January 28, 2011 -- Volume 49, Number 4

All Things Considered - A Green Section Staff Opinion

A "New" Normal For Golf Course Maintenance

Given a soft economy, recent adjustments may not necessarily be temporary.
by Ty McClellan, agronomist, Mid-Continent Region 

We'll get back to (insert any maintenance practice or budget line item cut in recent years) as soon as things return to normal." Sound familiar? At face value, this comment suggests that, while the business of golf is down, the situation is only temporary and operations and staffing levels will return to normal. So, what exactly is normal? For many, normal is the general state of golf that existed prior to 2008.

The 1990s and early 2000s can certainly be referred to as the good ol' days when golf was bursting at the seams with optimism in every sense of the word. There were an increasing number of golfers, new course construction, and strong revenue streams at golf facilities of all types. Positions for superintendents and assistants were being created faster than turf students could finish their education. In an atmosphere of pure optimism, golf courses were also being designed for the best of times and maintained to achieve the wow factor. This meant extravagance at many levels, including more bunkers with high faces, more tees, more yardage, and more acres of manicured turf. None of this came cheap, and courses became more expensive to maintain with unsustainable business models. Read the rest of this article.

The safe storage of fuel is an area many courses need to address and fortunately, can be accomplished with pre-packaged units like this one.

• Fuel Storage
• Pesticide and Fertilizer Storage
• Equipment Washing and Pesticide Mixing Area
• Water Use
• Pesticide and Fertilizer Use
• Wildlife Habitat

Read the rest of this sample report.
 

Advice to Players

Drainage and tree work are always high on the list of winter projects

It's that time of year when we get glimpses of sun, blue sky, and warmer air. In this region, winter has set-in, with most areas experiencing colder and snowier conditions than usual. Even though golf is on television, we won't have consistent golf weather conditions for awhile. We often experience thaws in January and February, but no matter how much we wish for a rapid return to spring weather, we are still in the heart of winter. 

This time of year can be very productive. Take the time to walk the course and observe sunlight and drainage patterns. When freeze and thaw cycles occur, track the water movement so drainage placement intercepts can be most productive. If the grass is exposed, look at the above- and below-ground plant structures. Take a sample indoors and thaw it out to monitor the condition of the grass. Cool-season grass should exhibit green/white crowns, with new white adventitious roots. Warm-season grass should have white rhizomes that snap when they are broken. While we still have a lot of winter weather ahead, it is not too early to take a walk and check on plant health.

Drainage and tree work are always high on the list of winter projects. Read the rest of this update.

Ice covered Poa annua greens can be severely injured if anoxic conditions occur. Poa annua greens also lose cold temperature hardiness when they are ice-covered for several weeks, which can increase the potential for direct low temperature injury if an insulating layer (e.g. snow pack, cover system) is not in place.

Winter injury on Poa annua greens can develop from a number of causes, which is why the winter season creates feelings of uncertainty for so many in the Northeast.  Creeping bentgrass greens, however, are much more tolerant of winter weather than Poa annua, so the amount of concern is significantly lower for courses that have creeping bentgrass.    

At this point, most of the Northeast is blanketed with a decent snow pack.  Some locations, however, have experienced a snow/rain mix that has left portions of golf courses covered with ice.  In this situation, some turf managers will remove ice from Poa annua greens, while others are content with letting nature take its course.  The frustrating fact is that turf injury can occur regardless of the decision made.  Ice remaining on Poa annua greens for an extended period can cause anoxic conditions (low levels of oxygen), which can be lethal to turf.  A freeze/thaw cycle on ice-covered Poa annua greens in late winter/early spring can cause severe injury, which is why many turf managers choose to remove the ice.  On the other hand, ice removed during very low temperatures can be lethal as well, just adding to the difficult decision of ice removal from Poa annua greens. Read the rest of this update, which includes links to other articles on this subject. 

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