Greenkeeper's Update

By Tim Kennelly, CGCS, Head Greenkeeper

Traditionally, July is the hottest month of the year and 2020 was no exception. In fact, records were broken with 6,934 rounds of golf combined with a weather record for the most 90+ degree days in any month in the Baltimore area, beating out July 2011 by a day with 25 days (records dating back to 1872). Unfortunately, weather in the form of excessive moisture, high heat, and damage from untimely thunderstorms has placed additional stress on the playing areas. The combination of high soil temperatures with saturated soils resulted in rapid loss of turf roots and damage to bentgrass on selected areas on both courses.

In August, moisture and temperatures were slightly above normal. Under the current at their absolute weakest point when activity at the Club remains especially high. With favorable weather, the 007 bentgrass will regenerate new roots, but as you can see by the photo they are currently rather shallow 1/8-1/4˝.

With days getting shorter, we hope for cooler nights and warm days to hasten recovery to allow the rooting structure to recover. Spots on certain fairways will weather conditions, there are little to no rooting structure and under bright sunny days, the plant goes under moisture stress and begins to wilt or turn blue or yellow. The only way to keep the plant from dying is to apply light amounts of water multiple times per day, either by staff with a hose or by turning on sprinklers. It’s very discouraging to have to apply water to an already saturated and wet soil, regardless of how light, but it’s necessary in order for the grass to survive. Unfortunately, the playing surfaces are be reseeded or sodded. Where necessary, carts have been restricted from the fairways to allow the seed to germinate and establish. With little to no rooting structure we need your help. When operating a golf cart, please use caution applying brakes and making sharp turns on the fairways. Damage will occur as shown by the photo above. Good news—each of the bermudagrass tees that were installed last year on the Driving Range and West Course are in tremendous condition. The tees on the course show little to no signs of divoting or traffic stress compared to the bentgrass tees on the courses. Bermudagrass is a warm season grass that performs best in the hottest and most humid environments, which correlates with our busiest time of year for play. Take a look, the results are undeniable! ◆