The abnormally warm weather combined with the lengthening of the daylight has begun to get the golf course growing.  Turf grass growth is dictated largely by soil temperatures.  When the temperature is below 55 degrees very little growth occurs, and the majority of what does happen at these temperatures is root growth. When the soil reaches about 60 degrees then more shoot growth begins to occur, and mowing schedules get tighter, and fertilizer and water inputs are greater.  Hopefully that is enough basic information to get you to understand where I am going next, which is management strategies for the health of the plant.

Large inputs of fertilizer at temperatures that are conducive to root growth, can sometimes result in shoot growth.  Later on when the temperature is higher and shoot growth is going on and you have not invested in growing roots; well guess what?????? There are no roots when you need them.  Different grasses have advantages over one another based on inputs of water and fertiliser at different times of the year. 

Some examples.  Poa annua (annual blue grass).  Likes cool and wet conditions. Water and fertilize in the winter when this grass wants to thrive and it does well.  It has very shallow roots no matter what you do in the winter so don't worry about it until it is hot and you want to cut back the water and you have no roots. Then it will die.
Bermuda grass likes it hot. Fertilize this grass when it is hot and it will outgrow just about anything.  When it is cold it goes dormant and is noticeable by its brown cast, especially on south facing slopes around the course.
Rye grass. This grass will compete with both annual bluegrass and Bermuda grass.  Although not as well adapted to the cool damp conditions as annual bluegrass it still does pretty well when watering is kept at lower levels.  And with Bermuda in the hot weather; well it will not keep up with its growth without some help from chemical inputs, however most of the hottest weather in our region is short lived, so about 75% of the time ryegrass is going to predominate.

Part of this is provide some insight into the management strategies that occur when mother nature is doing her thing. Like this winter with the warmer than normal temperatures, and lack of precipitation. The other part of this is to give you an idea of what ryegrass can provide in a full scale turf conversion such as what La Rinconada is planning.  Knowing that no grass is perfect, and that each one has physiological responses that when managed will work in your advantage is part of being a good golf course superintendent.

Kevin