August 26, 2011 -- Volume 49, Number 34

An active and well informed green committee that maintains a strong working relationship with their superintendent is a huge asset for any golf course maintenance program.

The role of the green committee is essential for the long-term success of a maintenance operation. Being a good committee member can be a demanding job, and it requires a significant investment of time and energy to be a successful. It seems that fewer members are willing or able to make that commitment, and the committee suffers and sometimes even fails in its role. This can be costly in many ways, especially in a period when private golf courses simply cannot afford to make mistakes and expect to remain viable.

I was asked to make a presentation about the qualities that superintendents and green committee members believe are necessary for a successful relationship and an effective green committee. The information I used in that presentation was derived from a survey of superintendents and past and present green chairmen and committee members from a wide range of private golf courses, asking the question, "What are the things you wished your green committee understood, and what are the things you wish your superintendent knew?" The responses from both parties were interesting, to say the least, but for the purpose of this article chose to focus on the responses from golf course superintendents and some past green committee members about the qualities they felt were essential a successful green committee.

Read the article

Decades ago, the USGA recognized the critical need to archive the turfgrass information flowing from countless resources. The result was a significant investment to support the Turfgrass Information File run by Pete Cookingham (pictured) and the staff at the Turfgrass Information Center at Michigan State University Libraries.

The Internet ushered in the "Information Age" and we have quickly adapted to a world where a seemingly endless source of information is at our fingertips. An important segment of that endless source of information pertains to business, and the business of managing golf courses and other turf-related businesses are no exceptions in needing pertinent information.

Decades ago, the USGA recognized the need to archive the constant flow of turfgrass research information gushing from turfgrass research programs across the nation. Between 1983 and 1992, the USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program provided $650,000 to develop a searchable archive of turfgrass information. The result was the Turfgrass Information File (TGIF), housed within the Turfgrass Information Center (TIC) at Michigan State University Libraries.

Today, more than a century of information on the care of turfgrass is contained within the more than 185,000 records that reside in the Turfgrass Information File (TGIF)database. Each year, another 15,000 records are entered into the TGIF database, and the amazing speed of computers allows the entire database to be instantly searched for virtually any turfgrass topic by using any of the 300,000 keywords.

"As time has gone on, the advance of technology has fortunately enabled us to more efficiently process content, but much of the fundamental work that we do is pretty labor-intensive," explains Pete Cookingham, head of the Turfgrass Information Center at MSU. "Besides more material, the types of materials we process have diversified tremendously and now include webcasts, interactive online models and tools, and, of course, large numbers of web documents. None of that material existed 15 years ago."  

Read the article 

Florida Region

Wrapping Things Up For The Summer 

by John Foy, director 

It will continue to be very hot and humid in Florida for another couple of months, but summertime renovation and routine cultural management programs are starting to be wrapped up so that courses are ready for the next winter play season. No-till renovation and the sod to sprigs planting process has been gaining popularity for converting fairways to Celebration bermudagrass.

Read the rest of this update. 

Southwest Region

Overseeding Survey 

by Brian Whitlark , agronomist 

Overseeding season is approaching rapidly, and now is the time to discuss seeding rates, strategize how many acres to overseed, and whether to overseed ultradwarf bermudagrass putting surfaces. Very recently, an informal survey regarding overseed rates was initiated with the help of Superintendent Bill Kostes at DC Ranch, and Ed Shimkus, superintendent at The Golf Club of Scottsdale. The survey revealed some very interesting trends with regard to overseeding or not overseeding in the Phoenix area.

Northwest Region

Hot and Humid in Colorado 

by  Derf Soller , agronomist   

Repair of damaged turf areas includes solid tine aeration, broadcast and slit overseeding and then frequent irrigation syringing to establish the new turf seedlings. Keeping golf carts out of these areas is a must!

Read the rest of this update. 

While not something we typically find in the Rocky Mountain Region, hot and humid conditions have prevailed this summer, particularly in the Denver Front Range area. Record-setting rains almost reached annual average totals for a two-week period in early July.  These were followed by rapidly rising temperatures. The combination of these events produced very high physiologically stress to turfgrass plants not normally seen.

Read the rest of this update. 

During the week of Aug. 15, Todd Lowe, USGA Summer Intern Jerry Dewberry, and I made a combination of eleven TAS and stop-by visits on the West Coast of Florida.  The USGA Green Section annually awards summer internships to upper-class or graduate students who spend a week traveling with USGA agronomists across the country.  Jerry Dewberry is attending the University of Florida and is working on a Doctorate of Plant Medicine (DPM) degree.  As with two previous interns, Jerry has been working for Dr. Phil Harmon in the Rapid Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab. (Learn more about internship opportunities with the USGA Green Section.) 

Hot and humid summertime weather that is favorable to turf growth will continue for at least another six to eights weeks in Florida.  It was found, however, that all of the courses visited were wrapping up summertime renovation project work, and routine cultural management programs had become important.  The next couple of months are essential in preparing for the next winter play season.

Thanks for your help!

Important Links