All I can say right now is brrr — it has been cold by Florida standards over the past week. A cold front moved through last Thursday night and brought with it 0.6 inches of much-needed rainfall. While that amount was not enough to make a meaningful improvement in lake levels, the turf and landscape plants responded very well to the fresh water.
An added benefit of the rain was the ability to turn off irrigation for two nights. Although lake levels did not rise significantly, we were also able to avoid any measurable water loss during that period, which is a win given our current water situation.
Despite the cold weather — which naturally reduces chlorophyll production and slows turf growth — overall color across the golf course has remained good. We may still experience some loss of color in the coming weeks, and recovery will be slower than during warmer periods, but the course continues to be in good condition overall.
Dry Areas on the Course
As you play the course, you may notice some brown or dry areas, particularly on a few tees and fairways. These areas are the result of the extended lack of rainfall throughout 2025, which has led to some weakened and drought-stressed turf.
Given our low lake levels and limited water supply, I have made the decision not to “chase” these areas with additional irrigation. Attempting to force recovery in isolated areas would require a disproportionate amount of water, and the return simply does not justify the use of such a limited resource.
As discussed during Monday’s Greens Committee meeting, irrigation levels across the golf course and common grounds have not been reduced at this time, but we also cannot afford to increase them. As a result, areas that dry out naturally are something we will need to accept for now.
This approach may become a theme of the 2026 golf season. With little rainfall expected in the coming months, irrigation reductions may become necessary as we move deeper into the season to ensure we do not exhaust our water supply before the 2026 rainy season arrives.
Greens Maintenance Update
One notable practice this week — aside from trying to stay warm — was pencil-tine aerification on the greens. This process improves water and air movement within the soil, encouraging deeper root growth and promoting overall turf health. Pencil tining is minimally disruptive and plays an important role in maintaining healthy putting surfaces, especially during periods of environmental stress.
As always, we appreciate your understanding and support as we manage the golf course through challenging weather and water conditions. Our goal remains to provide the best possible playing experience while being responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us.
I look forward to seeing everyone on the course (under several jackets 😂), and as always, if you have any questions, flag me down or shoot me an email. I always enjoy talking turf!
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