Rain - I Guess It Could Be Worse

Despite what seems like an entire year of wet, cloudy weather conditions I guess it could be worse. Speaking with friends in both the Pinehurst and Hilton head areas they both witnessed over 20 inches of rain in the month of June.  Our measly little 10 inches of rain in June doesn't even seem worth mentioning.  A big part of the rainfall total was the tropical storm Andrea that produced heavy rainfalls all along the eastern seaboard.
Regardless of whether 10 inches in June and already experiencing 2 inches in July, just three days into the month, is as much as those around us it is none the less frustrating.

Yes, The Flash Was Working

What's Down

• Seemingly the sun
• Drought Warnings - At least along the Eastern seaboard and the one positive message that is easy to lose focus on if your not careful.
• Golf rounds and corresponding revenues
• Morale of a staff that has spent countless hours and days working in the rain and dealing with all the cleanup and repairs from frequent storms
• Sand on our bunker faces from the heavy rains
• Trees and tree debris from the occasional heavy winds associated with some of the passing storms
• Mowing frequency due to consistently saturated soils and our desire to minimize damage to the turf
• Overall course conditions
• Green Speeds

What's Up

• Clouds - Everyday day more and more clouds
• Disease Pressure - While not yet apparent there is no doubt a growing population of fungal pathogens building in the soil profile underneath our greens are just waiting for a little heat and humidity in order to explode in numbers.
• Weed Control - Much like we experienced throughout the prolonged wet winter not even the best pre-emergent herbicides can withstand the excessive leaching conditions produced by well above normal rainfall totals.
• The color of green - Not even the best fertilizer program can mimic the deep green canvas throughout our two courses from lush growing conditions and infrequent mowing cycles. 
• Turf heights -  We recently went 8 days between mowing fairways.

But like the title says it could be worse. With everything going on in the world I am quick to recognize that working on something as beautiful as a golf course and more specifically the two courses at Greensboro Country Club is a blessing not to be overlooked.