The USGA Green Section
 Record
Banner

August 20, 2010

Is It Time To Rebuild Your Greens?
Four factors that should influence your decision (8 minute video).
by James F. Moore, director

A bad year on the greens might actually be a great opportunity to fix major construction problems.

Subgrade prep
A harsh winter and a brutal summer have taken a toll on greens of all types. With many courses facing major replanting and extended down-time, this may be the best opportunity in years to accomplish more than simply growing the turf back. This video will help you decide if reconstruction is the best option for your course. Watch the video 
 
If you would like more information on how to evaluate your greens and on the reconstruction process, follow these links.
 
 
 
 
Water Conservation For Everyone
by Patrick J. Gross, director
Irrigation testing 2The southwestern part of the United State is working hard to conserve water. This video (length: 11 minutes) outlines some of the most effective steps you can take at your golf course, regardless of where it is located.
 

Watch the video 
 
 
 
"History never looks like history when you are living through it." - George Santayana (1863 - 1952)
by the USGA Staff
Tree damageSkipping essential cultivation and aeration programs has never been a good idea. (Be sure to read the North Central update in this issue.) The following paragraph first appeared in the USGA publication Timely Turf Topics in June 1944.

SCARIFICATION ADVISABLE BEFORE HOT WEATHER: Where curtailed maintenance programs involve less frequent and higher cutting of greens, the problem of mat formation on creeping bent and Bermuda grass greens becomes increasingly serious. The accumulation of this mat of stolons and organic debris not only adversely affects the putting surface of the greens, but encourages severe disease attacks that are difficult to control, even when sufficient competent help is available for necessary frequent treatments with fungicides. Labor and time therefore may well be spent now in removing the mat before the unfavorable hot, humid conditions of midsummer.

 
On the other hand, it has always been a good idea to learn from those who have gone before us. One of the best to do this is to view past articles written in the Green Section Record. Every article since 1921 is available on-line in full text, including photos. Search for specific topics or browse full issues simply by visiting this site.
 
Regional Updates From Across The Country
Good advice and important news 
 
2 - 4 - 6 - 8 We Don't Need To Cultivate
 
by Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist, North-Central Region
It's easy to blame the weather for bad greens this summer, but in my opinion it was just a matter of time before significant summer losses of turf were going to occur at some courses.  These courses, for whatever reasons, have not made managing organic matter in the upper soil profile a priority. Read this entire update

The Heat Goes On!
by Darin S. Bevard, senior agronomist, Mid-Atlantic Region
 
In parts of the region, the oppressive summer heat is still hanging on and continuing to take its toll on cool-season putting greens. Bermudagrass, however, forges ahead. In our travels, we continue to see damaged turfgrass from the hot summer. Daylight hours are getting shorter, which helps the turfgrass by reducing the number of hours the grass is under stress. It is time to implement programs to promote recovery, but be careful and be flexible. Read on to find out more about these recovery programs
 
Like What You See And Want To Share?
Looking for something?
Looking for something
We have had numerous requests from golf and turf associations about how to forward the Record to their  membership via their association newsletter. Simply cutting and pasting will not work. Fortunately, there is a very simple procedure that does. Just follow these steps:
 
  1. Visit our archive and find the issue that you would like to share.
  2. Select the issue - it will display in your browser in html format.
  3. Simply copy the url from the address line and paste it into your newsletter.
 
 
Of course, we hope you also urge your membership to subscribe to the Green Section Record so they can recieve it directly. It is full of timely, valuable information and free of advertisements. Best of all, its absolutely free.
 
 
The USGA Green Section Portal
A Valuable Resource For All 
 
Take a minute to visit the Green Section's portal at http://gsportal.usga.org. There you will find information regarding upcoming live webcasts and links to recordings of more than 30 previously-delivered webcasts, as well as announcements regarding upcoming USGA Green Section activities, education conferences, and meetings.
 

Important Links

 

USGA Green Section
 P.O. Box 708
Far Hills, NJ  07931-0708
908.234.2300
 

Join Our Mailing List

 Forward this email to a Friend
�2010 by United States Golf Association�
Permission to reproduce articles or material in the USGA Green Section Record is
granted to newspapers, periodicals, and educational institutions (unless specifically
noted otherwise). Credit must be given to the author, the article's title, USGA Green
Section Record, and the issue's date. Copyright protection must be afforded. To reprint
material in other media, written permission must be obtained from the USGA. In any
case, neither articles nor other material may be copied or used for any advertising
promotion, or commercial purposes.
Green Section Record (ISSN 2156-5813) is published weekly via electronic mail by the
United States Golf Association�, Golf House, Far Hills, NJ 07931.