The thin turf is being invaded by algal growth. This is not just happening in the bacteria infested areas but also in old ballmarks. I think that the problem is caused by the amount of water we put on the greens. To cool the greens we apply small quantities of water, called syringing. We due this when soil temperatures reach a certain level to prevent the turf from becoming overly stressed. During the heat wave we have been experiencing, the greens have been syringed 2 to 3 times a day and watered at night. I also believe we are not using high quality irrigation water. The water has a horrible smell. It almost smells like it is coming from a swamp.
The heat, humidity, and the quantity of water being applied to the course is making for interesting playing conditions.
