River Falls Plantation Superintendent, Daniel McDowell Jr.: September 2013

After an unusual summer, that was honestly just plain crazy, we are now in a "drought" as I like to say now! We seriously are very dry. This is not a bad thing for the golfers though, as the greens are firm (almost getting a little too firm) and the speeds are rolling very consistent with speeds that are making a lot of golfers very happy. I noticed due to this very weird weather pattern we are having where the days are mild, and the nights are cool, with such dry air--seed heads are trying to form again on the greens. I once again treated with a herbicide called Princep (simazine is the active ingredient for all of you chemical junkies). This is still a culture shock to me to spray such a thing. I did mix a Minor nutrient package along with iron--just in case we get an off color stunting from this spray. It is very intriguing that this is the recommended spray, and is something for all the turf managers and superintendents reading this blog to really almost scratch your head and say, "really--on green turf?" It worked excellent in the spring, and I'm hoping to get some Poa annua control out of this this fall as well. On to bigger and better things--the sod that we installed on the course is doing well. It isn't growing as fast as I had hoped for, but it is healthy and doing well. This weather pattern of cool nights and mild days, along with absolutely zero rain isn't helping it to grow in, but it is still a healthy stand of turf. We will begin to use these tees very limited throughout the fall and winter, and once the grass begins to grow in the spring and summer these will be the primary tees as I plan to re-work the other tees on these areas. I'm excited to see all of the visitors out here coming to play as all the bentgrass courses are healing in from aerification. That is one positive about the diamond zoysia is that we aerify one time, in the dead of summer when its almost too hot for golfers any way. We have great greens when the bent guys are healing in, so as a sales pitch to those golfers of other courses that read this, come out! The finished product for the waste bunker really thrilled me, and I have enjoyed each of the comments that I have received on this new addition. How do each of you like the red carts? I think they have an appealing look on the golf course. I wasn't sure exactly how I would like them at first, but I think they really pop and look sharp! As summer winds down, so does our maintenance crew. Its not the hustle and bustle of cut cut cut cut cut the crazy growing grass, but lets make progress. Lets get projects done! I look forward throughout the fall and winter and upgrading and bringing new and improved areas that I hope that each of you will enjoy and make your River Falls golfing experience one of a kind! Fall color is soon for us to enjoy, come out and play golf and enjoy the beauty of fall.