Mother Nature, Let’s Cool It!

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

On June 30th of this year, Josh Ward took aerial photos of the golf course. Those photos showed a course that had almost 100% recovered from last season’s heat wave monsoons. As we progressed through July and into August, the golf course, especially the fairways, seemed to hold up pretty well despite some thinned-out areas. At that point, I mentioned to the crew that I felt we were over the hump and had nothing but recovery periods ahead of us.

It was at that time, sensing my optimism, that Mother Nature basically said, “Hold my beer!” and proceeded to pound us with some of the hottest and most humid late-summer/early-fall conditions I have ever experienced.

The newly seeded fairways from last season, for lack of a better term, looked really tired, and some areas simply gave up the fight. This led to more thinned-out and dying fairway patches.

We have begun slit-seeding many of these locations, and in the really bad areas, we have core aerated and overseeded. Hopefully, Mother Nature will finally turn off the tropical, Florida-type weather and get us back to our regularly scheduled program of great cool-season turf recovery weather.

Despite Mother Nature’s fury, I do think we survived this year’s summer weather much better than last season (click here for a 2025 July recap). As the images below show, turf health wasn’t perfect, but the areas that received new drainage and had tree removal fared the best. This continues to solidify what I believe is the solution to the problem: continuing to invest in drainage, decreasing the tree population, and continuing to seed newer bentgrass varieties.

However, as the great LeVar Burton famously said, “But you don't have to take my word for it.” The USGA agronomist who visited the course on July 24th had many of the same observations. Click here to read the USGA agronomist report from July 24th, 2026, and see what he had to say about the course conditions.

Also, click here for an informative video from the USGA about dead turf. While it may be frustrating to see, turf loss is something that can occur even on well-maintained golf courses, particularly when conditions become especially challenging.

Aerial photo of the golf course on June 30th 2026. The course was in great shape!

Aerial photo of #2 fairway on August 3rd 2025.

#2 fairway June 30th 2026. Fully recovered, with the tree removals over the winter definitely helping improve growing conditions.

Another view of #2 fairway in August of 2026.

#7 valley in August of 2025

Same area on #7 August of 2026

#4 hillside in August of 2025.

Another view of #4 hillside in August of 2025

Same area on #4 hillside in August of 2026.

#6 valley in August of 2025.

Same area in August of 2026.

#18 drain by the green in July of 2025.

Same area on #18 fairway in August of 2026.

Fixing #11 valley. The drainage installed in the winter was delayed due to the early December snowstorm. Consequently, the area did not have drainage installed until late April and the sod didn't have a chance to root in before the summer heat. Add in 6 washouts since the installation and you can understand why we are resodding.

Aerating #16 fairway. This was an example of an area that did well until the September heat wave thinned it out. Notice the dry turf underneath the tree canopy.

Using the Vredo slit seeder to seed #16 fairway.

The two north tees: The tee on the left is pure bentgrass, while the tee on the right is Bermuda grass. Both were in great condition before being thoroughly pulverized by practice tee shots.

What Happened?

A question I have had, and one that many other members have asked, is: What happened? The 2023 and 2024 seasons produced some of the best golf course conditions we have seen in recent memory, while the last two seasons have been much more of a struggle.

I know our agronomic practices and procedures have not changed. If anything, I feel they have continued to improve. But at the end of the day, the conditions speak for themselves.

That got me thinking, so I went back and looked at the weather data from those years and compared it to what we have experienced over the last two seasons. What I found pretty much answered the question. Once I started comparing the numbers, it became pretty clear why 2023 and 2024 were such good years for the golf course, and why the last two seasons have been much more challenging. The weather patterns were noticeably different, and several of those differences line up almost perfectly with what we have seen out on the course.

A few things really stand out when looking at the data:

• It is easy to see why 2023 was a banner year for the golf course. That year had the fewest number of days with daytime temperatures above 90°F and, by a wide margin, the lowest number of nights with temperatures above 70°F. The combination of fewer extreme daytime temperatures and less prolonged heat stress during the nights helped create much more favorable conditions for our cool-season turf.
• Poa annua and older-style bentgrass varieties really struggle when exposed to extended periods of heat. The weather data correlates closely with what the members have observed over the past four years. Our highest member survey scores came in 2023, and the weather data helps explain why turf conditions were so favorable that year.
• Nighttime temperatures are particularly important to turf health. When nighttime temperatures remain high, the turf has less opportunity to recover from daytime heat, heavy play, and daily maintenance. Also, hot nights increase disease pressure substantially. Looking at the past four years, the seasons with the greatest amount of nighttime heat have generally corresponded with our most difficult turf conditions.
• July is consistently the most challenging month for our cool-season turf, and that is clearly reflected in the graphs. The combination of high daytime temperatures, warm nights, heavy play, and summer weather patterns puts significant stress on Poa annua and bentgrass.
• The heat we have experienced this September is highly unusual. This year has already had more September days above 90°F than the previous three years combined. September normally provides some relief for cool-season turf, so the continued heat this late in the season has added another layer of stress.
• July 2025 was an extreme example. We experienced more nights above 70°F during that month than in any other month over the previous four years. According to the CVG weather records, Cincinnati also set a record that month for the greatest number of nighttime temperatures above 70°F.
• The temperature graphs still don't tell the entire story. In addition to the extreme heat and record number of warm nights in July 2025, WHCC received more than 6.5 inches of rain, with the majority falling within approximately one week. The combination of prolonged heat, very warm nights, excessive rainfall, and saturated conditions created extremely difficult growing conditions and contributed significantly to the deterioration of the fairways during the 2025 season.
• 2026 has been the second-most difficult year weather-wise. So far, we have experienced 22 days above 90°F and 31 nights above 70°F, with the season still ongoing. Considering the difficult weather this year, combined with the damage our fairways experienced last season, I believe the course has held up relatively well.

There are several reasons for that improvement. New drainage, continued tree removal, and the incorporation of newer, more heat-tolerant bentgrass varieties have all helped improve the resiliency of the fairways. While we have still experienced areas of turf loss this year, we have not seen the same level of widespread damage that occurred in 2025.

And there is one other important factor to remember: WHCC has its own microclimate. The weather station at the golf course gives us a much better picture of the conditions our turf is actually experiencing than data from CVG, Lunken, or even another golf course in the area.

Our goal is to continue addressing these problem areas and improving the overall resiliency of the fairways. If we continue making these improvements, we should be in a better position heading into 2027. Of course, a little help from Mother Nature would go a long way as well.

Temperature graph of the amount of 90+ daytime temperatures and 70+ nighttime temperatures. Notice how hot July of 2025 was.

Bar graph of the hottest temperatures over the last 4 years. This year is still ongoing.

Side-by-side comparison of the last four years and by each month. Notice how July consistently stands out as the month with the most hot days.

Aeration

Aeration of the putting surfaces was completed on September 8th, and we have now begun aerating the tees.

One thing many golfers may notice is how quickly the greens healed after aeration, as well as the process of bringing up plugs on the tees and approaches. There is a reason for the difference. We conduct soil testing on the greens every year, which allows us to track changes in the soil profile and make adjustments to our maintenance practices.

Because of the amount of topdressing we have applied to the greens, we have been able to significantly reduce the organic matter in the upper 1–2 inches of the soil profile. Over the last two years, organic matter has dropped from 6.39% to 5.2%.

That decrease in organic matter allowed us to use 3/8" solid tines on the greens this year rather than pulling cores. We also verticut the greens as part of the process. Solid-tine aeration is much less invasive than traditional core aeration, creates much less disruption to the putting surface, and allows the greens to heal much more quickly.

So, while the greens may look like they barely skipped a beat after aeration, there is actually quite a bit of work—and a lot of planning and testing—behind that result.

Solid tine aerating #12 green.

Core aerating a thinned out area at the beginning of #1 fairway.

Member/Guest Week

The week of the Member/Guest tournament was a fun week, to say the least.

It started with trimming the pin oaks to the left of #14 tee. The goal was to improve the golf shots coming into the hole and allow us to use the left side of the green for pin placements without interference from the trees. We also removed two pine trees to the right of #7 tee that had begun to encroach on tee shots.

We managed to cram all of that work into one day, with the goal of getting everything cleaned up and ready before Member/Guest.

Then, the very next day, the derecho storm ripped through the golf course.

The storm took down a couple of trees and left a considerable amount of debris throughout the course. We were able to pile the debris outside #7 fence and have a tree service haul it away. This kept our normal dump area from overflowing and saved us from having to deal with an even bigger cleanup project.

The grounds crew did a great job putting in a significant number of hours to get everything cleaned up and the course back into playable condition before the tournament. It was definitely a busy week, but the crew stepped up and got it done.

Limbing up the pin oaks on the left side of #14 tee.

Limb falling out of the elm tree next to 18 tee.

The derecho storm ripping through #15 white pines.

Debris pile from the storm outside #7 fence.

Looking Ahead

As we head into fall, I think the rough summer will be in the rearview mirror and better germination days will lie ahead.

Although, if Mother Nature is listening, I’m officially waving the white flag and begging, “No más, por favor!”

Brad Piecuch

Grounds Superintendent

Surviving the Mid-Summer Steam Bath: Managing Poa Annua at WHCC

A picture of #1 fairway before the late June and early July heat wave.

 Well, we are in the thick of it — the most challenging time of year when it comes to keeping the WHCC golf course healthy and in good playing condition. Last year was challenging, to say the least, and this year has proven to be no different. Despite the difficult conditions, we are hanging on and continuing to battle through it. As of this writing, the course is still in decent shape, and our team continues to put in the work every day to maintain and improve the conditions.

There is another heat dome building, and we will soon see how we look after Mother Nature puts us through another steam bath. These stretches of extreme heat and humidity are some of the toughest tests we face as a maintenance team, but we will continue to do everything we can to protect the turf, manage the challenges, and provide the best playing conditions possible for everyone at WHCC. Click here for an informative video update on current conditions from Ohio State.

There are many factors that make WHCC unique, but one of its greatest attributes also contributes to one of our biggest challenges — it is an old golf course. The Club was established in 1912, and many of the original greens and some fairways were constructed over 100 years ago. Because of this history, Poa annua has found an ideal environment to establish and spread throughout many areas of the course.

Older golf courses often have a long history of soil altercation, compaction, and evolving management practices that create favorable conditions for Poa annua to thrive. Its ability to produce large amounts of seed and tolerate frequent mowing allows it to compete aggressively with other turfgrass species, making it increasingly common in aging fairways. In addition to the course’s age, the heavy clay soils found throughout Western Hills also play a major role. These soils tend to hold moisture, and when combined with the abundance of mature trees that provide significant shade, the conditions become even more favorable for Poa annua growth. Wet soils and reduced sunlight create an environment where Poa annua can not only survive but continue to thrive.

Here is a closer look at the biology of Poa annua and why it remains such a unique challenge on golf courses like WHCC.

Poa annua Friend or Foe?

Poa annua (annual bluegrass) is a cool-season grass species that is highly adaptable and capable of growing under a wide range of environmental conditions. Although commonly referred to as an annual, many populations behave as short-lived perennials, allowing plants to survive for multiple years. Poa annua reproduces primarily by seed and is an exceptionally prolific seed producer, with individual plants capable of generating hundreds of seeds that remain viable in the soil for several years. It germinates over an extended period, especially during cool, moist weather, and thrives under the frequent mowing, irrigation, and traffic typical of golf course fairways and greens.

Despite often being considered a weed, Poa annua provides several benefits on golf courses. It establishes rapidly, recovers quickly from wear, and can produce a dense, smooth playing surface that many golfers find desirable, particularly on putting greens. Its tolerance for low mowing heights makes it well suited for intensively managed turf, and in cooler climates it can remain green and actively growing when other turfgrass species become dormant. These characteristics have led some golf courses to intentionally manage Poa annua as the dominant turf on certain playing surfaces.

However, Poa annua also presents significant management challenges. Its shallow root system makes it susceptible to drought, heat stress, and winter injury, often resulting in inconsistent turf quality during periods of environmental stress. Because it germinates continuously and exhibits considerable genetic variability, maintaining uniform growth, color, and playing conditions can be difficult. Additionally, Poa annua is prone to several diseases, including anthracnose and summer patch, and its ability to rapidly develop resistance to herbicides complicates long-term control programs. As a result, we tend to look at annual bluegrass as a less desirable turfgrass especially during the hot Cincinnati summers. Extreme heat kills off poa that leads to the dead summer fairway patches. Many older courses in this area have completely killed off their fairways and reseeded to keep it in check. At WHCC we have yet to take this measure.

I have been fortunate to be part of the WHCC team for 25 years, and during that time I cannot remember a summer when Poa annua did not struggle in at least some areas of the course. Some years are certainly more severe than others, but weather conditions ultimately play the biggest role in determining how much stress and decline we see with Poa annua during the summer months.

Last year, we began addressing some of the underlying issues by improving drainage in low-lying areas and introducing newer bentgrass varieties through slit seeding. These efforts are starting to show positive results, and the newer bentgrass can already be seen establishing in some of the areas that struggled most during last summer’s conditions. However, this is a gradual process that will take time to make a significant impact. The addition of our new Vredo slit seeder, purchased last November, will help accelerate this transition, but a realistic goal is gaining approximately 10–15% more bentgrass coverage each year.

Moving forward, we will continue focusing on practices that favor bentgrass establishment while reducing the conditions that allow Poa annua to dominate. This includes improving drainage, managing shade through selective tree removal, and continuing our overseeding efforts. We appreciate the membership’s patience and understanding during the most stressful part of the growing season as we work toward improving the long-term health and consistency of the course. Click here for a USGA article on comparing golf courses

Poa annua going to seed by #3 green in April. This is a very shady and wet area, increasing the Poa population.

Poa annua (the brown, reddish grass in this picture) in #9 fairway. It is stressing, in early July, because of high heat and humidity. However, notice the healthy green bentgrass starting to fill in. Much of this is from the seeding that took place last season.

Not Ground Hornets or Bees

Over the last couple of years small wasps have begun to buzz around some sand bunkers. They are smaller than the usual suspect, the cicada killer wasp, but tend to look almost identical. These are sand wasps (Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus). Joe Boggs, Ohio State Extension entomologist, wrote an article about these wasps a couple years ago when he found them at White Oak Garden Center (click here for the article). They feed off of brown marmorated stink bugs and are also named stink bug hunters. Like cicada killers, they are solitary wasps that are not aggressive and rarely sting. They dig burrows into sandy soils, making bunkers a perfect environment. Chemical control is difficult because the wasps are scattered out into many different burrow colonies. Daily raking of the bunkers helps to keep the populations down, but the wasps are extremely difficult to fully eliminate. We have made some pesticide applications; however, they eventually resurface. Sand wasps are technically a beneficial insect, and are not a threat to stinging humans. We will continue to frequently rake the sand traps, and if this year is similar to the past, they will eventually move on. Click here for a USGA article on these wasps!

Other Challenges

In addition to routine maintenance, several unexpected issues required attention throughout this early summer season. A hydraulic leak on #3 rough caused significant turf damage, which was repaired by removing the contaminated area and installing new sod to restore the playing surface. Multiple heavy rainfalls in June also resulted in many bunker washouts that required reshaping, sand redistribution, and restoration to maintain playability. On #11, a new drainage line experienced a washout, prompting a repair in which the damaged perforated pipe was replaced with solid pipe to improve water flow and reduce the likelihood of future washouts.

Goosegrass and crabgrass continue to be seasonal weed management challenges throughout the course. While preemergent herbicides are applied each spring to reduce germination, they do not provide complete control due to extended germination periods and environmental conditions. As a result, post-emergent herbicides are now being used to target escaped plants and prevent further spread.

#4 fairway bunker washing out after a 3" rainstorm.

Cutting out the hydraulic leak by #3 green. New sod was added.

#11 washout after a 3" rainstorm. It is amazing the amount of water that flows through this area after a storm.

Difference between goosegrass and crabgrass. Goosegrass has a white middle and is more prevalent on some fairway areas. Crabgrass has more of a lime green color and can sometimes populate around bunker edges.

As we move through the season, our team will continue working hard behind the scenes to keep improving the course and providing the best conditions we can. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support as we tackle the challenges that come with maintaining an older golf course, and we look forward to seeing everyone out enjoying the improvements along the way.

Brad Piecuch

Grounds Superintendent

Preparing for Summer: May Course Update

After the warmest March on record in U.S. history, April followed with unusually warm and extremely dry conditions. While the dry weather allowed us to make significant progress on several course improvement projects, it also required increased irrigation cycles to maintain healthy turf conditions. The extended stretch of warm, dry weather accelerated early-season turf growth and allowed the grounds crew to stay ahead on many spring maintenance priorities.

May, however, has brought a noticeable shift in weather patterns with much cooler temperatures settling into the region. As we move toward the most demanding turf-growing months of the season, the grounds crew remains focused on preparing the golf course for the busy summer ahead.

Deep-Tine Aeration

Deep-tine aeration of the greens was completed on April 27th. During the process, the greens were aerated to a depth of approximately 8 inches to help relieve soil compaction, improve oxygen exchange within the root zone, and promote deeper, healthier root growth. Following aeration, approximately 5 cubic feet of sand per 1,000 square feet was incorporated across the putting surfaces to help improve soil structure, enhance drainage, and maintain smooth, firm playing conditions throughout the season.

Deep-tine aeration is one of the most important agronomic practices performed on golf course greens. By creating channels deep within the soil profile, the process allows water, air, and nutrients to move more effectively through the root zone while reducing compaction caused by traffic and mowing equipment. These improvements help strengthen the turf during the stressful summer months ahead and contribute to healthier, more consistent putting surfaces over the long term. The greens have responded very well to the process and have now almost completely healed in, with putting quality and surface smoothness continuing to improve each day.

#1 green after topdressing

Dragging in the sand

Deep-tine aerating a green

Drainage Project

The drainage project on holes #4, #6, #7, #11, the approach on #13, and valley on #15 has now been completed. The upgraded drainage system was designed to better manage excess water in these low-lying fairway areas, helping to reduce standing water after heavy rainfall and allowing the turf to recover more quickly following wet weather events. Golf Preservations installed a combination of smaller collection pipes to pull water from wet pockets and larger main lines to efficiently move water away from these problem areas.

Shortly after the majority of the spring work was completed, the course received a 2.5-inch rainstorm that caused significant washouts in many of the newly trenched areas. As a result, crews spent an additional two days repairing and stabilizing the affected sections. To help prevent similar issues moving forward, hay bales and erosion-control wattles were installed throughout the project areas. Once the fairway sod has sufficiently rooted in these will be removed. While we are hopeful that the extreme weather conditions experienced during the summer of 2025 will not repeat themselves this season, the new drainage improvements should greatly minimize future damage and improve overall course conditions during extended wet periods.

Drainage work on #15

Installing main lines

Golf Preservations at work

Digging lines

Removing sod

Installing drain tile

Installing main line on #11

A lateral line washing out on #11 after the rainstorm

Installing drainage on #13

Wattles installed to help divert water on #15

Crabgrass?

Intermediate ryegrass and bentgrass were interseeded into some of the fairway mud pits following last summer’s heat wave monsoon-like rain events. In addition, it was used to help mask dormant Bermuda grass fairway patches during the winter months when Bermuda naturally turns brown and becomes visually unappealing (click here for a previous post about overseeding bermuda grass). Intermediate ryegrass was selected because of its extremely quick germination and establishment rate, allowing damaged or thin turf areas to recover rapidly while providing improved turf density and appearance during cooler weather conditions.

Unlike permanent turf varieties, intermediate ryegrass is intended to be temporary. As temperatures rise and summer approaches, the ryegrass naturally declines and dies out, allowing the Bermuda grass underneath to fully transition back into active growth. This process helps protect exposed soil during the offseason while maintaining better overall playing conditions and aesthetics throughout the winter and early spring.

There have been several questions regarding whether the ryegrass currently visible in the fairways is actually crabgrass. The answer is no — intermediate ryegrass and crabgrass are two completely different grasses with very different growth habits and characteristics. Intermediate ryegrass is a cool-season turfgrass that grows in upright bunches with finer leaf blades and was intentionally seeded as part of our turf recovery and winter coverage program. Crabgrass, by comparison, is a lime green warm-season annual weed that grows aggressively outward in a flat, spreading pattern and typically becomes most active during the hotter summer months. In addition, a pre-emergent herbicide application was made to all playing surfaces earlier this season to help reduce crabgrass germination throughout the golf course.

At WHCC, goosegrass has proven to be a more significant challenge than crabgrass in certain areas of the course. Goosegrass is a late season weed (typically germinating in late July or early August) that thrives in compacted, stressed turf conditions and can become more visible during periods of summer heat. Our maintenance team will continue monitoring conditions closely and will make additional herbicide applications as needed throughout the summer to help control goosegrass pressure and maintain healthy playing surfaces.

Intermediate ryegrass mixed in with bermuda grass and poa on #10 fairway

A picture of crabgrass on the left and goosegrass on the right. Notice the difference between these two weeds and the ryegrass above.

Robotic Mowers

The new Husqvarna robotic mowers have now been fully installed and are currently operating on the driving range. These autonomous units are designed to provide consistent, daily mowing while helping improve overall turf quality and appearance. Because the robotic mowers cut smaller amounts of grass more frequently, they produce a cleaner, more uniform playing surface while reducing stress on the turf. 

In addition to the turf benefits, the robotic mowers improve operational efficiency by allowing the maintenance staff to focus more time on detailed course conditioning projects and other agronomic practices throughout the property. The units operate quietly, use significantly less fuel and labor than traditional mowing equipment, and can maintain consistent mowing schedules even during periods of rapid turf growth. As we continue to fine-tune their operation and coverage areas, we expect the robotic mowing program to provide long-term benefits in both course presentation and maintenance efficiency.

Robotic mowers at the driving range

Thick Rough

The spring months always bring a variety of opinions regarding rough height on the golf course. While we work hard to manage growth and maintain consistent playing conditions, the reality is that rough grass naturally becomes longer and thicker during this time of year. In May and June, ideal growing conditions—including warmer soil temperatures, increased rainfall, and longer daylight hours—create a surge in turf growth. Cool-season grasses commonly found in the rough, such as Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescues, thrive during these mild spring conditions. Increased sunlight also boosts photosynthesis, allowing the turf to grow aggressively and fill in areas that may have thinned during winter dormancy.

Spring rainfall plays a major role in this rapid growth cycle as well. Unlike the heat and drought stress often experienced later in the summer, turfgrass during the spring is rarely lacking moisture. Combined with seasonal fertilization programs designed to strengthen the turf for the upcoming golf season, the rough quickly becomes lush, dense, and healthy. Since rough areas are maintained at a significantly higher mowing height than greens or fairways, the grass naturally appears thicker when growing conditions are ideal. In addition, late fall and early spring overseeding programs help fill in bare or thin areas, particularly under tree lines, leading to even denser rough throughout the course.

The purpose of the rough is to challenge players by making recovery shots more difficult, but during late spring the rapid growth can occasionally make the rough more difficult than intended. Managing these conditions can become especially challenging during extended wet periods when saturated turf limits mowing opportunities. Without frequent mowing, the rough can quickly become overly thick and impact pace of play. May and June are some of the busiest months for the grounds crew as rough mowers are often operating daily to keep up with growth. As summer progresses, however, hotter and drier conditions—combined with competition from tree roots—typically thin the rough considerably, leading us back into our overseeding programs again later in the fall.

Summer Annuals

The horticulture team has been extremely busy over the past two months transitioning the landscape beds from spring into summer color. The tulip displays provided outstanding color through the Easter season before naturally reaching the end of their bloom cycle. Once the spring bulbs finished flowering, crews began removing the spent plant material and preparing the landscape beds for the installation of summer annuals and tropical plantings.

With the arrival of May, summer flower planting is now well underway throughout the clubhouse and pro shop areas. This season’s ornamental displays feature a wide variety of colorful and tropical plants, including cannas, petunias, New Guinea impatiens, crotons, majesty palms, zinnias, euphorbia, and many others. After planting is completed, fresh mulch will be installed to help retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperatures, and enhance the overall appearance of the beds. These seasonal improvements will help beautify the clubhouse and pro shop grounds for the summer season.

Tulips blooming

Star light rose zinnias by the entrance

Roses in bloom

Birds of paradise and petunias

Brad Piecuch
Grounds Superintendent