Course Update

The rain has continued for the month of June, 6.2 inches, with more on the way later this afternoon. As I continue to work with David York on our nutrient program we saw a flush of growth this week especially from the bentgrass even though we haven't applied much nitrogen recently. The recent flush is really the first we have had all season and I am contributing it to the warm rainfall we received over the weekend releasing nutrients that are already in the soil from years past. We will be tissue testing again this week to see if the nitrogen levels have risen. We have been able to mow and roll enough to get the speeds back up for the weekend, until the rain comes.

One of the biggest problems we face on the golf course here at MGC is the annual bluegrass weevil. This insect has multiple generations per year and we battle it in two stages as an adult and as larvae. The adults pierce the annual bluegrass plant to lay their eggs which then feed inside the plant until it matures and eat itself outside of the plant killing it. The mature larvae then continues to feed on the annual bluegrass plants by eating the through the stems killing them as well. This season has been the toughest so far as local entomologists from Rutgers and UMASS believe that the long lasting snow cover insulated the over-wintering adults shielding them from any direct low temperature kill. Our damage has been localized although heavy along fairway edges near wood lines. The positive is that the bentgrass should take over in these areas.

Larvae no bigger then a grain of rice can cause major damage 

All about Water

June's weather has been a complete 180 from May with temperatures touching the 90 degree point already half way through the month and bringing 5.5 inches of rain. The course has taken all of the rain very nicely considering how dry we were but the recent rain forced us to cancel the deep needle tine aeration of the putting greens. Due to club events and July rapidly approaching we will not be rescheduling this process.

Staying with the theme of water we received our water test results for the irrigation water conducted by our agronomic consultant, David York, who also has been doing our soil and tissues testing this season. I spoke with Dave on the phone about our water results and his first comment to me was "this is the worst water I have seen on the east coast, and the highest amount of sulfates I have ever seen in 22 years." So after I picked the phone off the floor we began to discuss the best way to manage our water issues especially during the heavy use periods. First let me say that because we are in a region where it rains frequently many of our water issues are flushed naturally from the soil during the shoulder seasons. Our nutrient programs are going to be altered to stay away from any additional sources of sulfate, add frequent amounts of calcium carbonate, and continue to manage our potassium,manganese, and magnesium.

This weekend is father's day, my third one already, and that means its the US Open being contended this year at Chamber's Bay in Washington. To say that Chambers is a unique course is an understatement, all of the playing surfaces are fescue including the greens. I urge you to watch at least part of the Open over the next few days but don't adjust your tv you won't be seeing much green.

Mowing fairways at Chambers Bay - they use 20 mowers 

Rounds for Research

The Golf Course Superintendents Association is in its second year of a program called Rounds for Research where you can bid on foursomes for various clubs in our area and around the country. All of the proceeds go towards turf research. Take a look at what courses are available http://www.rounds4research.com

About Rounds 4 Research

The Rounds 4 Research program was designed to address a critical shortage in turfgrass research funding by auctioning donated rounds of golf online.

The program is administered by the Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Rounds 4 Research allows GCSAA chapters and turfgrass foundations to participate as fundraising partners with the vast majority of proceeds going back to those organizations. In this way, these organizations can direct the proceeds to specific projects that will have the most significant impact in their local areas.

The EIFG’s Rounds 4 Research is an expansion of the innovative program that was introduced by the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association. After the Carolinas GCSA realized the program’s scope had grown beyond what it could administer, it offered the program to GCSAA. As GCSAA’s philanthropic organization, the EIFG was the natural choice to oversee this exciting fundraising effort.

With your support, you can help us keep the future of our game green.