We have been trying to keep the course dry and firm, especially heading into the Invitational. The lack of rainfall and the continued warm days and nights are causing some areas to show signs of drought stress. Irrigation is effective for keeping the turf moist, but natural precipitation is required to wet the soil.
Maintaining firm fast conditions requires the upper soil profile to be as dry as possible, while maintaining enough moisture deep in the root zone to sustain the plants during periods of hot, dry weather. If there is no rainfall the entire root zone dries out, and the irrigation system is used to provide enough water for the turf until the next rain event.n if this goes on too long the playing surfaces become soft and wet. Unfortunately the rain events have been few and far between. It is now difficult to keep the dry areas moist without saturating the areas nearby. The result is that the turf in the dry areas begin to go dormant and look brown. The turf is still live, it is just waiting for mother nature to provide a good dose of water.
Generally the tipping point is August 15th. At that point the nights are long enough for the turf to recover from the hot, dry days. Soon we will begin to aerate and fertilize, which will build the root system that will sustain the turf through next summer.
We are approaching the best part of the golf season, Labor Day through Columbus Day, when we can turn off the water without the threat of extreme temperatures and disease.
Every morning I look at the calendar and count the days until the 8/15, and pray that we get a few clouds, and an overnight shower to carry us through the next 10 days. At that point we will be cruising into the Club Championship and I will begin sleeping just a bit better. And with any luck, I will get around to dusting of the clubs and remind myself why I got into this crazy business.
Pete Gorman
Golf Course Superintendent
Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club
Branford, CT
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