As our golf course comes out of its winter sleep, problems on two greens have become evident this week. Greens fourteen and fifteen are showing weakness, as well as smaller spots on other greens. (4, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17 and 18.) Damage is evident only on apple green colored Poa annua grass, the darker colored areas of creeping bentgrass are thriving despite the ice cover.
Why?
Greens’ turf was suffocated from extensive and extended snow and ice cover. Turf plants need oxygen during winter and this requirement wasn’t met. Poa annua is a weak weed grass (that we often despise) that has low survivability when subjected to environmental stress.
How severe is the damage?
Dr. Mitkowski, pathologist at the University of Rhode Island estimated that Potowomut damaged areas have lost between 60-70% of their turf. This is severe turf loss. Remaining plants are extremely weak and are in precarious condition straddling the edge of life and death. How the living turf component responds during the next two weeks is very important.
The PLAN(s) (Applies to all voided turf areas)
We have a two part plan to rescue greens. Under both plans, we will raise the greens’ mowing heights and eliminate rolling. The first part of the plan is to save as many live plants as possible.
1. Greens will be fertilized every five days to fatten surviving plants. We will pamper these plants so they can grow and laterally fill in voided areas during the next six to eight weeks. Dark green dyes will be applied to help us maintain warmer soil temperatures, and thus, aid recovery.
The second part of the plan is to re-establish new bentgrass plants.
1. Greens will be spiked and seeded next week. Bentgrass seeds will not germinate until soil temperatures reach 59 degrees. Current soil temperatures are in the mid 40’s, so by placing seed in the ground now it will begin the germination process within a few weeks, with average April weather.
2. Dark colored organics will be applied to help warm surfaces.
3. Seed will kept wet to aid germination.
Options
Depending on the progress of the 30-40% living turf on the greens, or lack of it, we may need to take more drastic measures in coming weeks such as closing 14 and 15 greens during recovery. This determination has not yet been made, as we are optimistic and focusing on pumping up living plants full of nutrients to aid their survivability. We will keep you informed with daily emails if needed.
We are not alone. Speaking to people within the golf course industry this week, we have heard that most clubs with Poa annua greens in New England and our area are in a similar situation, many with half their greens severely damaged.
We are doing all we can to bring back poor areas of our greens as quickly as possible. We still have hopes that more plants can be coddled back to health by getting them fat and happy as soon as possible. If greens continue to decline the next week or two however, we will get new bentgrass plants thriving as soon as possible with the least disruption to you.
As always, we welcome your feedback, comments and questions.

Patrick M. Gertner CGCS