Seasonal Green Renovations
With the temperatures warming up it has come to the end of the viability of the seeded ‘cool season’ Poa Trivialis on the greens. We have had a great run over the cooler months utilizing this variety to provide a superior putting surface.
You will have noticed some bronzing off in this cool season variety since the spike in temperatures. This is to be expected and if nothing is done the cool season grass would naturally die off as the warmer weather sets in. Unfortunately, the pleasure the cool season variety provided over the winter does result in some pain in the transition back to the normal couch greens surface. During the winter the cool season grass out competes the couch for sunlight. In effect shading the couch and thinning it out (not dissimilar to what you may see in your yard on the southern side of the house).
The renovation scheduled for the week commencing 18th October will be significant. Scarifying to remove and thin out the cool season Poa Trivialis, Coring to further remove Poa and thatch, as well as topdressing to encourage the couch grass to regenerate and cover across.
The process of transitioning back to couch will take some time. Being conscious of this, the maintenance team have been preparing for this transition with recent increased applications of fungicide and nutrition to ensure the greens are in the best place possible leading into what will be a trying transition period.
22nd Hole
Turfing has been delayed with the weather this week and has been rescheduled for next week.
Good Golfing,
Keith Johnson
Course Superintendent
Filed under: Course Updates