The high school kids have left to follow their dreams for another year, the nights are getting longer and the air has that fall feeling with each breath. August has come and gone and with it some of our best weather and course conditions I have seen in my short time at Oakfield. Rain was limited to about 5 days, and delivered only about 70 mm, much less than average for a typical August. The warm days and cool nights provided the perfect growing conditions, and in combination with the ability to control moisture levels, playing peaked mid August. We are very happy with the course and hope that the members have been pleased with the product offered to them this year.
Yesterday 's storm dropped over 80 mm of rain on the golf course but the course held up well and is playing normally today (with the exception of the bunkers, which 6 of the staff are working on today). The minor effect of such a large amount of rain is largely due to the lack of moisture in the ground from the less then average rain fall in August. The drains, ditches and ponds are all dry or in the lowest positions, which allowed the water to run off or be drained away. September usually offers some of the best weather as well, so fingers crossed, the conditions should continue to be exemplary.
On the whole the summer weather conditions can be summed up with the phrase "feast or famine". Either we have had too much rain or virtually none at all. The average temperature were warmer, or at least more humid then I remember from years past, and with the increased humidity comes the dreaded Dollar Spot. This rather common disease thrives in the humid weather, cooler nights and moist conditions. All of which were either present form weather conditions or we created by watering at night. It's present everywhere on the golf course, the greens, tees, fairways and rough. In the initial stages Dollar Spot is really just an aesthetics issue, however, left to continue to cultivate it can coalesce into larger patches that will lessen the playing conditions. Dollar spot is treated with a Fungicide, sprayed either preventative or curative, and can be purchased in different forms with different active ingredients. The differences of product lie in the longevity of the protection the product affords, some 7 days, others 21. Longevity is also affected by how favorable the environmental conditions are to the disease, which is referred to in the business as "disease pressure". This summer has seen some of the worst disease pressure that I have seen in my 25 years in the industry. Where a preventative rate (lower rate) might normally get you 21 days coverage, under the current conditions the disease continues to gain a foot hold in just two weeks time.
During this week we will be spraying the greens, tees and fairways in order to arrest the development of the disease and then follow that up with some fertilizing to speed the recovery of the plant health. Here are some pictures of the Dollar spot on the course.
Yesterday 's storm dropped over 80 mm of rain on the golf course but the course held up well and is playing normally today (with the exception of the bunkers, which 6 of the staff are working on today). The minor effect of such a large amount of rain is largely due to the lack of moisture in the ground from the less then average rain fall in August. The drains, ditches and ponds are all dry or in the lowest positions, which allowed the water to run off or be drained away. September usually offers some of the best weather as well, so fingers crossed, the conditions should continue to be exemplary.
On the whole the summer weather conditions can be summed up with the phrase "feast or famine". Either we have had too much rain or virtually none at all. The average temperature were warmer, or at least more humid then I remember from years past, and with the increased humidity comes the dreaded Dollar Spot. This rather common disease thrives in the humid weather, cooler nights and moist conditions. All of which were either present form weather conditions or we created by watering at night. It's present everywhere on the golf course, the greens, tees, fairways and rough. In the initial stages Dollar Spot is really just an aesthetics issue, however, left to continue to cultivate it can coalesce into larger patches that will lessen the playing conditions. Dollar spot is treated with a Fungicide, sprayed either preventative or curative, and can be purchased in different forms with different active ingredients. The differences of product lie in the longevity of the protection the product affords, some 7 days, others 21. Longevity is also affected by how favorable the environmental conditions are to the disease, which is referred to in the business as "disease pressure". This summer has seen some of the worst disease pressure that I have seen in my 25 years in the industry. Where a preventative rate (lower rate) might normally get you 21 days coverage, under the current conditions the disease continues to gain a foot hold in just two weeks time.
During this week we will be spraying the greens, tees and fairways in order to arrest the development of the disease and then follow that up with some fertilizing to speed the recovery of the plant health. Here are some pictures of the Dollar spot on the course.
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| This is number three fairway, you can see the fuzzy white mycelium of the Dollar spot. This picture is taken from a standing position. |
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| Dollar Spot on Number two green. |
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