USGA Drought of 2011 Continues

This bermudagrass turf will recover once the rains return - assuming it is not worn out by excessive traffic in the interim.   There is no better time to document the failings in an irrigation system than with aerial photos taken during a drought. If you are wondering how to get inexpensive aerial photos like this one, check out othis brief video -  Kite Aerial Photography  by Jim Moore, USGA

Much of the country suffered severe drought this year, and in some areas the dry, hot conditions continue to cause major damage to golf courses. With home lawns and parks also burning up, most golfers recognize that superintendents can only do so much to minimize the damage to their course. However, many are not aware that the damage suffered this year will affect courses for years to come. Facilities in the hardest hit areas have seen severe injury to trees, cracking of cart paths, and widespread damage to irrigation systems, in addition to the large-scale losses of turfgrass. Next year is likely to bring heavy weed pressure and reduced water allotments along with the continued loss of trees.  

As is the case with every challenge, those who are best prepared stand out from the rest. This free webcast covers a wide range of issues and provides real-world suggestions and observations to help you and your facility deal with a summer that many of us can't wait to be over.

   

The link below will take you to a site where you can view and/or download the webcast recording. No recording key is required so leave that field blank. Also, we recommend selecting the Microsoft Live Meeting Replay option since it is more compatible with various computers.

   

Please note that the webcast is approximately one hour in length so allow time for it to begin to play (depends on your connection speed). View or download the webcast recording 

  

Also, select this link to review a collection of USGA Green Section articles relating to drought and irrigation issues.

View the articles.