We are enjoying more perfect weather.  With the low humidity and dry conditions we are using plenty of water and are hoping for some rain.  But no complaints from this guy with this weather- it was fifty-three degrees this morning!

 

Pylex herbicide is really socking it to the bermudagrass.  The manufacturer just released a new label with a higher rate on bentgrass.  This is the green tee on the ninth hole.  All of the fairways were treated this week so expect to see some sick bermudagrass shortly.

 

 

Applications in the rough begin next week.  Rates are much higher in the rough and will be dramatic.

 

 

Check out the new sprayer!  Here Erik applies an assortment of goodies to the second fairway.

 

 

Foxes are beginning to become a nuisance again.  This is the eighth greenside bunker.  We are going to try a intense pepper spray solution in these areas to hopefully deter this grubbing activity.

 

 

He didn't miss a spot.

 

 

Purple martins were in abundance this summer.  Every house was occupied.

 

 

This was the same house later in the day.  All the houses are now empty. The martins have moved to trees as they are about ready for their southern migration.

 

 

There have been many favorable responses to the annual beds this summer.  These two plants are called Alternanthera and they provide a nice contrasting border.

 

 

Postcard picture of the third hole on a perfect day.

 

Wow!  September in July.  This is marvelous weather we are experiencing and the golf course is the better for it.  The lake is full too which usually means we have had too much rain- but not this year.  Timely rain and just the right amount have been the story this summer so far.  Whether it will continue we will just have to wait and see.  In the meantime let's all enjoy!

 

We continue to solid tine the greens every two weeks.  This shows the practice green immediately after aerating.

 

 

Once rolled it is hard to tell we were there.

 

 

Our fans are back in business.  This is an unusual site as the fan is off on July 18th due to the fall like weather.

 

 

This is nice to see.  Divots do grow back in the summer if repaired properly and the weather cooperates.

 

 

Bentgrass recovering from divots.  Both divots are recovering nicely even though the turf has died in the center.  Lateral growth with the Crystal BlueLinks is quite good.

 

 

Birds are not helping us out here.  It is much easier to find dinner by removing a divot than pecking through the dense turf.

 

 

This is golfer could care less decline in the 7th fairway on Thursday morning. 

 

 

Carts do damage stressed turf.  This is the 3rd fairway with carts restricted to the path I thought.

 

 

The same area one week later.

 

 

Stressed turf on a southern exposure.

 

 

The course has seen some pretty good disease in the rough.  This is Rhizoctonia blight or brown patch on the 6th hole.

 

 

Daylillies on the 4th hole without deer damage so far.....

 

 

New tee signs are being installed on the course and look great!

 

With all of the recent tournaments it has been difficult updating this blog but we are finally beginning to catch up and breathe.  The hours are tough and demanding but we have been fortunate to have had some really nice weather throughout the competition that lightened the load.

 

We will start with our resident superstar Quincy who is featured in this Thursday's Washington Kids Post.  Check it out!

 

 

After a wet spring we have dried out and are irrigating frequently.

 

 

This is the heart of the irrigation system.  This unit accurately controls our three pumps.

 

We have worked hard to get the greens as true as possible.  We aggressively groomed the greens the week before club championship.  We do this only when temperatures are moderate.

 

 

Golf carts damage turf when it is hot and dry.  Please avoid driving through stressed areas like this.

 

 

An unfortunate hydraulic leak on the first hole.  The operator was mowing before sunrise and was unable to see the oil leaking on the turf until too late.  He is awaiting his trial.

 

 

Bermudagrass encroaching in our new fairways.  How dare that weed!

 

 

Pylex herbicide applied at 1/8 of an ounce per acre on the fifteenth fairway Saturday!!!

 

 

Another pic showing the bermudagrass starting to brown.  We will treat all the fairways next week.

 

 

We have the good fortune to have red tailed hawks nesting on the course for the third straight year.

 

 

A young red tail hawk.  Unfortunately one of the adults was found dead on the course on July 4th.

 

 

Our new turf is holding up well so far!

 

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!