Hot, Hot, Hot!

When you are already at the hottest week of the year, and then see temperatures forecast to be 10 degrees above average, you know it's going to be a tough time for the turf.  Our weather station told the tale on Saturday, as we hit 97 degrees:

 
Rain can certainly not be counted on either.  A few storms looked like they were heading for the course, then the mysterious invisible dome repelled them, and they missed us to the south.

Looks like the rain is heading our way...

...but no, it slid right by us.

When temperatures are this hot, root growth in cool season turf will be virtually non-existent, and the best we can do is try to maintain the existing root system.  In a "normal" year, we see the greatest root growth in the spring, followed by a decline in the summer.  It seems quite likely that this July will accelerate that root loss.

Nothing lasts forever, and undoubtedly this nasty weather will end eventually.  In the meantime, we're going to batten down the hatches, and will do what's necessary to protect the course.