The USGA Green Section
Record |
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April 8, 2011 -- Volume 49, Number 14 |
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Fore the Golfer | Ball Marks - An Old Nemesis by the Green Section Staff |
![Pitch mark - the dent](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs003/1103157499740/img/265.jpg?a=1105078188082)
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The "Pit" | Ball marks are always a hot topic with golfers and superintendents so this week we are offering a variety of resources to help you encourage others to take better care of the greens.
The animation also can be downloaded from the USGA website. This allows you to insert it into a newsletter, blog, or other electronic communication. Or, you can simply link back to the USGA site or to this issue of the Record.
Videos and Animations
Link to the animation on ball mark repair
Link to the USGA site where this and other animations can be downloaded
Video on ball mark repair extracted from the USGA's DVD entitled, Spirit of the Game II
Articles
The anatomy of a pitch mark: Your greens are talking to you. Are you listening?
It's not the tool - it's the toolee!: Ball mark repair in the 21st century
An appeal for the return of golf course etiquette: Being a good player does not make you a good golfer
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Green Section Education Conference Presentations - Part IV | Two more Green Section staff presentations made at the 2011 Golf Industry Show by the Green Section Staff |
![GIS stage](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs003/1103157499740/img/239.jpg?a=1105078188082) |
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](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs003/1103157499740/img/262.jpg?a=1105078188082) |
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
As someone who has visited golf courses for the USGA Green Section in three different regions of the country and for more than 40 years, I was asked to develop this presentation on "milestones," the products, programs, and procedures that have changed golf courses over the years. This list was developed with input from the USGA Green Section agronomists. In the final analysis, these are some of the most significant changes we have seen while visiting thousands of golf courses over the years.
Read the article
Watch the video (note: this is a large file so allow time for it to load).
![Chris Hartwiger](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs003/1103157499740/img/29.gif?a=1105078188082) |
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
Anytime something is brand new in an industry, questions start flying. What is it? Where do I get it? How does it work? Why should I use it? Where does it go? These questions and more are being asked about the emerging field of Precision Turf Management (PTM). This article will answer five of the most common questions and provide links to more in-depth information.
Read the article
Watch the video
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Mandated Water Restrictions For South Florida |
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.
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Read on to see how the lack of rainfall is affecting Florida courses
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Spring Dead Spot, Overseeding, and Budget Cuts |
A Southeast Regional Update by Patrick O'Brien and Chris Hartwiger, agronomists
![Spring Dead Spot](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs003/1103157499740/img/260.jpg?a=1105078188082) |
Spring dead spot is a major disease of bermudagrass. A new alternative management method of prevention has shown promise compared to preventative fungicides. |
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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Oahu - The Gathering Place For Information
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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
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Green Section Record Archive (digital) | Looking for a previous issue of the Green Section Record?
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Looking for something? |
The Green Section Record has been published under various names since 1921 and is composed of an amazing collection of full-text articles and photos. This collection is stored and maintained by the wonderful library staff at Michigan State University in the Turfgrass Information File (TGIF). All past issues of the Record, right up to and including this one, can be accessed free-of-charge by following this link. Search the Green Section Record |
The USGA Green Section Portal |
A Valuable, Free Resource |
Take a minute to visit the Green Section's portal at http://gsportal.usga.org to find information regarding upcoming live webcasts and links to recordings of more than 30 previously-delivered webcasts and announcements of upcoming USGA Green Section activities, education conferences, and meetings. |
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