The Tale of July

As evident over the past week, there has been a refreshing (and much needed) change in the weather pattern.  We have actually fallen into the sixties at night for five of the last seven nights- a welcomed changed from the oppressive heat and humidity during the first three weeks of July.  The cooler temperatures have made for both fantastic golfing conditions and allowed the course to "catch it's breath" from an unprecedented week of heat, humidity and wind that came to an end with a few tropical-like thunderstorms the week of July 15th.

The weather during the first part of July combined with a very active golfing schedule placed a great deal of stress on all playing surfaces.  But... Like any great heavy weight fight, you may lose a round or two but the key is to win the fight and we're doing just that!

The first three weeks of July yielded relentless heat and humidity as demonstrated by the weather data for July 5th-July 10th and July 16th-July 21st.

The combination of oppressive, heat, humidity and elevated nighttime temperatures exposed the greens surfaces to temperatures in excess of 100 degrees the week of July 5th and 105 degrees the week of July 15th. These temperatures not only stressed the playing surface up top but also below. 

 Soil temperatures from July 5th-July 10th did not fall below 74 degrees and peaked anywhere between 85 and 90 degrees.

Time of Day on bottom Soil Temp on Right for 5 and 6 green

For the week of July 15th-July 21st soil temperature reached 90+ degrees on almost every single day for a six day period.

Soil Temperatures for 5,6,10 and 17 green

Cool-season turfgrasses perform at their best from both a growing and playing standpoint when soil temperatures are between 60 and 75 degrees.  As temperatures approach 80 degrees, top growth and root growth is inhibited and at 86 degrees and above, root dieback occurs.  

This picture of 8 green demonstrates the root mass loss due to the stressful weather

In essence, for the better part of the month of July, the turf and in particular the greens, have been under constant stress.  The saving grace during heat waves like these is airflow and surface venting.  Airflow can reduce surface temperatures by up to 10 degrees at 6 mph.  Think of airflow across a green the same way as you would sitting on the beach. It is much more comfortable sitting on the beach in 95 degree heat with a 10 mph wind vs sitting on the beach in 95 degree heat with no breeze.  The same principles hold true for the turf.  Because the prevailing winds are predominantly out of the south west in the summer, greens that are exposed to these winds have fared well while greens that are not have struggled a bit- most notably 1 green and 3 green.  The south west airflow on these greens is blocked by Port Washington Boulevard rendering them helpless during the heat wave that we just experienced.

Greens 1 and 3

This blockage and stagnation of air has resulted in surface temperatures 7-10 degrees higher than a green with adequate airflow and full day sunlight- a green such as number 6. Thus, water that is applied to these greens during the day when it is needed most does cool the surface but it also sits there and does not evaporate as quickly as we would like.  This can result and has resulted in some increased compaction and sealing off of the surface impeding turf growth and essentially choking the plant to death.  

Despite the uphill battle with the weather, we have fought back through adjustments to our cultural practices- mowing heights have been raised by .05" to .115" on these greens and we have switched from wiehle rollers to solid rollers which are less aggressive and more forgiving on the turf.  

Wiehle rollers through the turf giving a more aggressive cut which accounts for better ball speed 

whereas solid roller will not comb through the turf

The slight increase in greens heights and the exchanging of rollers does result in a reduction in green speed but the temporary setback in green speed  is right now secondary to healthy, viable turf.  

Additionally, to subsidize the lack of airflow on one green, we have started using a fan (thank you Plandome) set up in the southwest corner of one green that provides the necessary airflow to keep the green cooler during the day. 

Fan on 1 green

The attached video demonstrates the fans effectiveness, take a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuVi5FN6lIM&feature=youtu.be

As we embark on the month of August, we have seen a return to some more "seasonable" summer temperatures and many of you have taken note of how well the golf course has weathered the storm.  However, the fight is not over and it takes times to recover from a stretch of weather like what we just experienced. Recovery is taking place and as long as the weather cooperates we will continue to nurture recovery in areas where it is needed.

Temperatures in the last five days have not reached 87 degrees

Soil temperatures actually dropped below 70 degrees on three nights and only reached 90 degrees on 1 day

Remember, we do not know what lies ahead weather wise but are certainly taking advantage of the welcomed reprieve. This does not automatically mean that green speeds will return to pre-July speeds and that everything will instantly recover. However, through core cultivation at the end of the month, seeding and smart watering, we are poised for a great finish to the summer and a fantastic fall!

High Tech Water Management

With the onset of the warm summer temperatures, oppressive humidity and elevated nighttime temperatures, proper water management is one of the most important aspects of golf course management during the summer months.

Over the course of the past four years, we have employed moisture meters to measure the soil moisture content of the soil below the greens.

Moisture Meter

These meters have two probes attached to a device that are inserted into the ground at a depth of 1.5-3". When inserted, the probes will read and display the moisture content of the soil, telling us the water content of the soil below. Using these numbers we can quantity how much water may or may not be needed. This has made for very precise and accurate watering of the greens in the last few years. 

In combination with these meters we are also now employing soil moisture monitors inserted into the soil that measure soil water content, temperature and salinity.

     Toro Soil Sensors

A cup cutter size plug is taken out of the green, the sensor is inserted and then then the hole is repacked with soil and the top of the plug. We have employed seven of these sensors- four on greens and three on fairways.

     Monitor being inserted

Vine video of monitor insertion- https://vine.co/v/hBQhuw1wLqD

The soil monitors relay information back to the central irrigation computer allowing us to track soil water content and temperature through the irrigation control system. These monitors are extremely beneficial in quantifying the amount of water the course receives after rain events and irrigation cycles. This allows us to be much more practical and efficient in determining when to water and how much to water.

Graph showing increasing and decreasing water content in 6 green. The orange line shows a dramatic increase during a 1/2" rain event at noon today, 7/1/13.

With the installation of the new irrigation system, fertigation, and now having implemented field sensors, we are now able to operate at a high level of precision and sophistication- all essential elements to proper water management. 

However, there are instances where technology cannot replicate or take the place of physical inspection of manual watering of the most important playing sufaces, the greens. As a result, no matter how sophisticated technology becomes, we will continue to physically hand water greens in the assurance of proper plant health, proper green speed and consistency from green to green.  

If you do see a staff member watering on a green during the summer, please wait until the green is finished being watered or you are waved on to play your shot.  Syringing during the summer months is one of those "necessary evils" that may inconvenience on the course for a brief moment in time but it has long lasting benefits to the health and viability of the greens throughout the summer.

Have a great 4th- god bless this great country!