April 2017 The Lambton Golf and Country Club Lambton Prospective Member Open House Attention Members Here’s a great opportunity to invite family, friends or colleagues to our prospective member event and showcase what Lambton has to offer. The Open House will feature tours of the Golf Course, Tennis Facility and Clubhouse. Saturday, April 29, 2017 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To pre-register your guests, please call Ginger Burke at 416-767-2175 ext. 225 or email [email protected]GOLF CALENDAR Is ready for print/view on the Club Website under Member Central. ANNUAL MEETING of Voting Members Thursday, April 27 7:00 p.m.
Transcript
April 2017 The Lambton Golf and Country Club
Lambton Prospective Member Open House
Attention Members
Here’s a great opportunity to invite family, friends or colleagues to our
prospective member event and showcase what Lambton has to offer.
The Open House will feature tours of the Golf Course,
Tennis Facility and Clubhouse.
Saturday, April 29, 2017 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
To pre-register your guests, please call Ginger Burke at 416-767-2175 ext. 225 or email [email protected]
GOLF CALENDAR
Is ready for print/view on the Club
Website under Member Central.
ANNUAL MEETING
of Voting Members
Thursday, April 27
7:00 p.m.
Page 2 The Lambton Letter
Golf Report
Welcome to the 2017 golf season at Lambton! With all of the "spring-like" days we've had this
winter, I'm sure you are ready to get back to Lambton for great golf and camaraderie. I hope
many of you will think of me for a game of golf this season. I have set aside playing times on
Wednesdays - Saturdays so let's get a game!
The shop will be stocked in early April with the "latest and greatest" in 2017 golf fashions
and equipment. Golf fashions are bright, cheerful and technical and sun protection continues
to be an important element. Ralph Lauren RLX, Hugo Boss, JLindberg, Galvin Green, Jamie
Saddock, Nivo and Peter Millar are making a strong return to Lambton and we've added GG
Blue, Tail and Matte Grey just to name a few. With so many brands, styles and sizing options
in the marketplace, we are encouraging you to take advantage of our "personal buying" this
year. Andrea and Jenna are available to meet with at your convenience and will bring in exact-
Matthew Yustin
Director of Golf
ly what you are looking for. Please contact the Professional Shop if we can help you.
"Adjustability" continues to be the technological catchphrase when it comes to golf equipment. The manufacturers have
incorporated adjustability into hybrids and fairway woods as well so that with the turn of a wrench you adjust the loft, lie
face angle and even change shafts to accommodate your golf swing!
Come out on Saturday, May 13th for our huge Demo Day and Adidas Shoe Day on the practice range. TaylorMade, Calla-
way, Cobra, Ping, Mizuno, Srixon and Titleist will all be in attendance.
You will see a new face taking over for Tara while she is away on maternity leave. Brianna Cooper who comes to us from
Kincardine and graduated from Illinois State University on a golf scholarship, will be joining the team this year. She was a
member of Ann Carroll's Team Ontario for several years.
We have a wide variety of golf clinics and camps available for every level of golf. Please contact the professional shop to
sign up.
Golf Digest Top 100 teacher Bruce McCarrol is back this year to Lambton on Mondays and Tuesdays to coach and
teach. Please log onto his website at www.mccarrrolgolf.com to book your lesson. Individual lessons are available with
the Professional Staff through the Professional Shop. A schedule for upcoming clinics and camps will be available on the
Club website under the golf section.
Wishing you perfect weather, an early start, good golf and great camaraderie at Lambton this season!
Mixed Golf
Get ready for a great Mixed Golf season! Mark these dates in
your calendars and start signing up now!
SATURDAY, MAY 20th – Mixed Opening Day! Buffet lunch fol-
lowed by golf and prize presentation.
FRIDAY, JUNE 16th – NEW & IMPROVED! Year two of our Putting
Championships! This event was a big hit last year, and we are
making some modifications to make it even better. Sign up ear-
ly! This could be the event of the year!
SATURDAY, JULY 22nd – Mixed Member Guest. Line up your
guests soon! No handicap necessary. More information to come.
MONDAY, AUGUST 7th – Alternate Shot Event
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th – Mixed Closing Event
Mixed Fridays start May 26th! You can sign up online for 9
holes or 18, and get a guaranteed tee time. Sign up as a couple
or as a 4some. Stay for dinner with your fellow golfers for a fun
way to end the week!
Hamilton Mixed Match Play Trophy Event. You’re guaranteed a
minimum of 2 matches, and it’s a great way to meet new people.
Sign-ups are already open under “Golf and social events sign up”
in Member Central in the calendar under May 20TH. The draw
will be posted live at the Mixed Opening Day, May 20th.
Watch future enews, emails and bulletin boards for more infor-
Ladies...and we mean all golf, tennis and social ladies...it’s time for:
Ladies of Lambton Annual Spring Fling Tuesday, April 11, 2017
6:00 p.m. - Cocktails and Marketplace Followed by Dinner - $49pp
Fashion Show Featuring: Marketplace Vendors: (Visa, MasterCard & cheques accepted)
Carriage Trade (jewelry, accessories) Eliza Perry Jewellry
The Pink Door (cashmere wraps, cover ups) Martha Rave Cookies
A Changing Nest (home decor) Maison Basque (table runners, bags)
Apothecary By The Hive (handcrafted skin care) Sweet Legs (leggings)
Come out for an evening of fun, friendship and surprises! Your Organizing Committee: Laurie Blair, Sharon Keeso, Jennifer Koivu, Judy Langford, Camille Lawson, Nancy McConnell and Jane Stoneman
SIGN UP ON LINE
Page 4 The Lambton Letter
Green Report
Peter Kinch
Golf Course Superintendent
Winter Weather
Here are some updates that have come from the USGA over the winter. The trend remains
the same for the balance of the winter, continued above seasonal temperatures are good
for the grass, but March can always bring surprises. The greatest threat to turfgrass is ice
covering the grass and we have not seen ice cover thus far. Although all turf areas at
Lambton look good right now, we are not out of the woods yet. Opening Day will be set
once we see what April’s weather brings.
USGA Green Section notes:
“January has been dominated by above-normal temperatures and periodic rain events. The
extended period of mild temperatures and rain has eliminated ground frost and snow cov-
er over a large part of the Northeast Region. Concerns about ice cover have been replaced
by fears of desiccation. The mild and rainy weather, though beneficial in many ways, has also disrupted tree removal pro-
grams and other winter projects.”
“The recent return of colder temperatures reminds us not to become complacent. The remaining weeks of winter can still
bring brutal weather conditions such as heavy snow, freeze and thaw events, and flash freezes that can be devastating to
turf. The good news is that turf appears to be in relatively good condition and is mostly ice-free across large parts of the
Northeast Region. Hopefully, this will help turf survive whatever the remaining weeks of winter have in store.”
Trees
The Greens Crew spends the majority of their time in the winter doing tree work. All of the dead trees on the property
have been felled and will be cleaned up shortly. While removing some dead Ash trees behind the Birches on the right side
of 6 Champ, we started removing the Dog Strangling Vine. This vine chokes out desirable tree species. This pest ranks
up there with Zebra Mussels and Purple Loose Strife for environmental damage potential. Most of the trees in this area
on 6 had already been killed by the vine. Once the vines and dead trees were removed, we were left with a great view of
the Humber River. In addition, balls will be easier to find and play out of this hazard. The underbrush scrubbing on 9
Champ has continued and by reducing the competition for water and nutrients to our massive old Oak stand along this
hole, we have also opened up the views to these magnificent trees.
Aerification
We will be aerifying the greens before opening the course this April as per every year. We use the larger tine with very
close spacing at this time of year. We will also be aerifying the fairways in April and are hoping to have them completed
before opening the course. Below is a summary of the reasons and benefits of aerifying turfgrass. This information is
posted on the member website for viewing at any time.
Aerification involves the process of taking out small plugs from the turf surface. Although this is a disruption to the put-
tablility of the green surface, its benefits are far reaching. Hundreds of University and College scientific trials have been
conducted over 60 plus years that demonstrate the necessity of this cultural practice. Without this practice the sustaina-
bility of the greens can be put in jeopardy. This process is done twice per season in order to affect enough of the green
surface to be truly beneficial. The concept is to “renovate” the entire green over the period of 5 years by doing 20 per-
cent per year at a minimum. As per the recommendations from the USGA and our consultant, Tim Moraghan, we aerify
the greens twice per year. The timing of our aerification reflects the importance of minimizing the invasion of the weedy
grass, Poa annua, into our bentgrass greens. We are always focused on having the greens back in top form as soon as
possible and this process will help in continuing the terrific greens conditions. Tees are aerified and topdressed immedi-
ately after the greens in August to reduce thatch and allow for extra sand to be applied to reduce the softness of the tees.
The details regarding aerification are below:
Aerification is the process of removing small cores or “plugs” from the turf and leaving a void when these cores are
cleared away. We have equipment that performs this task while leaving the playable surface otherwise undisturbed. It is
performed generally 2 times per season, once in the early spring and once after the heat of the summer has passed.
Aerification does help to alleviate compaction, but compaction is only one reason, and it is likely the least of the priorities
when it comes to punching holes. Maintaining or even improving the rate water moves into soil is an important part of
aerification. The procedure creates channels in the upper portion of the soil profile that allows water to percolate or move
into the soil profile more rapidly. As the term aerification implies, the practice also increases the amount of space availa-
ble for oxygen (air) to penetrate the soil, which is critical for root growth and, ultimately, plant growth. Improvement in
oxygen levels and water infiltration are achieved through the removal of organic matter. In modern putting green mainte-
nance, removal of organic matter (or thatch) from the upper portion of the soil profile and replacement with new sand
topdressing to modify the existing soil may be the most critical reasons to aerate greens. The grass is constantly produc-
ing organic matter through normal growth processes. Thatch is like a sponge, holding many times its weight in water. As
organic matter increases, more water is held in the upper portion of the soil profile. While a limited amount of thatch is
necessary, when organic matter levels increase to 3 to 4%, potential turfgrass problems, such as diseases and mower
scalping, increase dramatically, especially under hot and wet conditions. To prevent excessive organic matter accumula-
tion, research suggests that 20% of the surface area per year of a putting green needs to be impacted via aerification.
Filling the holes with sand is essential. The sand on the surface may be annoying at times, but it is an important part of
maximizing the benefit of core aerification. Core aerification and top-dressing are important parts of putting green
maintenance, especially when golfer expectations for course conditioning are considered.
Course Aerification cont’d…
Speaking of filling aerification holes with sand, topdressing is an important component for healing and playability. If put-
ting quality was disrupted only for a day or two, the process would not be so reviled. Filling all of the holes to the top is
very difficult with small holes, but the fact that these channels exist is most important. Missing aerification is not neces-
sarily an agronomic catastrophe, but it is important to note that by skipping aerification, it only means inevitable mainte-
nance is deferred. The need for aerification increases with each skipped maintenance practice. The problem is, aerifica-
tion programs go hand in hand with the season-long golfer expectations for playability. Firm, well-paced greens are con-
sistently expected. Diluting organic matter with sand through core aerification and light topdressing programs directly
impacts a golf course superintendent’s ability to provide expected conditions. Greens with greater quantities of sand to
dilute thatch in the upper portion of the soil profile are generally firmer, drain more quickly after rainfall, and provide
better playability. Firm greens are less susceptible to scalping and other mechanical damage. The bottom line is, aerifica-
tion is performed for the health of the grass and, ultimately, the playability of the putting greens. Greens with less organ-
ic matter, properly managed through aerification and other techniques, will be better greens on a season-long basis. Try
not to get caught up in the short-term disruption to playability, and focus on the long-term benefits that core aerification
programs provide.
30 greens can be completed in two to three days and this program requires a significant staff compliment of 15
to ensure the job is completed in a timely manner in order to minimize disruption to play and take advantage of
ideal weather conditions.
Aerified greens and tees are then topdressed. You will notice a heavier amount of topdressing on tees. This has
been an ongoing program in an effort to firm up the teeing surfaces now that we have healthy well rooted turf
on tees.
The greens are aerated in April using 3/8” times with very close spacing and in August using 1/4 inch tines with
1.5 inch spacing while the tees were done with 5/8 inch tines and 1.5 spacing. When compared with the spring
aeration, the August program uses smaller tines and wider spacing which promotes faster healing.
By aerifying in April we are outside of the weedy Poa annua grass seeding window. Similarly, the reason we aeri-
fy in August as opposed to September is due to the purity of our bentgrass greens. Poa Annua which is an unde-
sirable creeping grass that makes up the majority of greens in our climate (but not Lambton) goes to seed in
September. If we were to aerify our bentgrass greens while the Poa is releasing seed heads we would risk Poa
seeds gaining access to the aerification holes and germinating. By aerating in August we make sure the turf is
strong and resilient during the prime Poa germination season.
As always, the goal of aerification is to displace approximately ~20% of the turf per year in order to release trapped gas-
ses, reduce thatch/promote strong growth and allow nutrients and water to more deeply penetrate the green surfaces
without running off.
What can you do to help?
Immediately following the aerification you will notice softer than normal conditions as a result of the displaced turf. It is
always extremely important to fix all ball marks properly by pushing and smoothing turf to the centre of the ball mark on
our bentgrass greens as unrepaired marks make an ideal spot for Poa to germinate. If everyone properly fixed their own
mark plus a few others it would go a long way to improving our ongoing playing conditions. We have some of the best
greens anywhere, lets all take pride and take care of them. Please refer to the website for a proper ball mark repair
demonstration.
Page 5 The Lambton Letter
Lambton is the Perfect Backdrop for your Next Meeting or Event
Think of Lambton first for your next business meeting, product launch, training seminar or social get together.
Lambton’s event space has great flexibility and privacy and can meet a variety of needs from hosting eight
people for a board meeting to two hundred people for a reception. All event space features natural light and stunning views. This combined with ample complimentary parking for you and your attendees, makes Lambton the perfect venue for your next event. Tom Martin and his staff are ready to tailor an event to your specific needs and are dedicated to ensuring an unforgettable experience. Allow the Lambton team to take the stress out of your next event!
All member bookings with Lambton’s catering and event planning services confirmed and consumed by May 31, 2017 will receive complimentary coffee & tea service to thank you for your support. Contact Tom today and book your next event at Lambton!
Page 6 The Lambton Letter
Tennis Report
Mark Paklepa
Director of Tennis
It’s hard to believe we have about a month of Indoor Tennis left, and winter is (hopefully!)
over. Let’s get out and enjoy the courts until the bubble closes on Sunday, April 16thh
(Easter
Sunday) with our last day for Indoor Tennis on Saturday, April 15th. The projected date of
opening courts is Friday, April 28th (weather permitting). Over the closure time, we will have
minimal projects helping maintain the goal of reopening on the 28th.
Upcoming Events
“Tennis Inspires” – Lambton Tennis Charity Gala
Benefitting the Jane and Finch Community Tennis Association
Date: Saturday, April 1st at 6:00 p.m. Cost: $150
Only a few tickets remain for the fourth annual “Tennis Inspires” Gala being held on Saturday, April 1st in support of the
Jane Finch Tennis Camps for Kids. The committee is hard at work putting finishing touches on what is sure to be another
fantastic evening featuring live and silent auctions, dinner and dancing to The Truly Band.
All proceeds go to the Jane Finch Tennis Camps for Kids program, providing shoes, clothing, racquets, coaching and
court time to underprivileged youth in the Jane Finch neighbourhood. The program has been running for several years
now, and is dedicated to positively changing the lives of young people through tennis.
If you are unable to join us on April 1st, perhaps you’ll consider sponsoring a child for any of the following programs:
$100 Sponsor a child for six weeks in the ALL BOYS or ALL GIRLS LEAGUE
$120 Sponsor a child for eight weeks in the SUMMER LEAGUE
$150 Sponsor a child for 12 weeks in the WINTER LEAGUE
$300 Sponsor a child in the seven day/full week MARCH BREAK CAMP
$600 Sponsor a child for 30 weeks in the AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, where tutoring and homework
assistance combines with tennis.
All donations are eligible for a tax receipt. Please make cheques payable to Tennis Canada.
To attend the Gala or make a donation, please contact Tennis Director Mark Paklepa [email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Bubble Closing Party
Date: Friday, April 7th
Time: 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Enjoy a night with Tennis friends as the Pros put on a few clinic courts, round robin play, and a Pro Exhibition with Mark/
Fisk vs Ken/Mike.
Let’s bring this bubble down with a PARTY!!
Sign up online on Gigasports
Spring League Team Tennis
For anyone interested in signing up for League Tennis this spring, we have 3 day teams and 3 evening teams to offer.
Sign ups will be posted in the Tennis Shop on Friday, March 10th.
Day Leagues
Ladies A1 (TLTL)
Ladies A Intercounty
Ladies C2 (TLTL)
Evening Leagues
Ladies Division 3 (TLTL)
Mixed A Intercounty
Mixed C Intercounty
Friendly Reminders
Members are asked to avoid wearing perfumes in the bubble as some
members have allergies to such fragrances.
For safety and etiquette, Members are asked to ensure the players on
court 2 have finished their point before walking to courts.
