The Heat Is On

Late spring heat is here!!

Just like you and I, turfgrass cools itself by sweating water, but through pores on leaves instead of pores on skin. Turfgrass roots pull water from soil, cooling itself in a process called evapotranspiration. During many warm summer days, soil water can become depleted, causing plants to wilt. If turf wilts for enough time, death of the plant(s) may occur.

On the days plants on greens cannot find water it needs to cool itself, our staff takes over and cools the turf using hoses. When you see us pulling those heavy lengths of 100' hose, our sole purpose is to lower the canopy temperature. Like an athlete, the greens perform better after this cooling, or "syringing" process.

On tees and fairways, we may run sprinkler heads to spin once or twice, again to cool the turf.

Why don't we simply turn on sprinkler heads to greens to apply this cooling water? Each green has many different microclimates, and each has different needs for water. The perimeters of greens where greens were expanded a few years ago need more water than the centers of the greens. Also, wilting areas of greens need a bit more water to promote healing. The greens communicate to us what they need as we apply cooling water. If we applied overhead irrigation water afternoons to greens, ultimately areas of greens would get too wet, an unacceptable and unhealthy surface for golf turf.

As a part of your membership dues, staff is trained to cool anyone who asks!!

Stay cool!!