We have experienced a very sporadically wet spring and summer. The 5+ inches of rain we had last week does not just affect the bunkers and cart path rulings. There are some benefits to the wet week; the quarry is full of water and the TifSport is very strong. The negatives have been bunker conditions and the greens have been a bit soft and slower than they were earlier in the year. This has led us to change some maintenance practices and has made us thankful for all of the topdressing and aeration we do to prevent major damage. This article talks about the challenges we are facing.
Is Variety Really the Spice of Life?
Darin Brevard
All of the projects from last week are wrapping up and we will finish all of the sod work next week with about 5,000 square feet of sod to still be laid. The sprigging and sod work that has been completed looks great and we are excited to get out of the project business for 2011. As we eagerly look forward to the fall for cooler temperatures, faster green speeds and the Member/Guest tournaments, I want to simply remind everyone that we are currently hot and dry. I realize that I just talked about being too wet but things change rapidly with Mother Nature. Not too mention the impending humidity and in turn disease pressure we will be facing. I could really talk about this for a while but the heavy rains from last week have drained off of our surfaces or through them so the warm, dry conditions have dried out the golf course and the greens.
This week temperatures look to reach at least 100 with no forecasted rain so our staff will be spending a lot time hand watering all of the new sod and sprigs and of course the greens. Thank you for your patience during the afternoon syringing of greens and we sincerely apologize for any inconveniences this may cause.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
A very relevant article from the USGA Mid-Atlantic Green Section
