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August is a busy month for us at the grounds department, and for me personally as a father and husband.  We've had a great year for golf with the dryness and resulting ability to take the greens anywhere we'd like (in terms of speed and ball roll). That's a good place to be for us and we're proud of the work we've done.

As we get ready to aerify greens and overseed fairways this September, the blog will return to it's normal schedule.  Thanks for your patience and support.  It's always appreciated.

You might've heard that Gracie, my 8 year old Labradoodle, has been convalescing at home for the last couple of weeks.  It seems she injured herself, somehow, running after a rabbit or squirrel and suffered some soft-tissue damage in her hindquarter.  She's been examined and was put on rest and anti-inflammatory meds and is on the mend.  She'll be back in a week or so.  She's going stir-crazy staying at home.

Comparing Apples to Apples

Greenkeeping, like most professions, tries to measure everything. We do this to make adjustments, when needed, and to take advantage of opportunities when we can afford it.
In looking back to 2010 to understand that season, and to better see patterns that would explain the challenging conditions courses encountered, I found some data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association that told me what I already knew.  


2010                                                            2011
Avg temp: 49.7                                           42.9 (so far)
Avg rain: 41.47"                                         21.29" (so far)         

Course conditions are directly related to moisture levels; heat, not so much. 

The more frequent and heavier rain the course encounters, the worse overall playing condition will be experienced.  (Hence drying practices are encouraged like aerifying, drainage, topdressing, etc.)
More data will come out in years to come, not only contrasting these two years, but data that will allow us a better understanding of our warming and wetter planet and what we can expect as it relates to golf.
What I know for certain is we've seen no significant rain this season during the hottest parts of the year. 
The difference that makes in turf quality and playing conditions is like comparing night to day.   

12 Fairway

Historically, fairways 10, 11, and 12 have suffered from slow draining soil due to being such a flat part of the property.  Drain tile does exist in these fairways but many areas need better lateral drain lines installed.  The bare areas you see in these fairways are from water that 'steeps' the grass like you would with  tea.  In the worst case scenario, like on 12,  we're seeing a massive build-up of thatch due to the constantly wet conditions.  Thatch adds to the problem by acting like a sponge laying over the top of the soil.  It absorbs, and stops water from getting to the roots which forces heavier watering and a continuation of the cycle.
A major drainage project is being planned for these holes to alleviate the problem.

The above machine is called a slit seeder.  It cuts a groove into the turf and lays seed in behind.  Similar to a corn planter, it allows us to get seed down into the soil where it's protected and can germinate without drying out.  We have slit seeded the worst areas on 12 fairway using this process.  Grass has already germinated in these areas and is starting to fill in.  The fix is temporary until we address the bigger issues of installing sufficient drainage across all three fairways and discuss the future of the pond and it's effect on the drainage of that area.