Rain is here.....

After a couple of months with very little rain, the last week has produced 2.4".  This can be good and bad.  It's good for our water supply and for the grass on the course.  It is bad if we have hot days and warm nights, which we have had for the past month or two.  That type of weather pattern creates a perfect opportunity for turfgrass diseases to infect the grass plants.

Turfgrass diseases are fungal pathogens.  Just like a mushroom, they like warm, moist conditions.  So, for me, the rain is good and bad. 

Chikaming C.C. Irrigation Water 101

Chikaming C.C. is supplied irrigation water only by the precipitation that lands on the property. Both rain and snowfall are captured by our drain tiles and then retained in our ponds. The entrance pond is the last opportunity for us retain the water before it leaves the property. The pumphouse located near the 13th T pumps water up to our reservoir where it is then stored for later irrigation needs. 
All ponds and the reservoir were full this past March.  Normally we are able to replenish much of the water that we pull out of the reservoir through large rainfall events during the spring and summer.  Obviously, this has not been the case over the past few months.

Drilling a well would be a logical solution, but after a number of test wells were drilled in 1991 only one well showed signs of water. That was only 30 gallons per minute. We need ten times that amount to keep up with our irrigation needs.  

So, for now you will see the entrance pond is lower than usual.  We are in the process of drawing the entrance pond down and transferring the water to reservoir.  Other ponds will follow unless we receive substantial rainfall.  In addition, areas on the course will begin to receive less water as the drought continues.  The decision to reduce water from these areas will be made by order of importance.

The decision has also been made to buy water from the township.  Currently the township is restricting us to around 25-30 gallons a minute at this point so they can also meet the needs of the homeowners and businesses in the area.  It is very little but beggars can't be choosers!  C'mon rain!

Quality of cut.....

Quality of cut is important for a number of reasons. 
1.  It looks nice!  Shaggy grass just has that "blah" look to it.  Wouldn't you agree?
2.  Better playing conditions.  Ball roll on greens is partially dependent to the quality of cut.  A more consistent cut across the surface will give a more consistent quality of roll as you putt the ball. 

3.  Disease resistance.  Yes, disease resistance.  A crisply cut turfgrass blade has less surface area for disease infection than a jagged edge.  So, as Paul Kniola (our Equipment Manager) checks the quality of cut of our mowers he is helping the plants fight off disease infection.  Paul does this quality of cut check after every mowing and he adjusts each reel to cut paper cleanly.  If the reel doesn't cut paper then the reel or bedknife or both get sharpened.  Thanks for your diligence Paul!