Weather
If you've talked to me anytime this spring about how the course over wintered you've heard me comment on how the weather conditions last fall and winter had a big impact on spring conditions. Last fall was huge with respect to the turf achieving proper dormancy: dry, gradual but consistent temperature drop, and lots of light. A lot of the problems in the spring of 2010 related to the early and extremely cold temperatures in the fall of 2009 when the turf wasn't ready for it. Another plus was the fact that the snow pack this year was dry and deep. We rode out the one rain/thaw event in January with no ice. Even if any water reached the green surfaces I doubt it would have caused problems since for most of season the ground was unfrozen and water would have been able to soak in. Sometimes unfrozen ground, especially when it is wet and the grass is too lush, can exacerbate snow mould occurrences; however, this time out that was not the case. The more I think about it the more I think the soil temperature and soil moisture had an impact on spring conditions.
Fall Fungicide Applications
Treated Area in the Picture Foreground
Untreated Area Between White and Red Markers
This was the last year we were able to use quintozene (see kimberleygolfclub.blogspot.com/search?q=pmra for back ground) for winter disease control. We've messed around with different products on the greens over the past two years and I am comfortable with what we now use to treat the greens. Treating fairways for snow mould is our biggest cost when it comes to disease control. The alternative products available for 2011 are no where near as cost effective as quintozene. For the winter of 2010 we compared the efficacy of two different sprays against quintozene and, at least for this winter, we had good results.
Kimberley "Snow Mould Trials"
Far from scientific but hopefully some sort of indicator. You may have to double click on the picture to get a better view but this picture shows a fairway split longitudinally into three sections. In the centre of the picture between the rows of yellow pin flags is the quintozene spray. On either side is the two sprays we compared to quintozene. We did this comparisons at select spots on different fairways throughout the golf course with similar results. What that means for the future is had to say since, as previously mentioned, the weather had such a positive impact on spring conditions. The one comment that can be said with a large degree on confidence is the fact that the two alternative sprays we compared to quintozene were twice the price so if we want to continue some level of snow mould control the cost will go up. This winter we'll mess around some more but I think it will take a few winters before I'll have the same level of confidence with the quintozene alternatives.
River Update
I'm always amazed at the how the St. Mary river level can change from day to day. I stuck this video in here in an effort to show how fast and deep the river is but the impact is minimal unless you're familiar with the golf course intake. Obviously, water is not a problem but what a big and dirty run off can do is plug the intake with silt and clay making is harder to get necessary volumes later on despite there being lots of water in the river. As usual, it is a wait and see thing.
