Dec 03, 2021 · If you only look at the temperature, it might be 40 degrees outside, but wind-chill could cause that temperature to drop to 25 degrees (an unsafe temperature for sustained play). The experts generally agree that kids can play outside when the …
Golf and the Environment Golf courses have long suffered from a reputation of being harmful to the environment. While this perception is not entirely unfounded, golf courses have made great strides in becoming more environmentally responsible in recent years. Audubon International is dedicated to helping golf courses
GOLF COURSE FERTILIZATION Zachary Reicher, Clark Throssell, and Jeff Lefton Purdue University. Cool-season turfgrasses are the dominant grass species used on Indiana golf courses. These species include Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, and creeping bentgrass.
Mar 19, 2021 · 6. Overseed bare patches. After a long winter, your lawn might look like Larry David. To cover those bald patches, consider overseeding, the Rogaine of the turf-care world. For cool-season grasses ...
When and Where Frost Occurs Frost formation on grass is possible in any location in which the blades' temperature falls to 32 or below, including warm weather states such as Florida, California and Arizona.
The aeration holes are then filled with topdressing -- typically sand -- and usually hit with the sand a second time after the first filling settles into the core holes. It usually takes a golf course two weeks to recovery from properly done golf course aeration.Aug 29, 2016
topdress their greens with a heavy layer of sand to insulate the crowns against the frigid cold, then spread a woven fabric over the putting surfaces as an added measure of protection. Though no one's expecting you to sand your lawn ahead of winter, tarps aren't a bad idea in especially harsh climates.Nov 20, 2020
Here are just a few of the common tasks performed during the winter at golf courses: Annual equipment maintenance and repair. Maintenance facility improvements. Tree maintenance.Dec 20, 2019
Rolling Basics Some superintendents choose to roll in conjunction with regular mowing, often rolling two to four times, or more, per week. Conversely, some superintendents choose to alternate between mowing and rolling to reduce plant stress during hot temperatures or periods of slow growth.
one to three times a yearThis is typically done one to three times a year, depending on the course, the type of greens, and in what part of the country they are located. "The practice of core aeration is done when the grass is growing the most aggressively, so they can have the quickest recovery time," Moeller said.Sep 12, 2018
Golf courses also adhere to a regular schedule of applying pre-emergent herbicides as well as weed killers and fertilizer. The key behind pre-emergent herbicides is weed prevention. Of course there are no “magic bullets” that keep all weeds out for the entire growing season.
Deep roots help the grass stay strong, lush and green. Golf course turf receives adequate nutrients from regular fertilizing. Fertilizers typically contain a balance of potassium and nitrogen, which helps the grass stay strong, even when it's subjected to extreme temperature and heavy traffic.May 18, 2016
Proper mowing includes daily mowing, daily changing of mowing patterns, mowing at the correct height, precise adjustment of mowers, daily cleaning and sharpening of mowers, training of mower operators and visual inspection of results. Mowing is the single most important practice in greens maintenance.
The last few months, I’ve heard from many superintendents — and seen for myself — some unusual situations while in the field. Whenever I encounter something odd on the course, I call the preeminent weed and turf scientist (and my good friend) Dr. Fred Yelverton of NC State University for the facts.
Climate is long-term trends: Climate or climate change is a long-range review of what is happening — a development over many years. Many climate scientists talk about 30-year or greater trends. Weather is day to day.
I work closely with the climate scientists at NC State, who have scientifically documented long-term warming trends. That means warmer weather in cooler regions, which reflects a general warming trend of our planet’s climate. Many weeds once confined to Florida are now in North Carolina, Virginia and even as far north as New England.
In North Carolina, we’re seeing nighttime temperatures increasing and remaining warmer longer, allowing weed seeds to adapt. Cooler nighttime temperatures would have promoted cool-season turf recovery and limited weed growth; this is no longer the case.
Because superintendents are noticing these weeds after they germinate, the usual treatment plans are not effective and need to be amended:
I can’t stress enough the importance of making sure you know exactly what weed you are treating. Take a picture of the invasive weed and send it to your weed scientist for verification of the species. In New Jersey, for example, Dr.
Timing of applications, incorrect soil temperatures and avoiding split applications. As climate warms and more rain is experienced, pre-emergents dissipate more quickly and more weeds will emerge. Then this turns into a post-emergent issue, as well.
To maximize the playing season for golfers, courses typically stay open until temperatures get too low or snow covers the greens. They reopen sometime in the spring, when all that snow and ice has melted and the ground has thawed. This requires a number of days with temperatures above freezing, and that can be hard to come by in the Midwest. Because winter weather can be unpredictable, courses must stay closely informed of approaching weather patterns in order to determine when it’s time to close for the season—and when they can safely reopen without risking damage to the grounds.
Winter weather can badly damage everything from golf carts to pins to maintenance equipment, so it’s essential for courses to store these materials away from the elements. Courses typically also use this time to update or replace older equipment, setting the stage for a better player experience in the springtime.
Courses that are exposed to severe weather each winter typically suffer damage to their greens. Depending on ground exposure, weather patterns, and other course damage, greens may need to be covered with materials like straw, sand, or even tarps to minimize turf loss. They’ll also likely need applications of fungicide to avoid the risk of snow mold diseases.
That doesn’t mean that groundskeepers will be out in the middle of a snowstorm, but the winter is long here in the Midwest, and the right conditions and an empty course can allow plenty of time to tackle projects or source new materials.
Just because the springtime air feels warm doesn’t mean that things are balmy underground. Soil temperature is an important turf-care factor, influencing everything from how much you water and when you fertilize to how frequently you mow.
4. Fertilize — with care! Fertilizer is big business. And a huge topic, with no one-size-fits-all guidelines, says Payne, who cautions against thinking that you absolutely, positively have to fertilize just because you’ve heard that it’s the right time of year.
For home use, inexpensive soil thermometers aren’t hard to find. But a meat thermometer like the one used during Thanksgiving will also do the trick. “Soil temperatures are going to do what they do,” Payne says. You can’t control them but you can let them be your guide.
A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.
This past July, GreenSight’s team arrived at the historic club, which was founded in 1893, to set up an antenna on the roof of Robertson’s maintenance shop and install other components that communicate constantly with the drone.
Paul Robertson is one of GreenSight’s first superintendent customers, and he currently is beta testing their product. The links superintendent at Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay, British Columbia, Robertson gives credit to his assistant, who first saw mention of the technology on Twitter.
In April 2015, GreenSight added John Kaminski, Ph.D., director of the golf course turfgrass management program at Penn State University, to its team as chief agronomy officer. Kaminski sees many uses for this new technology, from being able to show shade patterns on fairways to seeing and identifying other troublesome patterns on the course before they become issues.
The old adage “A picture is worth a thousand words” is a refrain to which golf course superintendents subscribe. Photographs help turfgrass managers explain agronomic and maintenance programs to members and sell renovation and capital improvement projects to boards of directors. A smartphone snapshot now is a powerful and ubiquitous communication tool of the trade.