Almost finished with this "inside the microwave" weather
We have gotten a few comments about seeing a major difference between greens with fans on them vs greens without fans. This isn't rocket science, just plain science! Cool season turf needs air movement and moderate soil temperatures. When the microwave weather engages, hot, moist conditions will cause weaker plants to thin out. We are rotating a buffalo blower between 6 and 7 Sabot this week and will more than likely have a greens fan here next year.
Why does the turf on the same green react so differently in the summer? How can we have a perfect patch of bentgrass next to a thin patch? All bentgrasses are bred from a certain set of parents. Over time the turf segregates out and expresses it unique genetics. Just like in the winter when some plants turn purple vs green, in the summer some patches can't handle the heat and humidity as well as others. The good part is that the perfect patches are now bred together and newer bentgrasses are significantly more strong and consistent than they were 30 years ago. The Sabot greens will receive new bentgrass on the greens when our irrigation project gets started November 2021. The front nine will be done then and the back nine will be completed November 2022.
Verticutting and topdressing on the Manakin is now complete. The latitude continues to grow like crazy but has enjoyed its thinning. We will keep mowing, pretty much constantly, as the bermuda recovers.
We had a little more compost to put out this week as well. All the approaches were composted in order to help build health going into the winter and keep things firm in front of the greens.
The vamont bermuda on the Sabot is growing like crazy thanks to all the moisture. Growth regulators were deployed this week in between storms to help slow the bermuda down. We don't have immediate seeding plans for the bluegrass on the Sabot. The approaches will be done in early October but pretty much everywhere else is in a wait and see holding pattern as the transition naturally takes place this winter.
Our long time irrigation tech, John Gibson has been out for a few weeks battling some health issues. He is recovering well and we hope to get him back before the end of the year. Since he's been gone, we have been getting lucky with irrigation issues. We even found this break in the transfer pump line behind 9 Sabot green and got it fixed properly. If you know John please feel free to send him your well wishes!