We're running "lite" and have been sort of busy so something gotta give and it looks like it was the blog. Compounded by the fact that I seem to have misplaced my camera, I haven't posted anything new for a month. But I guess the good news there really isn't much going on; anything out of the ordinary, that is. Since last post we've aerated and top dressed all greens (despite the weather!), fertilized fairways and roughs, aerated/over seeded/top dressed some troublesome fairway areas, re-applied fertilizer to the tee's to cover the measles, added sand to some bunkers, and began a small landscaping project on 17 tee (a fence to block the view of the messy area where we keep the sand). Other than that it has pretty much been routine mowing.
You may have noticed the clover in flower in the rough and fairways this year. Clover is an indicator of low fertility and moist soils. I can talk to both those. With respect to fertility we only apply .5 to .75 Lbs of actual N/1000/application two times a year on fairways and roughs (i.e. 1 to 1.5 Lbs N/1000/year. Recommend rate is 1 to 3 Lbs/1000/year based on level of maintenance). We choose that rate because of budget not because that's all the turf needs. The proliferation of clover proves that. The moisture (120 mm for June alone according to the poo plant) is a no-brainer. Combined, those factors will give us a fine catch of clover for 2012. Go to here to learn something about clover you may find interesting. Golf course wise it is far from ideal to play out of so I have spot treated areas on the fairways. When it comes to the rough, however, budget, time (window of opportunity), and staffing means we won't get to treating clover growing in the rough this year. Those choices may haunt me next year but I know the solution if it gets out of hand.
