Update from the Course

Well the summer has hit with a vengeance.  An extended 15 days of 95 degrees and no rain, set back the already weak poa trivial is and stressed bentgrass.  We decided to restrict carts on several occasions and even then we missed a day last week that we should have been on path.  The pressure to allow carts access when we are aware of the stresses present is difficult to call.  We understand the desire to scatter, but late day temperatures and a full golf course restricts our ability to preserve conditions.  It does not take long from when the clouds part and the searing heat and sun appear during the late day to turn conditions from difficult to extreme.  The picture below is an example of what effect cart traffic has on hot turf during Wednesdays member guest.

This is not just dry fairways, it is a hot surface, coupled with traffic stress.  When canopy temperatures reach upper 90's and soil temps match, the plant is under a lot of stress.  Syringing can be performed, but that only is a temporary solution and not effective unless there is a breeze to allow the plant to breathe.  Otherwise the water collects heat and further raises the temperature around the canopy.

This video is an  Infared of syringing a hot surface.  What should be noticed is how the surface returns to elevated temperature after the water is applied.   If problems viewing it can be seen at

WGCC green syringe.

The scorched fairways will be punched with solid tines in the next few weeks as weather allows and fertilized to begin the recovery.  At the same time we will begin the overseeding of bent grass into the failing poa spots.  In addition will be installing large roll sod of the variety 007 onto the 3rd hole from about 150 yards to the approach.  We will be closing the 3rd hole to play on Monday August 1 until 3 pm to help speed up the removal process then opening again for the rest of the week.  The sod is planned to be installed on Wednesday August 3rd.

Chipping Green Approach:

The chipping green  approach is nearly dead after 3 applications of herbicides.  Amazingly there is still some live bermuda and we will be assessing its viability later this week to determine the next steps.  As you can see from the pictures below a few shoots are still visible, and the rhizomes below ground are mostly dead, but a few live ones persist.  This process is necessary to achieve the eradication of undesirable species.  If you remember when the fairways were "converted" in 2000, an application was made only to a few fairways before a heavy rain ended the process.  Afterwards only a single topical application was made, so the conversion was only temporary, before the residual problems and grasses reappeared.

Bermuda "runner" below grade

Live bermuda after 3 applications

Other Trials:

We are beginning to evaluate many other items for the renovation.  Bunder sands, liner materials and the greens mix used for the new greens.   The USGA recommends a type of mix (sand) for the green, but there is no "one" sand that is used.  Several suppliers have a multiple of mixes to choose from, as well as what amendments do you put into the mix.  Basically you are trying to find a recipe that works for you and your location.  How well does it drain, can you match topdressing down the road, is it firm, does it hold enough moisture?  In addition sand is very sterile and can rapidly leach nutrients that we need.  So we are experimenting with a multiple of mixes here, growing grass in test tubes so to speak.  We will then send these off to laboratories to have them analyzed for their physical and chemical properties.

When we find the best two or three combinations we will then section off the new nursery left of 10 and plant each of the mixes and install new sod to see how they perform in a real maintenance  situation.  As you can see we have a lot of work going on to ensure we make the best decisions on every aspect of the new design.