HOT DAYS!

Do you remember in last month's newsletter the comment that Alex made about being more concerned with keeping the greens alive than he is with keeping a certain speed to them? Well, this is the time when that statement really rings true. We've had temperatures in the 90's for about 2 weeks now, and the forecast for this week is pretty much mid-90's all week. This is when the maintenance practices that have been applied to the course really pay dividends.

On these very hot, sunny days, you may notice areas on some of the greens begin to take on a purplish tint. That is a sign of distress. Keep in mind that you are dealing with grass plants that are mowed to .130" each day, so there's not a lot of plant there to hold water and withstand these harsh conditions. But, the healthier we can make that plant, the better suited it is to take the punishment. By growing the greens a little taller this year (.130" instead of .125") we are also giving them more root zone, which typically means a healthier plant, which in turn means it can be more tolerant of the heat. Perhaps they've been a bit slower than in the past, but take a look your next time out at how healthy they are now.

DID YOU KNOW that on these days of extreme heat there is someone assigned each day to monitor the conditions of the greens, even on weekends? Between about noon and 3:00pm are the times that symptoms of distress are most likely to appear. Those will be the times that you will see one of our crew running around the course like a mad man, hooking up a hose and either misting or hosing down individual greens. This isn't done to provide water to the greens, but rather to simply cool them down. Kind of like wiping a cool washcloth across the back of your neck and face. It doesn't provide you with any liquid nourishment, but it sure makes you feel better! If conditions are really extreme, you may see them turn on the irrigation for a couple minutes.

Higher green speeds are partly obtained by shorter mowing heights and reduced moisture content. The faster the greens are, the more stressed they are and the closer they are to being dead. We work hard to achieve a balance between green speed and healthy greens, so that we can provide a quality playing surface without having it in a stressful condition all of the time.

For questions about this or any other course topic, contact Alex, Dennis, or any of your greens committee members.