"Why the heck are you watering in the rain?"

No doubt, the question I will be receiving all day long is, "Why the heck are you watering in the rain?"

watering in wetting agent on #1 green...yes, in the rain

Answer: We are applying wetting agents to our greens and approaches today that MUST be watered in (more than today's rain will provide) for optimal results.  Wetting agents are used to combat hydrophobic   conditions that prevent the turf from properly draining.  The wetting agents break the surface tension  that will repel moisture and allow it to soak through the soil profile readily.  Today's application requires a follow-up application in another 10-14 days, which will provide at least 4 months of control (depending on turf conditions).  We will continue to monitor whether or not the greens begin to display any hydrophobic conditions later in the summer to determine if they will require an additional late-season wetting agent application.

Expect the greens to be soft for a couple of days following these applications due to the more than normal water in takes to force the wetting agents down into the soil profile for it to work properly.