September 30, 2011 -- Volume 49, Number 39

Kinloch Golf Club

Kinloch Golf Club is a private, parkland-style, 18-hole golf course near Richmond in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. Kinloch was designed by Lester George and the famed amateur champion Vinny Giles. Originally conceived as a daily-fee facility with warm-season grasses before construction commenced, Kinloch quickly evolved into an award winning private golf experience with all cool-season grasses.

Upholding a commitment to the traditions of the game and the quality of the world-class golf, Kinloch staff have worked to implement an environmental management plan that improves efficiency, conserves resources, and promotes conservation endeavors. In March of 2010, Kinloch Golf Club was designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International. "We are all stewards of the environment," says Peter Wendt, CGCS., Golf Course Manager for Kinloch Golf Club.

In early 2001, Wendt and other staff began a soil remediation project to improve soil conditions throughout the golf course. The red clay soils located in the Piedmont region of central Virginia can hardly be described as an ideal growth medium for turfgrasses. Poor water infiltration, lack of organic matter, and ease of compaction are just some of the challenges area superintendents face.

In the world of turfgrass, fungicides are vital tools that help provide aesthetically pleasing views as well as adequate playing surfaces for golfers. However, fungicide resistance can prevent fungicides from working and cost superintendents greatly while allowing disease to progress. In the past, fungicide resistance has been studied only after it has been observed in the field. Research at North Carolina State University is attempting a different approach to understand fungicide resistance

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Detailed field work is required in Ph.D. candidate Joseph Roberts' research at North Carolina State University.

Dollar spot, caused by Sclertotinia homoeocarpa, is a devastating and persistent pathogen that terrorizes golf course turf throughout the United States. Superintendents battle this disease for long periods throughout the year, and fungicide applications are often necessary to maintain acceptable turf quality and playability. Fortunately, there is a wealth of fungicide chemistries available, including, but not limited to, benzamidazoles, demethylation inhibitors (DMIs), quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs), nitriles, and the list goes on. One newer class of fungicides known as the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors, or SDHIs, has proven to provide effective and long-lasting control of dollar spot.

The Green Section's summer internship program provides a unique opportunity for college students to learn about the game and industry of golf.

The USGA Green Section was established in 1920 to provide impartial and authoritative agronomic information to golf courses, and develop scientific information related to golf course turf. A major facet of the Green Section is its Turf Advisory Service (TAS). Eighteen experienced agronomists annually conduct more than 1,800 on-site visits to golf courses across the United States to take research results and practical information about construction and maintenance directly to subscribing clubs and courses.

Each year, the USGA Green Section provides the opportunity for fourteen to seventeen students to travel with members of the Green Section staff on TAS visits for one week between May and August. The goal is to provide students with a broader view of the golf course industry and help them learn about golf course maintenance through the perspective of the Green Section agronomists. Students receive a $250 stipend, and all transportation, hotel, and meal expenses are paid by the USGA.

The USGA regional director and agronomists interview candidates from among the universities in that region, and one or more students are selected to participate in the program. Each university may nominate only one student. The travel week date is flexible and is mutually agreed upon by the Green Section staff and the student. The student travels to the prearranged meeting site on Sunday and returns on Friday of the travel week.

As part of the internship, the student is required to submit a report that summarizes the week's observations and experiences. The report is due three weeks following the conclusion of the travel.

Students must meet the following minimum criteria to apply for consideration:

• A sophomore, junior, or senior in a four-year baccalaureate program, or a graduate student, majoring in horticulture, agronomy, or a related field. The student must be returning to school the semester following the internship.
• An interest in golf and turfgrass management, and preferably some experience working on a golf course or playing the game.
• Good leadership potential. 

Application packets must contain the following materials:   

1. A cover letter from the student, explaining how they became interested in turf management and why they would like to participate in the internship program.
2. The student's resume, including the projected graduation date.
3. A letter of recommendation from the student's faculty advisor.

Submit the application to the director in the Green Section region where the student's school is located. Applications are due by December 15, 2011. Selected candidates will be notified after March 1, 2012.

Direct questions to Kimberly Erusha, Ph.D., Senior Director, USGA Green Section, at 908-234-2300 or [email protected].  

Highlight from UC Riverside Field Day  

(L) A project investigating the ability of different warm season and cool season grasses to sequester carbon under deficit irrigation, and (R) a study evaluating different mowing, fertility, vertical mowing and growth regulator treatments on kikuyugrass, were highlighted recently at the UC Riverside Field Day.

Dr. Jim Baird and staff hosted a very successful turfgrass research field day at UC Riverside on September 15^th.  There were more than 200 people in attendance to see the latest in turfgrass research. Thirteen different projects were highlighted ranging from fungicide trials to kikuyugrass maintenance and salinity management. Research activity at UCR has steadily increased in recent years as noted by the five graduate students involved in various projects.  The following is a brief highlight of the studies in progress at UCR.

Florida Region

by  John H. Foy, director

Still Recovering From A Tough Summer

 

Relative to some other regions across the country, Florida has not been plagued by extreme and record-setting environmental stresses throughout the summer of 2011.This is not to say it has been an easy summer, however, and there are many courses around the state still faced with challenges in reestablishing

Turf recovery from summer cultivation has been slower due to continual wet, cloudy weather but full recovery should occur prior to the peak winter play season.

adense and healthy turf cover and course conditions inkeeping with expectations for the rapidly approaching winter play season.  

 

During August and September, average to slightly above average rainfall was experienced throughout South Florida, and this has helped alleviate but not eliminate drought concerns from earlier in the year. However, in the central and northern part of the state, rainfall levels were below average and this has resulted in Lake Okeechobee still being 3 ft. below its average level for this time of the year. This does not bode well for the coming dry season and there is the distinct possibility that the South Florida Water Management District will maintain current water use restrictions. Also again, a number of courses visited recently have not been able to produce a full recovery from the drought stress problems experienced earlier in the summer.

 

 

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North Central Region

Spike It

During the milder weather, one technique to speed recovery of weakened or thinned turf, especially on putting surfaces, is spiking. With the loss of density on putting surfaces comes a matting of organic matter and sometimes algae crusting. Gentle spiking breaks up the surface layer, and helps the surrounding plants fill-in quicker. The last two summers have refocused efforts to use spiking to aid recovery without taking the affected green being taken out of play. When there is enough turf loss that seeding becomes the primary means to reestablish good density, a higher mowing height should be part of the mix. However, when existing plants are adequate to fill the damaged areas, spiking will facilitate lateral growth.

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