On the course:
- Greens will be verticut and lightly topdressed early Monday morning (as per the biweekly schedule: barring inclement weather or scheduling conflicts).
- Haul road sod that crosses fairways on holes 1, 2, 6, 7, and 9 will be aerated, topdressed and mowed down in height. It won't look too good for a few weeks but will recover. Its just something that has to be done so we can eventually send the fairway mowers over these areas.
- All the LREP sod areas are being aerated at present.
- Weed control should be complete by Friday if the rain stays away for a good part of the day. The knottweed is backing off and the dandelions are slowly fading away.
- Collar repairs as required.
Topic #1- Poa annua seedhead (scroll to the bottom for a good picture of Poa and seed head on the putting green):
If there was any question as to the presence of annual bluegrass (Poa annua) on the greens it should be answered by now. Each green has different populations and bio types of this particular turfgrass. Some varieties are vigorous producers of seed head and some aren't. Green #1 not so much. Green #16. Wow. How do you recognize the seed? That is the whiteish to brownish tinge you are no doubt noticing the last week or so. Not much can be done to stop this physiological response that occurs a couple times per golf season. Double cutting greens and rolling can help reduce any bumpiness that will affect ball roll later in the day. On that note please allow the afternoon mowers the few short minutes it takes to cut the greens and please do not hit up on them while they are on the green. I've been hit by a golf ball in the past and believe me, it hurts and it hurts bad. Oh and by the way. The fairways are also affected by varying degrees of Poa seed head as well. A good example is the 15th hole and about 100 to 150 yards out from the 10th green.
Topic #2 - Irrigation practices:
To get right to the point: Both myself and Eric believe that keeping the golf course on the drier side will lead to much healthier turf and more enjoyable playing conditions. I'm talking about finding a compromise between too dry and hard and too soft and lush. I feel that for the weather conditions since we have opened the course has been irrigated correctly. Very little if any standing water, greens that are tending to the firm side and fairways that encourage some release forward after your drive comes back to earth. I know. Its been drier than normal. But when you have fairly good sprinkler coverage throughout it is easier to deliver on your promises. The heavy rains of July and August are still too come but hopefully by keeping conditions a little dry the course can absorb some of that excess moisture before it starts to cause problems. I am under no illusion that we will not have wet areas develop if nature decides to bring on more rain than we need at the club. I guess that helps identify future drainage requirements.
Enjoy the week.
Wade
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