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
Monday, March 16, 2015
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
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
Friday, March 13, 2015
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
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
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Looking toward 2014
Here are details of early planning for 2014 to improve your golf course. This list is just a start that will lead to a more extensive list that will be put into place before next season. Details to follow!
1. Greens fertility programs will be almost 100% organic for 2014. When soil biology is increased soils will improve. After reading three books recently on the wonders of organic farming, we have seen the light and it's pushing us to organic programs!!
2. Collars will be aerated frequently during the season. The undesirable soil cores will be removed and fertilizers and wetting agents that aid water holding and rooting will be added. We will avoid adding sand topdressing to collars and green edges.
3. Greens topdressing program will be upgraded substantially for smoother greens. We will topdress greens either weekly or bi-weekly.
4. Greens will undergo extensive soil testing from the International Sports Turf Research Center (ISTRC) (http://istrc.com) during the next few weeks. Results will help us plan maintenance procedures based on results from Potowomut soils.
5. Extensive tree removals behind and right of 15 green are planned to provide increased air movement. Also, a drain will be installed in the low area in the right back of the green and collar.
6. Fairways will be limed to address soil deficiency issues that became an issue during 2013.
6. Seasonal and summer staffing levels will to levels from four or five years ago.
Ok, back to leaves!
Patrick Gertner CGCS
1. Greens fertility programs will be almost 100% organic for 2014. When soil biology is increased soils will improve. After reading three books recently on the wonders of organic farming, we have seen the light and it's pushing us to organic programs!!
2. Collars will be aerated frequently during the season. The undesirable soil cores will be removed and fertilizers and wetting agents that aid water holding and rooting will be added. We will avoid adding sand topdressing to collars and green edges.
3. Greens topdressing program will be upgraded substantially for smoother greens. We will topdress greens either weekly or bi-weekly.
4. Greens will undergo extensive soil testing from the International Sports Turf Research Center (ISTRC) (http://istrc.com) during the next few weeks. Results will help us plan maintenance procedures based on results from Potowomut soils.
5. Extensive tree removals behind and right of 15 green are planned to provide increased air movement. Also, a drain will be installed in the low area in the right back of the green and collar.
6. Fairways will be limed to address soil deficiency issues that became an issue during 2013.
6. Seasonal and summer staffing levels will to levels from four or five years ago.
Ok, back to leaves!
Patrick Gertner CGCS
Monday, October 28, 2013
Golf Course Frost and Improvement Progress
October will be the driest month of the 95 that I have worked at Potowomut Golf Club. Our last significant rainfall event occurred on September 22nd when a half inch fell. We have pumped almost 3 millions of irrigation water since then bringing our 2013 output to over 16 million gallons. Unirrigated rough areas are dry and needing rain. Seed planted in the rough during the last five weeks still waits for moisture that will begin the germination process.
We've had frost delays late this month with an extremely heavy one Saturday morning when the temperature dropped to 30 degrees. When frosted turf is walked upon, death of turfgrass is the result. Running irrigation water does not work to melt frost as we have areas of the golf course untouched by irrigation, and hence prone to death by frosty footprints. Below is a short blurb on frost issues and golf written by USGA Agronomist Mr. Pat Gross:
"Many golfers in the US are hearing the familiar words “The golf course is temporarily closed until the frost melts”. It may sound hard to believe, but grass blades can crack and die when traffic is applied to frozen turf. A more serious concern is damage to the turfgrass crown (the base of the plant that produces new leaves), which kills the entire plant. All species of turf are sensitive to frost damage, including dormant bermudagrass, but the biggest concern is creeping bentgrass and Poa annua putting greens because there is very little leaf surface to protect the turfgrass crowns. The dead turf often persists for several weeks or months until warmer temperatures encourage active growth.
Unfortunately, the only things that will melt frost are sunlight and warmer temperatures, so golfers need to be patient and let Mother Nature do her work. The light application of water once temperatures are above 32°F can accelerate frost removal, but keep in mind that temperatures often dip for a brief period immediately after sunrise. Applying water at sunrise can backfire, causing even more frost that will take longer to melt. Watering shaded areas of the course to help melt the frost should be avoided because temperatures stay cooler for a longer period of time due to the shade. Some superintendents have experimented with darkening agents (charcoal or soot), wetting agents, fans, and a variety of other materials, but these end up causing a mess or more problems and do very little to help get golfers on the course sooner.
Here are a few tips that superintendents and course officials should consider when frost is a recurring issue during the winter. First, play should be delayed for at least 30 minutes after the frost melts to allow maintenance personnel to change holes, mow, and prepare the course for play. During this time, it is helpful to have two-way radios so the superintendent and his staff can communicate with the golf shop and keep everyone informed. Second, have an operational plan for scheduling golf play during periods of frost. In some cases, you may want to start play on the back nine if that section of the course tends to thaw faster, or some courses simply schedule a standard 10:00 a.m. shot-gun start during the winter when frost is a recurring problem. Third, you may wish to analyze areas of the course where frost persists and see if trees that are blocking morning sun can be pruned or removed to help melt the frost faster. Above all, it is important for golfers to be patient during frost delays. Although superintendents are very clever and resourceful professionals, there is little they can do make Mother Nature melt the frost any faster."
If anyone has any questions about frost and the turf damage it can cause, please send me an email at PatrickGertner@Potowomut.com.
The golf course continues to improve during fall. Fairway aeration was completed last week so our focus will shift to sodding poor areas on greens, bunker work and to work on restoring the front right of 16 green to how it was designed. Then of course, there are the leaves.
We are thrilled recent dry weather allowed us to aerate all fairways. Aeration is necessary to both remove thatch and to allow soils to breathe. We aerated using the closest spacing possible with our machine. It takes us a long time to aerate fairways when we perform the operation ourselves, but because of the close spacing we punch many more holes than a contractor. More holes means better quality fairways next summer.
Today, (Monday) we are sodding spots on the edges of 15 green. Later in the week, we will work on 6 green and the back of 16 green. Sod will root down and blend in well before next summer.
Because the three summer damaged greens (13, 15, 16) were not aerated in September, we will poke slim narrow holes using solid tines this week. These greens will be topdressed lightly when done. We expect little or no surface disruption to golfers. (These greens were skipped during September so we didn't pull tender, new bentgrass plants out of the ground.)
In a week or two, we will strip the 6th right greenside bunker's face of sod and re-sod with brand new turfgrass. We are excited to get this project done. Rhode Island's largest sod grower SodCo is providing the sod at no charge to Potowomut to enable us to try a tall fescue based sod to this area. Thanks to SodCo!!!
Tidbits.....Last week, I traveled to Bayport Long Island to pick up a used seeding machine to be used in 2014 and beyond....Because of extremely dry weather, we expect to continue to keep the irrigation system up and running well into November, potential irrigation shut down date is November 15....planning for 2014 has already begun....
Patrick Gertner CGCS
Golf Course Superintendent
We've had frost delays late this month with an extremely heavy one Saturday morning when the temperature dropped to 30 degrees. When frosted turf is walked upon, death of turfgrass is the result. Running irrigation water does not work to melt frost as we have areas of the golf course untouched by irrigation, and hence prone to death by frosty footprints. Below is a short blurb on frost issues and golf written by USGA Agronomist Mr. Pat Gross:
"Many golfers in the US are hearing the familiar words “The golf course is temporarily closed until the frost melts”. It may sound hard to believe, but grass blades can crack and die when traffic is applied to frozen turf. A more serious concern is damage to the turfgrass crown (the base of the plant that produces new leaves), which kills the entire plant. All species of turf are sensitive to frost damage, including dormant bermudagrass, but the biggest concern is creeping bentgrass and Poa annua putting greens because there is very little leaf surface to protect the turfgrass crowns. The dead turf often persists for several weeks or months until warmer temperatures encourage active growth.
Unfortunately, the only things that will melt frost are sunlight and warmer temperatures, so golfers need to be patient and let Mother Nature do her work. The light application of water once temperatures are above 32°F can accelerate frost removal, but keep in mind that temperatures often dip for a brief period immediately after sunrise. Applying water at sunrise can backfire, causing even more frost that will take longer to melt. Watering shaded areas of the course to help melt the frost should be avoided because temperatures stay cooler for a longer period of time due to the shade. Some superintendents have experimented with darkening agents (charcoal or soot), wetting agents, fans, and a variety of other materials, but these end up causing a mess or more problems and do very little to help get golfers on the course sooner.
Here are a few tips that superintendents and course officials should consider when frost is a recurring issue during the winter. First, play should be delayed for at least 30 minutes after the frost melts to allow maintenance personnel to change holes, mow, and prepare the course for play. During this time, it is helpful to have two-way radios so the superintendent and his staff can communicate with the golf shop and keep everyone informed. Second, have an operational plan for scheduling golf play during periods of frost. In some cases, you may want to start play on the back nine if that section of the course tends to thaw faster, or some courses simply schedule a standard 10:00 a.m. shot-gun start during the winter when frost is a recurring problem. Third, you may wish to analyze areas of the course where frost persists and see if trees that are blocking morning sun can be pruned or removed to help melt the frost faster. Above all, it is important for golfers to be patient during frost delays. Although superintendents are very clever and resourceful professionals, there is little they can do make Mother Nature melt the frost any faster."
If anyone has any questions about frost and the turf damage it can cause, please send me an email at PatrickGertner@Potowomut.com.
The golf course continues to improve during fall. Fairway aeration was completed last week so our focus will shift to sodding poor areas on greens, bunker work and to work on restoring the front right of 16 green to how it was designed. Then of course, there are the leaves.
We are thrilled recent dry weather allowed us to aerate all fairways. Aeration is necessary to both remove thatch and to allow soils to breathe. We aerated using the closest spacing possible with our machine. It takes us a long time to aerate fairways when we perform the operation ourselves, but because of the close spacing we punch many more holes than a contractor. More holes means better quality fairways next summer.
Today, (Monday) we are sodding spots on the edges of 15 green. Later in the week, we will work on 6 green and the back of 16 green. Sod will root down and blend in well before next summer.
Because the three summer damaged greens (13, 15, 16) were not aerated in September, we will poke slim narrow holes using solid tines this week. These greens will be topdressed lightly when done. We expect little or no surface disruption to golfers. (These greens were skipped during September so we didn't pull tender, new bentgrass plants out of the ground.)
In a week or two, we will strip the 6th right greenside bunker's face of sod and re-sod with brand new turfgrass. We are excited to get this project done. Rhode Island's largest sod grower SodCo is providing the sod at no charge to Potowomut to enable us to try a tall fescue based sod to this area. Thanks to SodCo!!!
Tidbits.....Last week, I traveled to Bayport Long Island to pick up a used seeding machine to be used in 2014 and beyond....Because of extremely dry weather, we expect to continue to keep the irrigation system up and running well into November, potential irrigation shut down date is November 15....planning for 2014 has already begun....
Patrick Gertner CGCS
Golf Course Superintendent
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Seeding time
Dear Members,
As we prepare our busy late summer and fall schedules, here is a quick snapshot of plans for the next few weeks. As always, please ask any questions of me at patrickgertner@potowomut.com, and thanks to everyone for your support.
Greens
Thin areas on greens are now hand spiked and seeded and machine seeded. (Look for the extremely small pink colored creeping bentgrass seed)
Larger areas (15 Green) will be sodded and plugged during fall.
13, 15 and 16 greens are on a program of heavy fertilization to get plants to spread laterally. Recent improvement is noticeable. However, it is a slow process.
Greens aeration week is September 10-13, weather permitting.
Bentgrass nursery will be repaired this fall so it is ready for use next year.
Soil samples from ten greens were sent to the University of Florida Nematode Laboratory this week to assess nematode counts.
Collars
Poor areas of collars will be seeded Wednesday and Thursday this week. Areas will be double aerated and seeded with a mixture of seed types. Expect improvement during September. ****After the seeding process, we will place colored flags on repaired collars to remind you to try your best to stay off seeded areas. Seeded collars will remain in play. Thank you!!!****
After collars have been re-established, they will be put on a program of heavy aerification and soil amendments will be added to change sandy soils. These procedures will begin in late October or November. Program will be ongoing into the future.
Different procedures, processes and agronomic products are being explored and discussed; ideas will be implemented that will result in a better golf course.
Fairways
Thin areas of fairways will be overseeded during late August and September.
To speed healing, nitrogen fertilizer will be applied during September.
After analyzing soil tests from June, fairways have been fertilized with two of the three needed materials to correct nutrient deficiencies. This program will continue until soils "report card" improves. Healthy soils will support more reliable fairway turfgrass.
Potowomut crew will aerate fairways during September and October.
Roughs
Areas of failed rough will be seeded during September and October.
Tees
Tees will be aerated during October.
Patrick M Gertner CGCS
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