Golf Course Update

The record summer has continued and July has proved to have been a ‘bear’ on many area golf courses. Our staff has been working diligently to try and keep the course in good health despite Mother Nature's effects. Record high temperatures sustained over the last few months including lengthy droughts followed by 10 inches of rain in 7 days have taken their toll on the golf course. Unfortunately low lying areas and high traffic areas such as tees and fairway edges have been the worst hit. Many of these areas are thinning and turning brown due to asphyxiation of the roots due to being extremely saturated or due to the roots literally cooking on hot days. Plants with poor roots cannot take the stress. Unfortunately this is the case at many local golf courses. Superintendent's across the area are hanging on and painfully watching grass crumble despite their hard work and efforts.

Fortunately our greens and the majority of our tees and fairway grass remain in very good health. Our staff is diligently working to do all the right things to try and keep grass alive at this point. We are making the necessary fungicidal applications that we have in stock, not over watering, fertilizing weak areas, aerifying all tees, approaches, fairways and greens with solid tines to allow the soils to breath and get oxygen in, as well as to allow wet areas to dry down and dry areas to be re-wet.

August will be spent babying the turf to try and increase the survival rate of these areas into the fall. Please continue to follow all cart rules and stay out of weak areas in the rough and fairways. Look for the best areas of turf and drive there as opposed to any thin or brown areas. We appreciate your efforts to help us alleviate any further damage to the course.

Thanks and enjoy the remainder of the summer.