[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by robertj1954

The drought has caused many of the golf course lakes to drop to very low levels. I over heard a discussion yesterday regarding the lake levels. I am hopeful someone with knowledge on the subject can address it. The question: Can The Villages adjust the lake levels by moving water from one lake to another to maintain acceptable water levels? That is what some people believe. I am wondering, if this is true, how do they accomplish it?

The retention ponds on all the courses south of 466 and, I think, all except Orange Blossom and Hacienda Hills north of 466, are interconnected so that water can be moved from one to the other. It is sometimes amazing how it can rain buckets in one area of TV and nothing an another. The interconnection allows them to move water from where there is excess to where it is needed. Unfortunately, there is no excess water anywhere.

C'mon rain!!!

[schotzyb]

Played Orange Blossom yesterday and it is still in great shape, Greens are immaculate but too slow for my liking . Still a great deal at $24.

[Mikeod]

I, too, noted a pretty significant infestation of poa on several greens the last few rounds. That will definitely make the greens less smooth until they can kill it off. Those seed heads will continue to reseed the greens until they get rid of it. Hopefully, the warmer weather we are experiencing will awaken the bermuda early (it needs soil temps to reach 50-55 or so). We used to withhold water in SoCal to dry out the poa, then hit the bermuda with high N and water to perk it up quickly. We had a couple of weeks with mediocre greens during the drying out, but they improved rapidly once the bermuda took off.

I wonder if the overseed is starting to peter out, leaving the sparse areas described by AJ.

[ajbrown]

Played Tierra yesterday. Course is in good shape. These greens did not have any of the issues I saw at Havana Friday. The greens look great, smooth and full.

I bold the word look in the line above because the greens are too slow for my liking. I am not expecting Augusta in TV, but I think they could find a way to get another foot or two of speed in these without hurting the surface.

Tierra still one of my favorites in TV and IMO possibly the toughest course when compared to its rating/slope (69/118).

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

Played Tierra yesterday. Course is in good shape. These greens did not have any of the issues I saw at Havana Friday. The greens look great, smooth and full.

I bold the word look in the line above because the greens are too slow for my liking. I am not expecting Augusta in TV, but I think they could find a way to get another foot or two of speed in these without hurting the surface.

Tierra still one of my favorites in TV and IMO possibly the toughest course when compared to its rating/slope (69/118).

I sent an email to 'thevillages" and Erik graciously responded. Not sure if anything will come from it, but at least some awareness.

From: Greulach, Erik [mailto:erik.Greulach@thevillages.com]
Subject: Championship Golf

Good Afternoon Alan…

Thanks for your feedback. Not knowing what your expectations are, I can tell you we try and keep the greens rolling around an 8 (give or take a foot either way) on the stimpmeter (if you are familiar with that terminology), of course depending a little on season and health of the turf.

I’ve passed your notes along to the management at these two courses to reflect on based on their current conditions.

Best Regards…Erik

And like I mentioned to Erik, I like 9 much better than 7

[ajbrown]

The wind and my LOFT got the better of me today at Bonifay, but the course is in terrific shape still. Top of my list at the moment, but I have not played Palmer or Lopez (Sunday) for a bit to compare.....

[schotzyb]

Played Glenview (Stirrup Cup to Tally Ho) today.Course in great shape other than some standing water in the bunkers. Greens had a nice speed to them after the moisture dried up.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by mikeod

I, too, noted a pretty significant infestation of poa on several greens the last few rounds. That will definitely make the greens less smooth until they can kill it off. Those seed heads will continue to reseed the greens until they get rid of it. Hopefully, the warmer weather we are experiencing will awaken the bermuda early (it needs soil temps to reach 50-55 or so). We used to withhold water in SoCal to dry out the poa, then hit the bermuda with high N and water to perk it up quickly. We had a couple of weeks with mediocre greens during the drying out, but they improved rapidly once the bermuda took off.

I wonder if the overseed is starting to peter out, leaving the sparse areas described by AJ.

Don't many of the Cal courses have Poa Anna all year round as their green surface?

Like all the ones played at the Pebble beach event:

Pebble Beach Golf Links
Greens: Poa annua
Tees & Fairways: rye grass
The Links at Spanish Bay
Greens: Poa annua
Tees & fairways: rye grass
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Greens: Poa annua
Tees & Fairways: blend of bent & fescue
Del Monte Golf Course, Monterey
Greens: Poa annua
Tees & Fairways: rye grass


If that is the case then why would it kill off the greens here? I know it's bumpier but didn't think it would kill the Bermuda.

Just curious.

[hedoman]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Don't many of the Cal courses have Poa Anna all year round as their green surface?


If that is the case then why would it kill off the greens here? I know it's bumpier but didn't think it would kill the Bermuda.

Just curious.

Poa is not a bad grass and supplements the bent grass we had up north. Actually it is very hearty and does well in cooler weather. In the spring it goes to seed and the seed heads pop up in the afternoon creating a different experience. When soil temps rise so that bermuda or bent can grow the Poa is taken over by the dominant grasses. After the ealy seeding it just blends in. Strange to see it this time of year but as warm as it has been with relatively few frosts it is understandable. It was all over Hawkes Bay last week late in the PM. It is not a problem even though I know of high end courses up north that had a 5 year Poa Annua eradication plan....

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Don't many of the Cal courses have Poa Anna all year round as their green surface?

If that is the case then why would it kill off the greens here? I know it's bumpier but didn't think it would kill the Bermuda.

Just curious.

Russ,
Sorry if I gave the impression poa would kill off the other grasses. It won't. The problem as Hedoman describes is that the seed heads create a bumpy surface. If the green is bermuda or some other grass, the poa can create areas that are not the same speed as the rest of the green, affecting play. If poa is the primary grass on the green, then it's just an annoyance when the seed heads interfere.

[Russ_Boston]

Thanks for the education. I'll just putt around it

[hedoman]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

The wind and my LOFT got the better of me today at Bonifay, but the course is in terrific shape still. Top of my list at the moment, but I have not played Palmer or Lopez (Sunday) for a bit to compare.....

My golf buds always say my problem is LOFT ...........Lack Of F'n Talent

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by hedoman

My golf buds always say my problem is LOFT ...........Lack Of F'n Talent

I hoped golfers here would understand what I meant

[Russ_Boston]

OH, I got it. And have it! I've been playing now 3-4 times per week and I'm worse than I was when I was only playing once a week up north.

[jebartle]

This course is in better condition than Palmer EVER.....Plush fairways....The course was GREAT!