Frost - May 23

The strange spring weather continues for us and for everybody across the U.S.  As we are very busy this week prepping for one of our largest tournaments of the summer, The Land Title, we had frost on Thursday May 23.  The latest date we have ever had frost since I have been here in Lewiston, ID.  Parts of the country have seen snow storms this May, flooding in the Midwest, devastating tornadoes in the south, and flood stage rains in the East.  If you remember back to a previous post of mine, Hot / Dry Spring, we had a stretch of of summer like heat that had us scrambling early on the golf course, and now we have lows in the 30's and high's in the 50's.  The frost did not hurt anything on the golf course or impede our progress to prepare for the tourney, other than a few new flowers that did get nipped at the leaf tip around the clubhouse.  This type of event is the thing that keeps us golf course superintendents always on our toes.  Everyday there is something new that effects our plan or management of the turfgrass and playability on our golf courses.

Boomless nozzle sprayer

Last week we treated the tall native grass perimeter of the golf course with herbicide.  These areas are very difficult to maintain because of the rocky undulated terrain   It is not feasible to drive a sprayer through the native grass, and it would be many labor hours to spray with a back sprayer.  So a few years ago I equipped one of our sprayers with a boomless nozzle that sprays any product out 30 ft.

This allows us to maintain the perimeters for weed control, fertilizers if needed, and any other product.

A very good way to apply a product in a fast efficient manner in areas where you cannot drive.  

Walk mowing greens

Last week the maintenance staff started walk mowing greens for the season.

During the spring, fall and winter months we utilize a ride on triplex greens mower that allows us to mow the greens with 1 mower and operator.

During the summer months we use walk mowers, which requires 3 machines and 3 operators.  But the results and benefits are far superior to the ride on triplex.  There are not tire tracks on the greens, the quality of cut is better, and the smoothness of the green is superior.  Getting the tire marks off of the green, and having the rear drum that a walk mower rolls on really keeps the greens smooth.  Over the next few weeks you will see an improvement to the quality of the greens.

Rattlesnakes are out

The last three weeks we have seen high temperatures in the low 90's, and with that comes our rattlesnakes out to bask in the sun and make their way across  the wet grass in the early mornings.

Please be aware of this when you are in or around areas of tall grass and rock walls.

Snake proof chaps

The maintenance staff does where the appropriate protection whenever they have to go in the native grass to do any work like spraying weeds or weed trimming.  This year we have seen a larger population early in the year compared to last year.  Staff is seeing about 6 snakes on average each morning, probably brought on by the warmer and drier spring.

Please be aware when you are looking for arrant shots in the tall native grass and carry your 5 iron with you.

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High School Golf State Championship - Idaho

We just wrapped up hosting the two day high school state golf championship for the state of Idaho.  It was a great event, with almost 100 boys and girls golfers.  The weather was very warm and allowed us to produce some great golfing conditions for all the student athletes.  Good job to everybody that was involved in the event and all teh work that it took to put it on starting with practice rounds on Saturday.  Some impressive up and coming talent came through the course, with day 1 producing boys leaders shooting 70,71, and many 72-74's.  The girls had a 70 and several 75-78's.

http://www.idahosports.com/tournaments/

http://idhsaa.org/sports/golf/1213/5AGolfResults.pdf

We set-up the golf course the same way we do each day for our members.  With hole locations and tee marker placement the same, and greens speed was what our members play on each day.  Most of the student athletes and coaches, who played in practice rounds on Sat and Sun, spoke very highly of the greens and were impressed with the speed, smoothness, and trueness.  I think we saw that in the scores as most scores throughout the field were lower on day 2 compared with day 1.  I believe many of them got use to the green speeds, which were probably the quickest greens they have played on all spring.

The tournament finished with a tie and playoff hole for both the girls and boys division.

Hot / Dry Spring

One of the exciting aspects of golf course maintenance is adapting and dealing with the changes presented to us by mother nature and how every golf season is different from the last. Right now we are going through a very dry spring. Last year in the month of April we received 4.25 inches of rain and irrigated 5 times the entire month of April. This year in April we received 1.25 inches of rain and we have been irrigating similar to July conditions. The recent hot dry weather has really put the pressure on our maintenance staff to get our old irrigation system operating efficiently right away this spring. It has also put a shock on our turf. During the spring we are trying to produce the healthiest plants with the deepest root system that we can. Getting them ready for the long haul of June, July, and August’s 100+ degree weather. Now with the plants coming out of winter and jumping right into the low 90's, it does not give them a chance to build up to the heat and the turf does not develop as strong as we would like to make it through the hot summer.

Fortunately, it does look like the next few weeks will get back to normal with a few rain showers and highs in the 70's.

 

Poa seedhead control

We have talked recently about Poa control.  Take a look at the amazing pictures below of the control we are currently seeing on seedheads on the greens.

When we spray this product, we put down a small sheet of plywood before we spray to keep any of the chemical from getting onto the turf.  A good way to check and see what the green would be like if we did not spray anything.  You see the two blue dots on the green mark the corner, and the other end goes about 1 foot out into the collar.  Look at the control we received this spring compared to that square that did not receive any proxy application.  The entire green would be like that, covered in seedheads, if had not applied and the greens would be considerably bumpy.