Course Update

The greens were topdressed and brushed today taking advantage of the cloudy cooler day. The sand will help dilute our thatch layer as well as smooth the putting surface. The brushing helps work the sand into the canopy of the turf while at the same time standing the turf up so we will get a great cut tomorrow morning. Our wetting agent and sodium flush programs were also applied to the greens following the topdressing. The wetting agent will keep water moving through the soil profile keeping the playing surfaces firmer and healthier. Some of the sand will be visible for a day or so until it settles out by Thursday. Thanks and enjoy the week.

A Year Later

The work behind the 8th green has really paid off and the green is in great condition.

8 Green July 2011

8 Green Today

Course Update

Thankfully the high winds never materialized last night but the storm did drop .75 inches of rain on the course. The rain helped move the sodium and bicarbonates created from our irrigation water past the rootzone but left saturated conditions. These conditions are very conducive to fungal outbreaks like we are seeing in the rough this morning with dollar spot. The playing surfaces are protected with fungicides so no dollar spot was found in these areas this morning. Yesterday I vented some trouble collars in front of the rain storm as well as venting the low landing area of the 5th fairway this morning.

The crew is out on the course mowing as much turf as we can before the 1:15 shotgun start of the member-guest tournament. We should have the sticks and leaves left by the storm cleaned up before play begins. Enjoy the weekend but keep your umbrella handy as scattered thunderstorms are predicted all weekend.

Grinding

Grinding the greens mower reels tonight to sharpen them up after the topdressing
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Course Update

The greens were topdressed with sand this morning to help dilute our thatch layer, smooth the greens, and protect the turf from scalping during these hot and humid periods of weather.

The collars were fertilized with a granular organic fertilizer to help with the stresses applied from our equipment this time of year. We continue to limit the use of our roller as the damage on the collars and edges of the greens was confirmed by Rutgers as mechanical damage from the roller. I am working with the BOG to remedy this problem for the 2012 season.

The tees and fairways were sprayed this morning with a wetting agent, fertilizer, growth regulator, and fungicide combination. The fungicide, Interface, is a great product for this time of year but it has a green pigment added to it which causes the turf to look "fake green" in my opinion but after a few days you won't notice it. A small price to pay for superior fungus protection. The wetting agent will help the irrigation move into the ground more evenly while the fertilizer and growth regulator will keep the turf strong but not grow excessively.

The rain that hit the course at the end of last week gave the irrigation system a few days off and help to flush some of the sodium from the root zone. The rain was not enough to bring back the dormant conditions of the rough. The rain also saturated the greens creating slow and soft conditions. The drier weather on the way combined with the sand topdressing will increase the playability of the greens.

USGA Northeast July Update

“…And The Fans Went Wild!”

By David A. Oatis, director, Northeast Region
July 19, 2012

At many courses, a distinct pattern is starting to become all too prevalent. Greens with restricted air movement across their surfaces invariably have the weakest turf found on the course. This sometimes painfully illustrates the impact poor growing environments can have on turf performance. This is another season where the value of fans is being demonstrated in numerous locations. Fans cool turf and dry it out. Using an infrared thermometers, USGA agronomists consistently find that turf canopies receiving the additional airflow provided by fans are 6-8° F cooler than adjacent turf outside the range of the fans.

Virtually all of the annual bluegrass turf we have observed in the last two weeks has been under stress. Root systems have shrunk so dramatically that it is becoming hard to find annual bluegrass root systems that are more than an inch deep. In addition to being shorter, root systems may also be impaired by various fungi and nematodes. In a nutshell, the annual bluegrass putting green turf at some courses is teetering on the brink of failure and this next heat wave may push some over the edge.

So what should we do to avoid turf loss now?

·        Improve air movement. Fans can help tremendously. They can make the difference between life and death to the turfgrass plant. Normally, they work best when used preventively (before the turf goes under stress) but they also can help curatively so don’t hesitate to put them to use.

·        There is a time to be aggressive with certain maintenance practices, but this is not it. While venting can improve drainage and gas exchange, aggressive cultivation is unwise in most situations at this point in the season. Cultivation techniques can injure root systems and the turf does not need any additional root system injury at this point in the season.

·        Remember, while annual bluegrass greens may look terrible now but they can still play well. “Looks bad but plays fine” is a quote to keep in mind. Patience and emphasizing playing quality over appearance is the key to summers like this one.

·        For now, seeding is not likely to be all that effective. But, if you want to try it use gentle seeding techniques so as not to injure the turf or damage the thatch layer.

·        Being too aggressive now may weaken the turf and push it over the edge. It may also make it impossible to be more aggressive in 2-3 weeks when there is a much better chance of getting seed up and established. Again, patience now will be rewarded later.

·        Plugging bentgrass into weakened areas makes more sense now. Two inch pluggers work very well for this purpose. Smaller plugs are less obvious and less objectionable than traditional 4.25 inch plugs. They are easier to level and can be put in much faster too.

·        Stick with your growth regulator program and keep spoon-feeding. Be extremely cautious when applying these and all materials at this time of year. An improper rate or inadvertent overlap can cause more damage to stress-weakened turf.

·        Manage water more carefully than ever utilizing your best employees for this crucial job. Remember, if the root systems are one inch deep, water at the two inch depth is unreachable. Syringe more but try to keep soil moisture levels lower.

·        Remember that moisture loss can be quite low when dew points and humidity levels are high, so extra irrigation and syringing is not necessarily needed just because “it’s hot.”

·        Depending on the degree of turf decline and the amount of annual bluegrass you have, this year may provide an opportunity to get more bentgrass established in your greens. Aggressive seeding this fall followed by closing the greens for a few weeks to give the seedlings a fighting chance may be worthwhile in the long run.

·        Lastly, watch out for the combination of a high sky and low humidity day. With weak turf and weaker root systems, this is a weather pattern that could wreak havoc. Normal syringing techniques may not be sufficient if we experience this type of weather so be prepared should this occur.

·        Don’t forget your employees. The weather is just as hot and potentially dangerous for them as it is for your turf. Make sure they stay hydrated and are allowed to rest and cool off during periods of extreme heat.

Another consistent observation we have made this summer is that bentgrass on greens throughout the region is tolerating the heat much better than annual bluegrass. The advantage of having bentgrass, particularly the new varieties, has never been more obvious. One has to question how long we can continue to manage annual bluegrass greens should these weather patterns continue. This is shaping up to be the type of year that will push more courses to consider a change.

USGA agronomists have been extremely busy but we are never too busy to hear from you so don’t hesitate to give us a call. We wish you all the best of luck for a successful season.

Update

The course received 2 tenths of an inch of rain last night which did nothing more then give the irrigation system a few hours off. The weather is calling for hot humid conditions this week. I will be out with my hose all week cooling greens and surveying the property for signs of turf disease.

The limb that fell on the 3rd tee yesterday was removed this morning as well as the dead weeping cherry on the 4th hole.

Sunscreen and lots of water will be the key on the course this week. Be safe and enjoy your round.

3 tee

A tree branch broke on the third tee this afternoon. Use caution until it can be removed.
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Bridgestone

Ball fitting by Bridgestone on the 1st tee. Are you hitting the correct ball for your swing?
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Venting

I vented trouble areas on the golf course this morning, fairway spots, tees, and some collars. The Poa is struggling right now like most years with the high heat and short roots. The bentgrass is looking great as its a much stronger species but the golf course is 60 percent Poa, see the problem. This venting will help bring oxygen to the roots, vent out the gases from the soil, and allow better water infiltration.

The 10-day forecast is calling for hot and humid July weather with chances of thunderstorms over the weekend. These storms would bring much needed rain but the combination of rain and high heat can cause an explosion of disease or saturate the soil creating high heat issues for the turfs roots. Sorry for the overload of bad news but this is what we face during the summer months in the Northeast. I will quote the great turf pathologist Noel Jackson "There is no free lunch in the turf business"

A few reminders - the turf is growing very slow now with the heat so please fix your ball marks, pick up your feet on the greens dont' shuffle, replace your divots with green sand, and be mindful of the crew and myself out watering with hoses. Please do not spray your legs with sunscreen or bug spray while standing on the turf as this will kill the grass. Drink plenty of liquids and I will see you on the course.

Scalping

We had an issue with the grooming attachment on one of our greens mowers yesterday morning which caused some scalping on the edges of 3 greens. The damage occured on the patches of bentgrass which is a good thing since bentgrass is much stronger then Poa. These areas were topdressed with sand this morning and will heal back in a few weeks. Sorry for this inconvenience.
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Course Update

The golf course did pretty well in the heat and humidity of last week. The weather is still warm and dry but the humidity has broken and the night time lows are under 70 degrees which is a huge relief to yours truly. We have been in a dry spell here since June 23 when we had a half inch of rain. The majority of the thunderstorms last week missed the club which is good news as too much water during hot periods can cause rapid decline of the turf.

All of the playing surfaces were treated with wetting agents today to help the irrigation water penetrate into the dry soil. The greens also received a group of fertilizers that help to break up the sodium and bicarbonates that are building up in the soil from our irrigation water. The sodium blocks the turf from taking up water so we must break the soils bond with the sodium and flush it away. Rain does this naturally because it is acidic but in times of dry weather we must use calcium and potassium to break that bond. Our irrigation comes from two wells on the property and our water test show that both the bicarbonate and sodium levels are much higher then desired.

Irrigation

Stuck sprinkler head on 4 fairway this morning. Thankfully is wasn't a green. Not good to have that much water on 93 degree day with high hummidity.
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USGA July Northeast Update

Let The Fireworks Begin

By Jim Skorulski, senior agronomist, Northeast Region
July 3, 2012

Shaded greens located in tight growing environments are always more prone to heat stress in the dog days of summer. Portable fans are becoming more common across the region to reduce high temperature stress.

Is it me or does summer feel like it should be almost over? May be it was the lack of a real winter, the early spring or the high temperatures and humidity in June that make it seem like it should be August and not the Fourth of July holiday. Everything has been ahead of schedule including dollar spot disease, Japanese and Oriental beetle emergence, or the purple loosetrief that is now in bloom in Montreal. Most of the turf I have observed has been holding up pretty well despite the heat waves that have occurred. Annual bluegrass rooting has declined as soil temperatures climb more regularly into the 80s. The turf is now subjected to more stress but the good growing conditions early in the season resulted in better than average rooting, which has been helpful considering the heat we are now experiencing.
Annual bluegrass weevils are active and in just about every stage of development. Pythium blight has already been active and we are seeing the start of crown rot anthracnose and summer patch as would be expected with the added heat stress. A number of New England golf courses continue to battle parasitic nematodes. The symptoms from the feeding are more likely to become evident with the added heat stress. False-green kyllinga has taken advantage of the warm temperatures as it continues to work its way up the coast in Connecticut. This warm season sedge is very similar to nutsedge but produces rhizomes that form dense patches even at fairway heights of cut. It spreads quickly where moisture levels are high and may first be prevalent around pond banks. Like crabgrass and nutsedge it disappears with the first good frost. Northern managers should be prepared to manage a new weed. Fortunately we do have tools to manage the kyllinga. Field trials have shown Dismiss to be an effective herbicide to remove the kyllinga from roughs and bentgrass fairways.    
The high temperatures are impacting the plants carbohydrate reserves. The reduced reserves leave the plants less able to recover from traffic or other damage. Now is the time to turn to spoon–feeding fertility programs to keep the plants vigorous but not at the expense of root growth. A well-balanced fertilizer that provides .05 - 0.1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is a good choice where turf roots are limited. Products that contain cytokinins may improve the grass plant’s ability to survive the heat stress. Be cognizant of the higher burn potential of soluble fertilizers in the heat. Avoid using tank mixes or applying new products that you are not absolutely confident with. Pick and choose the days to practice light cultivation, brushing or topdressing programs. Keep a close watch on soil moisture using moisture meters or a soil probe. The message remains the same. This is not the time to experiment. There is just too much summer ahead of us to make an unforced error. Hunker down and survive! Heck, it’s almost Labor Day isn’t it?   

Heat Stress

The following is an article from the GCSAA that helps explain what heat and humidity do to the turf and the management practices that we alter or eliminate during these periods.

Prolonged periods of high temperatures – and in some cases excessive rainfall – and high humidity can make life uncomfortable for golfers and golf courses alike, with Mother Nature holding all the cards for true relief.

“The simple fact is the cool-season turfgrasses such as bentgrass, fescue, bluegrass, annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and others are stressed when temperatures climb and humidity is high," Bob Randquist, CGCS, and president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, said. "Golf courses in many parts of the country experience this every year, however what can make the situation so dire is the high levels of extended heat and humidity, and the sizeable part of the country affected (Midwest, Mideast, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic). We are already seeing this is an issue that could potentially match the conditions of last year."

Why heat stress is so difficult on golf course turf

According to Randquist, golf facilities and those entrusted with managing the golf course – golf course superintendents – are not alone in this battle with the elements. However, the nature of their product makes their challenge greater.

"Certainly homeowners, athletic fields and businesses suffer turfgrass damage brought on by these kinds of conditions," Randquist said. "What makes it more difficult for golf facilities are the mowing heights are much lower and traffic is much heavier. That just adds to the stress on the turfgrass."

Randquist indicates that golf course superintendents are addressing the issue with a variety of management practices to make sure turfgrass survives. While there may be some short-term impact on playability of the course, the alternative is the loss of grass, the closure of the course and the additional costs of re-establishing playing surfaces (primarily putting greens).

He also cautioned golfers from thinking that water, whether from rain or irrigation, is the answer to the ills. There is a difference between heat stress and drought stress. Adequate irrigation will alleviate drought stress. Adequate irrigation will not alleviate heat stress. It is not only possible, but likely, for a turfgrass plant to be adequately watered and still suffer from heat stress under extended periods of high temperatures.

Managing turf under heat stress

Randquist indicated that during periods such as this, it becomes easy to compare golf course conditions and pressure decision makers into actions that might prove detrimental to the long-term health of the playing surface. "We know the weather conditions will become more agreeable. What is important right now is to manage the golf course in a manner so that turf can be kept alive until that point. Relying on the expertise of the golf course superintendent and understanding the focus in on the long term is the best guide for facilities."

Among the practices that superintendents are implementing to manage golf courses include:

• Raising the mowing heights of playing areas, most notably putting greens.
• Alternating daily practices of mowing and rolling putting greens, with consideration to skipping a day if the schedule of play allows.
• Forgoing double mowing, topdressing, verticutting or grooming greens.
• Watering to provide adequate soil moisture, but not over watering, as saturated soil will cause the turfgrass to decline rapidly.
• Hand watering as much as feasible. If a green has a dry spot or two, superintendents will hand water the dry spots only and will not water the entire green. When the entire green shows stress from a lack of water, superintendents use the overhead sprinklers and water the entire green.
• Avoid aerifying using large diameter tines that penetrate deeply into soil and remove a core of soil. If a superintendent feels the putting surface is sealed, venting using small diameter solid tines or other similar technique is employed.
• If fertilizer is required, small amounts of fertilizer are applied via a sprayer and observation of the response occurs before fertilizing again.
• Monitoring and adjusting golf car traffic patterns to minimize stress to turf.

Course Update

The course took the heat from the weekend pretty well with constant syringing of greens during the afternoon hours. The weak areas of our irrigation are showing up in great numbers now that summer has arrived. Many of these areas are in the rough but the sloped bunker banks also are a great challenge to keep alive without irrigation. We are hand watering when we can but weekends and holidays are difficult with the high volume of play and limited staff.

Surface roots from White Pines combined with no irrigation