Playing Defense

The recent wet weather combined with summer temperatures and humidity is taking a toll on bentgrass.  With the forecast for the next 10 days looking even more hot and oppressive, it's time to play it safe.  We will be using our aerator this week with small solid tines to "vent" greens.  We may also bump up the height of cut and/or take a day or two off from mowing and just roll greens instead.  Symptoms of summer decline are evident in places and we probably should have started our defensive strategy a week sooner.  That said, we are in great shape and expect to keep it that way.  In order to have the best possible conditions in the fall, we must play some defense in the summer.  The next 6-8 weeks have the potential to look a lot like the week pictured below.  The Member-Member next weekend is going to be an endurance check for both golfers and greens.