Well, here they are…the dog days. The past month has
been all about the weather. Prior to the previous Golf Course Update, we had
received under 0.25” of rain in 30 days, with temperatures consistently hanging
+/- 90°F. In the weeks since then, we have received 2.90” of rain, plus
high humidity in addition to the hot temperatures. This has created a
very difficult environment in which to manage turfgrass. High heat and
humidity levels mean heavy disease pressure. We have been very vigilant
in scouting for potential disease outbreaks while maintaining our preventative
fungicide applications. One aesthetically positive side effect of the
recent rainfall is that the non-irrigated areas of the property (including
outer rough, clubhouse lawns, landscape areas, roadsides, etc.) are greening up
and springing back after beginning to go dormant from heat and drought
stress. The flip side of that, of course, is that the rough will be
growing quickly. This presents a challenge for us keep the rough neatly
mowed and playable, while also allowing time for the ground to firm up enough
that we do not do damage with the mowers. We will have all three rough
mowers out, as well as detail push mowers and string trimmers, to move through
this labor intense process as quickly as possible.
The timely rain events allowed us to take brief breaks from
having to run the irrigation system. However, due to the high air temperatures,
those breaks are typically short lived, and it doesn’t take long before we need
to provide supplemental irrigation in order to provide optimal playing
conditions. We closely manage our watering practices to be as efficient
as possible. We have been utilizing our “micro-sprinkler” sets and
hand-watering selective areas on greens, tees, and fairways in an effort to
even-out moisture levels and to not overwater already wet turf and soil during
the rainy and humid periods. That being said, we have been relying
heavily on the automatic irrigation system for nighttime irrigation…and it has
been showing its age. In the past month, we have repaired three
irrigation line breaks, replaced several sprinkler components, cleared
countless clogged sprinklers due to debris in the lines, cleared a clog in the
creek intake pump (twice), replaced seals and bearings in one of the main pump
motors, and completely replaced the pressure maintenance (jockey) pump with a
new one…whew!
Lastly, you may notice that some tree trimming has been
performed around the golf course. Tree trimming is done for several
reasons including: allowing sunlight and airflow to reach the turf, opening
views and ball flight paths for increased playability, removing dead/hazard
limbs, and removing limbs that interfere with sprinkler water
streams/patterns. This last motive is a very detailed and time consuming
process, yet is very important when it comes to course conditions. When a
sprinkler water stream hits a tree limb, the majority of that water is
deflected straight down onto the ground below the limb. Once this occurs
for even only a few minutes, the area becomes saturated, and a wet spot
develops. Because the area is in the shade, it takes a very long time to
dry out. By selectively removing these specific tree limbs, it creates a
clear path for the water stream to travel within. The sprinkler, the
tree, the turf, and the golfer all benefit from this process.
Looking at the extended forecast, we are in store for more
than a week’s worth of sunny skies and temperatures near 100 degrees…dog days
indeed. See you on the course!
Prepared by, Curtis Keller
