Greens and tees held up great through another tough weekend of extreme weather. High temperatures and low humidity made it difficult on the plants. We continue to syringe constantly in attempt to cool the plants down. The fairways have not gained much recovery from the heat stress that they have suffered due to uncooperative weather conditions.
Our fairways consist of two types of grass: poa annua and bentgrass. During my tenure, the management approach I have taken with the fairways has been one that favors bentgrass populations over poa annua. Poa is a much weaker grass species that requires more food and water and is susceptible to many more problems. For those reasons, my maintenance programs have been designed to give the bentgrass a competitive advantage over the weaker poa. In a normal weather year, the transition to bentgrass fairways is hardly noticeable, maybe some slight yellowing and thinning. However, in a hot year like we are experiencing, that transition is extremely visible. Although the fairways are aesthetically not where I would like them to be, eradication of the poa is actually a good thing. Fairways that are primarily bentgrass will provide firmer playing surfaces that require less water, fertility and fungicides.
In the photo below of #6 fairway, the only poa remaining on the fairway is along the edge. The weak poa cannot tolerate the heat that Mother Nature has thrown at us. Notice the health of the bentgrass on the rest of the fairway, this is the goal.
Our fairways consist of two types of grass: poa annua and bentgrass. During my tenure, the management approach I have taken with the fairways has been one that favors bentgrass populations over poa annua. Poa is a much weaker grass species that requires more food and water and is susceptible to many more problems. For those reasons, my maintenance programs have been designed to give the bentgrass a competitive advantage over the weaker poa. In a normal weather year, the transition to bentgrass fairways is hardly noticeable, maybe some slight yellowing and thinning. However, in a hot year like we are experiencing, that transition is extremely visible. Although the fairways are aesthetically not where I would like them to be, eradication of the poa is actually a good thing. Fairways that are primarily bentgrass will provide firmer playing surfaces that require less water, fertility and fungicides.
In the photo below of #6 fairway, the only poa remaining on the fairway is along the edge. The weak poa cannot tolerate the heat that Mother Nature has thrown at us. Notice the health of the bentgrass on the rest of the fairway, this is the goal.
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| #6 fairway has almost completely converted to bentgrass |
As weather conditions become more favorable, we will be aggressively overseeding additional bentgrass into thin areas. Verticutting, slicing and aerification will be the tools of choice to incorporate the seed. We have made great strides in the last few years as bentgrass populations have dramatically increased. We will continue to work diligently to try and provide the best playing conditions possible.