Mid-July Course Update

The course has been receiving a good amount of rain so far in July with over 3 inches to date but the typical hazy, hot, and humid for July have also been in full effect. Excessive moisture during periods of hot and humid weather is not good for turf especially the roots and pocketed areas around greens are prime for these conditions. We have been running the clubs new portable 50" fan behind the 6th green to help the rear portion of the green that normally thins out during summer. Untreated rough areas also have disease present in the form of Dollar Spot due to the wet and humid weather. All the short turf is protected from this disease. Here is the update from the USGA concerning our area: Oh Boy, Here comes the Heat

 I am asked many questions and receive complaints about aeration in the spring and fall along with comments when we dry-ject the greens in August but the photo below shows how we are making improvements in the soil profile. 7 plus inch long roots coming from a deep tine aeration hole on the 5th green in mid-July.

 Aeration is a cumulative process, thankfully we have been on an aggressive program for 4 years because this week we had a fast moving intense thunderstorm that not only knocked down 2 trees on the 8th hole and 1 tree in the parking lot but it brought over a half inch of rain. Following the storm I was back on the course and there was no standing water on the greens. This is very important because the sun returned following the storm and it was a steamy 88 degrees until dusk.

 The past 10 days was not only difficult weather wise but we were in full construction mode on the 9th hole finishing the final phase, the replacement bunker complex for the Silver Maple. Once the new bunker feature is open for play, the fairway will be 55 feet wide on the left now (same width as the 3rd fairway) and the bunker will play 45 yards to the center of the green. PLEASE DO NOT WALK IN THE ROPED AREA NOT EVEN FOR YOUR BALL July is a difficult month to maintain established turf and extremely difficult to maintain an area of sod. Any damage to the sod while its tender will kill the turf and prolong the time its closed for play. As a member please remind those in your group not to enter the roped area.