I have been meaning to sit down and share some thoughts and observations about spring on the golf course, but I think I missed my opportunity. The cool weather in April got the golf course off to a slow start, and the persistent rains in May made it difficult to keep up once the grass started growing. Before I could stop and enjoy the tulips and azaleas, spring had sprung and summer came almost overnight. I guess that happens every year and I am too busy to realize it. May is one of the busiest times for the golf course maintenance staff. There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that prepare the course for the summer months, and they all must be completed within a narrow time frame to be effective.
On top of all the things that we have been doing behind the scenes, many of you have noticed (and commented on) how fast the rough has been growing. We have been doing our best to keep up with the mowing and blowing the clippings but it has been a struggle to say the least. We have been mowing the rough twice each week and will continue our efforts to keep up so that the penalty for an errant shot is not too severe, and more importantly to maintain an acceptable pace of play.
We have been discussing the condition and impact of the natural fescue areas that lend so much character to the golf course. I am consulting with other golf course superintendents that have been managing similar areas and will develop a comprehensive management plan to preserve the appearance of the areas, but make it so that players can find and play their balls. One of the keys seems to be cutting them down once or twice in the spring until the heat of summer can dry and thin out the grass close to the ground. We have mowed a few of the areas that come into play most often and will continue to work on it in the coming weeks. I will be developing a chemical program as well that will control broadleaf and grassy weeds that can take over these areas as part of natural succession. We will make applications using product from our existing inventory, and build a comprehensive program into the 2012 budget to make sure these areas are maintained such that they do not detract from the beauty of the course, or the members’ ability to enjoy it.
The greens are finally starting to perform as I would expect. The cool spring prevented them from growing which affected ball roll and smoothness. Then the rains released any nutrients that had been applied last fall and this spring causing the turf to become very lush and sluggish. Now that the sun is stronger and the days are longer, the surfaces have dried out and the greens are rolling nicely. The aeration, verticutting, and topdressing have produced smooth putting surfaces, which is our top priority. We will continue our efforts to maintain smooth, firm playing surfaces throughout the year. In order to maintain turf that is healthy enough to withstand our grooming programs we will be “venting” the greens from time to time. This is a less invasive version of solid tine aeration. We use small tines to create holes in the greens to maintain adequate gas exchange and water infiltration in the soil. We may use the same tines as last month one more time, and then we will move to a needle tine that will make holes so small you won’t be able to see them when we are done. This practice will be scheduled as needed based on the health of the turf, weather conditions, and the golf calendar. I will post any such practices on the blog and inform the golf shop, but I do not expect that there will be much inconvenience to the membership.
As we head into the heat of the summer, maintaining firm, fast putting surfaces requires very diligent water management. A key component of this process is syringing the greens in the afternoon to prevent severe wilt, which requires us to apply a light mist of water over the green surface with a hose. In order to do this effectively and efficiently we must be given the time to get on the greens between groups. I will instruct my staff to quietly plug the hose into the system while the group is putting and wait until they are done before turning the hose on. While the group replaces the flagstick and walks off the green, we will syringe the turf by creating a cloud of water that will cool the surface without wetting the soil or affecting the playing surface. The process takes about one minute to complete on a large green. If you see us walk onto the green with our hoses, please wait until we are done and have left the green before hitting your approach shot. If we are not afforded this time we will be forced to use the overhead sprinklers which apply too much water and may affect the speed of the greens. Click here to view a video clip from USGA.com that explains this in more detail..
As I learn more about the limitations and resiliency of these greens I will be able to be more aggressive with our maintenance strategy. Right now I am pleased with seven of our eleven greens. There are three that are not performing as I would like and therefore are the limiting factors with respect to pushing for the firm, fast greens many of you have come to love and expect. I will be watching these greens very closely and will develop specific strategies to allow us to push them a little harder. I would hate to exceed their limits in preparation for the member-member in June and lose them for the member-guest in July.
Thank you for your patience as I continue to become acquainted with the course, the membership, and my staff. I am confident that we are going to have a great season and I look forward to seeing you on the golf course.
