Growth potential

After a week off I've returned to find the course looking great. Adam and the rest of the team had a busy week trying to get all the usual jobs done plus finishing some of the outstanding jobs off. Bunkers have now been edged and a few more topped up with sand. Tee sprinklers have been clipped around and the 20th bunker brought back into play after the renovations we did in the spring.

One issue was an up rooted tree at the side at the 14th tee, after the heavy rain the one sided canopy decided to fall. Fortunately it is away from play and will be dealt with soon. 

The weather has been great for the last 7 days. After nearly an inch of rain around 10 days ago growth of grass has increased dramatically. 

In simple terms when you get heat and water at the same time that creates growth. In a more scientific view, we call the relationship between soil/ air temperature levels throughout the day and moisture 'growth potential'. 

Basically when the temperature reaches a level that a grass can grow at it's maximum, given the right supply of nutrients, water and light, this is it's maximum growth potential. We can control the amount of nutrients and water to some level, and using plant growth regulators we can regulate growth. 

During the last week growth potential has been incredibly high. The last application of growth regulator was applied around 12 days ago at a low rate as at that time growth was slow due cooler temperatures. Today we reapplied growth regulator to greens, this time the amount of growth regulator was increased due to increased temperatures, upcoming rain and an scheduled application of fertiliser. This should take the flush of growth from playing surfaces. Tees, surrounds and approaches are to be sprayed this week also.

Greens have also been double groomed and cut with the height now at 3.5 mm bench setting. This equates to around 2.5mm actual height of cut. 

This is taken using a prism gauge. 

Overall the course is looking great, let's hope the good weather continues.