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??