The storms keep coming through
Rain and oppressive humidity continues to be the story this July. We have only had 3, 2-day periods this month where we did not see rain hit the property. The bermuda has slowed slightly with our growth regulator application last week but the weather has been perfect for all our warm season turf.
The afternoon rains have helped keep the humidity at a maximum in the mornings which has meant the courses have been a little slower to dry out. We snuck the deep tine aerator out this week on a few of the lower lying Sabot fairways in front of the mowers to help release some moisture. Next week the Manakin will be closed Monday through Wednesday for our annual verticutting and topdressing on the fairways and approaches. The timing is perfect as the Latitude is more than ready for a little thinning and topdressing thanks to the weather.
Our bentgrass greens are getting the most attention this July. The humid mornings that turn into high blast furnace full sun afternoons followed by drowning thunderstorms are not what the cool season turf likes. With surrounding humidity high, the plant loses its ability to cool itself unless there is significant air movement. Our 20 fans around the more pocketed greens help tremendously. #1 Manakin has always needed a fan but there is no power close by. Of course, as soon as we borrowed a gas engine powered fan from the neighbors on Wednesday the wind starts blowing but either way this green will make it through another summer.
It has been nice to see the surfaces finally dry out today with the wind. We have not run any sort of irrigation in weeks! The Pure Eclipse continues to shine on the Sabot and we may even dust off the roller for the Men's Club Championship this weekend.
Unlike the uniform stand of Pure Eclipse, the 20 year old A1/A4 bentgrass on the Manakin shows its age in segregated patches that respond to heat stress differently. We have plenty of perfect looking bent next smaller areas that want to thin under high heat and humidity stress. Being able to control our own water inputs as opposed to thunderstorms is preferred but until then the fans will help us through the summer. Keep fixing your ballmarks! We are looking forward to closing the Manakin for a few days next week which will also involve a much needed sand topdressing on the greens.
Almost 97 at 2 inches deep and 99 degrees at one inch deep. Bentgrass can use all the air, cooling, fungicide and plant protectants we can provide right now!
Enjoy another hot (and probably wet) weekend!