Its midsummer update time so I
wanted to inform you on course conditions and programs in place to ensure
sustainable quality turf. The golf
course has received numerous complements since the start of the season but some
summer stress is becoming evident. We
are in our typical battle with Mother Nature having received 12.32” of rain in
the past 45 days. Couple that with high
temps and humidity and you have all the ingredients needed for disease pressure
and stress on cool season grasses. With
that being said, we are holding our own and continually monitoring for disease
activity. Our standard preventive spray
program interval is every 14 days.
Currently we are spraying fairways every 7 days to hold back fungal
growth. With each rain event fungal
pathogens gain strength as saturated soils take time to drain and the
accompanying high temps create a petri dish.
This is mostly evident in the swales and low spots that transport and
hold water.
The chart below shows the
projected weather along with growth potential (GP) for cool season
grasses. A red GP indicates heavy
disease pressure. Let the countdown
begin!
|
|
7/29
Wed |
7/30
Thu |
7/31
Fri |
8/1
Sat |
8/2
Sun |
|
Max F
|
89
|
92
|
91
|
93
|
92
|
|
Min F
|
73
|
69
|
68
|
68
|
68
|
|
Avg F
|
81
|
81
|
80
|
81
|
80
|
|
Max C
|
32
|
33
|
33
|
34
|
33
|
|
Min C
|
23
|
21
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
|
Avg C
|
28
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
|
Cool GP
|
43
|
43
|
49
|
43
|
49
|
|
Warm GP
|
84
|
84
|
80
|
84
|
80
|
|
Conditions
|
Chance of a
Thunderstorm
|
Chance of a
Thunderstorm
|
Clear
|
Clear
|
Clear
|
GREENS
The greens are performing
extremely well. We do have some thinning
on White #2 and Blue#7 in the back, but is minimal given the weather pattern. This is better than last season but still not
to our standards. We have implemented
the use of hex plugs this season as needed to improve play ability.
Our program for greens/tees
continues to include vent aerating every two weeks with small pencil sized
tines to promote proper gas exchange in the soil and promote drying. Turf that can’t breathe can’t grow.
TEES
Tees are showing signs of wear and heat
stress. We will be expanding our tee
marker placement to spread the wear across more area. We found some irrigation head issues that
resulted in hot spots. They have been
repaired and with a little TLC they will be a distant memory.
FAIRWAYS
Ryegrass – Ryegrass – Ryegrass How I Love Thee in July and August.
The fairways to this point have
performed as expected. We have a few
areas of disease breakthrough, but minimal impact on playability. As I stated early, our plant protectant
intervals have been compressed to hold off the disease charge. They are holding steady and overall the
ryegrass is performing well. What used
to spell disaster has been met with better performing turf.
Cultural Programs – Coming Soon!
Aerification/Seeding –
September
Weed Cleanup –
September/October
Fall Fertility - October
Poa Annua control application –
November/December
Deep Tine Aerification – Spring
2016
ROUGHS/SURROUNDS
Last season we began a program
of treating a 20’ pass outside the fairways with plant protectants. The discoloration you see outside the
fairways is a result of two factors.
1.) A targeted herbicide application for the weeds: nutsedge
and kyllinga.
2.) Heat Stress on the Poa Annua (Annual Bluegrass) Our
ultimate goal is to minimize the poa population on the course. Poa is just not reliable in this region and we
have just about eliminated it in the fairways with years of herbicide
treatments and over seeding. We hope to
expand our treatment areas to include Green and Tee surrounds and more rough. The good news is Mother Nature has helped us
out. The bad news is, it’s on her time
table and reseeding will have to wait until temperatures moderate.
Green/Tee surrounds are being
treated with granular plant protectants due to the fact a spray machine can’t
access the sloped surround areas. This
program has alleviated the damage received in previous years from Brown Patch
and other pests.
WEEDS
My weed control program
consists of a pre-emergant herbicide application made in early April. The coverage and timing has been good and I
don’t see significant crabgrass/goosgrass breakthrough. It is designed to last until we over seed
fairways in September. You will see some
patches of orange in the fairways/rough that is the result of a post- emergant
herbicide for a weed called nutsedge.
Clover will be treated as we get closer to aerification and over seeding
to minimize any voids in the fairways.
NATIVE AREAS
Weed control in these areas has
been a high priority yielding a much cleaner look. Multiple applications have been made and more
are needed. These treatments will have
to wait until we can lengthen our spray interval on fairways. Disease control will take priority with the
labor and equipment force. Last fall we
performed aggressive weed removal and seeding.
This has given mixed results and I will modify some and return others to
Tall Fescue.
PRIORITIES
Exceeding Member Expectations
Disease Control - minimizing
turf loss
Native Areas – Weed control and
trimming to promote clean appearance.
Minimize Poa Annua in the
rough.
