The Perfect Storm Is Forming

In the last week we have received over 1.6 inches of rain that is encouraging the rough to grow out of control. In a typical week we are able to completely mow the rough three times, which keeps it short, dense and highly playable.

Over the holiday weekend and into today the rough was not mowed due to the conditions being overly wet and physical damage would occur to the golf course from the machinery used for mowing. This week we will be hard pressed to get the rough mowed once let alone twice. This coming Friday is our fist major tournament of the year (The Tradition) which will keep us off the course for the majority of the day.

In all likelihood we will not be able to catch back up with the rough until next week when we have an uninterrupted work schedule. This rapid growth of the rough is problematic, but at the same time it is great for filling in areas that were damaged by winter kill and the irrigation installation.

Now more than ever there will be a premium for keeping your ball in the fairway and out of the heavy rough. If you are unable to stay out of the rough, be sure to contact the golf shop staff for tips on how to play out of the thick stuff.

Not So Rough After All

As the summer heat begins to kick in the rough is finally showing signs of slowing down. The early fertility that was applied to the rough in the spring to promote active growth and recovery from winter damage worked well, a little too well.

Now that the excess fertilizer has been exhausted from the soil, the over active grow is subsiding. The additional factors of higher daytime temperatures and low humidity have also worked to help slow down the growth of the rough. The rough is still very thick, but it now has become easier to find your ball as well as hit from it.

Additional fertilizer will still be applied to the rough as the summer progresses mainly to allow the grass to have a chance to repair itself from the beating it takes on daily basis with heavy cart traffic.