The month of June 2026 at Bellefonte Country Club is coming to an end, and what a successful month it has been for the golf course! We have accomplished very important cultural practices without any issue, as well as being a host to a very important Junior Tournament with the AJGA, which produced nothing but compliments on the condition of the course. The golf course is in a great spot right now from a health turf perspective as we move into the month of July. Our goal is to maintain what we have established and keep improving the areas that still need attention.

 Weather

The month of June was somewhat dry overall with rainfall, as we are just shy of 2 inches for the month on June 29th. The middle weeks of the month produced ideal temperatures for Bentgrass growth on the greens, and Zoysia on tees/fairways. We would have liked a little more rainfall at times, but then again maintaining healthy turf is always a little easier if we are in control of the water!

 Greens

The greens are doing well on the surface, and our root structure underneath is the best it has been since I arrived at Bellefonte in 2023. The biggest attribute to this is the drainage installation. The water can now move through the soil and exit the green underneath, which allows the water not to stay near the surface. During the months of May and June when Bentgrass and Poa are actively growing, having the moisture level deeper in the soil profile will essentially make the roots grow deeper as the plant tries to find the moisture. In return, we develop a more robust root system heading into the heat of summer. Once the heat of summer hits, cool season grasses like Bentgrass and Poa rely on their stored resources to survive stressful periods. The more robust the root system the more resources the plant has to use until cooler temperatures return in late summer and early fall.

It is our job to help aid the natural survival mode that Bentgrass and Poa endure as summer goes on. We do this by spoon feeding nutrients with liquid fertilizer, spraying fungicides, and watering lightly when needed. We will also pick the best times to punch small holes so that the plants can receive a breath of fresh air.

 Tees and Fairways

The Zoysia turf on our Tees and Fairways is starting to grow aggressively as we move into the summer months. The aerification of each was successfully completed on June 22nd, and will definitely be beneficial as we go thru out the remainder of the year. The aerification process relieved compaction of the soil and will now allow for fresh air and nutrients to enter the soil more efficiently. We have some areas that are thinner due to poor soil, areas of shade, and a few areas of Bermuda that received damage from the winter ice. We will spend more time on these areas as the summer goes on with more water and more fertilizer to help improve turf quality.

Weed control and additional nutrients will be applied as the summer goes on with bi-weekly sprays as well. Looking forward to improving the health and playability of our tees and fairways as the year goes on.

Bunkers

Our bunkers are doing well with the help of the new attachment for our bunker raking machine. With the new attachment we are getting a “Fluffy” sand presentation that has definitely been noticed and helped improve playability for most.

We also have added new bunker sand to a few select bunkers that were in desperate need of sand. I know there are a few more bunkers that are still in need and hopefully we will make that happen during the golfing season. The holes that have bunkers where new sand was added are: #4, #6, #7, #10, #12, #15.

 Pinestraw Areas

We have started the process of creating pinestraw areas on the golf course. The first spots that you will notice in the upcoming weeks will be on holes #4 and #13. This will be a year long process as we prioritize which areas are to be completed.

Thank You,
Mark Harper
Grounds Superintendent, GCSAA
[email protected]