This super hot summer is taking its toll on the turf, budgets, and nerves of the superintendents. Now, you throw in one of the toughest summers in recent records, and superintendents are at their wits’ end. The long-term forecast is still looking tough, and we need to make sure that we are taking measures just to survive the rest of the summer. It seems early to be talking about survival mode for turf grass areas, but the Midwest and east coast have hit a wall of heat and humidity that won't let up. Our area seems to be setting record highs every other day with no end in site.
Survival Mode:
•Open communications with your staff, club managers, and golfers about turf stress
(Keep everyone informed of what should be done in these stressful times)
•Test all irrigation heads to ensure proper operation is occurring daily
•Water lightly and frequently to ensure the water makes it to the plant
•Adjust cutting heights up during prolonged periods of stress
(Height can be slowly moved back down as cooler weather arrives)
•Change your front rollers to smooth
•Use light rolling on non mow days for green speed; skip mowing when possible
•Change up mowing directions, alternate cleanup laps, and keep mowers sharp
•Vent greens when possible to increase water and air movement exchange
(Irrigate well before this process and vent at coolest part of the day)
•Use fans to increase air movement and keep greens dry in those tough areas
(fans should run 24 hours; portable fans are a great idea, also)
•Reduce traffic flow by using ropes or selective pin placements to keep golfers away
from stressed areas.
•Make sure to apply preventative applications of fungicide and pesticides at this time to limit future damage to the turf by other pests.
Being a great communicator was in your job description…
The open communication with club managers and players is very important during these times.
Everyone is seeing the same conditions at each course and the players can see it in their own home lawns. They tend to forget this sometimes when they drive into the golf course parking lot. Keeping players informed that you may raise height of cut to keep the greens playable, or limit cart traffic to certain areas, or you will be hand watering while they are playing is not the end of the world. It's to insure they have something to play on year round.
