Golf Course News - 9/1/2008
If it wouldn’t be for the fact that I have lost my summer help, it would be hard to believe that September is already here. The loss of staff makes prioritizing what needs to get done on a daily basis even more critical. Ensuring that all of the mowing gets done is always the highest priority, but getting to the detail work that finishes the golf course becomes a little harder to get to. It is not that we do not see the detail work. It is just the simple fact that we no longer have the manpower to get it all done.
As far as the golf course goes, I believe that it is in great shape. There are signs of drought on the golf course – even irrigated areas. The dry spots in irrigated areas are known as Localized Dry Spots. These spots have dried out and are almost impossible to wet without Mother Nature’s help or chemicals. Although we use chemicals on the greens, it is impractical to use them on the fairways. Until we get an all day soaking rain, the brown spots will remain to some degree.
Fall also signals the start of grub season. As we go through the coming weeks the damage will become more evident. The grub damage will look like areas that are under drought stress. The unmistakable grub damage is not even caused by the grub, but instead by the raccoons, skunks and opossums that are looking for a snack. The damage that these critters cause are the areas that look like they have been tilled. Although we spend a considerable amount of time and money preventing this problem in our greens, tees and fairways, we do not have the resources to protect the entire golf course. We will clean up the damaged areas and late this Fall we will re-seed the areas, so the grass will be established and ready for play next Spring.
Some of the best golfing weather remains, and I hope to see you out on the course.
-Mark Siems
