Half-way There

Just a quick midsummer update on the condition of the course as we come to the end of some short-lived drought and heat .

High and dry the way we like it - up to a point. 

Management of golf course turf generally hinges on two things - the schedule for the season and weather.  Ultimately if weather conditions aren't conducive for intensive maintenance, then the informed decision is to manage conservatively and return to more aggressive management when the weather allows for it. We can 'peak' the course for events only so many times and for a limited amount of time as weather allows.  Prolonged heat and drought are not ideal and will always eclipse sustaining 'tournament conditions'.    

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

The 2nd green looking healthy and full in late July is no accident. Time has taught us conservative management through adverse conditions pays dividends over the course of the season.

Without diving too deeply into what goes into making agronomic decisions through challenging weather, it's enough to know these basics; When there's unusual risk from prolonged high heat and drought - greens especially will be put into a safer mode of management.  The things we do to attain and sustain ball roll distance is turned down a notch in order to lessen risk of injuring turf from mechanical and physiological damage.  This allows the plants to hunker down, grow, and cool themselves and as they become more freely growing they become a little more lush than we normally keep them which noticeably affects ball roll.  

As more moderate conditions return we can safely 'turn the screws down' and start back into our more intensive management practices.  It's a little give and take as conditions warrant as is the nature of the game.   A little caution with the greens through hard conditions is normal and expected and keeps them predictable and healthy as we approach late summer and early fall golf.