Fall Update

Greenbrier Country Club Fall Update

The fall months here at Greenbrier Country Club offer us the opportunity to showcase playability of the course with firm and fast conditions. Outside of promoting a fun golfing experience, we also focus our efforts toward applications that prepare the course for the winter, and keeping the course clear of leaves and debris. This time of year also offers the chance to evaluate areas that need to be addressed in the off season.

       Winter Preparations

Winter preparations include the following....

-Pre-emergent weed control to the entire golf course to keep Poa annua (Poa) and other common winter annuals from sneaking in.

-Preventative fungicidal applications to all tee boxes and #7 Fairway (a problem area) for Spring Dead Spot. While we can grow many areas affected by Spring Dead Spot in once warmer weather arrives in the spring, we saw an opportunity to protect our most important areas.

-Application of Potassium to all sodded areas, tees, and 6 of the holes that were most affected by winter kill in previous years.Potassium is a nutrient that simply put, toughens up the plant when it is heading into a stressful period. We hope that the expansion of this application to more areas will help us come out of winter in better shape than in previous years, by hardening off the plant before severe cold weather stress arrives.

-Raising of mowing heights around the course. Tees and fairways, are being cut at even higher heights than in previous winters. This cultural practice will not only help improve the health of the Bermudagrass heading into winter, but may also eliminate some of the tight lies in fairways that some members have experienced when the turf goes dormant.

     Potential Winter Projects

There are a number of areas that we would like to address on the course in the off season. Some of these projects may be weather dependent, and many other factors can influence their feasibility. This is why I have included the word "Potential". Having said that, here are some of the areas we are eager to address...

-Dormant sodding of winter kill areas that were not addressed this summer. We have made substantial progress addressing many of these areas in season, and hope to wrap up the loose ends this winter.

-Drainage projects around the course. Some areas that standout are #7 fairway, and the #17 along the cartpath (just past the red tee)

- The leveling of #4 Hill.

-Reduction in size and quantity of landscape beds. (Simpler is better in this instance).

We look forward to continued improvements to the course, and hope everyone has enjoyed the weather and playing conditions this fall at Greenbrier CC!

Golf Course Update 2/11/2015

Golf Course Update

As spring approaches here at the Greenbrier CC maintenance facility, we wrap up some of the projects that we have been working on over the winter, and move on to areas that will help us get a jumpstart on the spring season.

Winter Projects

- We completed a drainage project between the chipping green and driving range tee
- Drainage is near completion in the approach left of the green on #6 (sod is still needed)
- In the muddy area back right of #7 green, we are working on a gravel basin to keep the area dry
- Tree trimming and removal is nearing completion for the year
- A number of eroded and wet areas have been sodded over with dormant bermudagrass
- All tall grass areas have been knocked down

Upcoming Work


- More sod work around the course
- Mulch work (Edging, cleaning, and planning for annual plantings)
- Planting of some new perennials in select areas to add color to the landscape
- Weed control applications that will help prevent weeds later this spring.


Greenbrier CC Golf Course Maintenance is looking forward to an outstanding 2015. If you have any questions about this report, or anything having to do with the golf course, please contact Golf Course Superintendent Mike Brumbaugh @ (757) 321-2137 http://greenbriermaintenance.blogspot.com/

GCM Golf Committee Update

As 2015 begins here at the Greenbrier CC maintenance facility we continue to push forward with our winter projects and look forward to spring. Recently we completed work on some new course accessories that we hope will improve the overall appearance of the golf course. Our new cart stakes will help regulate cart traffic during the wet winter months, and our new tee markers should provide a more aesthetically pleasing look. As we get closer to spring, we will get a head start on improvements to our tee stations and landscaped areas. Until then here are some areas that we will continue to move forward on.

Drainage We plan on completing drainage projects near the chipping     green, on the left side of #6 approach, and potentially right of #7 green.

Annual Pond Work Areas Areas that have grown up around ponds will be knocked down.

New Course Accessories Made in House 

Resurfacing of Eroded Areas Eroded and wet area around the course will be resurfaced with fill dirt and re-established with dormant bermuda grass sod (weather permitting).

Fairway Bunker Improvements Drainage will be installed in the bunker on the left side of #5 that frequently turns into a pond.

Eroded Area Before and After

Course Accessory Refurbishment When there is either snow on the ground, or a few consecutive days of extreme cold, we will pull in the 150 stakes for refurbishment.




Greenbrier CC Golf Course Maintenance is looking forward to an outstanding 2015. If you have any questions about this report, the direction of the course or anything at all having to do with the golf course, please call Golf Course Superintendent Mike Brumbaugh @ (757) 321-2137.