GREENKEEPER’S UPDATE

Last month, conditions were dry due to the current weather pattern of low humidity, cool temperatures, and high winds—which makes for good playing conditions. Over the last few months, we have experienced both quick downpours of rain and slow soakers, producing over an inch of precipitation. This has been a great test of the additional phase of the Long-term Drainage Master Plan we completed last fall and winter on the East Course. The entire hole of #1 and the lowest portion of the #2 fairway were completed. The installation included 855 tons of drainage sand, 226 tons of growing mix (top 6" of the trench), 1.79 miles of pipe, and 32 surface drainage basins installed. When conditions are dry, the drain lines are easily seen and must be managed differently until the sod above the drain lines becomes fully rooted and established. The drainage areas have been aerated and rolled to ensure they are smooth and blend into the existing contours. In addition, soil tests were taken from the trench lines, and additional fertilizer and soil amendments were applied with a drop spreader. During periods of dry conditions, because the drainage areas are growing on a sand/soil medium, they do require additional water in the form of hand watering, especially during the dry periods we have been experiencing. But, again, over time, with the proper nutrition and care, these areas will blend in seamlessly with the surrounding area.

The floor of the Range or Range fairway is slow to green up for one reason—the consistent traffic from the ball picker this winter. With no snow, we had steady play for most of the winter. In fact, February 2023 was our second busiest February since we have been recordkeeping. That translates into people hitting more balls and practicing. Unfortunately, all those hundreds (possibly thousands) of balls need to be picked, and the most effective and efficient way is with the mechanical picker. We estimate ball picker traffic on the Range floor is the equivalent of 100+ golf carts per day averaged year-round when balls need to be picked. You will note from the photo above that the grass is much greener around the target pole on the Driving Range floor. The only traffic in the areas immediately around the target poles is mowing when they are removed. In addition, there is no drainage on the Range field and the soil is very compacted.

What do we do? Unfortunately, temperatures and weather play a key role. The slow green-up of bermudagrass is normal through May, and sun hours (i.e., day length) will not peak until midJune. After we broke dormancy in April, we experienced very cool days and nights mixed in, to the delight of the cool-season grasses. It’s important to note that the green-up of bermudagrass is due not only to daytime high temperatures but also daytime low temperatures, as we have experienced frost on two occasions in April.

Temperatures have been inconsistent this year, with February much warmer and March cooler than usual. Finally, temperatures heated up in April, and we experienced three days of temperatures in the 80s, with April 13 tying a record for the hottest in history with 89 degrees. This warmth and moisture from the rain helped the bermudagrass break dormancy, turn green, and grow on the West Course tees, Driving Range tees, and fairway. Compared to cool-season grasses that thrive in 60 to 75-degree temperatures, warm-season grasses thrive when temperatures are in the 80 to 95-degree range. We are pleased with how the West and Range tees have responded to the early season green-up, but we wanted to explain the slow green-up on the Driving Range.

Much of the straw-colored bermudagrass on the Range floor will green up over the next month with additional fertility, longer daylight hours, and patience. Some of it will be very slow to fill in, especially the areas with no drainage and high sheet flow of water. Unfortunately, we are seeing the effects of traffic delaying the spring green-up of bermudagrass on the Range, and it’s not an indication of how the rest of the bermudagrass is performing on the property, especially the tees on the Driving Range and West Course.

Tim Kennelly, CGCS Head Greenkeeper