Wet times

Well…careful what you wish for! (Though we did not ask for downpours and damaging storms.) Last week we discussed how dry it was, and now we will discuss how wet it is. Since Wednesday, the 22^nd we have received 4.5” of rain (as of writing this on the 26^th).

We had a storm drop 2.5” and another produce 1.25” in short periods. This much rain does not help dry soil conditions much because most of the water just runs straight across the land. We did get a couple slower, soaker-type storms also. But now we are too wet, and this is not the time of year to be too wet.

A picture of the water rushing down
18 fairway during the storm that 
totaled 2.5"

When the rain comes that fast and heavy the first problem is the damage to the bunkers. The sand, and sometimes the soil below the sand, moves with the water from high to low. This is not the first and most certainly won’t be the last time we discuss what heavy rains do to the bunkers. We will be back at it again, repairing and raking this week.

Regular maintenance also becomes difficult or impossible when it suddenly turns this wet. Labor must be used for repair work. Debris cleanup must be done before mowers can cut the turf. And the soil is likely too wet for our machines anyway. We quickly fall behind and are trying to play catch up, and in the case of this last week, just when we think we are caught up, the next storm hits. The Bermuda grass especially at this time of year gets too long very quickly. It thrives in hot, humid, and wet conditions. We will work as quickly as possible to get the main surfaces back into shape.

Probably the most difficult problem with all these storms is the diseases that arise. One in particular, Pythium, becomes active when it is hot (check), humid (check), and when the soil is saturated (check). Pythium can progress from absent entirely to infection and deatht to the turfgrass in just a few hours. Though we treat preventively for this disease, when the conditions are as conducive as they were this past weekend, breakthrough is inevitable. We had some Pythium strike on the putting green that we were able to spot treat to buy time before a blanket application could be made. Nevertheless, some damage was done. We are headed into aeration next week so we should be able to get some recovery and healing.

Radar screenshot courtesy of Bryan Bupp.
The target symbol is BWRC and
notice the location of 1 of the only 2 blips on the screen.

Radar screenshot courtesy of Chris Convey showing the same storm.

I did not take my own screenshot because I wanted no reminder
of what damage might occur!

Lately it seems the weather swings from one extreme to the other. Almost a month with an inch of rain total then 4.5” in 4 days, including what seemed like our own personal storm. We will continue to take it one day at a time to get the course back into shape.

 

Also, please note that we will be aerating 8/3-8/5, with 9 holes closed each day. Thank you

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Golf carts must always remain on cart paths once past the green and white posts, through the next tee complex. This is not weather dependent!

 

Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Bunker etiquette

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org