Fall Aerification Schedule Change

The greens and tees aerification was originally scheduled for September 20-23, but has changed to greens being aerified on September 29-30.  The tees will still be done from the 20th-23rd.   We will be contracting a company called DryJect for the greens this year.  The process, pictured below, includes three machines blasting high pressure water into the green and then back files with a special sand to the top of the hole.  The healing process should be rather fast and will improve greens overall health.  There will be three machines going on the course with approximately four people per machine.  There will be many hole closures during this process.  I wanted to announce this far in advance, so everyone would know before they arrive to the course.  Fairway core aerification will be September 26-27 and October 3-7 with weather permitting.  Also, I have attached some instructional video links at the right of this page through the USGA.  Check them out!
Thanks
Michael Coy, GCS

Persistent heat, drought and flooding strain golf courses nationally

7/25/2011

Superintendents dealing with extreme conditions again this year

Extended periods of excessive heat, widespread moderate to severe drought, and pockets of flooding have beset golf courses for the second consecutive year, putting a strain on revenues, golfers and the professionals who manage the game's playing fields – golf course superintendents.
"We saw widespread turf loss last year, and the feedback from our members is that this year has the potential to be as severe," Golf Course Superintendents Association of America President Bob Randquist, certified golf course superintendent at Boca Rio Golf Course in Boca Raton, Fla., said.
Researchers, university extension agents and golf course superintendents agreed that the conditions last summer were the worst in decades in terms of the geographic scope, Randquist said. The impact of this year's weather – although not as widespread – will not be determined for a few weeks, but he indicated superintendents are pulling out all the stops to counter the wrath of Mother Nature.
Superintendents have implemented a variety of management practices such as reducing green speeds by raising cutting heights and rolling less frequently; less mowing frequency; restricting cart traffic; increased hand watering; reducing/postponing verticutting and topdressing activities; if aerifying, doing so with small tines; and reducing of fertilization programs.
"The simple fact is the cool-season turfgrasses such as bentgrass, fescue, bluegrass, annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and others are stressed with sustained high temperatures and humidity," Randquist said. "Golf courses in many parts of the country experience this every year, however what made the situation so dire last year and now have been the high levels of extended heat and humidity, and the sizeable part of the country affected.
"Certainly homeowners, athletic fields and businesses suffer turfgrass damage brought on by these kinds of conditions. What makes it more difficult for golf facilities are the mowing heights are much lower and traffic is much heavier. That just adds to the stress on the turfgrass."
Also unknown is what the final impact of flooding will be. Some courses were under water for extended periods of time so the turf started the season already in a compromised position.
Randquist also cautioned golfers from thinking that water, whether from rain or irrigation, is the answer to the ills. There is a difference between heat stress and drought stress. Adequate irrigation will alleviate drought stress. Adequate irrigation will not alleviate heat stress. It is not only possible, but likely, for a turfgrass plant to be adequately watered and still suffer from heat stress under extended periods of high temperatures.
Randquist urged golfers and leaders at golf facilities not to panic. Every golf course is unique and thus reacts to the weather extremes differently. Variations in soil conditions, air movement, shade, water quality and availability, and budget make course comparisons a dangerous proposition.
"We know the weather conditions will become more agreeable," Randquist said. "What is important right now is to manage the golf course in a manner so that turf can be kept alive until that point. Pushing turf too hard might result in longer term damage."

GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to 19,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. The association's philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Find GCSAA on Facebook, follow GCSAA on Twitter, and visit GCSAA at http://www.gcsaa.org/.

Course Conditions

Sorry for the long delay in updating the blog, but not much has been happening except trying to keep the turf alive through this heat.  Below are a few things I would like to touch on.

Here you can see cart traffic in the fairway during heat stress.  I must remind everyone
that this is done to protect the turf and that bentgrass is a turf that prefers
nights in the 60's and daytime temperatures in the 70's and 80's.  Not all of the areas are
due to heat though, some areas are also from a disease know as Pythium.
 

I have sent soil tests out on the practice green to check the soil mixture.  This green is having
many growing and disease issues.  I will let everyone know the status once the
results are received. 

A FEW UPDATES

With all the heat the Zoysia on #8 rooted fast, so the tees will be open starting
this weekend.  Thanks to all for their patience!

From time to time we intentionally leave check plots on the course to monitor
disease pressure.  This is the beginning of #2 fairway with a large amount
of Dollar Spot.  This shows how crucial chemicals and cultural practices
are for sustaining healthy turf.

Johnson Grass, a noxious weed, is becoming a big problem and eyesore in the native areas.
We mowed down the right of #10 tee cartpath and will also mow the left side, along with
some smaller areas around the course.  We will begin eradicating this weed and seed
the areas in the fall.