Another round of severe storms caused extensive damage on golf courses throughout the Central Region. Areas of Texas were hit especially hard, with a State of Emergency declared in 31 counties as a result of widespread flooding. Washed-out bunkers, uprooted trees and piles of debris were common sights at many facilities.
Golf course maintenance crews worked feverishly to repair damaged areas and get courses back open for play. In many cases, heavy silt deposits had to be removed using a combination of box blades, front-end loaders and shovels. Once the bulk of the material was removed, metal rakes and drag mats helped to loosen any remaining silt so that it could be blown, brushed and washed away. The fact that most of the courses affected by flooding are once again playable is quite amazing considering the extent of the damage.
After the large-scale cleanup work has been completed, additional cultivation will be needed to address the fine layer of silt present in the upper rootzone. Aggressive aeration and verticutting will help disrupt problematic silt layers and stimulate turfgrass recovery. Addressing silt layers now, rather than later, will help avoid long-term issues.
Central Region Agronomists:
Bob Vavrek, regional director – bvavrek@usga.org
John Daniels, agronomist – jdaniels@usga.org
Zach Nicoludis, agronomist – znicoludis@usga.org
Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service