Irrigation or irritation...

Similar words, only different by a singular letter... Irrigation in these days and times is measured by ET rates and volumetric water content percentages. Knowing what is present in the soil is one thing but applying the water is a different story. Tonight, Jason and I are running around; popping on heads because the irrigation computer crashed at about 2:30 this afternoon.

Since some fertilizer was applied today, it needs to be watered in before our scheduled mowing tomorrow. 

It sure beats the old days of 'night irrigation' guys running around kicking on water cannons in the middle of the fairways! I must admit... I have grown accustomed to clicking the mouse on the irrigation computer at the end of the day and going home.

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.

Drip lines...

The drip line of a tree is defined as where water would roll off the outer edges of the limbs. In theory, the root mass of a tree is approximately the width or diameter of that drip line. Trees and turfgrass compete for nutrients and moisture from the soil and sunlight from the sky.

The only wilted spot on the 12th fairway is under the tree's drip line at about 200 yards out. This picture helps validate the fact that trees and turf are in competition with each other.

Blue green algae...

Blue green algae is a common problem on newer bentgrass greens.

It is a discoloration in the plant due to what is believed to be a release of a toxin by the algae that causes the chlorotic look of the plant. It is not deadly but is merely unsightly.

You will notice it in the shaded areas of the greens mainly in the morning hours. Chemical controls are being applied to suppress the algae and mask the effects. Again, let it be known that it does not kill the plant.

What a difference a month makes...

Remember this past winter and early spring??? Three words best describe it: Cold, wet, and cold, or wait maybe that's just two words... Anyway, replacing that this late spring and early summer are: dry, hot, and dry! June was a very dry month here at the course, recording a mere seven tenths of an inch of rainfall.

This requires irrigation to be run almost constantly. We water to capacity at night and then hit hot spots throughout the day.

Occasionally, this will require golfers to dodge a little shower even when the sun is shining especially on those windy days. Please bare with is during this minor inconvenience! All in all, the course is holding up well.

Also, be aware that carts may need to be restricted to path only a few days to give the turf a break.