If the dew wasn't removed then the cut between blade and cylinder isn't as clean and secondly the wet grass collects on units, tyres and wheels, which then drop off in clumps around the course looking unsightly. The next problem is following mornings of dew and the cut grass from previous days work stick again to machinery and golfers feet which again trails around the course, on to playing surfaces and again looks unsightly. Although the nights are drawing in and getting colder, there is still some heat in the sun, when its out!
We spend a lot more time blowing, switching and trying to remove cut grass at this time of year then any other time, it therefore takes us off other jobs which are usually done more regularly. Once growth begins to slow, due to colder night-time temperatures then this should ease a little.
The leaves are beginning to fall faster, a lot of trees are changing colour which means we are out daily blowing and removing leaves before cutting and from the main playing surfaces, greens, tees and fairways.
Following the 30mm of rain we had last week the course has dried out again and all surfaces are looking great.
It has however started some thatch fungi, which as it sounds is a turf disease which thrives on thatch, it usually starts in humid wet conditions where there is constant high levels of moisture. The worst area is the back left of the 11th green. Unusually there isn't a high amount of thatch on this green and looking at a soil sample seems to be active within the sandy top profile. We have had historic thatch fungi problems on that green and could be a disease which is active in the soil profile, waiting to be initiated by favourable weather conditions. I'm happy to say that it will not effect the turf long term, once the weather pattern changes it will grow out.
The 8th pond has been completed, looking better for a clear out
