Proper Divot Patterns on the Range

As a golfer it can be a real downer to hear the phrase, "we're on the mats today". We all know that practicing your golf game off of artificial mats is no where near the real experience you receive practicing off the grass. One of the reasons that we do hit off the mats is because the range can honestly not handle the traffic that it takes on a daily basis. A simple way that we as golfers can fix this is trying to follow a divot pattern on the range. We at SilverHorn found this article from the USGA so very helpful to explain what it means to follow a divot pattern on the driving range. If you have a moment check out this article and pass it on to fellow golfers who you know practice on the driving range. Let's all do our part to keep the driving range and real grass in the best possible condition that we can. 

Images via USGA

Cart Path Only- Why?

Many golfers dread the phrase, "today we are cart path only". It can be an inconvenience in what was to be a relaxing day on the golf course. The fact of the matter is that the cart path only rule is put into effective after careful evaluation of our superintendent on the current condition of the golf course. Cart path only is a measure taken to protect the golf course and keep it in pristine playing condition. Recently a cart path question was asked in the USGA newsletter and we think their answer is very helpful in understanding cart path only so we are going to re-post it here for you today: 

Q: For some reason, our golf course staff does not want golf carts to be used on our hybrid bermudagrass fairways during January, February, and March. I know of no other golf course in our part of the world that has this guide, and a large majority of our golfers disagree with it. What do you say?

A: This is a case where the maintenance standards of the golf course have placed a premium on having the best possible hybrid bermudagrass fairways in the winter and spring.  As a result, your course has decided appropriately to restrict carts to the path during January, February, and March. On the other side of the coin, we receive calls or emails during March from golfers who complain "there's no grass on the fairways."  This happens because carts beat down the dormant bermudagrass. Our position is that as long as the course officials know the facts, they are free to decide what's best for them.

Range Closure This Week

The driving range will be closed this Wednesday (June 13th) from 8 am until around 5 pm. The reason for the closing is our maintenance staff will be re-soding the practice facility. Please call the golf shop at 210-545-5300 if you have any questions and thank you for your patience and understanding.

Driving Range Transition

The driving range at SilverHorn is currently going through a transition phase. This usually takes place around the month of June every year as the overseed with Ryegrass that is planted in the fall dies. We overseed with Ryegrass in October to provide a nice surface to practice on during the winter and spring months. In combination with very heavy usage of the practice facility the Bermuda grass on the range needs time to fill in after the Ryegrass dies. We will need need to utilize the synthetic turf mats for the most part of June while we aggressively work on cultural practices and fertility rates to help grow the Bermuda grass back in on the tee. 


We kindly ask for your patience during this process and appreciate your understanding. 


-Golf Course Maintenance Staff 

Cart Path Only

It's everyone's least favorite phrase, "today we are cart path only". 
Do you really know the meaning behind why it is necessary sometimes for our maintenance crew to restrict the carts to the path? Check out this great article that truly explains the meaning behind cart path only...


"Letting the Numbers Tell the Story on Cart Damage" 

Spring Maintenance Aerfication

SilverHorn has one of the hardest working and most dedicated maintenance crews in the golf business. Ask anyone that comes to play SilverHorn and they will tell you that SilverHorn is constantly in great condition no matter what time of year it is and that is all because of the care given to the course by SilverHorn maintenance.

SilverHorn manitenance is lead by our superindentent- Neil Thrailkill. Neil built this course from the ground up and he continues to be dedicated to SilverHorn on a daily basis. For those out of the business golf course maintenance can be a bit confusing as to why certain things are done the way they are done, but today Neil is here to help educate us all on what Neil and his crew are working on right now at the course.

"As we move into the spring golf season at SilverHorn Golf Club, the Golf Course Maintenance staff would like to update you on some of the maintenance issues and cultural practices that will be taking place on the golf course over the next few months.

Addressing one of the most frequently asked questions- greens aerification (click here to define aerfication): our plan consists of aerifying 2-4 greens each week using smaller diameter aerification holes in early spring with the possiblity of increasing the diameter size of the holes as we get into the summer months when the Tif-Dwarf Bermuda grass on the grees is actively growing.

We will topdress (click here to define topdress) the greens as needed throughout this aerification process. The amount of sand that is applied will be dependent on the time of year of the aerification and the diameter size of the aerification holes that are used.

This aerfication process should speed recovery time on the putting surfaces and be more golfer friendly. The goal of our early aerifications of the greens is to provide a uniform surface transition from a green cool season Bluegrass (which is a cool-season turf) to an actively growing warm season Tif-dwarf Bermuda dwarf with minimal transition time and little adverse effect on ball roll. "

Check back later this week from more on what spring maintenance is being done at SilverHorn.

If you happen to see Neil our any other maintenance employee out on the course give them a wave and a thanks for all they do. Happy Spring San Antonio!