More Rain

The storm clouds are building as I write this and we are trying to get greens mowed and rolled before the storm hits us but the forecast is calling for another 1-3 inches of rain in the next 24 hours. The 4th green was scalped due to our need to mow the turf in wet conditions so that green was vented using solid tines yesterday to help aid in the dry down process. All the greens have been topdressed weekly with sand for the past 5 weeks but the 4th green has areas that remain wet which can lead to scalping. The greens mowers have also been outfitted with solid front rollers since the start of the season to help protect against scalping but sometimes conditions are favorable to this type of damage. Many of you are thinking well just don't cut the turf but at the heights that we maintain the greens skipping more than one day of mowing could lead to even more scalping. The 4th green will heal and the continued topdressing and aeration programs that we are using will fix this issue long term. Two years ago we dealt with scalping on multiple greens during saturated conditions but due to our aggressive cultural programs we are down to only the 4th green giving us problems. All of the fairways expansions were also aerated and topdressed with sand ahead of the storm allowing for the heavy rain to move the sand into the canopy of the turf. The aeration and sand topressing will aid in the protection of the new fairway areas as well as their firmness.

The chances of us mowing on Friday morning are slim if the forecast is correct so we will be mowing later in the day to get caught up for the weekend. I understand that it is an inconvenience for us to be mowing greens during play but mother nature is throwing us a curve ball and we need to make adjustments. Thankfully we drain well but I am anticipating no carts for at least tomorrow morning if not the entire day so please call the pro shop before arriving at the course.

I was fortunate on Tuesday to visit Merion site of this years US Open and it was really a special day. I have never been to a course that has such gnarly and natural bunkers to the tune of a 130 bunkers on a golf course that's only 120 acres. It was difficult for me to see all the mud in the spectator areas from over 6 inches of rain they received at Merion but 25,000 spectators a day will do that to turf. I know many members are not happy when our rough gets lush and thick but MGC fails in comparison to the rough the pros will be playing out of at Merion, 6 inches in spots. I hope Merion can still show its teeth even with all the rain.

Miscanthus in the Bunker on 18 at Merion

Huge Shrubs growing into the Bunkers on 14 at Merion