Disease pressure, trees and running irrigation.

Over the last week we've had some pretty high disease pressure, specifically for dollar spot. We have been able to keep it in check on greens, tees and fairways there are some areas in the rough where it is pretty impressive. There are certain things we can do besides spraying to minimize disease pressure, one of which is to drag the dew off of the plant. Dollar spot requires periods of extended moisture on the leaf for it to thrive, therefore, when we knock the dew off the plant it cuts down on the time that it has to develop. Mowing also does this but, we don't mow everyday. So, if we have a morning with really heavy dew and we aren't going to mow we send out the drag mat to knock the dew off the plant. This is a quick, easy way to reduce pressure on the plant. 

Dragging dew. 

Dollar spot up close. The white growth is mycelium; it's only this thick when conditions are ideal for growth.

This week we received some trees for the driving range. There are 40 in total and are a mixture of different spruce trees. We already have all but a few planted and they really make the range look better; things were looking a little bare after all the work we've done up there. These will fill in nicely and help to screen the range off from the entrance and keep balls from from flying toward the road running in front of the clubhouse. 

A few new spruce at the entrance. There are more along the back of the range and on the ridge running on the right side of the range. 

While it was only last week that we had a flooded golf course, we are now ready to run the irrigation again. This may seem quick but, we have had a few really nice, drying days this week which has firmed up the course. We've even seen wilt in spots. With temperatures in the mid to upper 80's this weekend we want to water a bit before we fall behind, which can happen quickly with the amount of wind we get on the course. Because collars are always the first thing to wilt we were out with hoses today preemptively watering them along with a few of the fairway spots that are always the first to show water stress. You may notice a foul smell if you drive past a running irrigation head the next day or two. This is because that water has been sitting in the pipe for six weeks or so. However, as we run the system and pull fresh water into the lines that smell will go away. 

The grass bordering the cart path from 10 to 11 has been low ever since the paths were re-paved a few years ago. We have wanted to re-grade the path ever since but have been unable to due to a lack of sufficient fill. Well, thanks to the spoils dug out for the parking spots at the range we now have enough. We will grade this off, grass what we can with salvaged sod from the range and then seed the rest. It will be a nice improvement. 

Ian