Men's Invitational Update; Teamwork

Meadowbrook received approximately 2 inches of rain on the opening of the Men's Invitational.  Normally this amount would almost close the course to carts at least, but the event will push on as scheduled.  The crew worked through the rain yesterday afternoon to set the course up for saturated conditions.  Low areas of fairways with standing water have been roped off and a white line has been painted from tee to green on each hole, for carts to follow.  The line will take golfers on a safe route that won't damage the course.
There are over 200 golfers that will play 18 holes a day during the Invite.  The rain limits the amount of carts that can go out, which means that caddies become even more essential.  Thanks are due to the staff of the first tee who organizes such things and without communication between the two departments (first tee and grounds), today's event would not be possible.  Also of note, the culinary department and pro shop were effected by the adverse conditions as well.  New pin placements were needed for greens with soft areas and the kitchen staff had to scramble to accomodate the mass amount of people in the clubhouse.  As always, communication is KEY, and each department deserves recognition for a job well done. 
We hope that members and guest alike enjoy the course and respect the traffic barriers that are in place.  Crossing your fingers for no more precipitation would be appreciated as well.  Enjoy.

Course Conditions

7th Green

Over the course of summer, temperatures in Northville have breached 90 degrees over twenty times, coupled with little precipitation.  The greens and green surrounds however, remain in good agronomic health.  The putting surfaces are firm and the staff has been able to maintain green speeds in between 11 and 12 feet.  The crew has achieved this by constant monitoring and if necessary, syringing of the green surfaces and hand watering the banks. 



14 Tee & Complex



The tees, at one point a definite eye-sore due to a sudden thunderstorm and the fungal disease pythium, have recovered well.   There are minor spots on certain tees that display a loss in turf density, but considering the severity of the conditions, the staff considers them to be in good health and Men's Invitational-ready. 



Fairways are another issue.  There are 27 acres of fairways at Meadowbrook and 26.8 of those are at an acceptable aesthetic level.  The remaining .2 acres, which stick out like sore thumbs, show poor color and losses in turf density because they have faced a variety of problems, as explained below.

• Heat: Obviously high temperatures have a negative effect on plant health and lead to a plethora of other problems.
• Drought/Heavy Rain Events: Like any organism, turfgrass needs water to survive.  The irrigation system is essential in this regard but does have limitations as discussed in the previous article.  On the other hand, heavy rains can lead to soft unplayable fairways, compaction and standing water (a death sentence to turf when combined with high temperatures). 
• Compaction: Heavy cart traffic and saturated conditions will compact soils, especially in peak season when everyone wants to enjoy a round of golf.  Compacted soils limit plant roots and can seal off the surface of the ground, making watering difficult.
• Shallow Roots: All of the above problems are magnified by shallow rooting.  Poa annua, a magnificent plant in most aspects, is a notorious shallow rooter.  With a small root system the turf cannot derive the necessary water and nutrient requirements to withstand traffic.  
• Summer Patch:  Magnaporthe Poae is a fungal disease that can appear from June through September.  The disease is exacerbated by weakened roots, high soil temperatures and saturated conditions.  Initial infection occurs in the spring but symptoms will not appear until certain environmental conditions are met.  Once this stage is reached, chemical control of the disease is very hard to achieve. 

To combat the issues brought on by the weather, staff members have been syringing areas of the fairways that are prone to heat stress or water loss.  Aerification of compacted or saturated areas(to prevent anaerobic conditions brought on by water) has been utilized as well.  Throughout the year, fungicides have been sprayed on a preventative basis for summer patch, but in the turfs weakened conditions, the fungus "overpowered" the chemical.  Two chemical applications, at curative rates, have been performed recently and the staff has their fingers crossed for positive results. 



7th Fairway



Overall, considering the weather, the staff is pleased with the condition of the course.  Despite the issues, playability remains excellent and the greens provide a challenging yet fair putting surface.  The summer of 2012 has been a test of nerves but there is now a light at the end of the tunnel.