Turf Talk By:Geoff Sheffield

The heat is on. The drought is on. It’s another record breaking summer, with only one day of measurable rain last month that really did not help us at all. The winds have been constant and more frequent, we usually get dinner time winds in July and August but this year it has been considerably windier.

The reservoirs and wells are at maximum usage and the course is drying down quickly. The upper lake was held back to attempt to keep the aesthetic appearance better but that has come with a cost. The pump in the upper lake can only supply us at a given rate which in future will mean turning it on earlier so that our supply reservoir is not at the point where it is today, on the very edge of critical.  

Our Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent work very hard at maintaining what gets water and how much it gets. We prioritize the course watering from greens, tees and landing areas being the most important to surrounds and other high play areas. The decision to have to turn water off in given areas is not something we want to do, but have to do, to make sure we do not run out of water for the balance of the season. 

The use of wetting agents on the fairways has helped us tremendously. We expanded into the perimeter of the fairways 6 weeks ago and a noticeable difference was very easy to see. I can remember back to when we grew in the course and over the first 8 years  only used wetting agents on the greens and how much drier and browner the surface was. 

After 2018 everything changed, it was the first year of extreme drought. We have had a couple years (last year) of reprieve but that was it.  We anticipate more drought years ahead. We will try to use more wetting agents (moisturizer for turf) and draw more water from the upper lake sooner.

The course is playing fast and firm and a little browner but it’s still in great shape.

Thanks to all the golfers out there enjoying our facility. 

The Maintenance Team of Highland Pacific