Let The Games Begin

The sun has come out, and that means I can fulfill the promise I have been making the last 3 weeks on increasing green speeds.

Intensive grooming, and lowering heights on grass that is not growing is a perilous tightrope act that has long lasting effects, well beyond the immediate possibility of death.  And, honestly I am afraid of climbing up on the ledge, and taking that step over the abyss.  Odds are that in time you will kill grass for a very short gain in the hear and now.  But back to the present now; the snow seems to be behind us for a few months, and soil temperatures are climbing above 50 degrees, dictating verticutting, topdressing, and drying things out at least once a week.  I love stressing the grass, and conditioning it like one would an athlete training for a marathon. Green speeds will come quickly now.

This week we sprayed greens with a biological mix containing micro organisms that we "brewed /cultured", along with carbon, sugar, a little nitrogen, kelp, and acids.  It is critical to have a living soil, for good plant health.  Something agriculture has known for a very long time, and a practice that the turf industry is getting better at quickly.

We are trying out a biologically safe stain that we custom made at golf course maintenance.  In this picture Jake Miller tries out his latest batch at the chipping green.  What a big difference in the appearance of the tree!!!

Kevin