I wanted to send out a quick update on how the course is doing with the unusually wet weather this summer . There has been over 10” of rain since June 1st; 6” of which has fallen since July 1st. The heat and humidity has varied but with stretches where it has been very stressful for turf.
Disease has been difficult to control with early breakthrough even having used very good fungicides. This has been frustrating, but overall damage has not been too bad other than some scars on a few fairways - which will grow out in due course. We do not regularly spray the roughs due to cost, so it too has seen attacks of dollar spot in particular, but again it is superficial and will grow out in time. All the areas have been sprayed so all the disease is in check, which coupled with the cooler forecast should result in no more issues.
Dollar spot in fairway
As for the greens, they are all performing exceptionally well – including the pocketed greens that have caused issues over the last few years. The work that has been done to create better growing environments has paid off resulting in excellent rooting and as a result they are very healthy. With only four weeks until fall aeration they are better than they ever have been at this time of the year. While natural rainfall usually helps turf, the excessive amounts seen this summer would normally be detrimental to the "bad" greens as they have a difficult time drying out; so to have them in as good health as they are considering the wet weather is exceptional. The one benefit of the wet weather is there is no reliance on the poor irrigation water.
Hydrojecting with Dryject machine
The greens have been stimping in excess of 12ft all summer but they need rest from time to time. On Tuesday they were hydrojected (using a Dryject machine) which injects water at high pressure to create aeration holes. This is a very non-evasive procedure and also helps move organic material lower into the profile. The operation on Tuesday worked perfectly and coupled with resting the greens for a day means that they should have no problem staying healthy and playing at full speed right up to fall aeration. It does mean that they temporarily lost speed but is worthwhile when the result is having perfect surfaces the remainder of the summer.
Hydroject hole (crack) in green profile
One little issue on Tuesday was one of the machines had a hydraulic leak on 16 & 18 greens before it was noticed. The oil is very hot so scorches the turf. Usually that is the extent of the damage. We did spray some products on the turf to help move any oil off the plants which will also help recovery. It is too early to say how the turf will look but worst case will be brown lines on the greens for a period. The surfaces will putt fine other than the discoloration and any work to try and make it better will result in poor surfaces. With the fall aeration only a month away, the lines will slowly heal until then and the aeration will help heal the rest.
Hydraulic leak lines on 18 green
So overall The Rock has made it thought the summer in great shape and while there is another month to go to fall aeration, the entire course is further ahead of where it normally is, which puts it in a great position to play exceptionally well for the rest of the summer.
