Golf courses battle the heat to keep courses green

You think your grass is dry? Try tending a golf course.

The countdown to burnt grass starts the minute the sun rises. Ground crews at St. Louis area golf courses constantly watch over their fairways with water hoses in hand. They start their watering regimens early in the morning, sprinkle the course with a light mist during the day and put the sprinklers in full throttle as the sun sets.

John Hawkins, golf course superintendent at the city-owned Ballwin Golf Course, said crews water the course two or three times a day, starting at 11 a.m. and ending around 5 p.m. He said this constant care allows the grass to ?cool off? and reduces the chance of the grass burning.

?It?s sort of like walking into an air conditioned room or jumping into a pool,? Hawkins said. ?You feel much better afterwards.?

While this technique may offer short-term relief to the grass, it puts the stress on Hawkins' bill from American Water. He said the golf course spends $33,000 for 6 million gallons of water.

George Ermold, general manager at Quail Creek Golf Club, said his six to 10 maintenance staff are taking similar actions to keep its golf course green. However, he said it's the preparation months ahead that saves a golf course from burning to a crisp.

During the winter, Ermold?s staff lays the ground work for the upcoming season by putting fertilizer and protective additives into the soil.

?We did not start watering yesterday or today,? he said. ?We?ve been prepping for this for the past couple of months. The course does not go to sleep in the winter. It?s a living organism.?

And like all plants, grass should be watered in moderation. Ermold said excessive watering can lead to water-born diseases down the road.

Website, Multimedia

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vertical_13/~3/sm_TFkz6uOE/area-golf-courses-battle-the-heat-to.html

custer scott walker restaurant week type 2 diabetes occupy congress juan williams victor martinez