Localized Dry Spots

 

 

 

Jim has a gallery while mowing 16 fairway

Sandpines received about an inch and a quarter of rain this week.  We used the wet weather to our advantage and spot treated localized dry spots with wetting agent on the tees, approaches, and fairways.  Wetting agents work best when they are thoroughly watered in, so it was the perfect time for the application. 

Localized dry spots can be very frustrating to golf course maintenance staff.  In areas with localized dry spots, it can appear as if there is not enough water applied to sustain turf.  However, this is often not the case.  Areas of turf with localized dry spots often have plenty of water, except in the localized dry spots (hence the name).  I have taken core samples with a soil probe in an area surrounding a localized dry spot, and have been able to squeeze water out of the core.  However, in a localized dry spot just inches away, the core was powder dry.

Localized dry spots appear in areas with hydrophobic soil.  Hydrophobic soil repels water.  One way to check for hydrophobic soil is to conduct a water droplet test.  When water contacts hydrophobic soil in a water droplet test, it beads up.  Wetting agents reduce the surface tension of water, and when mixed with water at the proper concentration, will penetrate the hydrophobic soil instead of beading up. 

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I conducted a water droplet test complete with pictures to check for localized dry spot.  Check out the results below.  You may want to click on the pictures to enlarge them for more detailed viewing.

Turf area with localized dry spots.

One core pulled from a localized dry spot, the other core pulled from the surrounding area.  Notice the core from the localized dry spot is powder dry, while the core from the surrounding area is moist.

This picture was taken about 5 minutes after the water droplets were applied.  Water droplets only beaded up on the core from the localized dry spot.  The water droplets added to the core from the surrounding area immediately penetrated the soil.

When the solution with wetting agent was added, the droplets immediately penetrated the hydrophobic soil.

Update

17th green

The weather has been excellent for golf this week at Sandpines.  It has been nice and sunny, but not too hot.  Just right for golf.  The course is in great condition.  I have received a number of compliments on the condition of the greens.  They are rolling very true.

Putting green after grooming

The greens were groomed, top dressed with sand, and brushed earlier this week.  Why groom and top dress with sand?  Greens that receive consistent grooming and top dressing tend to be much smoother and firmer than those that do not.  Greens that are smoother and firmer putt much better than those that are bumpy and soft.

Putting green after grooming, sand top dressing, and brushing

One of our goals this week was to aerate a few wet areas on the driving range and in the rough throughout the course.  We got started, but the aerator broke down before all the areas were completed.  We hope to get the aerator repaired soon, so we can finish the targeted areas.

Wet area aeration

Update

Early morning shot of 11 green

It is an excellent day for golf.  The course is in great shape, and the weather is beautiful.  If you get a chance, come out and play a round.


The greens were verticut and top dressed earlier in the week, and are rolling great.  The tees were fertilized.  Jerry has been working on drying up the wet area on the driving range.  There are a few more clippings this week, so the Buffalo Blower will be out to tidy up today and tomorrow.  Steven is pulling the last of the ropes today.  However, we will continue to use green stakes to control traffic as needed throughout the growing season.  Other than that, our time has been spent on routine golf course maintenance tasks such as mowing, setting up for play (changing hole locations and moving tee markers), and raking bunkers.

 Mike preparing to blow clippings

Update

View from the clubhouse

The weather continues to be hit and miss, but there have been more good days than bad over the last week.  So far, the forecast for the weekend looks good.  The precipitation history page has been updated with the monthly total from May. 

With the grind of fairway aeration behind us, it was nice to be able to focus on mowing and daily preparations this week.  You may have noticed the poll question on the right side of the blog page.  If you have not seen it yet, check it out and cast your vote.

Not top ten nominee

Last Saturday someone took a hack out of the 12th green right next to the cup.  The picture above shows what it looked like on Sunday morning before the hole location was changed.  Hopefully, this was done by the last player of the day, so no one else had to putt through the divot.

Aeration cores spread next to the path on hole 12

You may have noticed that some of the fairway aeration cores have been spread out  in various areas throughout the golf course.  They were spread and leveled in areas where we wanted to improve turf conditions.  As they grow in, they will begin to look more like grass, and less like piles of dirt.

Aeration cores

Speaking of aeration cores, we still have some for sale for those who are interested.  For more information call the maintenance shop at (541) 997-4530.  Aeration cores can easily be used to create a nice lawn for a cheap price.