Maintenance Updates (12/30/22)

Hard to believe that this is the last update of 2022. As we look forward to a great season in 2023, I would like to wish everyone a Very Happy New Year! 🎉

Golf Course 

The cold weather has subsided, the sun has been shining for a couple days now and overall, the golf course is in good shape.

I have been asked recently “Lane, what’s wrong with the greens?” My answer is often met with a puzzled look when I say “the weather”. The foggy warm and wet weather we have had over the last month, month and a half has been perfect for disease. The particular disease that has been an issue on our greens is called leaf spot (https://www.usga.org/course-care/2012/11/leaf-spot-disease-on-greens-21474852247.html).

Textbook pictures of Leaf Spot (taken from web)

Picture from #13 green where you can seen regrowth in the center of the area that had been infected by the leaf spot.

Knowing that leaf spot and other diseases can be an issue in the fall, we started spraying preventative fungicides on 9/26/22 and have been spraying curatively with increased frequency, and rotating chemistries (chemicals) as recently as today.

Bermudagrass needs a minimum of 8 hours of full sunlight per day to produce enough food to stay alive. During the fall our days are shorter and as cold fronts start to make their way into our are, many of them stall over our area. Shorter days and cloud coverage reduce the hours of sunlight below the needed 8 hours per day. Add in high humidity, still air (no wind) where dense fog develops for 2 or 3 hours per morning and it makes for conditions that are favorable for disease development.

Disease thrives in these conditions and at times, especially in areas where greens are shaded (like #8) or air circulation is limited (like 13 green) disease can be hard to control regardless of what we try to do to keep it from happening.

Here are pictures of the shade on #8 green. You can see that the Leaf Spot was worse in the shaded area and caused enough reduction in growth that the turf has thinned out.

You can see that the left side (from fairway) stays in the shade most of the day. The shade keeps the turf canopy on that portion of the green wet longer into the day (good disease conditions) and prevents the turf from producing food for much of the day. There is some Leaf Spot on the entirety of 8 green due to poor weather conditions, but the portion of the green that receives adequate sun exposure has not thinned out like the area under shade has.

Early morning

Mid Day

Mid Afternoon

We have seen Leaf Spot on all greens but the greens like 10 & 11 in the pictures below show that areas in the sun with adequate wind flow have recovered very quickly now that the sun is shining.

So, we know what is causing the Leaf Spot to flair up, what are we doing to recover?

First and foremost, we will manage water to keep the greens as dry as possible without stressing the turf. Curative fungicide applications will continue until we see consistent cool and sunny weather. Deep pencil tine aerificaiton was performed this past Tuesday to allow water and air to penetrate deep into the soil profile. Wetting agent (penetrant) applications to promote water percolation thru the soil profile. Spiking to break up surface algae (if present) and stimulate new growth. Light frequent topdressing to prevent algae and smooth the green surface. Light fertilizer applications to promote growth. Temporarily increase height of cut (HOC) to reduce mechanical stress.

I can see that we have the leaf spot under control and don’t expect additional turf thinning at this time. Due to the time of year, some areas like the left side of #8 will be thin for a while but with a little luck the weather will continue to improve and turf regrowth will follow.

Weather will always be the determining factor in turf growth. From dry conditions in the spring, a wetter than normal summer, high winds that left salt burn on the turf during Hurricane Ian, warm humid overcast weather in November and most recently abnormally cold temperatures for Christmas, 2022 has had it’s share of weather challenges.

There are no guarantees that 2023 will be any easier but whatever it brings we will do our very best to roll with the punches and provide the best course conditions possible.

More Common Ground & Facilities updates next week

I look forward to seeing everyone on the course or in the facilities, and as always, if you have any questions, flag me down or shoot me an email. I always enjoy talking turf and facilities too!

Maintenance Updates (12/23/22)

I would like to wish all of our Members and Staff a Very Merry Christmas!

Maintenance Updates (12/16/22)

 Golf Course

The golf course is in good shape heading into the end of 2022. Fog has been plentiful over the last couple weeks, reducing critical sunlight for several hours nearly every morning. Having warm, humid overcast conditions this time of year can promote disease, especially on greens. We have had some leaf spot popping up on greens recently, requiring several applications of fungicides to protect the turf. Except for a couple problem spots that we continue to watch closely, our applications have been effective and the threat has been suppressed.

As I write this, a cold front is passing thru which is bringing much needed rain, will push out the humidity if we are lucky, bring plenty of sunshine.

Palm trees are being trimmed on the course with common ground trees to follow.

Common Grounds

A delivery truck tore up the grass at the Radio Road entrance early this week. Our crew did an excellent job of patching the area. It will take little while to heal but should make a full recovery.

Facilities

Many projects, big and small!

Temporary closure where car ran thru wall on Radio Road

Replacing electrical covers on light poles

New windsocks at Tennis Courts

And a lot of patching and painting…

I look forward to seeing everyone on the course or in the facilities, and as always, if you have any questions, flag me down or shoot me an email. I always enjoy talking turf and facilities too!

Maintenance Updates (12/9/22)

Golf Course

The golf course continues to benefit from the above average temperatures that we have had well in to December. The Celebration Bermudagrass on our course is what we call a warm season turf. Most people think that warm season means the hotter the better but that is not necessarily the case. “Warm season” refers more to the areas of geography where it is grown than the temperatures it thrives in. Turf managers often refer to perfect temperatures for warm season turf as combined day and night temperatures who’s sum is between 140 and 150 degrees. When temperatures are in or near that range, the turf is not in semi-dormancy from cold temperatures and yet is not so hot that it has to slow down growth to protect it’s resources from what I describe as over stimulation.

Since our temperatures have been somewhere around 65 & 85 that puts us pretty much in the sweet spot for our warm season turf to thrive. These pictures are evidence of the turf being very happy and healthy. We will be able to compare these pictures to pictures taken early next year when temperatures typically drop causing growth and color production to slow down. For now we will enjoy these conditions while they last.

Pinestraw also went out this week which really dresses up the course and adds a nice detailed look. I didn’t get a chance to (or I should say didn’t think to) grab a picture of the straw on the course but am always impressed by how they high they stack the straw on the trailer when putting it out.

Pinestraw was one of the items that was delayed by Hurricane Ian. Another was the annual trimming of palm trees on the course and throughout the community. I was concerned that trimming might be delayed into the new year but I got the good news yesterday that we are schedule to have the palms trimmed starting next week.

Common Grounds

Common ground work slows a bit during the fall and winter as the optimal time for planting and re-landscaping areas is best during the spring and summer. Overall though the work done this year turned out very well and will keep us looking good throughout the winter season.

Facilities

While some of our project work has slowed for the season, we continue to work on our master and routine maintenance lists. We started the summer with a master list of over 287 items and while more items are added every day, we have worked thru 156 of the original items from that list and currently have 23 more in progress. 

One of the items we had on the list was to have the canopies at the pool replaced. Hurricane Ian pushed the canopies up the list quickly but also made it harder to get them done as companies have quoted us anywhere from 10 to 24 weeks to get the work completed. Wanted to pass the word that we are working on the canopies and will have them done just as soon as possible.

I look forward to seeing everyone on the course or in the facilities, and as always, if you have any questions, flag me down or shoot me an email. I always enjoy talking turf and facilities too!

Maintenance Updates (12/2/22)

 

I apologize, no new post this week, I simply ran out of time. Please check back next week.