Belle Haven Country Club

Agronomy Update — May 7, 2026

Course Operations

As many of you are aware, the D.C. region is currently experiencing severe drought conditions. The Potomac River Basin flow is at its lowest level for this time of year in more than 130 years. In response, we are actively working to conserve water by minimizing the amount of groundwater pumped from our wells to recharge the ponds. This is one reason pond levels are currently approximately 1.5 feet below normal.

We are required by the state to report quarterly water withdrawals from both our wells and ponds. Our well system operates under a permit that is renewed every 10 years, and our renewal application was submitted last year. As part of the renewal process, we must demonstrate responsible water management practices, including promptly repairing irrigation leaks, avoiding overfilling ponds, and preventing unnecessary overwatering.

The newly sodded fairways on holes 13 and 16 were aerified Thursday following the recent rainfall, and several rocks were removed during the process. These areas will be top-dressed with sand tomorrow to help smooth the surfaces and improve turf establishment.

Due to the dry conditions, the staff have begun hand-watering earlier than usual this season, particularly in areas outside of the newly sodded bunker renovation sections. Please be mindful of staff members while they are hand-watering. They will do their best to remain out of play and move efficiently throughout the golf course.

 

Short Game Area – Bermuda Grass

This spring has brought significant temperature fluctuations, including one of the warmest Aprils on record followed by a frost during the final week of the month. These rapid swings caused the Bermuda grass to green up early before briefly browning and entering a slight dormancy period.

While this change in appearance may be noticeable, the turf is not at risk. Temperature fluctuations can temporarily slow growth and force the plant to use more stored carbohydrates than would typically be ideal for this time of year. As temperatures stabilize, the Bermuda grass should recover fully and return to consistent color and growth by the end of the month.

 

Around the Club Grounds

This week, the grounds team began improvements around the pickleball and paddle court areas. Earlier in the week, Laz, Daniel, and Santiago added topsoil to the front portion of the pickleball courts, followed by sod installation ahead of the recent rainfall.

This area is being sodded with Zoysia grass, which is better suited for the hot and dry conditions typically found around the courts and adjacent parking areas. Zoysia is a warm-season turf that enters dormancy and turns brown during the winter months, but it thrives in high heat and offers better cold tolerance than Bermuda grass. Work in this area will continue over the next two weeks, weather and scheduling permitting.

Aidan and Gerb continue planting, mulching, and maintaining new landscape areas throughout the club grounds. Upcoming projects include installing seasonal containers and tropical plants around the pool area, as well as planting vegetables in the garden.