Incredible Weather

What a difference a year makes! Since my arrival at Illini Country Club in 2010, it has seemed as though the city of Springfield has broken every record imaginable.  During the last four years we have experienced broken records in many different categories; from high temperatures, humidity, longest drought, high and low rainfall totals, to coldest winters and highest snowfalls. Most of these broken record categories makes it very challenging for a turfgrass manager.  But that was then and this is now! 2014 has been pretty good to us so far and we have even seen some record low temperature days, somewhat normal rainfall totals and July ending as the 3rd coolest July on record.  Disease pressure has been minimal except Dollar Spot (which is a fungus that thrives during wet warm days with cooler nights).  We have endured only a few stretches of weather where water management and hand watering was critical.  Along with the wet, cool weather comes optimal growing conditions for grass.  Our biggest challenge this year has been keeping up with the mowing, especially in the rough.  In past summers, the rough growth has dramatically slowed down, and even gone dormant during the months of July and August, making rough mowing a one man job.  This year we have continued mowing rough on our spring and fall schedule with three employees mowing rough a minimum of two times a week.  Some weeks the rough has been so thick and clumpy it has required one or two employees following the rough mowers with blowers to scatter the clippings.  I know the rough has been long and thick for most of the year and recent rains have made mowing difficult.  We will do our best to maintain the rough to our maintenance standards.  Hope you have enjoyed the nice weather and I hope to see you on the golf course.

    Dollar Spot in Rough