It's a dance

With limited labor (yes, that blue, "limited labor" link is worth the click) this time of year, we are often forced to use our riding "triplex" mowers on the greens daily.  Additionally, our mowing commences while it's still dark out.  In preparing for the Member-Member event, we double-mowed and rolled for several days, many times having multiple pieces of equipment on a green at the same time.

If you've ever watched the team prepare the putting surfaces, and it looks like a well-choreographed performance, their precision and execution doesn't occur by accident.

Like learning to dance with a partner, there is a good deal of non-verbal communication which takes place from the time the mowers and roller arrive at one green, and eventually exit, heading towards the next.  Whether you call it the triplex trot, tango, or two-step, operating in concert with another mower takes time and practice.

"Places of penance..."

 As you check out the collection of new bunkers on #15, the words of Bernard Darwin may ring true--bunkers are intended to be penal and therefore should be avoided.  

If you haven't had an opportunity to see the new fairway bunkers on #15, they are visually spectacular.  The one closest to the green is eye-catching, and will be challenging to say the least.  With a downhill lie, and 70 yards to the green, this is a bunker shot that few people practice on a regular basis.

This bunker definitely has the potential to get in a player's head, however there is a bit of good news if you're able to clear it, as the fairway will  be expanded in front of the green to the right.

As noted previously, some elements of the Master Plan are executed more easily than others.  While we've tried to work around irrigation lines during this process, there have been a couple of times when things needed to be relocated.  

The new bunker on the right side of #15 green happened to have the irrigation greens loop going right through it.  Fortunately, this was a fairly easy line to reroute.

Over the hump?

 For turf managers in our region, August 15 has traditionally been thought of as a turning point in the year--if you made it to that date without major turf loss, you should be in good shape.  However, in recent years, more and more people say the date has now shifted to September 15 before we can exhale and take a long, deep breath.

Certainly this summer's persistent hot weather, and reliance on irrigation (instead of rainfall) were not conducive to producing firm, fast playing conditions.  While most of us focus on daytime high temperatures, for plants (which can't escape to the comfort of an air conditioned environment at night) the low temps are quite meaningful.

Seeing a "5" early on Saturday morning and feeling the need to grab a light jacket felt amazing. 

 As the Sun rose, looking back towards #12 tee, a whole lot of happier grass plants were on full display.

So will we truly relax now?  Well, that might be an option, but no, this cooler weather just provides us with an opportunity to achieve better playing conditions by once again putting the pedal to the metal. 

What's with the white weeds?

This past week we made a herbicide application targeting Crabgrass and Goosegrass.  The area we primarily focused on was along cart path edges.  The additional traffic these areas receive compacts the soil and thins the stand of desirable turf, allowing weed encroachment.  

The product we used is effective at extremely low rates--we applied it at 0.75 ounce per acre.  It causes chlorophyll loss in weeds, resulting in them turning white.  

Aesthetically, the weeds may actually be more noticeable now than prior to treating them--just thinking of this as them raising the white flag.