Sun.) during the growing season; cups will be changed daily for club tournaments/invitationals 

Limiting Factors 

• Weather conditions will alter strategies for the long-term survival of the turf 
• Agronomic factors such as turf health, fertilization, topdressing and aerification will temporarily affect green speed 

Tees 

Objectives 

• To produce a teeing area of adequate size and alignment with a level and firm surface suitable for golfers 
• To maintain a dense and weed-free playing surface 
• To maintain a height of cut of .500” all season 

• To develop a basic agronomic program for all tees to include aeration (Fall), soil fertility, drainage, pest control, and traffic wear strategies 
• To develop a sound agronomic program of fertility and weed control of the tee surrounds 
• To provide adequate sunlight to all teeing areas through selective pruning and harvesting of trees 
• To provide uniform irrigation coverage to the teeing areas 
• Maintain all tee benches, yardage plates, trash receptacles and divot sand stations to provide a neat, trim appearance 
• Develop a golf cart traffic pattern to minimize damage to turf near teeing areas 

Maintenance Standards 

• Topdress tees at least once annually with extra attention to the Par 3 tees and any other tees with iron play 
• Weekly monitoring and divot repair to Par 3 tees and hole 7 and 16 tee boxes 
• Conventional core aeration annually 
• Mow 3 times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) 
• Divot repair as needed 
• Movement of Tee (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; more defined rotation provided by pro shop) 

Limiting Factors 

• Weather conditions will alter strategies for the long-term survival of the turf 

Green Surrounds and Collars 

Objectives 

• To produce a fine, uniform, and dense turf maintained at standard fairway mowing heights of .500” 
• Develop a sound agronomic program for fertility, aeration, water management and weed control 
• Implementation of traffic control rules to protect the Poa Annua/Bentgrass turf 

Maintenance Standards 

• Use growth regulators in the summer to enhance turf quality, reduce mowing, and clipping yields 
• Annual post emergent treatments for winter and summer annuals; pre-emergent for crabgrass 
• Mowing 3 times weekly for playability with triplex greens mowers (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) 
• Topdressing 2 times a month as conditions and the schedule allow 

Limiting Factors 

• Wet conditions and periods of slow growth 

Fairways 

Objectives 

• To produce a fine, uniform, and dense turf maintained at standard fairway mowing heights of .500” 

• Develop a sound agronomic program for fertility, aeration, water management and weed control 
• Implementation of traffic control rules to protect the Poa Annua/Bentgrass turf 

Maintenance Standards 

• Refrain from the use of golf carts on fairways at any time when the surface is soft; when course is open carts should always scatter to reduce turf wear and tear 
• Spot overseed turf when necessary 
• Use growth regulators in the summer to enhance turf quality, reduce mowing, and clipping yields 
• Annual post emergent treatments for winter and summer annuals; pre-emergent for crabgrass 
• Mowing 3 times weekly for playability with 5-plex units (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) 
• Fall core aerification 
• During Fall utilize blowers to clean fairways and mulch leaf debris with deck mowers 

Limiting Factors 

• Wet conditions 
• Periods of slow growth 

Rough 

Objectives 

• To maintain a rough at a height of 2.25” 
• To maintain a firm and dry surface 
• To limit root impediments by selective harvesting of problem trees 
• To maintain the Poa Annua/Bentgrass with few weeds and uniform height of cut 

Maintenance Standards 

• Mowing daily (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 2 cycles per week) to keep the rough at the proper height and density 
• Additional fertilizer for those areas that receive extra wear from golf carts and maintenance equipment 
• Pre emergent application to reduce crabgrass 
• Periodic treatments with Roundup to the mulch areas to reduce weed growth 
• Maintain cart path edges as needed 

Limiting Factors 

• Extreme weather conditions which affect growth 
• Availability of equipment 

Wooded Areas 

Objectives 

• To mow rough at a height of 2.25” 
• To maintain a firm and dry surface 
• To limit root impediments by selective harvesting of problem trees 
• To maintain the Poa Annua/Bentgrass with few weeds and uniform height of cut 

Maintenance Standards 

• Mowing monthly and before all major events 
• Additional fertilizer for those areas that receive extra wear from golf carts and maintenance equipment 
• Pre-emergent application to reduce crabgrass 
• Periodic treatments with Roundup to the mulch areas to reduce weed growth 
• Maintain cart path edges as needed 

Limiting Factors 

• Extreme weather conditions which affect growth 
• Availability of equipment 

Natural Areas 

Objectives 

• To brush hog long grass at a height of 6” 
• To maintain a firm and dry surface 
• To limit root impediments by selective harvesting of problem trees 
• To maintain the Poa Annua/Bentgrass with few weeds and uniform height of cut 

Maintenance Standards 

• Mow semi- annually, spring and fall 
• Assess and remove saplings as needed 
• Pre-emergent and post emergent applications to reduce weed growth 

Limiting Factors 

• Extreme weather conditions which affect growth 
• Availability of equipment 

Bunkers 

Objectives 

• To maintain hazards that will create interest and make the exacting shots to the target areas without modifying the game or unduly penalizing the player 
• Bunkers should have the consistency in texture and firmness of bunker sand for playability 

Maintenance Standards 

• In season: rake all bunkers 5-6 times per week (Mon – Sat) and daily during major tournaments; rake other bunkers as needed 
• Keep a good edge on bunkers by closely monitoring the raking process 
• Trim edges of bunkers monthly during the growing season to maintain edges according to original design 
• Monitoring of sand depth after weather events 
• Replenishment of bunker sand as needed 

Limiting Factors 

• Weather 

Practice Complex 

Objectives 

• To maintain a turf area representative of a fairway quality turf 
• Maintain entire practice area in a neat and tidy appearance 

Maintenance Standards 

• Regular hand filling of divots during growing season 
• Aerate annually in Fall 
• Mow 3 times per week at .500” during the growing season 
• Fertilize as needed 
• Topdress as practical 
• Move ropes once per week or as needed to control usage and location of hitting area 

Limiting Factors 

• Weather conditions will alter strategies for the long-term survival of the turf 

Golf Course and Clubhouse Landscape 

Objectives 

• To maintain all golf course landscape beds in a well-maintained fashion for plant survival with design enhancing the quality of the golf courses 
• To enhance the grounds with the addition of landscape material and supporting equipment (irrigation, etc.) 

Maintenance Standards 

• Irrigate as needed for plant survival 
• Mulch 1 time a year 
• Remove and or replace damaged material as needed 
• Fertilize yearly 
• Pre-emergent herbicide yearly 
• Keep beds neat and weed free; spray Round-up as needed