The heat has arrived.  We are entering the most difficult time of year managing cool season turf.  Hot, humid weather accompanied by too much rain spell trying times for golf course turf in this region.  So much of the work we have accomplished over the last three years was done to combat these summer extremes.  With the addition of the Crystal BlueLinks fairway turf as well as the tall fescue rough we are ready for the test.  Let the battle begin!  

 

This is a common occurrence this time of year.  We treat different areas of the course almost every day of the week (and we don't like to spray either).

 

 

This is foam used to mark the spray pattern and a cheaper substitute than the blue dye used on the greens and tees.

 

 

Active pythium blight in twelve rough the first morning of Member Guest.  Pythium blight is the most destructive disease around and must be treated immediately.

 

 

Another look at infected tall fescue.

 

 

This is called golfer's disease and it is not from an outing.  This was observed Monday morning on the second hole.

 

 

The turf care center was broken into Friday night and several carts were taken for a joy ride on several holes.  We were very fortunate that they were spotted by members before doing any more damage.  This is the sixteenth hole. 

 

Primping the greens during Member Guest.  Here we are double cutting greens Thursday morning.  John mows the green in one direction ...

 

 

and then mows over the same pass in the opposite direction.

 

 

After mowing the green is then rolled to putting perfection.

 

Member Guest action.

We hope you are enjoying this delightful weather.  The course is happy with this weather as well.  So far this spring we have had adequate rainfall and moderate temperatures that have been beneficial to our new cool season turf.  It is nice to be entering summer with the course in such fine condition.  We have just about completed our delayed spring work and will be concentrating our efforts on primping the course for the many important golf events that are coming.

 

The drainage repair on the third hole was completed this week.  Three catch basins were added along with internal drainage.

 

 

The sod has been laid and will require lots of water.

 

A diversion berm was added to redirect storm water from #16 to the catch basin on the right.

 

 

Light vertical mowing with a device called turf groomers was employed this week.  This procedure encourages the turf to grow more upright and reduce grain in the bentgrass.

 

 

Groomer blades.

 

 

This is proper water management.  Here Erik hand waters drain lines on the eighth fairway with a wetting agent that will make water more available to the plant.

 

 

This is how not to repair a divot with the divot mix.  The sand is too high and will hurt the surrounding turf as the temperature rises.  Sand is an excellent conductor of heat.

 

 

This is the same divot after brushing with my foot.  The sand is below the cut line and the existing turf can now spread over the repair.

 

 

Replacing divots is still the recommended way to repair the turf.

 

 

We have gone back to crosscutting the fairways.

 

 

The 12th hole after mowing.

 

 

The best view in Springfield!