Course conditions

Wow! Two updates in one day. Must be important!
I have been working very hard to maintain firm, fast playing conditions on the golf course. Last week was a challenge with the mid-week heat wave, but thankfully the weather broke in time for the weekend. With the help of our moisture meter and roller we were able to get the most out of the greens for the 3 day Member/Member. This week we refocused on the health of the turf and began preparing for the Invitational in August.
As ridiculous as that sounds it is true. I recorded the steps we took this week to get through the heat and transition into tournament mode, and will review them the week before the tournament. We made a fertilizer application to fairways that will start releasing next week, and will meter out Nitrogen over the next few months so that the turf will be healthy, but not too lush. Now that the rough is slowing down, I will make a similar application to the green surrounds so that there is a reasonable penalty for an errant shot to the green, but not so severe that it affects the pace of play or your ability to enjoy a casual round.
I played a quick late round today and learned a lot about how the course is playing. First, I was surprised to discover how well the fairways were playing. The firm conditions allow the ball to bound and roll down the fairway, and sometimes into the rough which still offers a penalty. Second, as I feared the heat and humidity have the caused the greens to be a little lush. They still roll true, but I would like to see them a little leaner and roll out a bit more. I will watch the weather and fine tune my chemical and fertility programs, and try to get in a light topdressing. I am being a little cautious since we have a lot of golf to play, but I am committed to getting the most out our greens without sacrificing the long term quality and consistency.
Looking even beyond the Invitational, I have started looking at ways to further improve the condition of the greens through a variety of cultural programs for the early and late fall.
I am very excited about what we have done so far this year, and feel that I am hitting my stride as far as managing the conditions on the golf course.
Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated, especially if it goes through one of my committee members. Thanks again for your support.
Thanks again.
Pete Gorman
Golf Course Superintendent
Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club
Branford, CT