There are reasons for the course conditions. Last fall was very dry, followed by a really cold November and December, both of which affected the overseed process. Palmer was overseeded first and got the benefit of a little rain shortly after overseeding, resulting in a good take of the seed. Other courses were overseeded later, and didn't get the benefit of any rain. With the water shortage, watering was prioritized to the tees and greens, with less to the fairways. Remember, the irrigation water to your homes is from the retention ponds as well and has priority over the golf courses. So, with a dry season, and more homes to irrigate, and restrictions from the water authority, as well as unseasonable cold,this golf season was hit with a double whammy. Less water available and lower temperatures that affected the overseed sprouting. The decision to not overseed Hacienda was due to water being available to support overseeding tees and greens only. Courses north of 466 have been around a lot longer and have the benefit of more mature turf, thus better conditions this winter than those south of 466, except Palmer. Another consideration is the amount of play these courses get. The winter population is much larger than the summer, and the courses get a lot of play during a period when the normal turf is asleep and we rely on overseeding to maintain playing surfaces.
Now we are in a transition period where the overseed has to be eliminated so the bermuda can take over. One way to do this is to reduce watering so the heat kills off the annual grasses. The soil temps have just now reached a point where the bermuda will awaken and flourish. Look for steady improvement over the next several weeks. And look for more consistent conditions as the turf matures.
The seasonal residents never see the courses in their best condition, as they are constructed with warm season grasses and play really well in the heat of the summer.
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