|
|
The USGA Green Section Weekly Update
April 23, 2010 |
|
|
|
| Golfers: Why Do They Water The Greens While You Are Trying To Play Golf? | | A USGA Green Section Video
by Jim Moore, agronomist, USGA Green Section |
Can't they water at night? |
Most courses have automatic irrigation systems that allow the course to be watered at night. So why do you occasionally see the maintenance staff applying water on the greens and other areas of the course during the day while play is underway? Watch this short video to find out.
|
| Topdressing Fairways: More Is Better | | USGA Sponsored Research You Can Use
by Jim Skorulski, Dr. Jason Henderson, and Nathaniel A. Miller |
Fairway topdressing is gaining popularity across the country |
For years, golf course superintendents in the Pacific Northwest have benefited from sand topdressing on wet and poorly drained fairway and rough areas. The sand applications, over time, firmed the wet surfaces for improved maintenance and playability. Other benefits observed from topdressing included a reduction in earthworm castings, improved rooting, earlier spring green-up, and a possible reduction in water use. Golf courses across North America have turned to fairway topdressing in hopes of achieving similar benefits. But as the program gains in popularity, there remain some unanswered questions, such as, what are the effects of sand type and application rates on the success of the program?
|
| Regional Update - North Central Region | | Consider Your Options
By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist - North Central Region |
North Central Region |
The level of frustration is ramping up for superintendents who have experienced significant winter injury on greens each spring during the past several years. Yogi Berra... It's d�j� vu all over again.
Your old greens have mucho Poa annua and poor surface drainage. Water pools and freezes on greens during winter. Poa dies. Greens are seeded with bentgrass. Greens are kept open for play during recovery. Opened greens are cut short and infrequently irrigated. Bentgrass germinates and then disappears. Poa eventually fills into the thin areas. By fall, greens have mucho Poa and poor surface drainage. Water pools and freezes on greens during winter. Poa dies......
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
|
| Regional Update - Mid-Continent Region | Slow to Recover
by Bud White , Director - Mid-Continent Region |
Mid-Continent Region | From my viewpoint, turf health has been the primary concern at golf courses this spring. Excessively cloudy days until about April 1st have slowed bentgrass root development and bermudagrass recovery. The wet winter also produced a proliferation of weeds this spring, primarily in roughs and slopes. This was due to a breakdown of fall pre-emergent materials, and because of the rain and an inability to apply post-emergent herbicides. On top of that, the ground was too wet for sprayer traffic. Mowing these areas now will quickly mask and eliminate the winter annuals.
|
| New Webcast Recording | | Winterkill Impact - Evaluation, Recovery and Procedures
by Charles "Bud" White, director Mid-Continent Region |
The winter weather has left its mark on many bermudagrass
Winter injury | courses in the form of winterkill. This webcast included valuable information to help course officials and golf course superintendents understand the causes of the injury and better protect against problems in the future.
No special software is required to listen to this webcast. Simply click on the link below. You do not need to enter a Recording Key. Select the Microsoft Office Live Meeting Replay option for faster viewing.
|
| USGA Green Section Survey Results | | Bermudagrass Winter Injury
by James F. Moore |
The winter of 2010 is proving to be one of the worst in many years on bermudagrass courses all across the country. Green, tees, and fairways were damaged to the point of requiring significant replanting for many sites. The survey included in last week's update received very good participation with more than 225 responses to date. To see the results of this survey select the link below.
|
| Coming Next Week - Survey of Damage to Poa annua Areas | The winter was tough on Poa annua areas too!
by Green Section Staff | | Last week's survey on the impact of the winter of 2010 on bermudagrass courses provided valuable information to golf course superintendents, course officials, and golfers regarding the incidence of winter injury across the southern United States. Our agronomists in the northern portions of the country are seeing similar damage on courses with Poa annua greens, tees, fairways, and other areas. Next week's update will give you the opportunity to weigh in on the damage experienced at your course. Be sure to forward this update to anyone that you feel would like to participate in the survey.
 |
| $500 discount on the Turf Advisory Service |
Don't forget that if you pay for a Turf Advisory Service visit by May 15, 2010 you will save $500 on the cost of the visit.
|
| |
|
|
| USGA Green Section
P.O. Box 0708
Far Hills, NJ 07931-0708 908.234.2300
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
