Well, it's official - southwest Florida is dry. This past August reported the driest month in 20 years and, with the water level in Lake Okeechobee still three feet below normal, the Phase II irrigation restrictions that began this past spring will more than likely continue through the remainder of the year. While some areas of the state have received adequate rainfall, southwest Florida is still struggling with lake levels three to four feet below average. Our summers are generally quite wet, and the drop in water levels that occur each spring are generally replenished throughout the summer months - not so this year.
Luckily, healthy bermudagrass and seashore paspalum is quite tolerant of drought and generally does not die from lack of water. Instead, both grasses go dormant and lose their green color. Healthy bermudagrass and seashore paspalum simply turn brown in response to drought dormancy and then recover once increased rainfall or irrigation is applied.
An issue that has come to light over the past several weeks has been the impact of the prolonged irrigation restrictions on nematode-affected areas. Nematodes are microscopic worms that feed on bermudagrass roots and reduce the turf's ability to uptake water and nutrients. Having a shortened root system does not allow the turf to absorb water from deeper soil depths. Unfortunately, more than 85% of Florida golf courses have damaging levels of nematodes and the extended irrigation restrictions have caused turf loss in nematode-affected areas. Many of these areas have been re-sodded, but, because there are no chemicals that can eradicate nematodes from golf courses, continued irrigation restrictions will more than likely cause increased turf loss in the future.
Irrigation restrictions also have drastically reduced winter overseeding on southwest Florida golf courses this winter. Some courses in southwest Florida overseed playing surfaces to provide a lush green color during the winter play season. Bermudagrass never completely loses its color in south Florida and the need for winter overseeding is much less than in other regions. A significant reduction in irrigation can be realized with the removal of winter overseeding and many courses have decided to forgo this practice until irrigation restrictions are lifted. There is only so much water that can be allocated, and it is important to protect the health of the base bermudagrass at the expense of improved golf course color.
The upside to this droughty trend is that we are not out of the woods yet in regards to tropical storms. In fact, it is important to remember that Hurricane Wilma hit Naples two years ago in October. Therefore, this region could experience a significant amount of rainfall over the next few weeks and this will drastically improve golf course playing conditions. However, it is best to take a pessimistic stance at this point, plan for the worst in regards to water allocation, and to have a plan in place for extreme drought conditions. Out of play areas and roughs receive the least priority in regards to water. What does this equate to? Worst case scenario should be reducing irrigation drastically in these areas, creating brown driving ranges/roughs. Sporadic dry (brown) spots will occur on fairways and tees as irrigations shortages continue.
Hopefully, the glass is currently half-full and conditions will resume to normal for the upcoming golfing season.
Source: Todd Lowe, tlowe@usga.org or 941-828-2625
