Just because a golf course has putting greens doesn’t mean it’s easy to keep its color.

The University Golf Course, located south of campus on Riverbend Drive, is paying close attention to the health of its grass this summer so that all 18 holes are in optimal condition against the unforgivable weather.

With temperatures in Athens reaching the 90s and humidity at its peak, keeping the course suitable for golfing is a challenge for groundskeepers.

“It’s extremely difficult because everything is growing and continuously needs to be kept up and Mother Nature never plays fair,” Golf Course Superintendent Scott Griffith said. “These are the times when I wish we could close for a few months and put shade tents over our greens like Augusta National does.”

The course uses a type of grass known as bentgrass, which Griffith says grows at an optimum temperature of 80 degrees. The high temperatures and humidity in the summer can damage the grass and make it difficult to play on.

“This year alone we have seen our canopy temperatures of the greens consistently above 110 degrees, with the soil temperature around the roots in the mid-90s,” Griffith said. “The high humidity prevents the plant from cooling itself naturally because of the reduction of evaporation.”

To prevent the grass from overheating and becoming unfavorable for golfing, the course uses a soil moisture probe, which monitors the grass with a volumetric water content meter and allows groundskeepers to find the areas where watering is needed the most.

Irrigation is used only when it is needed, which encourages the grass roots to reach deeper into the soil for water, making them more self-sufficient.

“We constantly monitor the weather and pay close attention to how much water we are losing,” Griffith said. “The greens have to be monitored daily to inspect for unfavorable changes that might arise and a timely appropriate action must be taken to alleviate whatever stress the plant is under.”

The areas that do die when the weather warms up require placement of new sod, especially around the teeing grounds, fairways and the edge of greens.

The University Golf Course uses various techniques to monitor the water to keep the course in top shape in this summer in response to high heat and humidity. PHOTO BY HALLEIGH AMSDEN.

But the extra maintenance during the summer does have its advantages. If monitored carefully, bentgrass is favorable for golfers, especially on the putting green. This makes the

weather.

Hotel Indigo provides plenty of water for thirsty canines and gives away free goodies each week. Their newest treat has been blue dog collars featuring the Hotel Indigo logo, a popular item among the attendees.

O’Shea Cleveland and her fiancé, who just received his doctorate in business management from the University, were in town to visit some friends when they heard about Canine Cocktail Hour. They chose to stay at Hotel Indigo because of its pet-friendly suites.

“We had been traveling for about 11 hours with our dog in the car,” Cleveland said. “We read about the event and thought it would be a good way for us to involve our dog in our visit, [and] get him out of the car.”

Paige Carmichael, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the School of Veterinary Medicine, said she heard about the Canine Cocktail Hour while attending her husband’s rehearsal at the hotel a few months ago.

“We are huge supporters of Hotel Indigo,” Carmichael said. “When I heard about the Canine Cocktail, I thought it would be a great way for me to socialize my dog in a controlled environment.”

Attendance varies throughout the year, but there is always a sizeable crowd.

Boatwright said the event has attracted attention among Athens residents as well as students.

“It’s a little warm in the summer,” Boatwright said. “Participation varies a little each week, but we host so many different events during the summer, as well as our weekly get together.”

This past Halloween, Hotel Indigo hosted a Dog’s Night Out, where participants dressed up themselves and their companions for prizes such as Best Costume, Most Original, and Best Owner and Pet.

“We had about 50 people in attendance,” Boatwright said. “We are definitely going to do it again this fall.”