Course Conditions Update

After almost four inches of rain fell yesterday I am pleased to report that the course is not only open with carts, it is surprisingly dry.  The forecast was for 1”-2” which we desperately needed, and the crew was out preparing the course so that we would capture as much of the water as possible to recharge the soil rather than watching it run off into the ocean.

On Monday we needle tined the greens to create pore spaces and reconnect the old aeration holes to the surface.  This was followed up by an application of a wetting agent that not only helps water penetrate the surface; it also helps the turf dry out once the rain stops.  The two steps combined beautifully to recharge the soil moisture and reinvigorate the turf by purging the root zone of stale gases, replacing them with a fresh supply of oxygen. 

We also spiked some of the rough areas that were suffering from drought stress and cart traffic, and the heavy rains seem to have alleviated some of this stress for the time being.  We will continue to aerate the rough and will begin to add seed in the coming weeks to promote recovery and develop a more resilient stand of turf for the future.  There are still a few areas that have remained dormant, but with continued cool weather, a few more rain showers, and perhaps a dose of fertilizer we should see a bit more green return to the course as we head into the best part of the golf season.

Thankfully the course was prepared to handle the extreme rainfall, and we should return to the firm fast playing conditions we had enjoyed over the majority of the golf season.  I have received a number of compliments that the rough is just penal enough, yet manageable, and people seem to enjoy the extra few yards on their drives that find the fairways.  The greens are a different story.  The rough is lush and “aggressive”, which makes chipping to the firm, fast greens a significant challenge.  This provides a distinct advantage to those who find the putting surface with their approach shot, and punishes those who short side themselves. 

We are looking forward to preparing the course for the club championships at the end of the month and I expect to have the course as good if not better than we had it for the Invitational at the beginning of the month.  On Monday September 8^th we will be aerating the greens followed by tees, approaches, and fairways.  We will keep you posted regarding days the course will be closed as well as course conditions so that you can schedule matches and bring guests on days when the course will be in the best condition.