Great weather?

 This past week's mild weather was, to say the least, quite unusual for our region.  The end of October usually brings us crisp, cool conditions, with low humidity.  While many players may have enjoyed being able to continue wearing shorts, the daily prolonged fog was certainly a challenge for anyone teeing off before noon.

There's a fairway out there somewhere...

So, what's the downside to this weather from a grass-growing perspective?  Well, typically by the end of October most of the turf diseases we treat for are no longer an issue.  However, the mild nighttime temperatures and constant leaf moisture are conducive to the development of Dollar Spot disease.  While widespread damage is unlikely, as turf growth slows now, any pitting from the disease may linger.

Dollar Spot has remained active due to warm, wet conditions.

We may finish October with only a single frost event, and are still seeing insect activity.  We really need some cold temperatures to put the bugs to bed for the year.

Still seeing plenty of insect activity on the greens.

This weather has also put a "damp-er" on our rough aerification.  When we pull plugs, we expect them to dry, not become wetter from all of the moisture in the air.  

Certainly none of these things could be labeled as devastating, but it once again shows that weather is our ruler.  While we may start with a good game plan, the need to make game time changes will always exist.

Holes in the Rough

 The Master Plan's bunker design reduces the bunker square footage by approximately 50%.  Therefore, areas which used to be sand are now turf--either native area, or primary rough.  While the sod used in these locations has initially done well, the lack of nutrient holding capacity in the sandy soil beneath is now leading to thinning of the turf.

In order to address this issue, we decided to introduce some organic matter into these areas.  We began this process by applying a heavy layer of compost with our topdresser.   (You can tell right away this is good stuff just by the smell!)

After placing the compost, we follow up with the aerifier, then allow the plugs to dry.  Next, a steel mat is used to break up the plugs, and drag the compost down into the holes.  As a final step, the remaining thatch is blown off.

With (hopefully) no cart traffic in these areas, we will be able to continue this process throughout the fall.  We purchased 60 cubic yards of the compost material, so you'll be able to enjoy the sweet smell of farmland for some time to come.

Keep in mind that the need to amend golf course soils is hardly new.  This brief USGA historical article discussing early issues at Pinehurst is noteworthy:

Poor Soils at Pinehurst

Making hay while the sun shines...

 With the golf course closed for close to six weeks in the spring, it would have been hard to imagine that increased traffic would be a major problem.  However, it looks like 2020 may go down as a record breaking year for rounds, many of which were played by single riders.  The "pinch points" coming off tee cart paths and approaching greens, where all cart traffic funnels, really gets clobbered by this.

While the days aren't really getting shorter (they do still have 24 hours in them, after all), the amount of daylight is decreasing each day, and the nights are definitely getting cooler.  This time of year is perfect for aerifying some of our high traffic areas, as there is much less environmental turf stress than a couple of months ago.

What we will typically do is aerify approximately half of a high traffic area, then rope it off for two to three weeks, giving it time to recover.  At that point, we'll  return to this same spot, to aerify the other half and allow traffic to resume on the area aerified earlier.

However, the window of opportunity to complete this work will be closing soon.  By the time we reach the end of October, the odds of having seed established prior to winter aren't great.  So if you see additional, ropes, signs, and flags directing you around the course for a few more weeks, don't be surprised.

Back to Basics: Ball Mark Repair

 Unfortunately, we continue to see a good number of unrepaired ball marks on the greens, or ball marks which were not properly repaired.   The graphic below gives step by step directions for how to properly repair a ball mark:

Further instruction can be found by watching this brief USGA video:
USGA Course Care Ball Mark Repair

Please keep in mind that if you're using a golf cart, there is a good chance that you won't be walking past your ball mark as you enter the green.  A good habit to get into is first walking to your ball mark and repairing it, then walk to your ball.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask a member of the Pro Shop staff.  Your help in keeping the greens smooth, will be appreciated by all who play behind you!