Miramont injects acid in their irrigation system. It's a well known practice for courses that deal with water quality issues.

$12.5K down and +/- $500 monthly

It's happening. Just not sure yet weather it will be paspalum or zoysia.

When I worked at Traditions (during the course construction and grow in), they had a sulfur burner that injected sulfur into the water. I'm not sure if they still use it or not.

Looking to do a golf trip in April in CS, anyone have an update of the fairway conditions ?

I've heard they've improved, but I haven't been lately. I was told there was still some visible sod lying in spots but not really "in play areas" like they were in December.

Julio von Matterhorn said:

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Looking to do a golf trip in April in CS, anyone have an update of the fairway conditions ?

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They overseeded with winter grass (rye?) and the rain and warm weather has made the grass really pop. It is playing well for winter conditions.

April is tough to predict. Assuming "normal" weather (whatever that means these days) the rye will be gone, and you will be playing on the Paspalum.

I suspect the difference between early and late April could be big. It is going to be nice.

Rye is a cool season grass. Warm weather isn't going to make it pop.

Overseeding is nice in the winter but it can make the spring a little rough as the warm season grass is up against some competition to grow in.

If they overseeded, it is probably a sign they were not happy with the progress of the new turf. It is pretty rare to overseed grass that wasn't planted until August(from reading here it seems like they had to sod in August after sprigging did not go well),
Rye will compete with warm season grasses like paspalum or bermuda at just the time it is coming out of dormancy and this can slow the early season growth of the warm season grass and is particularly hard on
newly planted turf.
In BCS Rye can hold on well into May depending on the weather. However, it is also not unusual to chemically remove the rye when the warm season grass starts growing(night time temps consistently in the 60s).
My guess is there are two scenarios:
1. They will work to get rid of the rye as soon as the paspalum starts growing - either chemically or through verticutting. In this case, I would say the paspalum was "ok" for the winter but they wanted better playing conditions this spring until it really started growing. Maybe they have an event this spring they are worried about having good playing conditions for. Is there a collegiate tournament scheduled?
2. The sodding/sprigging really didn't go well at all and they are aware the paspalum is going to need work this growing season and they will try to keep the rye around as long as possible to give better playing conditions longer into the spring/early summer until they can really get the paspalum going.

I've played on the paspalum at Lajitas and in the spring/early summer it is pretty difficult for the average golfer to tell the difference between it and rye.

I haven't seen Traditions in a long time and have no idea what they did or didn't do last year. However, overseeding is generally done for one of the reasons I outlined.

In April they are hosting a collegiate women's event and then the following week a men's collegiate tournament. Also, not a super big event to get worked up about, but at the end of April they have a 2 day FCA fundraiser that's been in place forever.

There's no way they spray the new sod and sprigs with herbicide to control the Rye. Way too risky until it's fully established. They will likely let it die out naturally when the temps in May/June. This will delay the paspalum as it's trying to compete for light and nutrients. That's why you don't see courses typically overseed unless you're in Arizona. It's very impactful to the perennial grass. I'm sure this is the last year they are doing it for that reason. They've done it two years in a row now due to the Aggie invitational in April. The rye is really shining at that point.
It's gonna be a process but the results will be worth it in the long run.
Problem is, they will have a tough time managing the native Bermuda which was a big issue for their fairways before. No selective herbicide is available that doesn't also kill the Paspalum. (Except salt applications to suppress it). With Zoysia fairways, golf course superintendents have chemical options for the native Bermuda without damaging the fairways.

tbone94 said:

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There's no way they spray the new sod and sprigs with herbicide to control the Rye. Way too risky until it's fully established. They will likely let it die out naturally when the temps in May/June. This will delay the paspalum as it's trying to compete for light and nutrients. That's why you don't see courses typically overseed unless you're in Arizona. It's very impactful to the perennial grass. I'm sure this is the last year they are doing it for that reason. They've done it two years in a row now due to the Aggie invitational in April. The rye is really shining at that point.
It's gonna be a process but the results will be worth it in the long run.
Problem is, they will have a tough time managing the native Bermuda which was a big issue for their fairways before. No selective herbicide is available that doesn't also kill the Paspalum. (Except salt applications to suppress it). With Zoysia fairways, golf course superintendents have chemical options for the native Bermuda without damaging the fairways.

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If the ryegrass was put down for those tournaments, I wouldn't bother trying to take it out chemically or mechanically. Those events are late enough in the spring to not make it worth removing the rye. However, if one wanted to chemically remove it, the sulfonylurea herbicides are safe on paspalum - Katana, Certainty, Sedgehammer. They are all ALS-Inhibitors as well as Image(imaziquin), another ALS-Inhibitor.

Personally, I would be more concerned with the risk of overseeding and the competition from ryegrass in the spring vs chemicals labeled for paspalum use on any grass planted as late in the year as it seems like some of the paspalum was planted.

From the paspalum I have seen and the "normal" climate for BCS, I wouldn't think there would be a need to overseed going forward for any spring event.

Hopefully it all works out for the best!

Thisguy1 said:

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Rye is a cool season grass. Warm weather isn't going to make it pop.

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I may be wrong about the Rye -- I was told by someone (not management) at the club they did -- at least for the range and tees. But that person could have been mistaken. Everybody on a golf course seems to be an amateur botanist -- and I certainly am not.

But the update from the greenskeeper today was the the greening up over the past two weeks was the Paspalum.

Regardless, the course was very solid for February. Yes, there are still some patches, but it looks like it is on a great path if we can avoid any more hard freezes.

Lots of courses overseed with rye on tees and greens. That's not uncommon at all. I was only referring to your comment about the warm weather making it pop. It will die off with warmer weather.

Trinity Ag said:

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Thisguy1 said:

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Rye is a cool season grass. Warm weather isn't going to make it pop.

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I may be wrong about the Rye -- I was told by someone (not management) at the club they did -- at least for the range and tees. But that person could have been mistaken. Everybody on a golf course seems to be an amateur botanist -- and I certainly am not.

But the update from the greenskeeper today was the the greening up over the past two weeks was the Paspalum.

Regardless, the course was very solid for February. Yes, there are still some patches, but it looks like it is on a great path if we can avoid any more hard freezes.

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This makes more sense. It would be risky to overseed grass that was planted as late as some of the fairways were last year.
It wouldn't be surprising at all to see the paspalum start to green up with the temps we had and the amount of fertility that is probably still in the plants from grow-in. Just remember, green-up is different than "growing". It really won't start coming on until night-time temps are consistently in the 60s.

I believe everyone will be thrilled with the paspalum when it is all said and done. If it turns out like Lajitas - it is a fantastic playing surface playing much more like zoysia than bermuda.

any updates on the course and conditions?

I had someone ask me about joining a stay and play outing there. Just wondering about the conditions based on this thread from the past.

Prior to this week's storms there was more grass on the course than ever before. Still some spots that are being sodded and filled in.

Storms this week resulted in most of 16 & 17 tee area completely submerged, as well as everything except the back tees and green on 5.

Those pictures Bill sent out yesterday were crazy. Standing on the #5 looking back to the tee all you could see was water all the way to the road. I wonder what #3 and #4 looked like too.

Can you share them?

I hope it all recovers well.

Anyone have pictures of recent conditions? I haven't been out there in a while but love the course.

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing

Trinity Ag said:

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I joined in 2016, and I believe the course is currently in the best condition I have ever seen it, tee to green.

There were always holes that had perpetual issues -- like the last 50 yards of fairway on the Par 5 #3 -- where grass just didn't grow.

That is pretty much fixed. The paspalum is great and plays really well. The practice tee seems more resilient as well.

There may have been hiccups in the process, but if you asked most members in April 2024 if they would take the June 2025 conditions -- I suspect 95% would say yes (you just can't please some people!)

It is still cart path only, and I suspect it will be for a long time -- but it is now a course members can be proud of. And that wasn't the case 18 months ago.

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Do you think cart path only will last until September ? Looking at a golf trip stay at the Casitas the weekend of the Notre Dame game. Thanks.

I imagine the head coaches of the men's and women's teams at A&M are happy about this too. Had to be a tricky topic during recruiting visits, although it didn't seem to slow them down.

Typically see a year or so from sod installation until carts are allowed

Wasn't sod though; they sprigged it with some sod patches where the sprigs didn't take. Don't know if that hurts or helps the cart return.

I'd agree with the poster above, 18 months ago i wouldn't bring buddies to play and now it's shaping up to be what most imagine.

I am a member at Traditions, and am a huge fan of the new fairways. Most members are in full support of cart path only, the reason being you only get one chance to do it right. We've waited this long, so what's a few more months?. Even with CPO, our group still gets around in less than 4 hours, and right at 4 hours with a fivesome.

Member too, played yesterday. Can't be too far from carts on the fairways and the place is in great shape. The unusual rain is surely helping the course and greens are rolling.

Been out of CS for quite some time but had a friend move to Houston and one in Temple. They want to meet up and play golf in CS/Bryan a Saturday/ month. They asked me for a recommendation. What is the best course option for them? Thanks!

Yes once a month they want to meet up at a course in the area.

topoftexasag said:

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Yes once a month they want to meet up at a course in the area.

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A&M is course is about your only option.