Still dry but temperatures are here, we are growing grass

 

The bermudagrass is back and we are ready for it. This has been a cool and dry spring so we are ready to get on with it. Although the rough mower is out there basically chopping down Poa annua that has enjoyed a lack of competition, the fairways have filled in and woken up nicely. The warmer weather will now allow us to get out some weed control product for the Poa that will actually be effective in taking it out.

What is left of the Poa annua on 10 fairway won't be around much longer. The vamont is greening up and continues to fill in every day. Why 10 fairway has to be thin and look terrible compared to the other fairways on the back nine we don't know. What we do know is that we will not be fighting with an overseed process this coming fall. This means our normal pre-emergent schedule can be followed and competition from the Poa will be downgraded to just annoying and difficult as opposed to impossible.

One of the benefits of our new greens on the front nine was the virtual elimination of Poa annua from the seed bank. Of course foot traffic can bring seeds back on to the surface but because of the increased density of the greens, it is hard for any new Poa to get established. The Pure Eclipse is looking strong going in to its first 95 degree weekend.

We are already seeing major benefits of the new irrigation system thanks to the dry weather. We have been running the fairway out heads in drier areas and the bermuda is responding nicely. The old system had to water both the fairway and the rough at the same time. Being able to have the flexibility to pick and choose what gets water helps immensely with consistency through the course.

Even the bunker mister heads, something you'll probably never see in action, are paying for themselves already. The bunker faces on the front nine of Sabot are looking great while the rest of the course has zoysia just cooking in the sun and yearning for someone to come handwater it.

While everything is operational on the front nine we still have a few things that need attention. This is a totally normal occurrence after putting 10 miles of pipe and wire in the ground. Here on 3, some ground water found its way into our old mainline. The old pipe was broken here during the new system install so the water was creating a wet spot. It just has to be dug up and capped. 

Everyone's friend Mr. Compost is back on property and getting ready for an application on Monday and Tuesday on the Manakin. The compost is working well on the Sabot so far this spring. As we have mentioned early this year, the price of synthetic fertilizer has doubled over the past year. This has made the compost even more attractive and beneficial. Continuing to build our soil is important considering most of our property is based on clay that the Manakin Indians used to make fancy pots out of. While the smell may not be great (it is great for people that grow plants) it is a small price to pay to put down an organic base that is filled with nutrients and microbes that will be working hard to make our bermudagrass beautiful, not just now but through the entire season and beyond. 

Enjoy the PGA Championship this weekend, we may be hotter here than in Oklahoma. Check out the quick video from the 1949 PGA Championship. Sam Snead won at the original Hermitage Country Club which is now Belmont Golf Course down in Richmond. Those greens look pretty good!