April 8, 2011 -- Volume 49, Number 14

Put yourself in the audience at the Green Section Conference held at the 2011 Golf Industry Show

For the 34th consecutive year, the annual Green Section Education Conference was held in conjunction with the 2011 Golf Industry Show (GIS).  This year's program, held on February 11th, addressed the theme, "Lessons Learned Come in All Forms." The Green Section's staff totals 420+ years of experience, and the session highlighted some of the lessons learned and changes witnessed in the turfgrass management field. 

We are conscious of the fact that economic challenges have made it more difficult for people to attend the GIS, and, with this in mind, we are sharing the Green Section presentations in this publication. This is the fourth in the series of written summaries and links to the video of the actual conference presentations.

Stan Zontek

Milestones in Golf and Turfgrass Management

Products, programs, and procedures that have changed the game of golf and turfgrass management.

Stanley J. Zontek, director, Mid-Atlantic Region

Watch the video (note:  this is a large file so allow time for it to load).

Chris Hartwiger

The Five "W's" Of Precision Turf Management 

Five basics everyone ought to know about this emerging technology.

Chris Hartwiger, senior agronomist, Southeast Region

Read the article 

Watch the video  

A Florida Regional Update
by John Foy, director

 The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has made it official - effective March 26th Phase 1 water use restrictions are mandated for all of the counties under its jurisdiction.  For golf courses in the district, the Phase 1 restriction requires a 15% reduction in water use/irrigation based on their consumptive use permits.  The only exceptions are golf courses with 100% of the irrigation water coming from an effluent or reverse osmosis source.   The Phase 1 restriction requires all courses to submit a weekly report to the district on the total number of gallons pumped.

During the last week of March, widespread thunderstorm activity rolled through the state with the resulting rainfall easing localized dry spot concerns in fairway and rough areas.  However, this had no impact on the rainfall deficit, and only temporarily postponed implementation of district-wide Phase 1 water use restrictions.

For most golf courses, Phase 1 water use restrictions will result in a little increase in the incidence of localized dry spots and off-color turf, especially in perimeter areas, but should not have a major impact on the health and quality of bermudagrass or seashore paspalum putting greens, tees, and fairways.  Anything that can be done to alleviate the normal buildup of winter season soil compaction in high traffic areas, and wetting agent treatments will aide in increasing irrigation infiltration and reducing the incidence of localized dry spots.

Read on to see how the lack of rainfall is affecting Florida courses 

A Southeast Regional Update
by Patrick O'Brien and Chris Hartwiger, agronomists

Spring dead spot is a major disease of bermudagrass. A new alternative management method of prevention has shown promise compared to preventative fungicides.

1. Spring Dead Spot (SDS) - This root pathogen (Ophiosphaerella korrae) of bermudagrass was active over the fall and winter months with disease symptoms noted at numerous golf courses in tees, fairways, and roughs during the first stage of leaf tissue green-up.  SDS is now a rarity on bermudagrass putting greens due to fall preventative treatments.
2. Overseeded versus Non-Overseeded Ultradwarf Putting Greens - A few courses in the SE Region, mainly at resort coastal sites, still overseed ultradwarf putting greens with either Poa trivialis or a blend of Poa trivialis and bentgrass. On the whole, and based upon our observations, the playing quality of the overseeded ultradwarf putting greens is not as good as non-overseeded putting greens.
3. Operational Budgets - The majority of golf courses visited so far indicate that the flat or downward trend in operational budgets will continue this season.  This places the superintendent in a difficult position in having to communicate how budget reductions will ultimately impact playing quality through the season.  

Read on for additional comments on each of these issues 

Supporting links

Spring Dead Spot

Controlling spring dead spot of bermudagrass: Scientists at Mississippi State University conduct research to unravel this mysterious turfgrass disease 

Infection and colonization of bermudagrass by a spring dead spot pathogen: Work continues at Oklahoma State University to understand the infection process of spring dead spot 

Identification, distribution, and aggressiveness of spring dead spot pathogens of bermudagrass 

Ultradwarf Putting Greens

The heat is on: The first decade of the 21st century has seen ultradwarf bermudagrass varieties replacing bentgrass on putting greens in the Southeast 

Ultradwarfs in the off-season - a winter wonderland: Winter may be in the off-season, but with proper care, ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens do not miss a beat 

Opportunity knocks with the ultradwarfs: Success with an ultradwarf might be easier than you think 

Reductions in Operational Budgets

A "new" normal for golf course maintenance: Given a soft economy, recent adjustments may not necessarily be temporary 

The miser's makeover 

Your piece of the revenue pie: At many courses, less than 25% of golf facility revenues are budgeted for turf maintenance 

A Northwest Regional Update
by Larry Gilhuly, director

It may not be the Mainland, and it may not be similar to any other climate in the U.S., but a recent tour of golf courses on Oahu and the recently-completed 2011 Hawaii Golf Industry and HGCSA/USGA conferences had very good shared information.   Topics ranged from turf growth, playing conditions and what is going on in the 50th state.  The following are a few of the interesting comings and goings learned in the Aloha state:

Times are changing.  During the Hawaii Golf Industry Conference, two very interesting presentations were given concerning the burgeoning golf market being created in China.

Seashore paspalum still provides a good alternative to bermudagrass.  This "niche" grass is now established at more than 50% of all the golf courses in Hawaii in some form on the greens, tees or fairways.

Brushing is needed on both bermudagrass and paspalum. During the 2011 USGA Green Section program at the Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Brian Whitlark, agronomist for the Southwest Region, provided information about brushing, an old program that is beginning to make a comeback on greens.

Read on for the rest of this update 

Article on brushing by Brian Whitlark 

Video presentation about brushing by Brian Whitlark 

Important Links