Come on Spring

 I will tell you I am so ready for the air temperatures to reach the 150 degree rule. The weather/temperatures have been so up and down in the last 30 to 45 days. That is making the transition from winter into spring difficult to happen.
 The greens are confused, they don't know whether to grow or stay in a dormant stage. Just a week ago we had high temperatures reaching into the low 80's and the bam high temperatures dropped into the 50's North winds 15-25 m.p.h. for 2 days. In fact in my home town of Santa Fe, just south of here there was softball size hail reported.
 The weather channel in predicting yet another cool down the same week the golf course maintenance staff is preparing the golf course for the Member/Member Tournament. So the green up to the bermudagrass is delayed longer and without green up very little if no turf is actively growing.
 Remember the air temperature rule of thumb; add the night time and the daytime temperatures together. You are looking for 150 degrees combined to have a steady active growing turf.

Example:

Low: 50  High: 68  = 118 degrees combined--turf will remain shutdown.
Low: 60  High: 78  = 138 degrees combined--turf will begin to green and show signs of life
Low: 70  High: 80  = 150 degrees combined--turf will actively be growing and turf recovery now begins.

Thank
Willy Plowman
Golf Course Superintendent