Three "W's" - Weather, Wind & Water

Transition -- this is the time of year that is hated by both members and superintendents equally. It is the time of year for the few in the nation that overseed that we on purpose kill one type of grass (our cool season) to give rise to another (our warm season) just so we can prepare the golf course to be ready for another season of cool season turf (ryegrass) and start the process all over again. In our world we joke that there is two times a year that if we could go on vacation for a month it would be in December when the bermudagrass that we have so hard during the summer months to bring back into healthy condition we have effectively knocked down and the ryegrass hasn't quite filled back in it place; and the other is during transition (May & June) where we go out of our way to kill the ryegrass that we have worked so hard to make perfect leaves the course weak until the bermudagrass can fill back in once again.

As superintendents we are depended not only on our skills alone but also Mother Nature's three "W's" for an easier transition -- you will have notice I did not say perfect transition ... that is not possible unless you are God. The three "W's" -- weather, wind and water control how the transition will occur. Many super high end golf courses just sod out the areas that were affected by transition which give immediate gratification for tens of thousands of dollars; however, leaves the areas sodded to have to be done from that year on. Just like every other course the three "W's" determine just how much they are going to spend.

This year we have had all three "W's" fighting against us ... the weather has been ten to twenty degrees cooler, the winds have been at a all time high for the month of May thus drying the turf, and both of wells went down during the time we needed them the most thus limiting our water to less than half of what we needed.

The good news is that everything will recover ... quickly -- no. With the cooler weather the ryegrass has become strong again in the areas we have not chemically treated such the greens and approaches, which means that when these areas finally do transition they will be rough at first. Turf is not like carpet where one day it is less than desirable and then the next it is perfect ... we are depended on time and the three "W's" to ease this time of year ... but we will get there soon.