Two Hawks Near #7 Green This Morning

(Click photo to enlarge)

Two Red-tailed hawks were spotted this morning near #7 Green.  One is flying, one is standing on the turf having his breakfast (a Field Mouse.)   Hawk sightings have been a bit less numerous this year due to the ultra-dry conditions in the native areas.

Water Reduction Underway at Golf Course and Range

Driving Range Before

Driving Range After

Hole #4

The Stanford Golf Course, Driving Range, and Siebel Varsity Golf Training Complex use non-potable, non-drinking water for irrigation of turf and landscape.  The water comes from creeks flowing onto the campus lands, as well as ground water from wells.

In the face of the drought, we've been asked to conserve water wherever possible.  At this point we've cut perimeter irrigation in many non-essential areas.  So far we've been able to completely turn off 36 large (120' diameter) sprinklers on the Driving Range and Holes #1 - #5. We've also converted six sprinklers from full-circles  to part-circles, cutting their water use in half.  

With these reductions, we will net a savings of 58,320 gallons per week and a projected savings of 933,120 gallons (2.78 acre/ft.) over the June-Sept. irrigation season.   

We are continuing to look for other areas where we can reduce consumption, and will implement them throughout the summer.

Sandpiper Nest on Path at Driving Range

Four Sandpiper eggs are shown here along the Driving Range.  The eggs are very well camouflaged, and the mother bird has been doing a great job of luring away predators.  Hopefully we should see some baby chicks soon!

Memorials to be Claimed

We're currently looking for descendants or other family members who may want to claim these memorial plaques. Under the Gifts and Memorials policy, memorials are slowly being removed from the golf course as the course accessories are updated.

Merl Mooney
Jack Brumbaugh
Bob Levison
Jack Christiansen
Ginny McCarthy

Please contact me if you know someone who'd be interested in having one.

Ken Williams, CGCS
golfsupt@stanford.edu
(650) 323-0937

Trial of Re-Purposed Brick for Path at #6 Tee

We're experimenting with the use of crushed brick which has been re-purposed from building demolition.  The material looks attractive and appears to make a nice path.  We're looking for a more attractive, sustainable option for our gravel paths.

                                                                                              (click to enlarge)

Monterey Pine Removals - #5

(click photos to enlarge)

This Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) on Hole #5 was severely attacked by bark beetles.  Fortunately we've planted smaller native oaks nearby that will quickly fill the vacant space.

Bark Beetles, Drought and Monterey Pines

Many of the older Monterey Pines on the golf course are showing stress this year.  Some of the stress is drought related, as the rainfall never amounted to enough to deeply water the trees. And as the older trees become stressed, it provides an opportunity for the bark beetles to invade.  The trees' defense mechanism is their sticky sap, which normally stops the beetle larvae from advancing.  But as the trees age, they produce less sap and the beetles gain the advantage.

This has been an ongoing problem in the Monterey Forest, and to a lesser extent here.  Below are some photos showing the effects of the stress and the beetles, and a close up of the frass (sawdust) produced by the beetle larvae while tunneling.  The tunnels under the bark are very problematic.  Once the tunnels become extensive, they girdle the tree, preventing nutrients from reaching the root system.  Then, with a dysfunctional root system, the tree canopy dries and the tree perishes.

Unfortunately, treatments have proved ineffective, as the beetle larvae are protected by the tree's bark.  Injections have shown promise, but have not solved the problem.  The best recommendations are to keep the trees as healthy as possible, and plant replacement trees that are naturally resistant.