Ahhhhhhh!

So my birthday wish has come true, a cool down. This afternoon the good old air conditioner to the east kicked up and dropped the temperature about 10 degrees, desperately needed. The long hot days were beginning to take it's toll on the turf but our crew as well. Lots of water management has been taking place over the last few weeks. Finally yesterday we received some rain for the first time in three weeks although it didn't amount to much, .2". The wind was back though knocking down more limbs and putting a halt to any work we were doing and turning our attention to cleanup. We are still trying to get caught up from the previous storms and getting broken limbs out of trees.

Back to moisture management though. Lately a great deal of hand water has been taken place throughout the golf course to add moisture to dry areas but mostly to cool the surface and help reduce soil temperatures during those prolonged hot stretches. The cool down here the next few days couldn't come at a better time. After the weekend with the big event our greens were beginning to show a great deal of stress and needed some recovery time. Basically like running a marathon but not getting a chance to rest and relax afterwards. Monday we gave them a little TLC by venting them with needle tines allowing fresh oxygen to get to the roots as well as allow gasses to escape. Wetting agents were also applied to localized dry areas to help retain moisture in these areas and prevent drying out so fast. Raised mowing heights for Tuesday were also put into place and will remain in place. Some people ask "why not cut them low and make them fast, we're killing them anyway?". Well that would make life easier for myself but I feel having a presentable golf course with playable greens until the end is the right way. The last few weeks they are open we will begin to bring down the heights and do some other tasks, but now isn't the time.
Well I just wanted to get out a quick message and will get another out soon, I have lots of pictures to share. Good and bad! Hope everyone is enjoying the golf course as it is getting "firm and fast" with this lack of moisture. Irrigation water is a good supplement but is absolutely no substitute for natural, clean rainfall.