Surviving Summer: A Superintendent's Guide to Turf Management
Summer is a challenging season for golf course superintendents, marked by the constant threat of turf loss and the need to navigate unpredictable weather conditions. While it's impossible to eliminate the risk of turf decline, strategic adjustments and a strong agronomic foundation can significantly tip the scales in your favor. This guide offers a comprehensive strategy for managing the unique challenges of summer, focusing on data-driven decision-making and adaptive maintenance practices.
The Fundamentals
A robust agronomic program, up-to-date infrastructure, and optimal growing environments are essential for weathering the most demanding weather conditions. Here are some key fundamentals to consider:
- Monthly Course Closures: Schedule regular course closures to allow maintenance teams to perform critical tasks. If a busy schedule conflicts with maintenance needs, stakeholders must prioritize maintenance throughout the year.
- Irrigation Systems: Invest in modern, efficient irrigation systems. Outdated systems can contribute to turf loss due to their limitations. Upgrading to a new system is a significant investment, but it's crucial for turf health.
- Drainage Infrastructure: Prioritize drainage improvements to manage water effectively. Gradually addressing drainage concerns will have long-lasting positive effects, preventing areas from staying too wet or too dry during stressful summer months.
- Tree Management: Implement a tree management plan for courses with significant tree coverage. This includes strategic tree removal to improve air movement and protect turf health. Fans are beneficial in most climates for putting greens in pocketed environments.
Adjusting Application Schedules
When weather conditions turn unfavorable, adapt your plant protectant application schedules:
- Fungicide Timing: Shorten the interval between fungicide applications to prevent disease outbreaks during high temperatures and humidity. Excessive rainfall may require adjusting schedules based on course accessibility.
- FRAC Code Rotation: Consider the FRAC codes of fungicides. DMI fungicides can have growth-regulating effects at higher temperatures. Opt for products without these effects during the hottest summer stretches.
- Preemergence Herbicides: Split applications of preemergence herbicides can extend control, preventing weed encroachment later in the summer. Regular scouting is essential for determining postemergence application needs.
- Nitrogen Management: Adjust nitrogen applications to avoid issues during hot weather. High temperatures stimulate microbial activity, causing rapid nitrogen release. Reduce or suspend applications when temperatures are high, and consider the nitrogen source. Water-soluble nitrogen releases faster, leading to rapid growth.
- Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs): Monitor clipping volume and use a growing degree-day (GDD) calculator to determine PGR application needs. PGRs are metabolized more quickly during hot weather, requiring more frequent applications.
Modifying the Mowing Schedule
Adapt your mowing program to protect turf health and minimize mechanical stress:
- Rain-Related Adjustments: Schedule mowing before or after heavy rains when the course is dry enough. This may involve extra staff, weekend mowing, or switching to a triplex mower for putting greens.
- Reduced Mowing Frequency: During prolonged high temperatures and minimal rainfall, reduce mowing to prevent unnecessary stress. Mow only portions of the rough that need it, or mow fairways less frequently. Consider hand watering and restricting cart traffic to dormant turf areas.
- Protecting Edges and Curves: Focus on protecting fairway and putting green edges, as well as curves near bunkers. Use solid rollers, turning boards, and adjust mowing patterns to minimize stress in these vulnerable areas.
- Autonomous Mowers: Consider using autonomous mowers, which are lighter and less stressful on turf, allowing mowing even when the ground is soft.
Data Collection for Informed Decision-Making
Data collection is a powerful tool for evaluating playing surface performance and adjusting maintenance programs:
- Clipping Volume Measurement: Track clipping volume to understand the impact of fertilizers, PGR applications, and weather conditions on growth. Compare clipping volume to putting green speed to identify opportunities for adjusting mowing or rolling frequency.
- USGA GS3 Ball: Utilize the USGA GS3 ball to measure smoothness, trueness, firmness, and speed. This provides a comprehensive view of putting green performance, allowing for data-driven adjustments.
- Moisture Meter Data: Use moisture meters to map soil moisture in fairways and guide irrigation decisions. This data helps identify wet and dry areas prone to turf loss during extreme summer weather.
- ET-Based Irrigation Scheduling: Combine data with ET-based scheduling to make informed irrigation adjustments, balancing intuition with objective data.
- Communication with Golfers: Data collection enables effective communication with golfers and stakeholders. Establish performance ranges and track results to educate golfers about management practices and adapt to weather conditions.
Conclusion
Summer is a challenging season, but with a strong agronomic foundation, adaptive maintenance practices, and data-driven decision-making, superintendents can navigate the unique challenges effectively. By prioritizing turf health, communicating with stakeholders, and making informed adjustments, you can ensure a healthy course and happy golfers, even during the toughest summer stretches.
