Hot Weather On the Way!

Sounds like the next week will be some tough weather.  Highs to be in the mid 90's to 100 degrees daily with nightly lows in the mid to upper 70's.  This is the type of weather that turf managers dread but it is what it is.  There will be plenty of handwatering and syringing going on and the 90 degree rule with carts will be implemented until the heat passes.
 

Asst. Superintendent Alex Palos Hand watering  #10 Fairway

The "Dog Days of Summer" are always interesting as we deal with the heat and an increase in disease pressure that heat and humidity bring.  We have been fortunate thus far with disease as we have seen very little activity this season.  This is due to the dry conditions we have experienced and the low humidities we have had so far.  We will see what this next round of summer has for us.  It feels like we have had three summers already this season with the early warm up and lack of rain! 

 The course continues to play well despite the uncomfortable temperatures.  We will be working hard through the next 10 days or so to keep the turf as healthy as possible.  We will see some stress on the turf with the excessive heat but hopefully the heat won't stay around for too long.  Come out and enjoy some warm weather with us!! 

Weather Man says Hot, Hot, Hot!!

As we look at the forecast for the next 4 days or so the temperatures are 90 degrees plus.  How does this effect a turf plant that is known as a cool season plant?  Well to a bentgrass plant 90 degrees is getting out of the comfort zone.  Ideal temperatures for cool season grasses range from 64 to 75 degrees.  When temperatures are above this cool season range then turf may begin to show signs of stress.  The most common symptom to heat stress is wilt.  The plant shuts down physiologically and begins to use stored energy reserves to survive.  If the heat is a short term event then after a few days the plant returns to normal physiological activity but if it is long term (3-4 weeks) then the plant begins to struggle as the built up energy reserves are depleted.

So what can we do to help the plant?  You will see us syringing the plants with water during the day time.  Syringing is not like watering.  When syringing you just wet the leaf blades of the plant in order to cool the plant by the evaporation of the water off the leaf.  No water is put down into the soil so this is a very short, quick process.  You will see us hand syringing the greens and usually we use the irrigation system to syringe the fairways and tees.

Another way to protect the turf during times of heat stress is to limit the amount of mechanical stress that is allowed on the turf.  We may reduce our mowing frequencies, mow with lighter equipment or stop mowing until conditions improve.  As golfers the stress of cart traffic on wilted turf can be significant and that is when we ask that you abide by the 90 degree rule.  I have been asked by many golfers if this rule is based on a 90 degree temperature reading.  Actually it has nothing to do with temperature and everything to do with approaching your ball in a fairway at a 90 degree angle.  It is usually when we see temperatures around the 90 degree mark that we implement this rule being that the turf is showing signs of heat stress or wilting.  Driving carts across areas of wilted turf can cause damage within the plant cell wall and leaves tire tracks which then turn brown.  It takes awhile for the plant to recover from this type of mechanical damage so following the 90 degree rule when asked is very much appreciated. 

The course continues to play well even though the heat is upon us.  If you are coming out to play we will be observing the 90 degree rule with the carts for the next few days so enter the fairway at a 90 degree angle to your ball.  You may stop in the fairway then after hitting proceed back into the rough with your cart.  Conditions are dry and firm although not as dry and firm as the Olympic Club, for those of you who watched the U.S. Open.  The heat is expected to break after Thursday (6/21) so check with the pro shop regarding cart rules for the day when playing.         

    

 
 

New Team Members at CC of Peoria

Our Interns for the summer have joined us here in the Golf Maintenance Department.  Brian Powell is attending Illinois Central College studying horticulture beginning this fall with an emphasis in turfgrass management.  Anthony Feitz is a recent graduate of Purdue University with a B.S. in Turf Science and is pursuing his career goal of becoming a Golf Course Superintendent.

CCP Golf  Interns Brian Powell (left) and Tony Feitz (right) 

We are fortunate to have both of these young men working with us this summer and each have some solid work experience in their backgrounds.  When you see Tony and Brian on the course please help us in welcoming them to the CC of Peoria. 

It was a busy beginning to the week as we hosted the Maui Jim Invitational on Monday.  A full field of golfers along with PGA Senior Tour players filled the day with excitement.  Benefits from the event go to the Peoria Children's Home and many of our members participated in the event.  The clinics given by the Senior Tour players and long drive world champion/trick shot artist Dan Boever are always highlights for the participants. 

Senior Tour players Craig Stadler and Dave Stockton  

The Maui Jim Invitational brings in participants from all around the country and is one of the highlights of the year for our department.  The course was in great shape for the event and continues to play well for all of our members to enjoy.  It was a great day for the event and even Mother Nature cooperated. 

Come out and enjoy the course as it is in some of the best condition of the year.    



Grandstand set up on #3 Tee area

Did you see that sign?

As we head into summer you will notice some signage around the course.  These signs are placed to help remind you of a few simple cart rules and golf cart etiquette.  Signs are placed to direct you where to park for safety reasons on a given hole or a directional arrow to keep you from driving into an area that is easily damaged or even dangerous.  The general rules of cart operation are relatively simple and they are:
-Keep carts at least 30 feet away from any green or tee.
-Keep all four tires on the cart path when parking around greens or tees.
-Obey directional arrow signs and drive on cart paths where possible.
 -Keep carts out of native areas.

On course signage directing carts where not to drive.

Native areas are extremely sensitive to cart traffic.  Our native areas are great habitat for all kinds of animals and an attractive feature to the course.  We see deer, fox, coyotes, rabbits and an assortment of birds all taking advantage of the native areas around the course.  As a Golf Course Superintendent a large potion of my responsibility is to be a good steward to the environment.  Our native areas are excellent habitat for many animal species and have added many new animals to the course.  Please help us in maintaining our native areas by observing the signage and keeping carts out of these environmentally sensitive areas.




Turf damage caused by sharp turn in a fairway.

How carts are driven is also important.  Please avoid sudden stops or sharp turns in the fairways.  The photo to the right is from #12 fairway where a golf cart made a hard U turn after a rain event.  The turf is torn away from the roots and in the summer months would not recover so this scar would be permanent.  Being early in the season it should recover in a few weeks.  When the 90 degree rule is in effect please cross fairways at a 90 degree angle to your ball and then return to the rough.

By observing a few simple rules you can have a huge impact on the playability and course conditions as we move through the summer.  As always, we appreciate your help and assistance in making your course the best it can be.