Golf Course Update

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