First Summer Heat Wave of 2012

Wednesday through Friday of this past week proved to be a scorcher in terms of heat and humidity. Fortunately the turf health come out very well. Year to date we are 9 inches below where we were last year at this time in terms of rainfall (20 inches in 2011 to 11 inches in 2012). Our new wells are doing very well and there is plenty of water for irrigation. Of course there is no substitute for natural rainfall!

We are using Turf Type Tall Fescue on the two bunker surrounds on hole #5 that were recently regrassed. This is a very hardy turf compared to what has been previously used around the bunkers. In fact, the turf we got came from the same farm that had sent 15 plus acres of the same sod to Merion this Spring for their roughs in preparation for the 2013 US Open.

While I am not a fan of sodding, due to the steep slopes around the bunkers here at Fieldstone we have very little choice since seed will wash out readily. 

A good example of the benefits of the Turf Type Tall Fescue can be seen in this picture from the left hand side fairway bunkers that were recently sodded on #18. Some Bluegrass sod got mixed in with our order and pretty soon the difference in the two turf types became evident. Notice the yellowing of the sod piece above the red arrow which is Bluegrass compared to the healthy green color and vigorous growth habit of the Turf Type Tall Fescue that the blue arrow is pointing at.