AUBURN - The dry and sizzling weather that has scorched the Auburn area for much of the summer may be a dream come true for beach-goers. But it is a nightmare for golf course superintendents.

Lou Agosta, Owasco Country Club's course superintendent, has been dealt the difficult task of trying to keep the fairways green during a season that has baked many golf courses to a golden brown.

"The course takes a lot of manicuring," Agosta said. "This year we've been hit with one of the worst droughts since I've been here. All superintendents, whether you irrigate on the computer or do it manually, it gets to the point where you can only put out so much water."

Aside from dealing with a drought, Agosta has his work cut out for him every day he comes to the course.

He arrives at 5:30 a.m. and has a long day of mowing greens, cutting the rough and moving the tee marker. He strives to get most of the his duties accomplished before the golfers head out.

"You can get a lot more done early because the golfers aren't here," he said. "Greens are always a top priority. We cut them early and change the pins. As the day goes on, the productivity drops because the golfers are on the course. It slows you down so I try to get a lot done early."

Although much of a superintendent's job is spent on a lawnmower, he has to be knowledgeable about all aspects of the course, from the irrigation system to the different species of grass.

"There are so many things interesting about the job," Agosta said. "A lot of it is actually managing. I have to know a lot about pesticide uses, insects, diseases, irrigation and dealing with people. You wear a lot of different hats with this profession."

As Agosta has learned in his 32 years experience, weather tends to dictate his workdays. Harsh weather can cause a lot of things to go wrong, but Agosta said his love of nature is what keeps him coming back.

"I love being outdoors," he said. "After this I don't think I could handle working in a room with walls all day. When you're outdoors, there's always something different every day. You're always going in a different direction."

Agosta met some added problems this summer when a new irrigation system was put in.

Installation began in June and was finished just a few weeks ago. On top of having to learn the new system, Agosta had to deal with not having an irrigation system for a big part of the summer, as the old manual system was removed for a new, computerized version.

"It's an adjustment from one way of life to another," Agosta said. "It made it really tough, having no system for a while, especially with the lack of rain."

Although the installation resulted in longer hours for Agosta, he is very optimistic about the computerized system, which he has been pushing for since he arrived at Owasco 19 years ago.

"I'm excited to see what the course looks like in a year," he said. "We've already made so much progress in the short time that we've used it. It makes things easier when the greens need to be a little firmer or a little softer."

The life of a golf course superintendent is highlighted by long hours and little credit. Agosta said most people, golfers included, don't realize the amount of work that needs to be done daily to keep courses in pristine condition.

"Most people don't know how the cups are cut," Agosta said.

"Most don't know we even cut the greens everyday or that the fairways are cut three or four times a week. It's a lot of work, but it pays off when you hear compliments from the golfers afterward."