August Update

A major lack of rainfall over the last 8 weeks has had us chasing wilting turf in a way that has not been seen here in years. The average rainfall totals from June 8^th (The last time we had a significant precipitation event) through August 6th is around 200mm rain. To date we have received approximately 35mm of rain, which is about 17% of the average over this timeframe. The bulk of our attention has been on watering the property. We have been running irrigation cycles several nights a week on tees and fairways. Additional cycles have run ahead of play to general areas of need and hand watering areas that require more hydration to remain healthy. The greens are primarily watered by hand, though with the rough around some greens and approaches checking out we have been spinning the greens heads more frequently. I am very happy with over course conditions to this point, considering the lack of rainfall. The irrigation obviously gets most of the credit, though our fertility and soil additives program has played an essential role. A fertilizer program built around the results of our soil testing last fall allowed us to remedy several nutrient deficiencies. A diligent fungicide program keeps diseases, specifically dollar spot at bay and does not weaken the turf. Having the turf as healthy as possible going into a drought can pay massive dividends

And our increased wetting agent applications is crucial for times like these. Soil can become hydrophobic to moisture, making re-wetting of the soil difficult and resulting in stress to the turf. Wetting agents help penetrate through the soil profile, as well as holding more water in the soil profile to maximize the irrigation that we do put down. It has been a massive undertaking to keep the turf healthy this summer. What hasn’t been touched on is the hard work and dedication of the team in keeping us in the shape we are. If you see someone with a hose, please

Japanese Beetles have been a hot topic the last few weeks. For years we have been without any major insect populations on the property. In the last couple of years we have seen this pest at our properties causing damage to our rose bushes and other plants. This season we have seen a massive population ravaging certain plants, specifically our Linden trees. We have put up traps (catching crazy amounts of them). We are witnessing them slowing down feeding and I have seen them crawling along the ground. It is at this time they are laying eggs for new larvae, and eventually new adults to repeat the process next season. Through research and consultation with several industry professionals we have invested in making preventative insecticide applications on the greens, tees, and fairways. The beetle larvae chew on grass leaves and stems for sustenance before their metamorphosis into adult beetles. The larvae are also a prime source of food for crows and sea gulls, which can do a number on the turf and they rip the grass to get the grubs. It is best to take action at this time before the situation deteriorates. Other properties in the area have suffered extensive turf damage in the past several years.

The final portion of phase 2 has been completed. This past week we opened the new tee deck on 3 on Day 2 of the Senior and Junior club championships. The project has been a massive success as we were able to complete the tee on budget and open the tee on time. A credit to our contractor for the installation and our team in nurturing the turf to maturity. We will be monitoring how the tee handles the traffic and divots over the rest of the summer. If we feel there is too much wear and tear occurring, specifically with current conditions. We may move play off the tee to give it a break. We are hopeful that we wont have to worry about that and the tee remains open. Looking forward to the summer weather breaking and perhaps a rain drop or two at some point soon!