Course Update 7/11/19

Not counting today's storms, our total rainfall so far in July is 1.29" and we had measurable rain 6 of the first 7 days this month.  Our average is 3.90" of rain in July.  June finished with 9.01" of rain over 17 days, which puts us at 10.30" since June 1st and 18.77" since May 1st.  Since the beginning of the year we've received 29.64" of rain compared to our average of 19.52".  Over the past 191 days, 78 have seen measurable precipitation.

The excess moisture caused a surge in weed growth this year, and the hot/humid weather over the past week has created ideal conditions for disease.  White Clover (Trifolium repens) and Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) are the two dominant weeds present, and a fungus known as Dollar Spot (Clarireedia homoeocarpa) is responsible for the tan spots in the rough.  We've been spot spraying a mixture of herbicides the past several weeks to control the weeds and are seeing good results.  Once we make it through the entire property we will go back and re-apply in the areas where weeds are still present.  Beginning next week we will begin spraying a fungicide to control the Dollar Spot fungus along with a little fertilizer to help the grass recover.  Dollar Spot fungus only affects leaf tissue, not roots or the crown like other pathogens.  That's why the plant will recover after a fungicide application and produce new leaf tissue.  Our primary applications will be around fairways and greens, then we'll come back and spray other areas including around tees.  The fungicide we plan to use to for the Dollar Spot is also labeled to control Gray Leaf Spot, which if you remember is responsible for damaging the rough last fall.  Gray Leaf Spot kills the entire plant and why we scheduled several sprays beginning this summer to preventatively treat for the pathogen.

Here's a good example of what Dollar Spot looks like in the rough.  The pathogen is not isolated to golf courses, so you may encounter it in your own lawn.