Fall Aerification

Over the past couple of weeks we have been aerifying the fairways. So far 1-3, 7, 8, 11 & 14 are complete. As we were going through this process I began to think about the significance of this practice, so I wanted to share it with you.

Aerification can be accomplished in multiple ways. Some of these include: coring, the use of solid tines and spiking. Core aerification involves a hollow tube made of metal that is used to remove a plug of turf and soil from the ground. This is the process we have been using this week on the fairways. While doing this, thousands of pounds of soil are brought to the surface and lay on top of the turf until we begin to pulverize the cores and drag them back into the turf canopy. The core aerification process accomplishes a number of important cultural practices. Among these is topdressing. As the cores are broken up and they are drug into the turf canopy the playing surface is smoothed and the thatch mat is diluted.

Solid tine aerification is purely a solid shaft of metal that is thrust into the ground. No soil is removed in this process. Like solid tining, slicing does not remove soil. The difference is that slicing is done, primarily, with triangle shaped blades that are mounted on a drum-type machine. As the drum is pulled over the ground, these blades puncture the ground.

Coring, solid tining and slicing all relieve compaction, the most important facet of aerification, to varying degrees. Compaction is one of grass' worst enemies. When compacted ground exists the inability of the roots to penetrate the hard soil is the major detriment. You can see examples of this issue at locations around the course where vehicle traffic occurs regularly.

Even though we are disrupting the playing surface, the long term benefits outweigh the short term surface disruption. So, please excuse our mess. J

Rough in the rough

Well, no one likes dead grass.  Especially me!  But, if we are to have dead grass, it's better in the rough than the fairways, greens or tees. 

This summer has been rough on our rough.  The heat and humidity has laid siege on many areas along our fairways.  After some research (i.e. poking, cutting and pulling) a common theme among these areas has come to the forefront.  Thatch.

In our situation, the thatch is primarily the result of the wrong grass type in the wrong location.  The majority of these areas have creeping bentgrass.  Bentgrass is meant to be maintained below 0.75", otherwise it becomes puffy and thatchy.  We maintain the rough at 2.25".

The thatch that has accumulated then becomes the "root" of the problem.  Thatch harbors disease pathogens, pests and increases crown temperature in the plant.  So, during the extended period of high heat and humidity these grass plants succumb to disease and high temperature kill.  This was confirmed by samples that were sent away to Michigan State University.

 

So, how did the bentgrass get in the rough?  Well, it creeps, as the name suggests.  Plugs from the fairway aerification process could have contributed.  Also, seed from the divot bottles might be a likely suspect.  We are not sure.

In early September we will be overseeding these areas with an appropriate grass species for the location.  Kentucky Bluegrass will be used along with a dash of Perennial Ryegrass.  These grass species will do well at the rough height of cut and will provide a better playing surface.  So, please excuse our mess as the process takes place.    

Heat and Humidity

We have been experiencing a number of days with high heat and humidity.  With these conditions, turfgrass diseases begin to show up, especially in low areas that hold moisture.  Our poorly drained soils also lend to the development of the disease after a rain event.  This was the case this past weekend when we began to see the formation of a number of patches throughout the course.  On the tees and fairways it was particularly evident.  The picture below exhibits what we call, in the turf world, Brown Patch.

The dreaded disease called Pythium was also seen.  This turfgrass pathogen is the worst of them all, for each grass blade that it comes in contact with will quickly die.  A picture of a patch of pythium is below.  Take note of the dark, greasy center.  

Thank goodness the patches were small and few.  Both diseases were sprayed for with two different control products (i.e. fungicides) and have shown signs of stopping the disease.  The Brown Patch areas are healing, but the Pythium patch is completely wiped out. 

We make preventative applications throughout the growing season for many turfgrass diseases, but sometimes when the disease pressure is very high our best laid plans may go awry.  Mother Nature can be a cruel beast at times.

Whose feet are these?

The Independence Day fireworks were fantastic as usual.  Every year Tony Davis seems to make the show even better and this year was no exception.  I thought the show was over 3 or 4 times!  Great job Tony!

Each year with the show, mosquitoes always seem to be an issue and because of that the mosquito repellents comes out.  Below is a picture of what can happen when your favorite "bug spray" is sprayed over your body while you are standing on grass. 

This burn area is on 14 fairway, along with a number of other spots on the fairway and adjacent rough.  12 tee also has multiple burn spots.  Right now, you might be asking, "Is this grass going to die?"  Well, it might, but hopefully it is more of a foliar burn or grass-blade burn.  Time will tell.  So, the next time you reach for that bug spray please consider what you might be doing to the grass below your feet.  The best solution is to always spray mosquito repellent on a cart path or hard surface.   

Look Out for Sinkholes!

Chikaming, as you know, is an old golf club.  Throughout the years, different material for drain tile has been used.  Today, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is used.  Which is very durable and has an extremely long lifespan.  During the 2004 drainage project at the club, this material was used and any new additions since then and in the future have and will utilize the HDPE.

In the past, clay tile was used.  Clay tile was installed throughout the property and has been damaged during the multiple irrigation and drainage projects that has occurred over the many years.  As you can see in the photo below, our irrigation mainline (the blue pipe) was trenched through an old clay drain tile.  The clay drain tile still works, so each time it rains more soil washes down the drain until a sinkhole appears.  This mainline was installed in 1999 and it has taken all these years for this to occur.                 

Currently, we have a number of sinkholes  on the property in need of repair and all of them are associated with the clay tile.  They will be addressed as soon as possible.

What are those blotches on the greens?

You may have noticed the yellowish blotches on the greens.  These blotches are pearlwort.  Pearlwort is a herbaceous perennial that is often found in putting greens across the northern half of the country.  It looks very similar to Annual Bluegrass (our predominant grass on the greens) and is difficult to distinguish the two until you know what to look for. 

This spring we applied a fungicide call Rubigan to slowly remove the plant from our greens, but it seems to be working a little faster than expected.  2 to 3 applications were planned, but after some deliberation, we have decided to wait until this fall to continue the applications.