We have had a major algae flush on greens after all this rain. This is a result of watering with garbage well water for the last month during the dry spell. It's worst on our driest greens - the ones that we never really have any issues with regular summer stress (river holes, 1, pg, 9, etc). The greens that we don't hand water as much (14, 5, etc) hardly have any algae on them. Also I included a pic of the bunker on 16. Where it get a hit with greens irrigation heads there is algae in the bunker.
We waited and tried to spray them this morning but the rain never let up. To best control the problem, we need to have the fungicide dry on the leaf blade. We will spray in the morning.
The greens were vented with needle tines and a light topdressing in anticipation of this issue on Thursday. It helped, but not as much as I would have hoped.
The good news is with a little air movement, some sunlight and a fungicide application, it should disappear in a few days. It's not something we really worry about damaging the greens.
I also might punch them with some knife tines on Monday to get some extra oxygen in there to dry them out.
All in all I'm glad it rained, but this is the perfect example of why dry is better than wet in the summer. It's always better to be able to control moisture levels in greens to my exact specifications.
Brent Graham, CGCS
Two Rivers Country Club
1950 Two Rivers Rd.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Office: 757-258-4606
