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!