Starting to Feel like Fall

With the cooler temps we have had lately, it's safe to say the course is in recovery mode.  Over the last month we have been doing what we can to help the course through the summer stress, ultimately, the temperatures over the last week are what really help things perk up on the golf course.

On Monday we vented the greens with 1/4" solid tines.  This has been a practice that we have stuck to throughout the summer on a monthly basis.  Clearly this practice has proven to be  beneficial to our greens.  Even with continuous 100 degree days with no rain, we are constantly fighting to keep the greens as dry as we possibly can.  This is the tool, along with our moisture meters, that help us to dry out any areas that are getting too wet.  With 62 year old greens with no internal drainage, wet greens are the quickest way for us to lose grass.

Speaking of getting too wet, last week we had a six inch water main leak on the left side of #15.  The leak was due to the failure of a ductile iron tee that feeds the fairway.  The good news is we were able to get it repaired.  The bad news is we will be digging it up again to install the replacement ductile iron fitting that had to be ordered.  On a positive note, if you were wondering why the ponds were full after not receiving any rain, this was the reason.   Luckily all of the water from the leak ran directly into the creek!

6" Water main leak on #15.

With cooler days ahead, we will begin seeding rough, possibly as early as next week.  I'd like to see a rain before we start cutting seed in the ground, but if the past few months are any indication, we may not be able to wait that long.   On that note, we are now 9.80" below normal on rainfall since May.  Hopefully with the change in weather we have experienced lately, we will also see some moisture.