Summer is Here!

It was only a matter of time before reality set back in.  Today we begin a stretch of summer like weather, what we’ve had has been a little of the opposite.  Never fails that weather of such nature arrives during a busy time of the year but we are getting prepared.  The weather predicted for the next 5 days is very conducive to some very harmful turf disease which if not prepared turf loss can be great.   

Preparation for the weather forecasted is season long.  Our primary defense is building a healthy turf plant, one that can fight off or recover more rapidly when stressed.  I know it is frustrating for you when you hear practices like aerification, verticutting, topdressing, or even that carts aren’t allowed.  All these practices go hand in hand with creating a healthy turf plant.  It’s very similar to ourselves in that the healthier we are the better our body is at fighting things off or handling more strenuous activities.  We are utilizing the course closing to better prepare the course and protect by applying a fungicide application on greens, approaches, tees, and fairways.  This application will help the turf through the next few weeks with any infectious diseases. 

As I’ve got your attention, I’d like to address the putting green and its preparations.  I’ve had lots of people make comments about the putting green not being the same speed as the course greens.  We knew this was going to be the case, and will be the case for some time.  The putting green project unfortunately didn’t come together as I had hoped.  A late start due to all the spring rain had us playing catch up all along.  We are making progress but it is slow, mostly in part due to sod received was cut at a height of cut similar to fairways.  It takes time and work to get a height of cut down to .095” from .5”.  Rushing things will only result in scalped turf and high chances of resodding areas, I’m sure we don’t want that.  I ask that everyone be patient, understand where we are and that again we are doing what we can for it along with protecting it.  Will it get to the height of the golf course greens this year?  Time and weather will tell, but right now our main goal is to keep the sod and turf healthy.