Turf Scouting Report, April 29th

April 29, 2011 Scouting Report
April's Record Cloudcover: Floods then Tornados, Yellow Patch, Microdochium Patch, and Tim sees overwintering Thryidopteryx ephemeraeformis 

Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle - DSettle@cdga.org 
After 118 years Chicago finally did it and set a new April record - most days with cloudcover. Most folks, including golfers, were increasingly cranky as we counted each and every cloudy day. The effects on turf health were obvious; creeping bentgrass remained strangely purple-bronze and roughs remained thin, without recovery. I even noticed my skin had become increasingly pale. However, more serious weather to the south was in the news and an inconvenient soggy month in Chicago quickly became less serious though it had interfered with course maintenance, plant health, and golf play. In far southern Illinois, Easter weekend generated a rainfall total of 5-6 inches in 3 days and contributed to flooding that began Tuesday, April 26. With a superintendent, I recorded the ordeal of a Carbondale golf course this week. By week's end, weather developments would stretch my perspective further: from floods in the Midwest to lethal tornados in the Southeast. 

In the end, we knew the sun would come out sooner or later and on Friday it did. An area golf course superintendent left an early morning voicemail. "The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and my dog has chased several deer. Presently, he is looking for a goose." It made me smile and I enjoyed a sunny day after a difficult week that had given us all greater perspective. May is next. 

Click here to view the April 29, 2011 Scouting Report. 

Have a good weekend and enjoy some sun! 

Derek Settle, PhD 
Director of Turfgrass Program 
630-685-2307
dsettle@cdga.org 

Timothy A. Sibicky, MS 
Manager of Turfgrass Research 
630-685-2310 
tsibicky@cdga.org