Another beautiful week of weather and the turf is still trying to grow despite the ever shortening daylight hours. The lack of wind is also a bonus as the courses stay relatively clean and we save a huge amount of time not needing to clear the playing surfaces of leaf debris before mowing.  It also allowed us to get the necessary plant protectant products out on to the greens on both courses.  A range of diseases can impact warm season grasses and the worst of them occur in winter when the turf isn't growing as well.  There are a range of management practices that are used to help prevent the disease from developing but the most important is the application of a fungicide.  Two applications one month apart are required and the timing is based on soil temperatures when the disease is starting to manifest itself.  It is a disease complex that almost needs year round attention to ensure that it doesn't take hold coupled with the two autumn applications.  Environmental conditions also have an effect so this year maybe a little different to the last two years when we were a sodden mess going into winter.  It really is an unpredictable disease and can still have an effect despite the best preparations.

The mornings this week have been a pleasure to work in with the temperatures a good bit warmer and the sunrise colours amazing which make course preps that bit more enjoyable.

Perfect Friday morning mow on 13R.

Course preps can quickly go sour though when you see something like this first thing in the morning.....

At least twelve shots on 12R fairway.

And probably the same person - 10 shots greenside 12R.

 

A friend of mine's club in the USA sent a similar photo to their membership and posed the question -  '' Do you take care of the golf course like an owner or a renter?  This renter took these divots and did nothing.  Be an owner of your golf course.  Thank you.''

And just to finish there were some amazing cloud formations today but this one is one of the most peculiar - virtually a straight line.  Not sure what it is officially called but pretty impressive.