This past winter after attending two seminars and visiting numerous vendors at the Golf Industry Show, the decision to add one product and change the rate on another was made. The product added is OARS or organic acid removal system. Organic acid tends to coat individual sand particles in the greens mix making them repel water which is not a good thing and is the cause of most of our dry spots on the greens. Application of OARS on a monthly basis is said to help prevent the sand medium from drying in spots. The first application was made a couple of weeks ago and I would say that it is helping as I believe the greens are drying more on the surface (what is desired) while still holding moisture deeper in the sand where you want the roots to be. It is a new experience letting the surface dry (which allows for better putting). In the past this would have caused numerous localized dry spots that would need hand watering. It has not eliminated hand watering but it has reduced the need so far.
One green that has given us trouble in the past was the back right of #16. Today I had Adam Hunerkoch put some plugs in a bare area there from the nursery green. When cutting the bad area out, Adam noted that it felt like he was cutting through roots. When he was finished he examined the soil taken from #16 green and found it contained a whole bunch of tree roots that I figure are from the sycamore behind the back bunker. (See photo below) Those roots are the cause of the turf loss but because of the proximity to the bunker and the green, root pruning might not be available. That would mean removal would be the only remedy to the situation.
The other product that we tweaked in our program was the growth regulator Primo. In the past the industry feeling was that the use of this product would help the bentgrass but also increase the poa annua (lighter green colored turf with seedheads). New research out of Wisconsin shows that the benefits of Primo can be obtained without the negatives if the application timing is reduced to 200 GDD (growing degree days). This was the course of action decided upon and it does seem to be working. The poa annua is still seeding but the plant is diminished in size in relationship to the bentgrass. One of the benefits of Primo is reduced need for water by the plant which may be helping to keep the surface drier. The bentgrass is definitely finer textured with Primo which was one of the drawbacks with other growth regulators we have tried. Unfortunately, applying by GDD has added more sprays to our routine. Reviewing past weather records leads us to think that in the summer the Primo sprays will be once per week. Every other week then it will be combined with our regular fungicide application easing the burden slightly.
The only disappointing feature of the greens since aeration has been the speed. Now that mowing and rolling schedules are stabilizing, the speed has been consistently between the high 8's and middle 9's. The target is between 9 and 10.5 so they are on the low end of spectrum. One possible factor is one of the fungicides we regularly use. It is an organic compound that seems to leave the leaf feeling sticky. I think I can feel it on a golf ball for a couple of days after application. Removal of this product from the application schedule may be tried in June to see if it really is having an effect on ball roll. Overall, the texture and smoothness of the putting surfaces are good and continuing to improve each week. If the surfaces can remain drier throughout the summer without massive hand watering and the speed can be tweaked slightly, then the goals for the year will be met.
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| mass of tree roots #16 green |
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