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