Glen Eagle Maintenance (4/22/26)

The early-month showers of April arrived just in time to provide some relief, but moved out just as quickly as they came in, leaving us right in the heart of dry season. A time of year when water management becomes one of our most important responsibilities on the golf course. This year, that challenge may be a bit more dynamic with forecasts pointing toward an El Niño pattern developing as we move into summer. We are currently reducing irrigation on our roughs by 50% and as you can see in the pictures below, that is staring to show.

While we navigate the dry conditions of spring, you may start to notice areas of the course beginning to firm up and dry out. This is largely intentional. We have been proactively reducing irrigation across both the golf course and common grounds in an effort to protect and conserve our irrigation water supply. It’s always a balancing act—maintaining healthy turf while being responsible stewards of our resources—and this time of year really puts that balance into focus.

We had a cold front move through on Monday that we had hoped would bring some additional rain, but it ended up passing through dry. What it did deliver, however, was a stretch of nearly perfect weather. A few mornings and days with low humidity and temperatures starting out in the 60s are a rarity this time of year, and it certainly made for some very enjoyable conditions on the course.

On the greens, we’ve been dealing with a somewhat unusual challenge. Recently, they have not been quite at their typical consistency due to the presence of Microdochium patch. This is a disease that is far more common in northern climates, particularly where turf is covered by snow for extended periods during the winter. It’s not something we typically see in Southwest Florida, which makes this occurrence a bit out of the ordinary.

Friday

Today

While it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why it has shown up this season, a combination of factors likely contributed. The cooler weather earlier in the year, paired with high rounds during a period when the turf was semi-dormant, may have created conditions that allowed the disease to develop. Even though we don’t have snow cover, the stress on the turf combined with favorable environmental conditions can occasionally allow uncommon diseases like this to surface.

The good news is that we are actively addressing it. Our team has implemented a targeted fungicide program specifically designed to control Microdochium patch. In addition, we’ve made slight adjustments to our maintenance practices—raising the height of cut on the greens, carefully managing irrigation, and dialing in our fertility program to support plant health without encouraging further disease pressure.

These combined efforts are already making a difference, and I fully expect the greens to return to their normal, high-quality playing conditions soon. As always, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these challenges and continue to prioritize the long-term health and sustainability of the golf course.

Summer annuals were installed in the common areas and golf course a couple weeks ago, they are looking great!

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