Late Summer Water Management

What?!  They’re watering again?!  Didn’t we just get 3-inches of rain last week?!  As a matter of fact, yes, and yes.  The extreme weather that we have been experiencing lately has been challenging, to say the least.  The high temperatures and heavy rainfall have taken a toll on the turf, increasing disease pressure and putting our water management skills to the test.  Late summer is without a doubt the most stressful time of year for bentgrass.  By this time of year, many of the plants’ roots have been driven upward toward the surface, away from the dry and heavy soils, in order to access the available water and nutrients.  This natural environmental reaction, combined with the constant barrage of golf and cart traffic, really stretches the limit of the turf’s health.

While several areas on the golf course do not currently need any more water, there are some areas that actually do.  By utilizing tools such as soil probes, moisture meters, and hoses, we can accurately and efficiently apply water directly to areas that are most in need, and avoid watering areas that already have sufficient moisture.  A common problem for bentgrass in the summer months is a condition known as localized dry spot, or LDS.  In areas affected by LDS, the soil becomes hydrophobic, meaning it actually repels water, so that water cannot penetrate into the root-zone.  Organic-coated sand particles, excessive salt build-up, heavy thatch layers, competition from tree roots, and occasionally fungus can all contribute to soil becoming hydrophobic.  Methods for controlling LDS include probing or aerating the area, hand-watering with hoses, and occasionally utilizing chemical control with a wetting-agent.  Watering with the overhead sprinklers will not sufficiently penetrate the affected areas, and often, neither do heavy rains.  We instruct our crew members to use a soil probe to locate and identify dry spots in tees and fairways.  Often, a supervisor will locate and mark these spots with a pin flag to indicate where our crew members need to apply water.  This allows the crew member to move through the areas as quickly as possible, so that golf play is not significantly disrupted.   We use a similar approach on greens.  By taking soil moisture readings, we can accurately apply specific amounts of water to specific areas on the green.

Proper water management is one of the most important aspects of turf management, and your Illini CC Golf Course Maintenance Department takes that responsibility very seriously.  We know that a balance must be achieved between optimal moisture levels for the health of the turf, and optimal playing conditions for the golfer.  The biggest challenge we face at Illini Country Club is maintaining that balance while dealing with inconsistent soil profiles, changing weather conditions, shade patterns and inadequate irrigation coverage.  On a daily basis, we take into consideration several factors including weather forecasts, disease pressure, and course conditions/player expectations to help us determine our watering programs.  So the next time you see irrigation heads running, or crew members watering with hoses, you can be sure that we are not haphazardly watering the golf course.  

Prepared by, Curtis Keller