Back to Our Spring

Well our routine spring has returned.  What a roller coaster we've been on, Monday through Wednesday we were in the upper 90's and yesterday and today we're barely in the 60's.  Rain throughout the last few days were needed.  With the warm temps and high winds things were getting pretty dry, especially areas that aren't irrigated.  Some bluegrass were actually showing signs of entering dormancy to protect itself.  The moisture and cooler weather will revitalize it's growth. 
Unfortunately yesterday the Men's Team Play had to be cancelled due to no carts being allowed.  The golf course was in prime condition and ready to host the other clubs but, hopefully there will be a make up date.  Today we are busy getting caught back up after missing a day of work yesterday.  It was a slow start to the morning as we did have some more rain and lightning prohibiting us from being out on the course.  Weather subsided and allowed us to get outside and get things done.  Since greens hadn't been mowed since Wednesday we did double cut today.  With the greens being slightly wet we used our lighter mowers to prevent any scalping.  Bunkers are also being worked on today, not to many were holding water but still have our work cut out.  Rains weren't heavy enough to wash the bunkers out so that is saving us some time and allowing us to finish up some sod work as well as seed and soil all divots in the fairways. 
Hopefully the weekend brings some nice weather.  As for cart restrictions the decisions won't be made to the morning.  A great deal of drying out still needs to be done so Saturday is still looking very questionable.  Extended forecast are actually showing a "Spring" weather pattern.  Mid to upper 70's are expected for Monday and Tuesday with a bit warmer later in the week.  This is a blessing to help some of the stressed Poa after the 95+ degrees days this week.  Monday is lining up to be a huge day for us.  Cultural practices come to mind to prepare the turf for the heat and humidity of July.  Monday we will be carrying out verticutting on greens, tees, approaches, and fairways.  Following the verticutting we will be topdressing and mowing the surfaces to clean them up.  Turf tends to get a bit "puffy" around early July, this "puffiness" can cause scalping.  With verticutting we pull out some of the dead organic matter and thin the canopy helping air get into the upper surface of the turf helping reduce the "puffiness" and reduce the chance of scalping.  We will also be doing some aerification around the greens.  Extensions that were add to the greens in previous years need to be opened up and have sand added to dilute the high clay content subsurface and promote root growth.  We will also be aerifying around each green, half the aerifier will be on the collar and the other half on the green edge.  This process is in preparation for the upcoming greens project.  Over time with topdressing a "sand dam" can get created right on the edge of the green.  These "sand dam's" end up raising the edges of the greens helping hold water on the green rather than letting it run off.  With aerifying we will pull a core to open up space, following that we will then roll over these areas to get the holes to slightly collapse thus lowering that sand dam and helping water get off the greens.
I know this post contains a great deal of information, but it is all very important and informative.  I like keeping you updated with what is taking place and letting you know why it is taking place.  We keep trying our best to create the best golf course possible and make it better than any club here in the North Shore of Chicago.