VOLUME 51, NUMBER 1   |  January 11, 2013                  

Heavy streaming of Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae cells out of the cut end of naturally infected creeping bentgrass stems.

During the past few years in many regions of the United States, extreme weather conditions and summer stress made managing creeping bentgrass exceptionally challenging. Many of the problems were due to disease complexes, stress factors, or other disorders. Among these problems, the loss of green color and decline of creeping bentgrass was a mysterious topic widely debated by university researchers and industry professionals since the early reports of outbreaks in the summer of 2010. The debate may have started sometime in 2010, but the problems related to this disease have plagued putting greens for several years. For nearly a decade, golf course superintendents have noticed unique symptoms of elongation, yellowing, and eventual decline on their creeping bentgrass putting greens; however, turfgrass pathologists kept coming up empty and attributed much of the problem to heat stress or other stress-related problems.

Things changed a bit when frustrated researchers at Michigan State University took a different approach by searching for atypical disease culprits after having no luck with the usual suspects. This led to observations of extremely high levels of bacteria pouring out of symptomatic stems of creeping bentgrass plants from a golf course in the transition zone (Figure 1). Not since the 1980s and the days of Toronto C-15 decline had these amounts of bacteria been observed inhabiting creeping bentgrass. This warranted further investigation, which subsequently identified a perpetrator: the bacterium Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae (Giordano et al., 2010).

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Hosting the Central Ohio Golf Course Superintendants Association and spouses at our beach bar.

At the end of one's life, no one ever says, "I wish I could've worked more." I believe golf turf managers may be an exception. In general, as grass growers, we love what we do. We thrive on challenges and the adventure that every day on the golf course brings. Even through hardships of weather, tight budgets, and high expectations, we press on undeterred to present the best possible golf course. Superintendents have passion and energy, which is not often seen in other professions. Through all the pressure and stress, there are concerns. How does one keep the passion? How do you keep your batteries charged? I firmly believe the saying "You have to know what you are working for."   

Most call it "R and R." However, we all have different definitions of what rest and relaxation means. Time away from the golf course can be spent in many different ways. Everyone needs time away, and how you spend that time can help your job performance. Choices about what we do with our free time can be difficult, but I think we can all agree that family time should top the list.

Northeast Region

Freezing Temperatures Are Not All Bad  - Golfers may complain about temporary greens, but freezing temperatures are a positive for golf courses in the northern states. With the shortest day of the year approaching, now is the time to evaluate tree projects.   Read More  

Mid-Atlantic Region

Winter is Welcome -  Superintendents welcome the cold weather as long as it does not stay too long. Read More  

Southeast Region 

Covering Guidelines For Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Greens-The expense of a cover can be easily justified when compared to the cost of completely replanting a bermudagrass green.    Read More  

Florida Region 

Early Sprays Keep The Poa At Bay -Annual bluegrass, or Poa annua, is a common weed on Florida golf courses during the winter play season and has been a topic of discussion on recent Turf Advisory Service visits.   Read More  

North-Central Region

Engaging 2013 - Positive, proactive communication requires paying attention, being open and engaging the future - a worthy resolve for 2013.  Read More  

Mid-Continent Region

We Are Freezing, Take Precautions  - A checklist for bermudagrass and zoysiagrass courses to review to reduce the chance of winter injury as much as possible.  Read More  

Northwest Region

Steps Golfers Can Take To Help Their Course - A list of of suggestions that will make golf better for everyone..  Read More  

Southwest Region

How Keeping A Journal May Save Your Course Money - Many people keep daily journals. Superintendents that do so may find that their notes pay big dividends for their facility.  Read More  

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