January has left us behind yet we are still experiencing above normal temperatures in addition to abundant rainfall. The forecasters now think that extreme cold weather is probably not likely. For the golf course this should mean less of a chance that the bermuda will run out of energy before it greens up and starts to grow again. Unfortunately that also means that the window of dormancy that would allow Roundup to be sprayed eliminating winter weeds will be shorter than normal. Our sprayer is ready and now we wait for conditions to be right for the application. The ground must be reasonably dry and the wind low and of course temperatures need to be above freezing (that hasn't been a problem). If we do not get those conditions, then a decision will have to be made whether to let the winter weeds run their course or to change herbicides (that will be more expensive).
One of the things I like about wintertime is the chance to dream and plan for the year. You dream of ideal conditions for the course just like you see in pictures and magazines. Then you try to plan how to best use the resources available to get as close to that dream as possible. By using Google Map and Google Earth I can compare what the Country Club of Paducah looks like versus courses all over the country and world. One drawback is that the satellite imagery is not updated very often. For several years clouds obscured several holes here but last year it was updated giving a clear view of all the course. Mowing patterns can be analyzed and I have found that contours in the patterns that I thought might be excessive are fairly mundane when compared with other courses.
That part is always enjoyable but the real work is in the nuts and bolts planning. When to apply, which product to apply, how often to mow, etc. is what makes for a successful year. John Wooden's saying "failure to prepare is preparing to fail" is very apropos. I like to plan the work and then work the plan. Rarely does it go the way I plan it because Mother Nature gets in the way a lot, but that is part of the challenge of being a greenkeeper. Growing the turf has gotten very scientific and technical but producing a golf course with turf that is playable is still an art because the best playing conditions are rarely found when the turf is growing its best.
It has started to rain again as I write this and the forecast is for copious amounts tomorrow followed by a dry spell next week. Maybe that will be our opportunity to fulfill the first part of the plan for the year. Wish us luck
Friday, February 3, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Winter Golf
It has been much too long since I last wrote in this column and my apologies are in order. The shortage of staff that plagued the golf course last year meant less time for writing and I relied too heavily on my Twitter posts. Hopefully, I will learn to better manage my time so that my thoughts can find their way to you.
Winter golf is always at the mercy of Mother Nature. Up to this point, the weather has been friendly and you have taken advantage. Yesterday a winter storm blew through the area with a little snow but more importantly cold temperatures. The ground, especially the greens, is frozen solid today. Not really a problem because the temperature today will struggle to get to freezing and that alone will discourage most if not all golfers. The problem will be this weekend when the temperatures are expected to reach the 40's and maybe higher. This will cause the ground to start to thaw and it will occur from the top down. This is the most dangerous situation agronomically because as the top thaws, traffic (even foot) will cause it to shift against the frozen layer below where the turf roots are. This shifting has the potential to shear those roots off at that interface meaning all the care given to the greens last fall to grow a deep root system will be for naught.
In order to be out of danger the soil needs to thaw to about a two inch depth. With 19 different locations, every green thaws at different rates according to shade and orientation to the sun. Once the ground freezes solid enough that it can not be penetrated with a knife blade, it only takes the temperature getting close to 32 degrees at night to refreeze starting the cycle over again the next day. At this point, it looks unlikely that the course will be open this weekend due to this freeze/thaw cycle on the greens. The greens will be checked each morning and if the course is not playable, signs will be posted at #1 and #10 tees and that information will also be Tweeted.
Warm weather during the winter always has its drawbacks usually in the form of bad weather during the spring. I would just as soon have bad weather now and nice later. Have a great weekend.
Winter golf is always at the mercy of Mother Nature. Up to this point, the weather has been friendly and you have taken advantage. Yesterday a winter storm blew through the area with a little snow but more importantly cold temperatures. The ground, especially the greens, is frozen solid today. Not really a problem because the temperature today will struggle to get to freezing and that alone will discourage most if not all golfers. The problem will be this weekend when the temperatures are expected to reach the 40's and maybe higher. This will cause the ground to start to thaw and it will occur from the top down. This is the most dangerous situation agronomically because as the top thaws, traffic (even foot) will cause it to shift against the frozen layer below where the turf roots are. This shifting has the potential to shear those roots off at that interface meaning all the care given to the greens last fall to grow a deep root system will be for naught.
In order to be out of danger the soil needs to thaw to about a two inch depth. With 19 different locations, every green thaws at different rates according to shade and orientation to the sun. Once the ground freezes solid enough that it can not be penetrated with a knife blade, it only takes the temperature getting close to 32 degrees at night to refreeze starting the cycle over again the next day. At this point, it looks unlikely that the course will be open this weekend due to this freeze/thaw cycle on the greens. The greens will be checked each morning and if the course is not playable, signs will be posted at #1 and #10 tees and that information will also be Tweeted.
Warm weather during the winter always has its drawbacks usually in the form of bad weather during the spring. I would just as soon have bad weather now and nice later. Have a great weekend.
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