September 2013

We have really enjoyed this season from an agronomic and playability perspective. When our fertility and cultural programs are enhanced by excellent cooperation from Mother Nature, a season like this one is the result. Thicker, tighter and firmer turf and consistent green speeds have been more of the norm this year rather than a lucky exception between wet periods.

This fall we intend to work on the following in order to continue with constant and steady improvement of course conditioning:

1. Poa annua program. We have been running several chemical test areas this year to determine how much Poa annua we can eradicate from our Kentucky Bluegrass fairways and tees with currently-available chemicals. We have found that we have the ability to remove approximately 70% of our Poa annua population through these means. That would translate to a spray program that is worth the cost and effort. We also continue to pick tiny pieces from the greens and collars. New these last couple of weeks, we have been using the bentgrass nursery that is in the path of the new tennis courts to sod out rings of bentgrass collar that are heavily infested with Poa annua. You will notice this on holes 4, 6, 8 and 12 to date. More to come until we deplete the nursery.

2. Tees. We will be expanding the V Tee on #7 and the I Tee on #8.

3. Bunkers. Plans include working on the bunker faces of two bunkers on #3, two bunkers on #11, and possibly others as time and weather allow.

4. Worms, rough and washboarding. There is a correlation between these three things. It is apparent that the worm castings in the rough are causing extreme bumpiness that cause our mowers to bounce and create the washboard pattern evident on many holes. We will be concentrating more effort on aerifying and verticutting these areas while also removing some of the worm density. In time we will create thicker and smoother rough.

5. Aerification. As usual, the aerification of greens will take place on the days following season closure.