A Historic Chapter Comes to a Close

Though temperatures will be rising into the triple digits again, the forecast says today is to be the last day in our current stretch of severe heat. While this still leaves us in the middle of a rather potent drought, next week's temperatures should give the course a chance at some recuperation before Invitational next weekend, which will bring with it more day's in the 90's!


When drought and blazing heat unite in an almost unmatched way as they have for the past week, a Superintendent's response is generally to put their head down and push through.  Just as the coming break in the heat will offer the course a momentary respite, it also allows my staff and I a chance to look back and take stock of what we've just been up against. To that end, I thought I would share a few facts from the Chicago Weather Center on just how unprecedented this past week has been.


1.) Up to the current hot spell, only four years since 1871 had produced four or more daily 100s: 1934, 1947, 1953, 1988. This year (2012) is now among them.


2.) The three back to back 100-degree days just completed here--102-degrees Wednesday and 103-degree highs Thursday and Friday, all record breakers--constitute one of only three such strings over Chicago's 142-year observational record. It was 65 years ago in 1947 that we last experienced three consecutive 100-degree or higher temperatures.


3.) The opening six days of July included within the 10-day period of heat being discussed here, is the hottest in 101 years! The period from July 1-7 has produced an average temperature of 87.4-degrees in Chicago which is an extraordinary 13.8-degrees above normal!    


The good news is: we made it! While there is still plenty of summer left, this particularly harrowing stretch is coming to a close.  Thank you again for your patience as Grounds raced to keep up with the heat. Feel free to join us as we all heave a sigh of relief!


See you on the course!
Elliott Dowling

Trivial Pursuit

As I'm sure some of you have noticed, select areas in our fairways have gone dormant over the past few days. In the hope of avoiding any confusion, I thought I would explain just what's happening out there.
I have spoken before about the many different types of turf that have invaded our course. The spots you are noticing are a species called Poa trivialis, generally known as Rough Bluegrass. Poa trivialis has a far lower tolerance to heat and drought, and given we are experience quite a bit of both it has gone dormant.

Unfortunately, there is not much we can do about this. The amount of moisture we would have to apply to keep the Poa trivialis healthy would pose a danger to the Bentgrass that surrounds it- Bentgrass that you will notice is still going strong. Once temperatures have grown mild once again the dormant turf should return with time, but until then our only viable option is to wait.

I'm supplying links to articles that discuss this subject in depth, one was published by Ohio State University, the other by Purdue University. This latest (and by far most severe) stretch of heat should come to a close this weekend, with the forecast showing Sunday's high as a frigid 82 degrees. Until then, we thank you for your patience as we drag hose and pop on heads. We're in the home stretch!

See you on the course!
Elliott Dowling

Get Out of the Kitchen

 I wanted to quickly share an article I found on Yahoo's news site today, which presents some staggering numbers on this years unprecedented heat.  The figures discussed must be seen to be believed, and even as someone who finds himself exposed to weather for the better part of the day, I was still shocked! Suffice it to say that the heat we are experiencing here is in no way localized.

You can find the article here.

See you on the course!
Elliott Dowling

Scouting Report for June 29

~~The following is the C.D.G.A. scouting report as posted by Derek Settle, PhD~~ June 29, 2012 Scouting Report June Ends HOT: 1st Type 2 Fairy Ring on Greens, Dollar Spot Jumps After Rain, Japanese Beetles Build, Peter's 1st Dollar Spot Data and Tim says Tall Fescue Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle Summer just got Record Super Hot. Until now we have been praising our cool-season turf for its deep roots and good color. "Good, nice, wow, terrific." And in response our turf has listened by glowing green and blemish free (given supplemental irrigation). This week things started to change. Peak summer heat entered our Midwest sky above (early) as an ominous forecast of 90s to 100s for highs strung themselves together. Accordingly we began to see signs of plant stress and our miniature boat-shaped leaf blades on greens, Poa annua, gave its first whelp of summer. This recent amber hue is now commonly occurring on Poa greens in Chicago, yet for the average eye all is well and the putting green looks fine. However, for superintendents this all-to-familiar-look means normal plant physiology of fine turf is no longer the same. On golf surfaces, physiological decline has begun and touche, in response they're moderating maintenance on greens. On especially hot days we back off. As far as ball roll or those green speeds you won't be able to tell as natural plant growth regulators are now in place - high temperature, midday wilt stress and high light levels. With plant growth next to nil careful inventory and evaluation of habitual stressors begins. Like the extra mechanical wear which always rings the cleanup laps of greens. Like traffic patterns on turf (the stressful effects of concentrated foot traffic on greens, and harsh traffic patterns of carts on fairways/roughs). Talk about a hot summer huh. Well it is! Click here to view the June 29, 2012 Scouting Report. Have a nice weekend and enjoy your 4th of July. Thankfully rain seems to have returned. Derek Settle, PhD Director of Turfgrass Program

Words of Wisdom

Many of you know the name Steve Cook. He is the certified golf course superintendent and director of agronomy at Oakland Hills Country Club (and if you don't know the name "Steve Cook", you certainly know the name "Oakland Hills Country Club"). Wednesday Steve posted a blog discussing the dichotomy between the mentality that should accompany turf management with temperatures in the 70's or mid 80's, and the mentality that should accompany turf management in extreme weather conditions- I would think that  the worst drought in a quarter century counts as "extreme"!

In his post, Steve uses a driving metaphor to explain what he calls a management "downshift": "...when the temperatures are North of 90 degrees, as in 97 degrees Thursday, it's time to let up on the gas and downshift into a lower gear. That kind of weather is not the time to be a hero and drive over the cliff." The 97 degree Thursday that he mentions is the very same Thursday that brought us into the100's last week- the first 100 degree day in June in 24 years!

After reading what he had to say I felt I couldn't describe how grounds has been operating through this period of intense heat and drought any better. Click here to see the post in it's entirety. And it is important to remember that even though we have been lucky enough to see rain this weekend, our drought is nowhere near broken. We are still inches below the line that we would need to cross for that to be true.

See you on the course!
Elliott Dowling

Scouting Report for June 22

Better late than never! ~~The following is the C.D.G.A. scouting report as posted by Derek Settle, PhD~~ June 22, 2012 Scouting Report June Sees A Little Rain: Dollar Spot, 1st Japanese Beetles, Anthracnose BSR, Peter's Billbug versus Kentucky Bluegrass and Tim is still saying Waitea Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle It was hard to keep a ballcap on a few days this week, whether near the striped turf of a baseball diamond (Cubs/Sox) or near the striped turf of a fairway (us). Hot wind meant turf ET climbed to outrageous levels, but our saving grace was rain which had made a dent on a dry landscape (0.5" last weekend for most of Chi). June's third week had brought some change. First, June 21 was hailed 'officially' as summer. Whatever. Second, high humidity returned. Drip, drip and that's not rain. Third, it was super-hot and Chicago scored more highs of 90-something. By Wednesday we had counted thirteen 90° days...and it wasn't even summer yet. Fourth, the good men I know as golf course superintendents began to look oven-baked? To lighten things I use small talk. "What's with the hair?" "You got dark all the sudden!" "Look, deep roots!" "Are you thirsty?" So, how's your summer going? If you are a kid pool-side, you smile. If you are a golfer now experiencing ball roll speeds of your life, you smile. If you happen to be a superintendent you're taking it all in (pats on the back). But, an occasional observant club member has begun to notice something. The Super's smile lost some of it's (broad) character. June just became July, it's Hot! Click here to view the June 22, 2012 Scouting Report. Have a good weekend and we are about to catch another break (cool-down). Whew! Derek Settle, PhD Director of Turfgrass Program

Trees Approved, Rakes Removed

Tuesday night the Board of Directors approved the greens committee's recommendation to remove three willows that inhabit the bank of 15 tee's pond.  These willows have been shedding material for some time, as they are nearing the end of their life cycle. The willows will be brought down Monday (June 25) with the intention of having the area ready for invitational. This fall and spring, we will be installing additional bald cypress at that location, our hope is that more bald cypress will tie in with the existing bald cypress on the south side of the pond, bringing more cohesion to the area.




Also approved was the removal of an Elm on the left side of hole number five where the fairway begins. This tree was suggested for removal because the main body has already begun to split. Should this division be allowed to run it's course a rather large piece of the tree would fall leaving what remains unable to recover, not to mention the chances for property damage and injury. Better we should control when the inevitable fall occurs and minimize the risk.

Lastly, the Board of Directors voted to repeal the bunker rake placement rules made earlier this year that required the rakes to be placed inside the bunkers after use.  The rakes are now to be placed in the rough on the far side of the bunker from whatever feature said bunker may inhabit, be it a green or fairway. The grounds crew has already made the change.

See you on the course!
Elliott Dowling