Green condition update

I am cautiously optimistic regarding the overall health of our greens.  We have seen some improvement over the last couple of days of greens that had weakened from 12 days of searing heat.  As mentioned earlier, our collars have taken a severe beating on some greens.  They do appear to have calmed some over the last day or two.  I checked out a facility yesterday that had the same issues with their green collars.  I'm hearing other facilities that have had severe loss of collar turf.  It is very difficult for all of us right now.

From what I can tell, there is some normal disease issues that we experience this time of year.  Anthracnose being the major disease that is induced by stress and poor drainage.  We are trying to combat this disease with keeping our green moist but not wet or saturated, fungicide applications that help reduce the severity of this disease and light amounts of fertilization that will help our turf grow out of this disease.  We have not seen very much algae appear but if we get rain over the next couple of days, it could rear its ugly head.  Raising of our green height will help reduce the impact of the algae because the canopy of the turf is slightly less open than if we were cutting at a shorter height.  Our biggest fear is of a pathogen that will work under the turf canopy in the rooting area.  We have treated for these type of diseases and will make another application tomorrow ahead of the potential rain that is being predicted.

As of now, we are fully turfed but it will be interesting to see if that changes over the next few days as some of our weaker spots begin to heal or move the other direction and become sicker.  As of today, we are 5 degrees above normal in temperature for July. Our night time temperature is almost 3 degrees more in comparison to last season.  We have 7 days over 100 right now.  We only had 4 days in total last season.

I've attached 3 sets of photos from 3 different greens in an attempt to show you what is lying underneath your feet as you play.  Overall, our rooting appears to be at the 3-4" level which is really good at this time with some strands stretching into or near the push/soil level.

#1 green from back to front.  The area I sampled was from the middle right as you play into the green.

As you can see from this sample, it appears to be  off  color.

The sample I took was almost 6" deep and into the soil layer.

As I pulled away sand you can see roots beginning to show in greater numbers at the  3-4"  line of the tape.  White, not brown from heat damage or lack of oxygen.

Sample area from #7.  Fairly healthy located in the middle back left of the green.

Sample over 6" deep.  Look at the sand lines down through the soil layer.  This is very helpful for drainage and root growth.

Again, roots being found in the 3-4" range.

#6 green looking okay for right now.  I'm not saying this very loud. We still have a long road  to hoe.

Sample on #6 beginning to show some weakness from the left side middle.

Core sample. Notice the light colored aeration hole filled with sand.  This is very important for better drainage and growing roots out the tighter sand topdressing layer.

Roots at the 3-4" level with additional rooting  coming out of the cored area.