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
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