Transition zone

We grow grass in a unique area of the country called the transition zone. We also grow two distinct types of grass that like two distinct weather conditions. As we move into summer, the differences in grass types becomes apparent.

The transition zone stretches primarily from Maryland and Virgina westward through West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. It is the area that “transitions” from a warmer in the south to a cooler climate in the north, and turf varieties change from primarily warm season grasses to primarily cool season grasses. The unique, and difficult aspect of the transition zone is that neither warm nor cool season grass thrive. The winters are very cold and can be damaging to warm season turf, and the summers are very hot which can be damaging to cool season turf. So, no matter the weather, some turf is unhappy.

For Bretton Woods, this dichotomy plays out daily: our greens and rough are all cool season turf, and our fairways and tees are Bermuda grass, which is a warm season grass. During the spring, greens are beautiful, healthy and thriving and take very little effort. Temperatures are cool and the weather is perfect for the cool season turf. Instead, a lot of our focus is on encouraging growth of the Bermuda grass and promoting recovery from winter damage. Air and soil temperatures are rising, but still too low for the Bermuda grass to truly be growing vigorously.

Then we enter summer, like we are right now, and the whole management process flips on its head. Mother Nature takes care of growing the Bermuda grass and we work to control its growth so that it doesn’t grow too fast. And most of our focus shifts to the cool season turf, mainly the greens, which are predominantly annual bluegrass, which is one of the least heat tolerant turf species. Moisture and disease management are critical for the greens. Turf loss can occur in the span of one afternoon if the greens are too wet or too dry or an application of preventive fungicides is missed.

The upcoming stretch of days are forecast to be very warm- the warmest of the year so far, and a longer stretch of heat than we had at any time all last year. So, for the next few months, our main goal will be to protect the cool season turf. Then once again, when fall hits, we will “transition” back to working on the Bermuda grass and protecting it for the winter

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please remember to remove any bunker sand that may be stuck to your spikes before walking on the greens.

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

Golf Cart tips

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org