February 4, 2011 -- Volume 49, Number 5

Lessons Learned Come In All Forms

Altogether, the Green Section's staff totals 420+ years of experience, with hundreds of thousands of miles traveled annually. The 2011 USGA Educational Conference will highlight some of the lessons learned and changes witnessed in the turfgrass management field over the years.The Conference also will spotlight the 50th presentation of the USGA Green Section Award to this year's very worthy recipient.

A Green Section Podcast

The summer of 2010 and what superintendents and golfers can learn from it.

featuring Darin Bevard, senior agronomist, Mid-Atlantic Region 

Darin Bevard

In this podcast Darin discusses some of the major issues that challenged bentgrass greens and other course areas this past year. 

(Length:  approximately 10 minutes)

Depending on the speed of your connection, you might have to allow a little time for the audio file to load.

Listen to this podcast

by Dr. Rob Golembiewski, Tod Blankenship, CGCS, and Brian McDonald

Over the past 30 years the successful management of golf course putting greens in the United States has generally been associated with green speeds, which can be traced back to the introduction of the Stimpmeter� in the late 1970s.The goal of the USGA in introducing the Stimpmeter was to give golf course superintendents a tool that would assist them in creating consistent putting conditions across the entire golf course.

Overwhelmingly, green speed research to date has focused primarily on creeping bentgrass. The objective of this research study was to investigate the effects of various mowing and rolling regimes on annual bluegrass(Poa annua) putting green speeds.

This is just one of the tables that provide valuable management information. Be sure to read the rest of this update.

Read the rest of the research update.

Every now and then a unique idea is found while visiting golf courses.  During a USGA Turf Advisory Service visit to Waverley Country Club last year, a high-powered, hand-held laser for harassing Canada geese was discussed (March 24, 2010 regional update).  The results at this course and at many other courses were very positive.  It was an effective, quick-control method to annoy migratory geese under different conditions (dawn, dusk and cloudy days) from distances even greater than 300 yards.  The birds are not harmed, but they are easily spooked by the laser's green light.  However, permanent or nesting birds, especially Canada geese, couldn't care less about 'seeing the light' and simply do not react to harassment efforts, regardless of daylight.  Although other techniques are advised for these damaging and persistent birds, how is it that this effective method of bird intimidation has worked for crows and American widgeon? Find out by reading the rest of this update.

Covers do make a difference. The red line shows the temperature of a green covered with thin, black plastic sheeting. The green line shows the temperature of an uncovered green. (image courtesy of Travis Moore, The Club at Sonterra, San Antonio, Texas)

The winter of 2010 produced some significant bermudagrass loss, but this winter might be worse. For example, the temperature hit a 15-year low in north Texas on Tuesday night and Wednesday's high temperature was the lowest it has been in the past 20 years. It was even colder in Oklahoma with some areas reporting temperatures as low as -18�F. 

Temperatures are predicted to slightly improve for Saturday and Sunday, and undoubtedly there will be some pressure to remove covers and reopen the course.  Err on the side of caution and keep the covers on through this next cold snap. Leaving the greens covered these two days in the lower Mid-Continent Region in anticipation of the potential winter storm on Monday will not be detrimental to the grass.  These temperatures are not warm enough, nor is the length of time long enough, to create problems for the turf.  Golfers can really help their courses by being patient during this period.

If courses decide to uncover greens for Saturday and Sunday, you may consider uncovering only nine holes and the practice putting green to provide playing options for any golfers.  I also suggest the covers be rolled up to the back of the green to make recovering as easy as possible. 

Occasionally I am asked about "icing" the greens. Although some superintendents have claimed success with this technique, the practice has not been scientifically verified as effective. On the other hand, protecting greens with blankets and or straw has been proven to provide a great deal of insurance against low-temperature damage.

For those courses in the central Mid-Continent Region who have received significant snow cover, there is an insulation effect that can help protect greens from the severe winter desiccation experienced in 2010.  Desiccation often is most severe on north-facing, highly-exposed slopes.

Another item to consider is bringing bermudagrass plugs inside to check for winter kill. This is best done by bringing in cup cutter plugs, putting them in pots, and then setting them on a window sill so they receive several hours of sunlight. 

 If you would like more information about a Turf Advisory Service visit, please contact either Mid-Continent regional office:  Bud White, (972) 662-1138 or ([email protected]) and Ty McClellan, [email protected] or (630) 340-5853.  

 The bench is important to a team, but it's the players on the floor that are in control at any given moment during a game.  In a like manner, the mowing height bench setting on a mower is important, but it's the actual cut that directly impacts turf health, dependability and playability.  Since mowing is a building-block component of golf turf maintenance, it is a common topic in turfgrass maintenance and during on-site Turf Advisory Service visits.  Often, the focus is on the bench setting, as opposed to the more important actual cut.  Isn't that a bit like relying on the benched players to score points rather than those on the floor? Read the rest of this update. 

Dormant bermudagrass is not "dead".  Despite the loss of color, good playing quality can be preserved by minimizing cart and equipment traffic.

Over the past few weeks, we've heard from many grumpy and depressed golfers about the "terrible condition of the golf course".  What seems to be the problem?  "The grass is dead!"

The grass really isn't dead.  It's just taking a well deserved rest.  A cold snap throughout southern California in late December and early January caused non-overseeded bermudagrass to go into dormancy.  When this happens, the grass loses its green color and goes into hibernation until warmer temperatures return in the spring.  The loss of color is simply a plant defense mechanism in response to the cold air and soil temperatures.  The grass is still alive, but growing very slowly.

The outcry from golfers usually centers on the following issues:

Read on for these issues and suggestions for dealing with them.

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