Course Update

Summer officially begins tomorrow but summer-like conditions have already arrived with temperatures in the upper 80's to lower 90's predicted for the next few days. The good news is the night time temperatures are nice and cool. This week we had a visit from Steve McDonald of Turf Grass Disease Solutions, who helped sample the golf course for annual bluegrass weevils, the single biggest pest on the course. Steve visits over 300 courses annually and conducts independent research for many manufacturers and the USGA. I discussed with Steve our disease and insect control program along with nutrient and aeration management issues. Steve was able to recommend a different product to help with the weeds in the native areas along with providing a better theory of how the calcium in our irrigation water is affecting the potassium levels in the soil. We are monitoring the nutrient levels through our bi-weekly tissue testing program.

Steve using his weevil vacuum on #2

 The late spring has brought little rain with little rain in the forecast bringing us to the Moderate Drought Level. Currently we are not facing any restrictions in regards to irrigation although we will continue to use hoses to water certain areas reducing the amount of water we are consuming.

The image below is from the USGA and describes water usage around the golf course.

Course Update

The weather is really perfect and unexpected for this time of year but that goes with the theme of the 2016 season which is nothing has been normal, but I will take 50 degree night time temperatures in June as long as I can. Greens have been verticut the last two Monday's removing longer straglers of turf smoothing the surface and creating more upright turf for better playability and health of the greens. We will be topdressing the greens this week continuing to follow our organic matter dilution program. The program has different parts including aeration, topdressing, verticutting, brushing, venting, and Dry-jecting.

Tuesday June 14th you may encounter some sprinklers running during play. We will be conducting a certified flow test of our two wells as required by our water allocation permit issued by the NJ State DEP. A certified contractor will use an external portable flow meter to ensure that our permanent fixed flow meters are accurate. We record the amount of water we use monthly on both wells and report these values to the DEP at the end of the year. The state requires we have our flow meters calibrated and certified on a 3 year basis.

Hard to imagine the 9th Hole without the bunkers on the left

June USGA Update

Spring in the Northeast Region always is unpredictable. While dry conditions and cool temperatures have been welcomed compared to the wet weather last season, exceptionally dry weather in New England and parts of Canada has some superintendents worrying about rainfall this summer. Although a severe drought has not occurred in the Northeast Region for more than 15 years, a Drought-Emergency Plan is a document every golf facility should develop in case dry weather progresses into a drought.

Putting surfaces are performing well throughout the Northeast Region and Poa annua seedheads will diminish over the next few weeks. Many superintendents will begin to regularly topdress and groom putting greens to keep them smooth and firm through the summer. These programs help smooth imperfections created by seedheads, ball marks and traffic but can be challenging for superintendents to schedule during a busy golf calendar. Golfers should be patient if topdressing or grooming are performed during or just prior to their round.

Golf courses with bermudagrass playing surfaces are experiencing a slow transition this spring due to below-average temperatures in May. This has resulted in more weeds and traffic stress because bermudagrass has not been rapidly growing. The situation will improve as temperatures begin to increase.

Perhaps the biggest topic of discussion among superintendents in the Northeast Region is the absence of annual bluegrass weevils. The hope is that annual bluegrass weevil populations are low due to early spring temperature fluctuations, but superintendents should continue to meticulously scout. Annual bluegrass weevil larvae have been observed and damage could quickly develop.