Relief!

Some much needed relief has come for the turf here at BCC.  The last few weeks have been bordering a nightmare, but the few cooler days sprinkled in have helped from going over the edge.  Records continue to be broken with heat as well as lack of rainfall, but we continue to do all that we can to keep the turf health and in good playing condition.  A few blemishes here and there have developed but that is to be expected when we go through what we have.  For the majority the golf course continues to remain in great shape and the greens/approaches continue to out perform even my expectations.  We couldn't have picked a better time to embark on the regrassing project. 

As mentioned the weather has begun to show some ill affect on certain aspects of the golf course.  These aspects include:

• Slight decline in collar turf quality
• Fairway edges beginning to dry out
• LDS on tees
• Tree decline

Collars around greens are the hardest area to get established when either done with seed or with sod.  These are the narrow area of longer turf around the green, between the rough and the greens height turf.  These areas receive more traffic than probably any other area on the golf course, as the mowers are constantly traveling over as well as turning on.  We do have control though.  Roughly a week back I really began seeing some slight turf discoloration and decline in the turf density, we were proactive.  I reached out to others that have done similar projects to see if they had seen similar issues and what they did to remedy.  One constant was they all seen this issue and with a year like this it would be even more evident.  Some suggestions that were given were to lower the height of cut as well as do some frequent light fertilizer applications on them.  We took these suggestions and put them into place as well as our own, like having our guys using plastic lattice over the collars so the greens mowers were never coming into direct contact with the turf.  Operators turn their machines now on the plastic reducing the tear or pressure on the turf.  We're seeing success! 

Illustrating the use of the plastic lattice over the collar.  This has helped reduce direct mower to turf contact in these areas.

Photo taken July 16 of decline on the 6 green collar

Photo taken on the 20th of the same collar, looks to be heading in a positive direction.

Fairway edges have slowly begun to show some stress as well.  Most of this is due to poor irrigation coverage but also trees being too close to the fairways.  Our fairway irrigation system was designed to be a "double" row system.  This means that there are two rows of sprinklers down the fairway, other designs are a single or triple row.  The issue that we are having and is more evident in times like we are going through is that the fairway is too wide for the sprinkler coverage.  A lot of our sprinklers are set in on the fairway a good 10 feet and possible more in spots.  Irrigation systems are set up to throw from sprinkler to sprinkler so the middle of the fairway is getting the adequate amount of water while the outer edge is getting half.  This is where we are seeing the issues arise.  In conjunction with the half rate of water we have trees that are robbing any available moisture that is applied.  Trees will always win this battle.

Illustrating the gap between the rough and the sprinkler head.  These heads should be right on the edge of the fairway.  The area that is drying out is between the bunker and the sprinklers

Again a large gap between the sprinkler and the rough.  That area between the rough and sprinkler are only receiving half the water that the area to the right of the sprinkler is getting.

Illustrates a situation where the trees are competing with the fairway for the moisture.  Roots have encroached the fairway and now that plants are in desperate need of moisture the trees are taking the moisture from the turf. 

Localized dry spots are beginning to beginning to be very evident.  During these dry times soils can become hydrophobic, meaning they won't take in any water.  We've continue to run irrigation cycles as well as us products to get the water to penetrate the soil but not having much luck.  Last week we decided we'd use the aerifiers and poke holes to create avenues for the water to penetrate better through he canopy, and again we're seeing success.  Not all areas are showing great recovery but it's coming.  I couldn't be happier with the timing of aerification as it was just prior to this last rainfall.  I would anticipate seeing some good recovery here over the weekend.

Antonio needle tining the tees.  Small holes being created to get water to penetrate deeper to the roots.

Soil core showing LDS, localized dry spot.  We've continued to water but yet this specific small area remains dry on 8 tee.  Using special products in conjunction with aerification and this recent rain we should be seeing recovery. 

Lastly we are beginning to see some significant decline in trees.  This is very understandable, especially after learning that the soil moisture has significantly depleted down to 5ft.  Willows are the trees that are showing the most decline.  Willows are very shallow rooted and require a great deal of water, which we don't have right now.  As to long term effect it is hard to tell.  I think we may need to prepare ourselves that some of the Willows are not going to make it through the drought.

It's been a very challenging year, but we continue to push along.  I'm very happy with the way things are holding up and especially the way the greens have responded to the heat.  I know if we had the old Poa/Bent greens we'd all be very unhappy right now.  Some more drastic heat is in the immediate forecast but we are nearing that August 15th when the days become shorter and the turf can get more recovery breathes in.  Hang in there turf a bit longer!