For many courses, early June is a great time of year for golf. Weather conditions are usually favorable for managing playing surfaces more aggressively and producing conditions that golfers desire. However, ideal weather can be short-lived. The intense summer weather typically experienced from late June through August places a considerable amount of stress on turf. Don’t be caught off guard when it’s time to start playing defense with maintenance practices to protect turf surfaces.
Calling an audible when the weather does not cooperate can be a difficult decision that may leave some golfers grumbling about playing conditions. When these situations come up, keep in mind that your decisions can be the difference between healthy turf and rapid decline. The short-term playability benefits that come with managing turf too aggressively during stressful weather are not worth the long-term headaches that can come with having to promote recovery later in the season. The USGA Green Section Record article “Playing Defense Is a Strength, Not a Weakness” is a great resource to review as the most stressful stretch of the season approaches.
Ultimately, Mother Nature will determine which adjustments need to be made and for how long. In some situations, the decision to do nothing will be the right call. Do not hesitate to trust your gut and play defense when the weather forecast indicates a rough stretch is on the horizon. Some frustration and pushback from golfers is likely, but as the great USGA agronomist Stanley Zontek would frequently say, “Slow grass is better than no grass.”
Reach out to your regional USGA agronomist for more information on navigating stressful summer conditions.
Central Region Agronomists:
Zach Nicoludis, regional director – znicoludis@usga.org
Paul Jacobs, agronomist – pjacobs@usga.org
Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service
Contact the Green Section Staff