Spring Like Day

Another Spring like day here at BCC, upper 40's for temps with a soft breeze.  Over the last week or so we've contemplated how our protection for disease on greens will hold up.  The mild temps have pushed growth over winter along with us mowing which removed some of the tissue that had chemical protection on it.  Today, we decide we'd be better safe than sorry and have gone out and started removing covers and reapplying fungicide to prolong our protection till mid March.  I've very happy with what we are seeing under the covers, there is no sign of any disease but good healthy and active turfgrass.  When the covers were put in place we had some density to pick up as well as some thinner areas to fill in and they have progressed.  Spraying of the back 9 greens will be wrapped up and we'll do the front 9 at the start of next week.  Temperatures look to be remaining slightly mild so we'll be beginning some outside tasks for cleanup.  I keep hoping that we have a good spring coming for us so we can get these things wrapped up fast and concentrate on giving you a top notch golf course when we are able to open things up.  Below are some pictures from the days activities:

15 Green after it had been sprayed with fungicide and turf colorant

Same green a little later after the sun had come out and dried things off a bit.

Turf density on 15 green.  This is where we'll be pushing things during spring, getting the canopy of turf more full.  This will be done through topdressing, verticutting, brushing, and lowering mowing heights

Core sample of 15 green.  I was curious with the mild weather and what temps were under the covers, how roots were developing.  Here you can see to the right where the soil broke off at the bottom cause no roots, the part that held together is 5.5" long.  Great to see.

This is from 11 green which is a sand based green vs. a push up green like 15.  Here roots are down 5 inches.

Last but not least Nathan and Refugio applying the fungicide to 14 green.