Overseed Time

[teejaywhy]

This question was posed in another topic, but I thought it deserved its own thread.

 

This info is applicable to the Phoenix AZ area and similar desert climates.

 

I've got a new vacation place in the suburbs. How long after a course opens in the area, after overseeding, are conditions close to playable without thinking about the maintenance?

 

Different courses stay closed for different amounts of time, so I'm basing on when the overseed started.

 

As far as the greens (most important part):

After 8 weeks, you can be fairly guaranteed a good playing surface.

That period between 4 and 8 weeks is "iffy" and variable by course.

Before 4 weeks, I wouldn't bother. Most courses open after two or three weeks and the greens can be very "shaggy."

 

Also during the first few months of grow-in, the courses are kept VERY WET and many times cart path only.

 

Two things I try to do during overseed time (get a copy of the overseed schedule):

- Look for courses that overseed late (and play there as long as you can, usually can find a few that wait into mid-October.

- Then when you run out of courses that have not started the overseed, look for courses that overseeded early (Mid-Sept). Hopefully those have at least 4 weeks of grow in.

 

Also, the overseed usually indicates the first jack-up of rates.

 

The real bummer about the fall overseed is that prior to them scalping down the bermuda, most courses are in the best shape of the year turfwise. Sometimes it can be fun to play a course just before overseed as they usually turn off the water for a few weeks prior resulting in a very FIRM and FAST playing surface. Out at Longbow, that can result in the discovery of some fairway contours you never noticed before that can lead your ball into some unusual places. :wacko:

[fore_life]

[quote name='tjy355' post='1955214' date='Sep 16 2009, 05:21 PM']The real bummer about the fall overseed is that prior to them scalping down the bermuda, most courses are in the best shape of the year turfwise. Sometimes it can be fun to play a course just before overseed as they usually turn off the water for a few weeks prior resulting in a very FIRM and FAST playing surface. Out at Longbow, that can result in the discovery of some fairway contours you never noticed before that can lead your ball into some unusual places. [/quote]


+1 on that Tom, im gonna miss how firm and fast some of the courses have been playing. My drive on a 512 par 5 at Ahwatukee left me only 160 yards out for my 2nd shot hahaha. I felt like I was playing in the US open or something.

I know they closed for overseed as well as course renovations on Monday for 2 weeks so it should be one of the first ones to have the new grass in.

[TML]

thanks for the info. This was exactly what I was looking for.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Here is the overseed schedule for fall 2009 for those interested.
[url="http://www.scottsdalegolfadventures.com/arizona-overseed.php"]http://www.scottsdalegolfadventures.com/arizona-overseed.php[/url]