Beautiful August...

As a golf course superintendent I really did not think that those two words could be put together in a sentence let alone side by side...

But yet again, another beautiful morning here on the course. Overall, it has been a good summer for bentgrass growth. The poa annua has still shown its aversion to summertime. It was affected by a pesty little creature known as the annual bluegrass weevil. For the most part we have stayed in front of it with much scouting and some timely insecticide applications.

The ryegrass has stressed a bit while battling a disease called grey leaf spot but nothing like we have seen in the past.

With a few exceptions, the only areas throughout the course showing any signs of stress are the high traffic areas (whether from cart traffic on the fairways or foot traffic on the tees.)

Post aeration...

Here we are one week out from aerating greens, tees and approaches.

The greens are by no means at their pre aeration state but they are healing well and should be back to the smooth playing surface very soon.

The tees and approaches are almost healed. Sand top dressing was applied and broomed in this week. It should help to provide a firmer playing surface later this fall.

My favorite season...

It's one of my favorite times of the year again. It's football time in Tennessee!

You Vol fans out there will understand. Three more weeks 'til college football begins. Growing up in a college town, Saturdays in the fall became sacred at a very early age.

Aeration of the course begins next week. The sand top dressing is being delivered this week. The soil amendments are here and the staff is ready to get it done. Greens, tees and approaches will be the focus next week.

The fairways will get deep tine treatment later in the fall as temperatures continue to cool.

I realize core aeration is an inconvenience to the golfers but it is a crucial step in the overall health of the turf. Removing thatch and replacing it with sand will provide better playing conditions for the upcoming months.