August Agronomy Update

 

August is one of the busiest months for turf mangers in the Ohio Valley, the cool season grasses are in survival mode from the typical hot and humid Cincinnati summers and we also start to look to next season, focusing on agronomic practices that will help the turf and playability.

 

Irrigation:

From Mid-June to the end of July were extremely dry at HP with just under 2” of rainfall. During this period the irrigation system applied about 9 million gallons of water with about 62 percent, or 130,000 gallons/acre of the water usage being directed to the rough while the drought tolerant Zoysia grass in the fairways received less than 15% of total water usage or 50,000 gallons/ acre.

Rough:

Last week our team began to inter-seed the thin areas in the rough with turf-type tall fescue and we have already seen germination in many spots. The majority of the weak turf is an unwanted grass called Annual Bluegrass and Creeping Bentgrass and is located in low-lying areas where water will sit for long periods of time along with many other areas. Additional drainage and turf type fescue seeding will help with playability and fewer inputs of fertilizer and fungicides. 

Thin Annual Bluegrass in the rough

Germination of Tall Fescue in Slits 

Zoysia:

In late July, we received a load of Zoysia sod from Indiana to replenish the on-site nursery and begin raising low areas in the fairways where water collects and damages the turf in the winter. The majority of the sod has rooted in well and is safe to play from, new areas of sod are delineated with a green stake.

Zoysia Sod on 12 

Zoysia sod nursery behind # 4 green

 

Over the next few weeks, the Grounds team is focused on the following initiatives:

 

-Continued storm damage clean-up on the peripheries 

-Mowing and herbicide applications in the High rough

-Tee aeration 

-Spot seeding and fertilization of the rough 

-Small drainage projects around the course

-Intern recruitment

Thanks for your questions and feedback on the course and grounds at HP.

Pat O'Brien

Grounds Superintendent