How do you control the uncontrollable? You don't. When it comes to managing the playing conditions of a golf course, we have to adjust to the weather conditions.
We try to maximize the advantages of optimum & favorable weather conditions when they exist. We also implement agronomic practices and processes to minimize the effects that stressful & negative weather conditions have on the turfgrass plants. A significant amount of the art and science that we utilize in the maintaining premier golfing conditions revolves around the short and long term weather influences.
The chart below shows that the soil temperatres in mid-March are 20 to 30 degrees above normal for this time of year. This abnormality means that we are already implementing practices that we would normally do in May or early June.
TomSkilling Forecast Wednesday March 21, 2012 HI 85 degrees Low 65 degrees
An unprecedented eighth consecutive record high temperature expected Wednesday. The 85-degree predicted high Wednesday is likely to surge past the current record of 77-degrees set 74 years ago in 1938. Generous sunshine mixed at times with some fair weather clouds. Elevated pollen counts continue. Breezy with southerly winds 11 to 23 mph, becoming southeast north lakeshore communities producing localized cooling Wednesday afternoon. Peak afternoon readings a majority of the metro area 36-degrees above the normal of 49 and equivalent to the normal highs July 9-15. Highs along the lake toward Waukegan and Kenosha ranging from the mid 60s to the mid 70s. Fair Wednesday night. A record-break high minimum likely. Overnight lows are 34-degrees above normal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Below Assistant Superintendents John Morris and Todd Deitz are syringing greens. This is unheard of for March in the Chicago. The warmer-windy days result in wilting turf on the greens. We are in uncharted waters with this type of activity so early in the season.
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