Since arriving in the Phoenix area, I’ve made 3 trips to visit my parents in Gold Canyon. A couple weeks ago I was shocked to see the condition of the golf course in their community. The grass that was green the week before now looked like it was dying, and it was. So, what happened?
The golf courses grow Bermuda grass in summer since it can take the desert’s hottest weather as long as it has sufficient water. But during winter it is dormant, turning yellow and appearing dead. However, below the surface it is alive and waiting for warmer weather. This dying off usually begins in September and starts growing again in May, meaning Bermuda does not have to be replanted each year.
So, the golf courses will stop watering for about two weeks in October and let the Bermuda grass die back. Next they plant Ryegrass which thrives in the winter but dies in summer. First they prepare the Bermuda grass for over seeding by scalping it as short as possible without causing damage. After scalping the Bermuda they thatch it, using a thatching rake. Next, they sow the Ryegrass seed using a drop spreader then water it throughout the day for about two weeks. Viola, a green golf course magically appears. This was all new to me.
Needless to say there is a two week period where the golf courses cannot be used. It is during this time that some golfers go through withdrawal symptoms and marital problems increase. It’s not uncommon for spouses to take trips and visit the kids and grand-kids until things calm down.
Seems like a lot of work and it is. However, golfing is a major revenue source down here and keeps marriages together. So, I missed all the fall colors back in Colorado but I did get to see the color changes down here on the golf courses.
4 Comments
Paul Lester
I remember Bermuda grass quite well. It was a very common grass in Texas, one of the few that could handle the intense heat. Also, it has fantastic ability to handle foot traffic, which makes it ideal for golf courses. It is also a pretty aggressive grower … it was hard to keep it in check. You had to keep cutting those tendrils that reached out like body snatchers and took over every square inch that it could. 🙂
I also remembering that you had to de-thatch your yard every once in a while to make sure that it stayed healthy and green.
Well, at least you got a seasonal change, Monte. 🙂
Monte Stevens
Yes, a bit of color change and I learned a few things.
Mark
Can’t say your fall color views down there match up with what I have seen from Colorado Monte.
Monte Stevens
Yes, and the colors were the first thing to catch my eye when I started getting into the higher elevations. Most trees in the neighborhood are naked and the ground is covered in leaves. And, I’m okay with that.