A fearless prediction:
We will NOT need to purchase any water from the City of Warwick this year.
Currently, irrigation ponds are holding about 1.4 million gallons available to us for irrigation, after last night's additional 2.5" of rainfall. This month's rainfall totals 7.78", with a week until August.
Anyone for a swim??
Friday, July 24, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
News for the week
Happy spring again, Potowomut golfers!!
First, we have a correction. A few weeks ago, we reported an incorrect figure regarding gallons of water pumped this year. As of July 21, we have applied 4,100,000 gallons. The Excel spreadsheet was set up incorrectly by yours truly before that blog posting. Last year at this point, we had applied 8,100,000 gallons of irrigation water. Since April 1st, 17.55 inches of rainfall has fallen on our golf course. That is almost a foot and a half of precipitation!!
Fairway extensions are in place. We have not shortened the golf course, but we have shortened the distance from tees to fairways by around 225 yards. Hopefully, the golf course will be more fun to play for everyone. The irrigation system has been adapted to irrigate these extensions as fairway. In the fall, we will complete the project, aerating and adding more fescue and bentgrass plants via overseeding, then lowering the height of cut to fairway length.
Dead and ugly turf present on the 9th fairway was caused from a hydraulic hose failure from a fairway mower. The fairway area was sodded from our turf nursery, and the rough area will be aerated and seeded soon.
Grub control programs have begun. Grubs are small, white colored worm like creatures that feast on turfgrass roots. They begin feeding between August 10th and 20th. An untreated golf course in our climate would be devastated by both grub damage itself, and by skunks digging up turf looking for the grubs. 100% of our golf course and rough area will be treated within the next two weeks.
The hoses are back!! Crew members will be out the next few weeks cooling off the greens on hot and sunny days. If you encounter us "hosers" while playing, please be patient, as each green takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Thanks!!
Thanks also for everyone's wonderful compliments of our golf course's condition. 2009 has provided different challenges than previous years, and we have been lucky to stay on top of most of them...so far.
First, we have a correction. A few weeks ago, we reported an incorrect figure regarding gallons of water pumped this year. As of July 21, we have applied 4,100,000 gallons. The Excel spreadsheet was set up incorrectly by yours truly before that blog posting. Last year at this point, we had applied 8,100,000 gallons of irrigation water. Since April 1st, 17.55 inches of rainfall has fallen on our golf course. That is almost a foot and a half of precipitation!!
Fairway extensions are in place. We have not shortened the golf course, but we have shortened the distance from tees to fairways by around 225 yards. Hopefully, the golf course will be more fun to play for everyone. The irrigation system has been adapted to irrigate these extensions as fairway. In the fall, we will complete the project, aerating and adding more fescue and bentgrass plants via overseeding, then lowering the height of cut to fairway length.
Dead and ugly turf present on the 9th fairway was caused from a hydraulic hose failure from a fairway mower. The fairway area was sodded from our turf nursery, and the rough area will be aerated and seeded soon.
Grub control programs have begun. Grubs are small, white colored worm like creatures that feast on turfgrass roots. They begin feeding between August 10th and 20th. An untreated golf course in our climate would be devastated by both grub damage itself, and by skunks digging up turf looking for the grubs. 100% of our golf course and rough area will be treated within the next two weeks.
The hoses are back!! Crew members will be out the next few weeks cooling off the greens on hot and sunny days. If you encounter us "hosers" while playing, please be patient, as each green takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Thanks!!
Thanks also for everyone's wonderful compliments of our golf course's condition. 2009 has provided different challenges than previous years, and we have been lucky to stay on top of most of them...so far.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Problems repaired!!
Pumped irrigation water has returned to the golf course. New components and software have been successfully installed, and irrigation is running tonight.
Thanks to DAF services of Windsor Locks, CT for wonderful support when we needed it most!!
Thanks to DAF services of Windsor Locks, CT for wonderful support when we needed it most!!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Lightning damage report
The severe line of thunderstorms that came through on Tuesday did major damage to our pump station. The damage is not visibly evident within the building or to the pump station. Damage was done from a heavy electronic surge and ruined the main pump computer, and the electronic module that controls the three main pump's speed. Without these components, we cannot move a single gallon of water.
There are many ways for the surge to enter the building and do damage. A lightning strike could have hit a tree near the building, hit the ground nearby and traveled back to the pump station, struck either pond, or even hit the ground and traveled into the pump station via pipe or wires. All this damage happened despite many protections installed within the entire irrigation system for lightning protection, including lightning rods on the building itself. Lightning is quite unpredictable.
After consulting with Club President Mr. Cianciarulo, parts were ordered today, will be shipped overnight and be installed by our pump station contractor on Friday. Estimates for parts alone is $ 6,600, plus the service calls to install and test the system.
We will investigate insurance possibilities.
There are many ways for the surge to enter the building and do damage. A lightning strike could have hit a tree near the building, hit the ground nearby and traveled back to the pump station, struck either pond, or even hit the ground and traveled into the pump station via pipe or wires. All this damage happened despite many protections installed within the entire irrigation system for lightning protection, including lightning rods on the building itself. Lightning is quite unpredictable.
After consulting with Club President Mr. Cianciarulo, parts were ordered today, will be shipped overnight and be installed by our pump station contractor on Friday. Estimates for parts alone is $ 6,600, plus the service calls to install and test the system.
We will investigate insurance possibilities.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Sounding like a broken record....
After over 30 years on a golf course, I cannot remember another season quite like this one. Although June didn't set any records for rainfall at 3.32", it was the fifth most humid month we've seen since record keeping began four years ago.
Superintendents always prefer a dry year versus a wet one. In a dry year, we get to control how much water turfgrass surfaces see through irrigation. In a wet year, we have no control. Warning, you may have a control freak watching over your golf course!!
In simple terms, turf that doesn't dry and is mowed at heights for golf is going to become infected with one of many fungi caused diseases. The lower the height of cut, the higher chance for infection, despite any aggressive disease prevention regimen.
There are many costly fungicide options to prevent and cure disease. Some work by eliminating the fungi on contact when the fungicide is applied. (Contacts) The second method (systemics) is for the plant to uptake the chemical, protecting the plant from within. During "normal" summer weather, contacts usually have a seven to fourteen day window of effectiveness while systemics can last up to a month. Neither type lasts as described with constant rainfall we've had this summer, hence the issues we've discussed this year.
Rainfall of the first two days of July has compounded disease problems discussed in this and earlier postings. Present on some greens Friday morning are two different turf diseases that will need "curative" fungicide treatments during the next two days. You may begin to understand our frustration a bit, because rain remains in both short and long term forecasts. The forecasted heavy rains can either wash away an application, or severely shorten its effectiveness. We are now waiting for the proper time to apply fungicides to eliminate slight infections of "summer patch" and "anthracnose" diseases present on greens to be cost effective for the longest period of time. We enjoy applying chemicals that work as designed, and abhor spraying and wasting dollars from the sprayer!!
Please ask questions or email me if I have failed to explain these issues adequately!!
Due to member comments, we are shortening tee to fairway distances on many holes. Our plan is to maintain these new areas at intermediate rough height until later in the season. During August and September, these areas will be aerated and overseeded with our fairway mixture of fescues and bentgrasses. By next spring, fairway extensions will be maintained as fairway. As with the fairway re-contouring, we will make additional changes to these areas before they are renovated later this year.
Can anyone teach me and the crew the Potowomut anti-rain dance? Soup??
Superintendents always prefer a dry year versus a wet one. In a dry year, we get to control how much water turfgrass surfaces see through irrigation. In a wet year, we have no control. Warning, you may have a control freak watching over your golf course!!
In simple terms, turf that doesn't dry and is mowed at heights for golf is going to become infected with one of many fungi caused diseases. The lower the height of cut, the higher chance for infection, despite any aggressive disease prevention regimen.
There are many costly fungicide options to prevent and cure disease. Some work by eliminating the fungi on contact when the fungicide is applied. (Contacts) The second method (systemics) is for the plant to uptake the chemical, protecting the plant from within. During "normal" summer weather, contacts usually have a seven to fourteen day window of effectiveness while systemics can last up to a month. Neither type lasts as described with constant rainfall we've had this summer, hence the issues we've discussed this year.
Rainfall of the first two days of July has compounded disease problems discussed in this and earlier postings. Present on some greens Friday morning are two different turf diseases that will need "curative" fungicide treatments during the next two days. You may begin to understand our frustration a bit, because rain remains in both short and long term forecasts. The forecasted heavy rains can either wash away an application, or severely shorten its effectiveness. We are now waiting for the proper time to apply fungicides to eliminate slight infections of "summer patch" and "anthracnose" diseases present on greens to be cost effective for the longest period of time. We enjoy applying chemicals that work as designed, and abhor spraying and wasting dollars from the sprayer!!
Please ask questions or email me if I have failed to explain these issues adequately!!
Due to member comments, we are shortening tee to fairway distances on many holes. Our plan is to maintain these new areas at intermediate rough height until later in the season. During August and September, these areas will be aerated and overseeded with our fairway mixture of fescues and bentgrasses. By next spring, fairway extensions will be maintained as fairway. As with the fairway re-contouring, we will make additional changes to these areas before they are renovated later this year.
Can anyone teach me and the crew the Potowomut anti-rain dance? Soup??
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