I wanted to provide a brief update on course happenings this week:
More rain earlier in the week delayed the cart path asphalt installation. Hopefully they can get out at the end of this week to get the project wrapped up.
Due to the excessive amount of rain this spring, the greens with poor drainage are showing some signs of thin turf. We have aerified with needle tines, topdressed, and overseeded greens #5 and #14 . We have raised the heights slightly on these greens to give the seed a better chance of success; both of these greens will be slower than the others.
This time of year Poa annua, which is the primary type of grass on our greens, produces seeds. The seedheads can disrupt putting which can cause greens to be bumpy and slower. Poa annua seedhead control has been excellent this year. A big part of this success can be attributed to changes we made in the timing of our growth regulator applications this year. The seedheads have remained extremely low in the canopy and have had little affect on green speeds.
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| Poa annua seedheads just right of the ball are barely detectable |
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| Poa annua seedheads remaining very low in the canopy |
I have been extremely pleased with green speeds this spring. Despite the excessive rain, the greens have remained firm and speeds have been extremely consistent. Changes in our aerification program last year helped place sand in the top inch of the soil profile. That, in combination with changes in our growth regulator and food regiment, has helped us maintain really good greens this spring.