Stressed Turf

The recent weather has been very tough on our golf course turf, especially our greens and collars.  Many will notice the brown look of the collars on some greens, especially 12 and 14.  Much of this is due to us not performing an aerification this past spring.  The greens and collars seal up and do not allow water to penetrate through the surface and into the root zone where the plant needs it.  The results of the spring core aerification are always noticed during these hot stressful periods, and since we did not aerate this spring because we were too wet, we are left struggling to move water into the root zone this time of year. These areas are also limited by morning sunlight, which is a crucial time of day when the plant is gathering its energy for the day.  The stress is further compounded by the normal stresses of mowing and rolling.  We have actually recently core aerated the bad areas and filled the holes with sand and seed.  This will facilitate the movement of water into the root zone and should allow the area to fill back in.  We also use wetting agents which are really surfactants like soap to re-wet the area.  

Mike ONeill

Golf Course Superintendent

Cicada Killers in Bunkers.

Many golfers have expressed a concern over the "bees" in the bunkers.  In fact the "bees" are actually called cicada killers.  They burrow into the bunkers to make a nest.  The mating season is mostly July which is why we see them so active now.  They are only visible for a short period of time from July thru August.  Please be advised, the grounds staff has tried everything from wasp spray to tennis rackets and bunker rakes (see above pics of my Assistant Superintendent Mike Kelly on the 15th hole) to eradicate the cicada's.  We have cut the population down some but it is a long term process as they are always on the move.  The cicada's will not sting unless you grab them so please do not treat them like a bee.  The following link will explain everything one would need to know about the cicada killer.  In the meantime we will remain vigilant in our efforts to remove the pest.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_cicada_killer

Mike O'Neill
Golf Course Superintendent

Will it ever rain!

The weather certainly has been tough the last week. We have been totally reliant on our irrigation system to keep the turf alive. Many superintendents water based on a calculation of ET or evapotranspiration which is the rate at which the grass loses water. Because of our older irrigation system and lack of proper spacing we would have a lot of wet areas on the course. Watering requires years of understanding the hydraulics of the system as well as soil types and conditions. When turf stays saturated this time of year with temps in the 90's, the roots decline and this causes many more problems. This is why many will see the grounds crew with hoses, so we can apply just the right amount of water to the dry areas and not water any areas that don't need it.

Mike O'Neill
Golf Course Superintendent

Hot and Humid!

Hello everyone! This is the first post of many to educate and inform Bellevue Country Club members of course conditions and happenings. 

The recent hot humid weather causes major problems on the golf course turf if we are not prepared.  Certain chemicals need to be applied well ahead of time to ward off any disease associated with the hot humid weather.  The diseases we experience this time of year and in this weather can be devastating if we are not prepared.  Currently, our turf is performing very nicely given the weather.  The brown spots in the fairways are in fact just dry spots, we would rather keep the turf on the dry side to not only improve playability but to aid in the health of the grass as well. 

Please check back in regularly as we will keep this blog as current as we can.

Mike O'Neill
Golf Course Superintendent