This afternoon I received tissue analysis results that show excellent nutrient uptake. We nailed the desired ranges on just about everything. Again, at HCC, this time of year is challenging because we have reduced sun exposure on greens. This proves fertilizer inputs can be perfect but sun is a limiting factor on our greens. With a late tournament schedule, we do push greens well into October. Play continues fairly strong this month and November play can be substantial, but the greens are not receiving enough light to recover, and therefore naturally thin. There is little we can do other than throttle back on any maintenance including Reduced mowing, which isn't exactly ideal for play. Height of cut was raised and we are doing what we can to reduce any kind of stress on them. Greens like 9, 14, 17 and 18 are those that show the potential of what all greens that receive adequate sun could look like all year long. Rooting, density and quality is much much better on those that get ample sun. The results speak for themselves. Those greens have no disease issues, and are always consistent. 2,3,6,7,8,11,12,15,16 are all example of greens that don't get near enough sun. Remember the words of Dr. Duich from Penn State. "I can't believe these greens have half the grass they do?!" This was on a 2000 consulting visit when the Penn A4 bentgrass was not performing as well as expected the first several years after the renovation. Just as it was then, shade is still a challenge today....with trees that have 16 years worth of additional growth since that time.
