Course Update

 

We have now received all of our 35 fairway heads
and 10 valves to replace some of the out dated irrigation
equipment.  11 of the heads have been installed,

though it seems mother nature doesn't really want us
to use it this year and I'm OK with that.   This will not
replace all heads in the fairways, but it is helping

us move in the right direction. 

Irrigation clocks are almost complete.  You may have noticed these poles
at some of the stations.  These are for satellite signals to the central
computer at the maintenance facility.  This will aid in monitoring
and fine tuning watering cycles more closely and should prove helpful
in reducing water usage.





All the native areas have been cut back and we will continue to clean
out the existing weeds over the next week.  We mow the native areas
not only to increase pace of play, but mowing also helps reduce the
weed population.  This also gives us the chance to eliminate
some of the hardier plants through chemical applications. 
We will not mow these areas again till late fall and early winter.

 



Work has begun on repairing bridges at #5 and #3.  We should
have these completed by end of next week. 



Course update

It is that time of year again where we will begin to see some browning in the fairways and this article describes why.  I thought this year I would present an article by the USGA on the difference between cool-season turfgrass and warm-season turfgrasses. Please read the entire article and take special note of the location  this article and that we are in the transition zone of the United States.  If you have any further questions please contact me at mcoy@oxmoorcountryclub.com.

Course Care: Cool- And Warm-Season Grasses

Posted: 8/29/2012

By USGA

What is the difference between cool-season and warm-season grasses? Extreme summer heat and the current drought have prompted discussions about replacement turfgrass options on our fairways. (Kentucky)

The difference between cool-season and warm-season turfgrasses comes down to basic plant physiology. More specifically, it is how the plant performs photosynthesis, or the conversion of carbon dioxide and light into oxygen and carbohydrates, the latter which serves as food energy for the plant. Cool-season turfgrasses use the C₃ photosynthetic pathway and respond differently to temperature extremes and environmental stresses than warm-season plants that use the C₄ pathway. If you’ve ever heard a plant referenced as either a C₃ or C₄ plant, now you know why.

Practically speaking, and as their names suggest, every turfgrass species has a specific temperature range in which it maintains growth. Cool-season turfgrasses grow best in cooler climates or during cool, moist periods of the year when soil temperatures are between 60 and 75°F. Bentgrasses, bluegrasses, fescues and perennial ryegrass are typical cool-season turfgrass species used for fairways in the U.S. In contrast, warm-season turfgrasses perform optimally in warmer climates or during warmer parts of the year when temperatures are between 80 and 95°F. Popular warm-season turfgrasses include zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, buffalograss and seashore paspalum.

Obviously these are general temperature ranges and every turfgrass species is best adapted to particular climatic zones or regions. Cool-season turfgrasses lack the heat tolerance to be extensively used throughout the southern U.S. and poor cold tolerance limits the use of warm-season species in the north. The regions of the U.S. where both cool-season and warm-season turgrasses are utilized are often collectively referred to as the transition zone. Not surprisingly, selecting a fairway turfgrass for use in the transition zone can be a difficult decision.