Hendersonville Country Club Golf Course and Grounds Department: What we have, what we don't, and what we need.

Over the past week, talk around the Club has mostly been about the status of our bermudagrass fairways and approaches. Many Members are wondering if and when they will fully come out of dormancy. Right now, we are seeing numerous suspectful areas. I want to take a moment to give an update on what is currently happening.

Let's start with winterkill, a term that is rolling of everyones tongue. Winterkill is a catch all term used to describe turf that suffers during the winter months and does not return to life in the spring. At the Hendersonville Country Club, due to our climate and elevation, it is almost inevitable that we will have some degree of winterkill each spring. The most common causes are; low temperature injury, extended periods of snow and/or ice cover, areas that stay perpetually wet, and desiccation (high winds and cold temperatures on exposed turf.) Let's also review the types of turf the golf course consists of. We grow two main types of turf, warm season grasses and cool season grasses. Our cool season turf types include; poa annua greens and bentgrass tees. Warm season turf is primarily found on our fairways and approaches. The rough is a blend of both warm and cool season turf. In our area, we are most concerned with winterkill on the fairways and approaches.

Right now, the look of our bermudagrass is less than desirable. Remember that it is only mid April, and we dance to this tune each spring. However, the damage may be more severe that it typically is. But, at the same time it is too early to tell. There are a number of factors not working in our favor, all weather related. In order for bermuda to fully begin its transition out of dormancy, soil temperatures need to rise and stay above 60 degrees. At last check we were still in the mid 50's. Daytime temperatures in the 70's-80's, along with nighttime temperatures in the 60's, are also needed to encourage growth. And most importantly, we need sunshine, something that has been eluding us. The golf course has has received measurable precipitation 12 out of the first 26 days of the month. Before we rush to judgement, and determine the extent of turf loss, we need to be patient and wait for the weather to cooperate. Believe me, it is not easy to do. Due to the fact that some areas of turf are looking more suspect than usual, the Golf Course Maintenance staff has been busy performing some proactive cultural practices in an attempt to give the bermudagrass every chance possible for survival. Again, we will always loose turf in the spring. But, it is the priority of your Golf Course Maintenance Department to minimize the potential for loss.

I have fielded numerous questions regarding the status of our turf and what we plan to do about it. It occurred to me that this is a good thing, it shows that the Membership cares about their golf course. To sum it up. We're well aware of the status of our bermudagrass. We're delicately doing all that we can, without doing to much, to give the turf every chance of survival. Once we begin to see good turf growth, we'll take inventory and sod everything needing to be replaced, commitment the Club has always upheld.