The link below is a FANTASTIC article written by Pat Gross, the USGA Agronomist responsible for oversight of the US Open at Pebble Beach. In my opinion, this article could not have been written any better. Many in the golf industry, USGA, GCSAA, EIFG just to name a few, have continued on a campaign that green is not always what is best for golf. Responsible and sustainable approach to not only golf course management but to all turfgrass management is where all our focus needs to be; from the golf courses to parks, to home lawn care.
Beauty in eye of Beholder
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
6/25 green speeds
We faired the storm well yesterday. We received .2" of rain during the event. The greens were stumped this morning behind our usual cut and roll. The greens today are at 10'.
William Brown, CGCS
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
6/23 Green Speeds
Last evening we received a bit of relief from the lack of rain with a hard downpour from a Thunderstorm. Although the total rainfall from that event was only .12", anything will help at this point. Greens were stimped this morning at 10'.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
6/20 green speeds
The 1at and 7th greens were stimped behind normal maintenance at a
speed of 10.2'.
speed of 10.2'.
William Brown, CGCS
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, June 19, 2010
6/19 green stimp
The first green behind our usual cut and roll was stimped at 10.2'.
William Brown, CGCS
Sent from my iPhone
Friday, June 18, 2010
Green speeds 6/18
This morning at 7:30 am after our usual daily cut and roll, several
greens were stimped at 10.2'.
greens were stimped at 10.2'.
We had some irrigation heads stick on us last night on both green
banks 3 and 10. These areas will be wet. The bunker on 3 will be
repaired later this morning.
William Brown, CGCS
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Greens Maintenance and green speeds
With the high percentage chance of rain yesterday, we wanted to take advantage of Mother Nature's opportunities and did some maintenance to our greens. Yesterday the greens received a little heavier than normal light topdressing and were also granular fertilized for summer preparation. With all this being completed early morning yesterday, all we had to do was sit back and wait for Mother Nature to wash it all in.......didn't happen! Late last night, after realizing we weren't getting any precipitation, I ran the irrigation system to irrigate in all we had applied. The greens were irrigated early this morning around 4:30am, so the water has not had a chance to move through the upper profile yet. Stimping the greens this morning they were at 9.8'. A little under 10 because of the irrigation, but should speed up during the day with the water continuing to move through the profile and the winds drying the surfaces out.
The practice of frequent light topdressing is key to having a smooth, true putting surface. This practice also helps us achieve our targeted greens speeds of 9.5 to 10.5'. There are also numerous other benefits to this practice such as disease management, water management, thatch and organic matter management as well as a more true cut. Our goal is to topdress the greens every 14 days with a very light dusting. When Mother Nature allows we will do it more frequently.
The practice of frequent light topdressing is key to having a smooth, true putting surface. This practice also helps us achieve our targeted greens speeds of 9.5 to 10.5'. There are also numerous other benefits to this practice such as disease management, water management, thatch and organic matter management as well as a more true cut. Our goal is to topdress the greens every 14 days with a very light dusting. When Mother Nature allows we will do it more frequently.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The rougher spring rough!!
Below is a GREAT article by our local USGA senior agronomist Darin Bevard. This article really hits the nail on the head and explains exactly what I have been discussing for several weeks with our GM Mike Fox, Membership Director, Joe Mackley and several members at the club. We are right in line with the USGA!
Spring Rough Is Rough!
By Darin S. Bevard, Senior Agronomist
June 3, 2010
Right on cue, complaints about thick, difficult rough come with spring weather. Overall, spring growing conditions have been excellent for the turfgrass. The golfers are playing, and, for the most part, they are happy until they hit the ball into the rough. Conversations about the difficulty of the rough have come up in nearly every Turf Advisory Service visit. The good news is if the rough is the biggest complaint, everything else must be going very well. The bad news is aggressive spring growth in cool-season rough generally has to run its course.
Most superintendents are maintaining rough at two to three inches, with the most common height of cut being 2.5 inches for cool-season grasses. As suggested by most golfers, the solution for challenging rough conditions is to lower the height or mow more frequently, but this is easier said than done. The frequency of rough mowing is usually dictated by available equipment and manpower. At this time of year, somebody is mowing rough at the golf course Monday through Friday. There just may not be enough "somebodys" at your golf course to mow the rough frequently enough to keep up with growth rate. If rough is mowed at 2.5 inches on Monday, the same rough may be 3.5 or 4 inches in a couple of days. Height of cut is not the problem, but frequency of cut is.
The bottom line is that rough grows aggressively in the spring, even in the absence of fertilizer applications. The result is difficult playing conditions, and this occurs every year. The only solution is to hit the ball in the fairway, play hard when it is in the rough, and know that the growth rate of the grass will slow down as spring progresses into summer. Be patient and be aware that your superintendent is probably doing everything he or she can to keep up with the growth.
Annual bluegrass weevil damage in the region has been modest this spring compared to past years. Awareness of this insect pest as well as better understanding of control options are probably the biggest factors that have reduced problems experienced with this insect pest. Continue to scout for annual bluegrass weevil if it has been a problem in the past.
The Mid-Atlantic Region agronomists are part of your agronomic support team. If you have a question or concern, give us a call or send an e-mail. Stan Zontek (szontek@usga.org) and Darin Bevard (dbevard@usga.org) at 610/ 558-9066 or Keith Happ (khapp@usga.org) at 412/ 341-5922.
Spring Rough Is Rough!
By Darin S. Bevard, Senior Agronomist
June 3, 2010
Right on cue, complaints about thick, difficult rough come with spring weather. Overall, spring growing conditions have been excellent for the turfgrass. The golfers are playing, and, for the most part, they are happy until they hit the ball into the rough. Conversations about the difficulty of the rough have come up in nearly every Turf Advisory Service visit. The good news is if the rough is the biggest complaint, everything else must be going very well. The bad news is aggressive spring growth in cool-season rough generally has to run its course.
Most superintendents are maintaining rough at two to three inches, with the most common height of cut being 2.5 inches for cool-season grasses. As suggested by most golfers, the solution for challenging rough conditions is to lower the height or mow more frequently, but this is easier said than done. The frequency of rough mowing is usually dictated by available equipment and manpower. At this time of year, somebody is mowing rough at the golf course Monday through Friday. There just may not be enough "somebodys" at your golf course to mow the rough frequently enough to keep up with growth rate. If rough is mowed at 2.5 inches on Monday, the same rough may be 3.5 or 4 inches in a couple of days. Height of cut is not the problem, but frequency of cut is.
The bottom line is that rough grows aggressively in the spring, even in the absence of fertilizer applications. The result is difficult playing conditions, and this occurs every year. The only solution is to hit the ball in the fairway, play hard when it is in the rough, and know that the growth rate of the grass will slow down as spring progresses into summer. Be patient and be aware that your superintendent is probably doing everything he or she can to keep up with the growth.
Annual bluegrass weevil damage in the region has been modest this spring compared to past years. Awareness of this insect pest as well as better understanding of control options are probably the biggest factors that have reduced problems experienced with this insect pest. Continue to scout for annual bluegrass weevil if it has been a problem in the past.
The Mid-Atlantic Region agronomists are part of your agronomic support team. If you have a question or concern, give us a call or send an e-mail. Stan Zontek (szontek@usga.org) and Darin Bevard (dbevard@usga.org) at 610/ 558-9066 or Keith Happ (khapp@usga.org) at 412/ 341-5922.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Weekend Weather
Well things were getting pretty dry. For a few days we were on a consistent nightly irrigation schedule that followed with daily handwatering of greens to keep moisture levels as even as possible. Then came Friday afternoon. Friday AM, the forecasters were only calling for 20% chance of storms for Friday. After Thursday's forecast of 70% which resulted in zero precip, my hopes were dashed for any rain for Friday. After finishing an afternoon syringe on several greens, I came in to check the radar and there was a very small storm heading right for Hartefeld. 40 mins later, we took a direct hit. We received .3" in about 12 mins.
Today and tomorrow very nasty weather is forecasted, hot humid and a very high percentage chance of very strong storms. Despite the rain yesterday, we were able to follow our normal weekend maintenance program which included our usual cut and roll of the greens.
If you are out on the course today, please be careful. If the sirens blow for inclement weather, please take shelter. NOAA is has forecasted a very high percentage of strong storms to include wind and hail. Good luck to all playing in the Hartefeld Cup today.
Today and tomorrow very nasty weather is forecasted, hot humid and a very high percentage chance of very strong storms. Despite the rain yesterday, we were able to follow our normal weekend maintenance program which included our usual cut and roll of the greens.
If you are out on the course today, please be careful. If the sirens blow for inclement weather, please take shelter. NOAA is has forecasted a very high percentage of strong storms to include wind and hail. Good luck to all playing in the Hartefeld Cup today.
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