Last week was a tough as it gets for maintaining cool season turf.  The change in the weather since is remarkable and just what the doctor ordered.  The course is a little beat up after last week all due to heat stress.  We did what we could to minimize damage by hand watering hot spots, not mowing or rolling and moving cart traffic to the path.  Thanks for this as cart damage was minimal.

 

The 15th tee is struggling.  Our sod held up for a while but couldn't stand the heat.  Several of our tees need to be reconstructed so they perform better in weather extremes.

 

 

Cart damage on the 10th fairway.  The only way to prevent this is keeping them on the path.

 

 

Pythium blight in the rough.  This disease is triggered by high heat and humidity.

 

 

Seventeen collection area.  We have had more problems with bent collars and collection areas this summer than in the past. 

 

 

We are starting to see some tree failures on the course.  This is a white oak dying out.

 

 

A small tree fell down on by the 15th tee blocking the path Wednesday morning.

 

 

Our cart paths are showing their age.  Lots of cracks and potholes are showing up.  Josh was able to spray weed killer to these areas last week.

 

 

Daylily flowers on the 4th hole were almost completely eaten by deer this year even though we applied deer repellent.  Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug!

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

IF you thought the Bowers was stress on the course just wait for this week.  Very hot and humid weather is coming beginning Thursday and continuing through the weekend.  This looks to be the hottest stretch of the summer so hold on to your hat.  Expect cart path only in the afternoons until this heat breaks.

 

We solid tined all the greens on Monday.  Let em breathe, let em breathe!

 

After rolling the surface looks like this.

 

Mondays continue to be so productive.  The crew edged all the green side bunkers and started on the fairways.

 

 

Bunker perfection!

 

 

All fairway divots were repaired on Monday while working around a fairway spray.

 

 

This is Tuesday, just seems like Monday!  Hydraulic leak on the first hole in the rough.  Yikes

 

 

Plenty of stress and pressure this week.  The golf course performed admirably throughout.  Mondays deluge of two inches was cause for concern but excellent planning and decision making allowed the competition to continue without damaging the course.  After the rain it was determined we could resume play at 12:30.  The afternoon rounds were cancelled and the first two flights were allowed to finish.  Practice areas were closed and all pull carts had to remain on the path.  Particularly rewarding was the performance of our greens.  We applied a wetting agent the previous week.  This helps move water through the soil profile and was a great benefit after the deluge.  Thanks to all involved that made this a successful competition- particularly my crew.  They are the best!

 

Monday morning at 9:53.  Our course can take a pretty good licking.

 

 

Eleven pond just rising over the dam allowing storm water to enter the bunker.

 

 

It takes a great team to put the bunkers back in shape.  That picture is at 10:51- one hour after the rain had stopped.

 

 

The practice green is having perhaps its best year ever.  This can be attributed to Monday closure and an excellent spring for cool season turf.

 

 

This continues to be the biggest cause for concern of the Bowers.  Taking divots with practice swings is unacceptable.  Where are kids learning this?  Fortunately we have a variety of bentgrass that has excellent lateral growth to aid in recovery.  Thanks to our divot crew as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot and nasty describes our current weather pattern.  Fortunately cooler weather is forecast the week of the Bowers.  What a break!  Mondays continue to be a great day for course improvements.  We accomplish so much more than in years past and the course shows it.  Fairway divots are repaired regularly.  The crew removes the dying divots as well and fills them with sand.  Please continue to do your part by replacing them or using the sand mix.  Throw the divot into the rough rather than leave them in the fairway(tough on our fairway mowers).   Spraying fairways and rough on Mondays continues to be a benefit as well.  No cart restrictions on spray days anymore!  The practice green is showing the benefit of one day of rest as well.

 

On Monday most of the in play tree work was completed throughout the course.  These guys can really motor around when there are no golfers to deal with.

 

 

Three trees removed damaged by the storm several weeks ago.  This is the future site of the championship tee on the third hole.

 

 

This leaner was cut down on the fifth hole.  It was blocking the view of the right side of the hole from the back tees. 

 

 

The view is a little better now.

 

 

Finally some time to work on the pollinating garden behind 15 green.  Here the guys are adding soil to divert storm water from entering the bed.  Storms later that day ensured it worked!  Next step is to add replacement perennials that died from too much water.

 

 

We applied herbicides nearly a month ago to specific rough to suppress bermudagrass in new sod.  Here the fescue sod is pretty happy with minimal encroachment of bermudagrass.  The turf to the left is a solid stand of bermudagrass and on the right bentgrass.  A second application is coming when it cools down.

 

 

Circulation fans are money well spent when it is hot and humid. 

 

 

There continues to be too much of this in our fairways.  Please try and prevent sharp turns and fast starts.

 

 

We raised two red tail hawks!  Here they are on Saturday morning.  One of the adults was nearby as well.

 

 

If you are eating at the club its possible you are enjoying fresh vegetables from our garden!

 

 

The fireworks were spectacular.  This company does a good job cleaning up as well!