Monday After First Week on Heat

I walked the greens this morning very much encouraged by what I saw ... the greens are beginning to fill in on the transition areas and our greens repair is in full swing.  This year the main areas on the greens that got hit were found in the front nine and with the exception of 6's green (a heavy shaded green) most of the damaged areas can be directly linked to the tree roots that are encroaching the greens.  The good news is that we have cut all of those roots in mid May thus once the damage is corrected we should be stronger next year.

 Indian Wells Green - Lots of Poa Triv

I have had a few questions about the golf course and of course comparing the conditions to others in the Valley.  On Friday I went to Indian Wells CC and Desert Springs Marriott both of which have push up greens and common bermudagrass fairways ... this is what I saw.  They had the same amount or less of bermudagrass (see pictures) as we do here at Avondale.  But why do they look different and better?  Neither golf course has aerified their greens as of yet; neither have sprayed out their ryegrass thus both require much more water inputs just to keep the ryegrass alive as the temperatures rise; due to less trees Indian Wells transitions better without the need of chemical inputs ... here at Avondale we do not thus years of holding on to the ryegrass led to death of significant amount of the fairways before my arrival and better, USGA cultural practices were utilized.  Look up USGA Greens Section article "Spring Transition: Going, Going, Gone" from March / April 2005 if you think I am wrong.  USGA Article

Desert Springs Where They Have Allowed Transition

The good news is that the temperatures are rising and the bermudagrass is filling in.  As per the Board's request last year (which was a good one) we sprayed out the approaches and surrounds this year for the first time so we will get the same excellent results that we got last year about mid July about the fairways.  Last year, the members did not like the transition either but during July they (the ones here in the summer) were raving on just how great they were ... this too shall happen this year.  The best news is that by taking care of the course correctly our overseedings have become better and better each and every year.