With July temperatures now in full swing, we are deep into summer transition mode on both golf courses. This is a critical time of year when we focus on bringing our base turf, common Bermudagrass, back to full strength after the winter season.

Over the next few weeks, you’ll see us watering and fertilizing more heavily than usual. These efforts are intentional and necessary as we push our common Bermuda to grow aggressively and fill in any remaining thin areas. A question I often get this time of year is: “Why does the summer transition take so long?” The short answer is that common Bermudagrass simply recovers much slower than the newer hybrid Bermudas you’ll see at many other courses across the Valley.

A perfect example of this contrast can be seen on the Vistas driving range tee. That surface is planted with Tahoma 31, a newer hybrid Bermuda variety. It’s extremely aggressive, recovers quickly, and requires far less water and fertilizer than the common Bermuda we have on our fairways. As I told a member recently, “It’s like comparing a new Cadillac to an old Ford Pinto.” The difference is real and noticeable.

That said, we are working diligently every day to strengthen our turf, improve playing conditions, and get our courses where we all want them to be. While it may take a bit more time and effort with common Bermuda, we are committed to doing everything possible to maximize its performance during the hottest months of the year.

Thank you for your patience and continued support as we work through this important transition.