Oct. 8, 2010 Scouting Report
Oct. 8, 2010 Scouting Report - Wondrous Weather: First frost, Dry Fall, Few issues, Dollar spot, Rust, Tim's Putting green varieties, and Nick says SERP
Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -
In a week we can see additional signs of a change at hand - Fall season. Besides the obvious change of deciduous tree leaf color (currently thornless honeylocusts are a nice clear yellow), our turf is also losing its green. The last time I wrote of colorful turf was Easter. A changing golf green caught my attention. Its surface contained an older creeping bentgrass variety, possibly 'Washington' c. 1930, which was glowing reddish-purple in patches following a frost. This week it all started again - first frosts. Green chlorophyll is becoming scarcer as leaf physiology now begins dormancy. I have another sign - communications. Superintendents continue a rush to finish projects. Today one wrote, "Frosty morning, low humidity, and dry conditions. Greens are fast (even without cutting). Project time - tree removal, drainage, and more drainage."
Another one was recapping the season to his green committee today using beautiful graphs (familiar to me). I realized two sentences out of 4 pages summed 2010 nicely. "We had more 90-degree days this year then the last two years combined. High disease pressure, shallow roots and daily mowing with play (wear) produced a very challenging, busy season." Fall is a time to reflect on a season to improve course conditions for 2011. Enjoy this project weather. Enjoy!
Click here to view the complete Oct. 8, 2010 Scouting Report.
Have a good weekend...especially if you are a runner (Chicago Marathon is Sunday).
Derek Settle, PhD
Director of Turfgrass Program
Chicago District Golf Association
11855 Archer Ave
Lemont, IL 60439
P 630.685.2307
F 630.257.2088
W cdga.org
E dsettle@cdga.org
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