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| Summer Patch #13 fairway |
The temperatures in the 90's from July have moved away and we are currently having milder temperatures during the month of August. Although the course has weathered well during the extreme weather, some of the injury caused to turf by heat stress and turf diseases has started showing up. Damage showing up in fairways is primarily a result of "summer patch", which effects Annual Bluegrass during late July and August when day and nighttime temperatures are high. This disease will show up as yellowing turf and die back later as shown in the photo of 13 fairway. We do apply fungicides to control this disease but we do still experience some injury. We also have some turf damage in areas that was caused by excessive moisture coupled with heat stress. Over the next couple of weeks we will be aerifying and top dressing these spots to relieve compaction and promote recovery.
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| Rough Grass #17 |
The greens are also showing signs of summer stress, becoming very compacted from maintenance and play. The rains that we received over the last week, further increased the compaction. We will be venting the greens with small 1/4 inch tines to relieve compaction and allow oxygen and water back down into the soil. This will help the root zones of these greens which become very shallow during July and August.
August rains and cooler temperatures have also lead to very thick roughs which are growing rapidly. The maintenance crew has been working hard on mowing the roughs and trying to disperse the clippings.
