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

A New Week and New Hope for Average Temperatures

Tree roots removed from under cart path

It is snowing again today, June 6th, prohibiting golf or much outdoor work.  The forecast for Friday is for temperatures to reach 70 degrees, so I am going to hold out hope for another week.

Last week I outlined my optimistic planning for the projects we have been trying to accomplish.  Well; everything got done except for the painting of Shaffer Mill Road, and the painting of the 3 new sewer lift stations.  Having the asphalt done is a big relief.

Part of the hope that I hold is to be able to go out and enjoy what is typical weather for Tahoe. Typical and average are definitions that come about from years of data collection, and it should not be considered un-ordinary to be outside of those typical ranges over days, and often times weeks.  Months, and years are a different range.  The last month for weather across the world has been very unusual, making me believe something on a larger scale is going on.  I believe it is related to sea surface temperatures, and an increase in input to the energy systems on the planet. It is really a simple concept; energy in = energy out.  The complex part is quantifying the numerous inputs and outputs. Two of the easily recognized outlets of this increased energy are being seen in a strong late season jet stream, and strong frontal boundaries that are resulting in the large number of very strong tornadoes.  Temperature is only one component of the energy system, but it seems to be the one we have been fixated on for the last few years.  It does not completely explain snow in the Sierras, and does complete the picture for the severe storms across the rest of the nation.

There is not enough room here to explain what is going on, and I am now 23 years removed from my formal meteorological education, so I will leave you with the simple concept of global energy in = energy out. I will also let you know that it is boasting when someone says that they know what is going on, especially if they are talking about what is going to happen with global warming. Hundreds of thousands of temperature readings tell us the planet is warming, which is undeniable empirical data.  What that means we are only beginning to learn.  I invite you to come to your own conclusions by visiting a few links that I will provide here.  They are not religion based, or politically based; I have too much respect for what science stands for to promote those self serving institutions.

Wikipedia attributes to climate change
Energy balance and global warming





Kevin