Grain on greens.....With sincere thanks to Johnny Miller

I had a question from a member about grain on greens. Here is my answer....

Sincere thanks for your inquiry about grain. I hope you don't mind my highly opinionated, long response....

On today's greens in the northeast, grain isn't present anymore. We hear Johnny Miller speak of grain on every telecast he
does for NBC.....and as he does thousands of Superintendents like me cringe at his comments.

Let me explain. Grain was prevalent on bentgrass greens in the 60's and 70's. I remember it well; it could be very nasty to make an accurate putt through it. Back then,
greens' height of cut (.190") would present a green that would look downright shaggy (and more prone to grain) by today's standards. Higher grass length caused grass blades on sloped areas to grow horizontally and not vertically. The ball would not roll through grain, it would bounce, roll unevenly and decelerate quickly.

First, northeast greens (including Potowomut's) are comprised of two different grasses. Poa annua (a weedgrass) is the dominant species comprising over 50% of the grasses
on our greens. Creeping bentgrass is the other (and preferred) species because it holds up much better to environmental stress than Poa annua. Bentgrass surfaces were the grainy ones from golf's past while Poa annua cannot become grainy because of its growth habit. So, half of the greens' turf by area is immediately eliminated from any grain conversation.

Secondly, green speeds have risen dramatically during the last twenty five years. To attain today's speeds, we perform many maintenance tasks that eliminate grain on bentgrass.

These include:
Extremely low heights of cut (.120") with mower reels sharpened daily.
Mowing 7 days per week
Frequent sand topdressing
Aggressive aeration programs and summer venting.
Vertical mowing
Grooming (similar to vertical mowing)
Brushing
Lean fertilizer programs
Growth regulator programs
Establishing newer fine textured bentgrass varieties that when maintained properly grow up very upright.

The result of these programs is smaller turfgrass plants that grows upright. Grain can't become a dominant feature because we're always
doing something to eliminate extra growth instead of promoting it. We prepare a surface for golf where speed and smoothness are the traits that are desired.

When Johnny learned our great game in northern California, he had to deal with grainy greens. No doubt. And I am not saying that greens in southern latitudes comprised
with bermudagrass and seashore paspalum can't establish grain because they can. At better clubs in our climate, I believe grain has been eliminated....in my opinion.

Whenever I hear our friend Mr. Miller talk about grain on a green, in my mind I just change the word to slope. "He has to putt through the....slope." "This putt is down the ....slope."

Please email me or call with any questions. I am quite sure most Superintendents in our climate would provide a similar response to mine because Johnny's talk about grain
will always illicit a nails on chalkboard negativity among us!! Once again, thanks for writing!! I'd love to go out on the golf course and continue our conversation!!

Patrick Gertner CGCS
Golf Course Superintendent

March 12 Update

GOLF COURSE NOTICE

Three feet of snow has shrunk to less than a foot in most areas of the golf course. The quick thaw reminds us that golf balls will soon be in the air instead of snowflakes.
Unfortunately, the entire golf course is closed until further notice.

Soils are saturated from melting winter snows. Combined with frost still in the ground, any golfer traffic will leave muddy and deep footprints.
Please be patient during the next few weeks as we prepare for the golf season. We will keep you informed about lifting this notice, and about a date to open the greens either later this month or during early April.

Thanks everyone for your patience and support.

Patrick Gertner CGCS

March 1 Update

March 1st Golf Course Update

On behalf of my entire staff and I, please join me in thanking Assistant Superintendent Dan Virgulak for his over fourteen years of service to Potowomut Golf Club. Dan has accepted a similar position at Bellevue Country Club outside Boston and begins new duties March 9th. We have all seen and benefited from Dan's hard work and talents. Thanks Dan on behalf of our appreciative membership, and we wish you good luck in all future endeavors.

Now, about this crazy winter of 2015....Many of you know I am a hearty native of upstate New York where 100" annual snowfalls are common occurrences. However, even I am shocked by this winter's relentlessness. The good news is March is here, temperatures will warm and snow will melt as the sun continues to rise higher in the southern sky.

What will emerge underneath the two to three foot snow accumulation? Let me explain two different potential problems, ice and disease.

The first type of potential damage occurs when turf is covered by an impermeable layer of ice similar to what is seen on a skating rink. Turf death can occur after 42 days of ice coverage. Soils need to breathe even during winter, and a layer of ice prevents this needed exchange. Snow alone is excellent protection for turf, snow and ice together can lead to disaster.

The second type of potential turf damage is fungal disease snowmold. These diseases can injure turf when it is covered by heavy snow accumulation. Destructive fungi present in the plant begin growing when environmental conditions needed for the disease is present. (cold, damp snow covered ground) You have probably seen this damage during a previous spring. Snow mold shows itself as circular patches three inches or larger in diameter and turfgrass leaves often have a pinkish color.

So what will we see when our golf course re-appears in later March or April?

In my best guess, we will have no ice damage but will see some turf injury on fairway and rough in the form of snow mold damage.
Ice damage described above will NOT be an issue because accumulated snow first fell to the golf course January 26th. No ice formed on turf before Monday February 23rd after a minor warm up and rain event last Sunday, Feb 22nd.

Greens and tees were treated to prevent snow mold diseases on December 2nd 2014. Those areas should be excellent in spring. Fairways and rough however, could have some damage. We hope most damage will be superficial and will grow out quickly with warmer spring weather as is typical for winter turf disease.

All in all, I believe we will escape major damage and have good golf course conditions for spring. The possibility that snow mold damage is present will remain as snow melts in coming weeks.

Can't wait to see everyone in a few short weeks!!

Patrick M. Gertner CGCS