Golf Course News
Excessive Rain Continues, Course Remains Soggy
By Todd Mathews
Golf course superintendentThe first ten days of May have brought over 7˝ inches rain to Lake Tansi golf course. The golf course is extremely wet. Many folks say the course is as wet as they have ever seen for this time of year.
Lack of sunshine and saturated soil make for unpleasant golfing conditions, not to mention the fact that the maintenance staff has not mowed the roughs for the last 11 days. The grass is nearly out of control. When the course dries out (who knows when), it will take many days to gain control of the grass and return the course to a top notch condition. The maintenance staff has prepared for the task of fighting the over grown turf. They raised the height on the rough mowers and will gradually bring the cutting height down as the course continues to dry. They have plans to use a leaf vac to remove the grass clumps and excessive clippings. Some areas on the course will have to be cut with push mowers and weed eaters. Recovery will not be an easy task, but the maintenance staff is prepared to do what ever it takes to get the course back in shape.
On the bright side, the plant growth regulators that the maintenance staff applied 2 weeks ago to the fairways and tees have worked really well. The fairways, at this time, aren’t growing out of control despite not being cut for 11 days. The growth regulator has paid off during this wet period. It would be nice if the maintenance staff could afford to treat the roughs as well each spring.
Hopefully the course will get a break from the rain and the overcast skies so that some drying may occur. Everyone, including the golfers and the golf maintenance staff, has had enough of this excessive rain. Wouldn’t it be great if this rain could be “banked” for future use? It would surely be appreciated in August, September, and October.
