Bermuda grass Eradication

tall fescue and bermudagrass
One of the most significant obstacles to a successful turf conversion is to move away from the species that are considered undesirable, and Bermuda grass is near the top of most peoples list.  On south facing slopes during the heat of the summer, Bermuda grass can be very useful in maintaining a stand of healthy grass.  In most of these areas other grasses burn out due to heat and limited water.  Acknowledging that there are limited cases where Bermuda grass is desirable, the overall goal with a turf conversion is to get rid of it.  However, if you ask any expert in the horticulture field for a sure way to kill Bermuda grass they will not have a simple 100% way to do so.  All the research articles and publications I have read have best case scenarios of 90% control after months of treatment.  With that said, there is a lot of success found in treating and controlling Bermuda grass so that the playing surfaces on golf courses are in excellent shape and the undesirable traits of Bermuda grass are not present.



Bermuda grass emerging 2 weeks after spraying with round up

Kevin

Turf Conversion Demonstration Area

The turf conversion demonstration area at the end of the practice facility is a good indicator of what to expect in late August after the course is sprayed with round up. 


Examining the picture you can see how the majority of the grass and weeds turned color and died within a week of application.  The Bermuda grass is proving to be quite stubborn and it is still green after 2 application of round up.  Fortunately we have time and space to come up with the most efficient and effective method of dealing with the Bermuda.  The sand and aerification of the demonstration area will happen next week, and seed to follow closely after.  The new grass will be emerging by the first week of June giving a great contrast to the existing mix of grasses that are currently there.

Kevin

Not having been to our nations capital before, I was very excited and tried to keep pre conceptions to a minimum, suppressing those Hollywood images of a rather complexly bleak, and serious city.  What I have found after one day around the city and a day "on the hill" is it is very much a place to discover and get to experience on what ever level of complexity you choose, and it was not bleak.

Mike Herzdan and Michael Breed working Capital Hill 

The We Are Golf Coalition came to the capital with the goal of establishing more relationships with law makers and letting them know the economic, environmental, health, and other benefits of our industry.  The expectation is that there will be increased consideration for the golf industry in introducing and passing legislation that can impact golf by lobbying our interests.  I am not a big fan of playing politics myself, but I do realize its importance when someone is going to make a decision that will impact you, and specifically when it affects your lively hood. With that in mind I gladly agreed to seize the opportunity to come to Washington to talk with legislatures as part of the coalition.

The main messages that were emphasised over and over, verbally, and in writing were that golf is a $76 billion dollar business, that it provides 2 million jobs, there are 2,244,801 acres of green space on golf courses in the US, that there is $3.5 billion in annual charitably impact, and over 10,000 public golf courses. 

In one day 80 different one on one meetings took place with legislators to educate them on the facts and to ask for there support on specific legislation.  That legislation being HR 1964 that gives tax incentives for monies given to create open spaces and golf is currently excluded. HR 2718 that gives tax breaks to businesses that are impacted by disasters, and currently golf is not recognized as a business worthy of disaster tax relief. HR9 the small business tax cut act of 2012.  There was also legislation specific to regions and states that was discussed. One of those discussions that I took place in was with in respect to the Chesapeake Bay and we were able to sit down with Representative Robert Hurt who was receptive to our message.

Sadly to say, a lot of law makers have an image of golf that is as misconceived as the Hollywood version of Washington D.C. Too many legislatures see golf as elitist, overly manicured, misusing resources, and in seemingly no financial difficulty. I suppose if you did not experience public golf, and your brethren at the capital played the myriad of fantastic private courses in the D.C. area you could begin to think that  is the majority of the courses and they need no legislative help.  Hopefully the We Are Golf group helped that image improve and future legislation will be more positive towards the golf industry.

Kevin

I have been asked to speak before the House Sustainability Caucus in Washington D.C. next Wednesday. 

This is part of the National Golf Day sponsored by We Are Golf.  We Are Golf is the Golf Course Superinendents Of America, the PGA of America, the Club Managers Association of America,  the Golf Course Owners of America, and the World Golf Foundation.

I am honored to have been asked to talk (albiet for 3 minutes) about my work with regulatory agencies, environmental groups, and players to build relationships that result in a golf facility that is "sustainable".
Sustainability is the long-term maintenance of responsibility, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of stewardship, and the responsible management of resource use.

I will post while I am there, and let you know outcomes and my observations.  Sustainability is something that I believe in very strongly as a way for our society to make decisions on how we live.  Golf is a geat example of a sustainable system because it has the components of people who are players, and the abundant charitable causes that golf gives to, planet with all the ecosystems that thrive on a golf course often in urban areas, and profit with employees and payroll that are significant on local, state and national levels.

Stay tuned,

Kevin

Post aerification the greens never heal as fast as we would like.  At 2 weeks after aerifcation we are recovering nicely, with the holes closing  to about a quarter of an inch opening; Considering they started out at half an inch, and the amount of clouds, rain and low daytime temperatures we have experienced recently, this recovery rate is to be expected.  Another week and those small remaining holes will be completely grown over.

I want to explain the decision making process of why aerification must occur, and how aggressive to get with the number of and size of holes.

First; Why aerify?

1) Roots need oxygen.  Grass plants physiology, and microbial organisms require oxygen.  Very simple and straight forward, roots do not grow without oxygen, and grass dies without roots.  The stronger and deeper the roots, the more the plant can withstand environmental stresses such as heat, drought and disease.

Black layer in La Rinconada green. A sign of a lack of oxygen

Aerification tube in a La Rinconada green introducing oxygen and drainage

2) Drainage. Good drainage reduces disease pressure, and firms up the surface for better ball roll. 

Standing water on #18 green resulting in no oxygen and poor playing conditions

Second; How do we decide how many holes and the size of the holes??

1) Perform a physical analysis of the soil that measures the percent organic matter, the infiltration rate, and the percent of the air porosity of the soil.  We were advised to remove 30% by the USGA based on the amount of black layer and a layer of organic matter at a 3 inch depth. Brookside labs also recommended aggressive aerification of this layer.  ISTRC lab is scheduled to perform a post aerification physical properties lab test that will guide our next aerifications.

2) Based on the lab testing performed in the first step, we refere to a chart that lists all the different types of processes that will improve the physical characteristics that are deficient.

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><>
	This chart is an excel based calculator and the numbers used are only examples of an aerification program and not what will be done at La Rinconada this year. It does represent what is recommended by the USGA, and ISTRC labs.			Look closely at the Tine OD for the size of tine and the differences in displacement. More aerifications with smaller tines or less aerifications with big tines?		For La Rinconada to reach 30% this year we are needing to do a lot more aerifications than what has been done in the past. In 2011 approximately 9% was impacted.
		Spacing	Spacing			TOTAL
		Width	Length	Tine OD		Surface Area
	DATE	(inches)	(Inches)	(Inches)		Impacted %
	April	1.5	2	0.500		6.54%
	April	1.5	1.5	0.250		2.18%
	June	1.5	1.5	0.250		2.18%
	July	1.5	1.5	0.250		2.18%
	Sept.	Choose	Choose	Choose		0.00%
	Choose Month	Choose	Choose	Choose		0.00%
	Sept.	1.5	1.75	0.750		16.83%
	Sept.	1.5	1.75	0.250		1.87%
	Nov.	GRADEN	Choose Blade mm	0.0393		0.00%
	Choose Month	GRADEN	Choose Blade mm	0.0393		0.00%
		CUMULATIVE  DISPLACEMENT --  % PER SEASON				31.79%
Place Cursor & Click on apporiate cell --- Choose from the Drop Down Menu selection

The aerification process is measurable, consistent, and well thought out.  Hopefully this helps explain how I came to the decision of what to do, and why it was so important to be more agressive with my first aerification here at La Rinconada.




Kevin

Bee Swarm

Not your everyday occurrence. Today at La Rinconada, we had a bee swarm, and from the picture you can see if was rather large.  About 30 inches long and 18 inches in diameter.  The bee league was contacted for relocation to a less busy place than adjacent to the putting green.

Visual Contrast in Turf Color

When we talk about our turf conversion scheduled for August, it is hard to visualize the difference in aesthetics that this work will create.  This photo shows the contrast between the old grass on the left and the newer grass on the right that was installed a few years ago when the tee was constructed.   Now, visualize the entire golf course the color on the right.

In April a large area at the practice area will be sprayed and then seeded to simulate what will be done in August.

Cart Path Repair

This is the cart path at the 18th green pull out.  Tree roots are very powerful and able to lift concrete to the point of failure such as what is seen in this image.  80% of the cart path repairs being done this week are the result of tree root intrusions.

Prepped area with roots cut and removed

Spring Maintenance

This is a big week for the golf course. It is the week of aerification, and for the next 3 days the course is closed to provide as much efficiency as possible. 

new toro aerator

The tasks at hand are: 1) Aerification of all surfaces over the 97 acre property for soil drainage and a healthly growing medium. 2) Application of 84 tons of gypsum over the entire property to aid soil structure. 3) Spreading 10 tons of fertilizer to provide growth for the next 5 months. 4) topdressing of fairways with 400 tons of sand that will help firm surfaces for playability.

picking up cores off the green

topdressed green after dragging

This is a lot of hard labor that keeps the course healthy and playing well.  Superintendents have known for years that this effort is not appreciated by most players, although it is the single most important cultural practice that ensures a well conditioned golf course.


 Kevin

Target Bunker Re-furbish Completed

The target bunkers on the range were finished this week, and the color is much better.  A sprayable soy based epoxy was used to seal the bottom of the bunker in hopes that it will keep contaminants from entering the sand when balls are hit into and retrieved from the bunker.  Time will tell if this is a process that could be used in all the bunkers.  This was a trial that at this point visually looks good.

Before

After

During




Kevin

Bunker Etiquette

Foot print down the bunker face

Although bunkers are a hazard, there is a great deal of time and resources dedicated to there care. In most cases bunkers are the second most costly feature to maintain, second only to greens.  In my experience they are the area that players comment negatively about the most.  And the biggest area of negative comment is plugged lies in the face. 
In the picture here you will see where a player entered the bunker via the face eliminating the compaction thus creating the possibility of a plugged lie in the face, and an encounter that I really do not want to have with an unhappy player. 
Proper care of the course extends beyond ball mark and divot repair.

The abnormally warm weather combined with the lengthening of the daylight has begun to get the golf course growing.  Turf grass growth is dictated largely by soil temperatures.  When the temperature is below 55 degrees very little growth occurs, and the majority of what does happen at these temperatures is root growth. When the soil reaches about 60 degrees then more shoot growth begins to occur, and mowing schedules get tighter, and fertilizer and water inputs are greater.  Hopefully that is enough basic information to get you to understand where I am going next, which is management strategies for the health of the plant.

Large inputs of fertilizer at temperatures that are conducive to root growth, can sometimes result in shoot growth.  Later on when the temperature is higher and shoot growth is going on and you have not invested in growing roots; well guess what?????? There are no roots when you need them.  Different grasses have advantages over one another based on inputs of water and fertiliser at different times of the year. 

Some examples.  Poa annua (annual blue grass).  Likes cool and wet conditions. Water and fertilize in the winter when this grass wants to thrive and it does well.  It has very shallow roots no matter what you do in the winter so don't worry about it until it is hot and you want to cut back the water and you have no roots. Then it will die.
Bermuda grass likes it hot. Fertilize this grass when it is hot and it will outgrow just about anything.  When it is cold it goes dormant and is noticeable by its brown cast, especially on south facing slopes around the course.
Rye grass. This grass will compete with both annual bluegrass and Bermuda grass.  Although not as well adapted to the cool damp conditions as annual bluegrass it still does pretty well when watering is kept at lower levels.  And with Bermuda in the hot weather; well it will not keep up with its growth without some help from chemical inputs, however most of the hottest weather in our region is short lived, so about 75% of the time ryegrass is going to predominate.

Part of this is provide some insight into the management strategies that occur when mother nature is doing her thing. Like this winter with the warmer than normal temperatures, and lack of precipitation. The other part of this is to give you an idea of what ryegrass can provide in a full scale turf conversion such as what La Rinconada is planning.  Knowing that no grass is perfect, and that each one has physiological responses that when managed will work in your advantage is part of being a good golf course superintendent.

Kevin

I came accross this linked article on tree root pruning in the USGA Green Section publication The Record and it is relevant to a lot of work that we are doing at this time on the course. Solving tree problems at this time of year will help us tremendouslely in the coming summer when we will be busy with the irrigation system.

Tree roots removed from the bunker at #6 green

In the past few weeks we have been removing roots by hand, mostly in bunkers, greens and tees.  Due to the number of trees and the manpower and time involved in removing roots by hand, a mechanical method will be needed to keep up with the growth in the future. Unfortunately root pruning is not a one and done deal.  As with most of what we do a maintenance schedule needs to be established for this, so that the entire course can be completed every couple of years, with proper equipment that creates the efficiency to complete the job.

Kevin

Greens and Grounds Committee

On January 6th I had my first Greens and Grounds Committee meeting at La Rinconada.  It was my intention to organize the plans and projects that I have initiated in my first 5 weeks, and to lay the ground work for prioritizing what is done in the future. 

Those projects that have been initiated are:

• Refurbishing bunkers. Sand contaminated with algae and dirt is being removed and replaced with new, and we are turning over the sand with shovels to improve consistency and color. We have also instilled a new raking technique, with a heightened awareness of the product we are producing.

Sand removed exposing liner in order to fix drainage

• Amenities improvement. New rake handles have been installed. Tee marker indicator colors have been painted. Leveling of trash cans, water coolers, etc., new flags, pins and cups installation will be complete in the next 10 days.

Rake handle in disrepair

• Tree root management in greens, tees, and bunkers.

Tree roots growing into #11 green

New seats on mowers. Old seats were worn down to the metal frame

• Organization within the maintenance department, with improvements in the facility itself, as well as equipment care.  One of the largest deficiencies at golf course maintenance is the lack of a true mechanic, and the condition of the equipment reflects this. 

• Greens health.  The greens have a black layer that is not allowing water or air movement and that can be a greens health problem when the rains come. Therefore, we are aerating select areas of greens with small tines and spiking to get this layer broken down.  Reducing the irrigation and changing the fertilizer program is being evaluated for the future health of the greens. 

Core of the #15 green showing a black layer at 1 inch and again at 3 inches

• Budgeting and planning for 2012. The re-grassing project would have a tremendous effect on how the course is cared for in the future, and it is a project I endorse.  This endeavor requires specific equipment, fertilizers, and chemicals that are not currently part of the care of the course, making the budget and my planning very dynamic. I have gotten quotes from suppliers, consulted with experts, and talked with fellow superintendents in preparing for this project, which has required a fair amount of my attention and energy.

As you can see from this synopsis, there is a lot going on, with plenty of projects and changes.  The Greens and Grounds Committee has endorsed the course of action we are taking, which helps everyone stay focused.  Every month the committee will meet and new projects will be introduced, and then those projects will be prioritized, and executed in an identified time frame.

You can look forward to more postings from future Greens and Grounds Committee meetings where the priorities and planning ensure that the course is in great playing condition.

Kevin

There are a number of things going on at this time, but one of the most unusual may be the weather. From my standpoint as a golf course superintendent the lack of rainfall is good, because it is allowing more project work to be done.

Bunker Work

#6 left of green

#8 fairway bunker

The sand has been pulled back exposing tree roots growing in the sand. The roots are then cut and a fabric barrier impregnated with a chemical that keep the troots from regrowing will be installed before the sand is replaced.

Tree Roots in Greens

Before

During

This root was growing into the left side of the 11th green. The turf on the green was very dry, due to the tree roots taking up water. Judging by the size of this root, it has been in the green for some time.

Kevin

First Impressions and Planning

This is the first posting on this blog, so lets start of with a bang.  After just 2 hectic weeks on the job at La Rinconada there have been small changes made, a lot of listening, and constant thinking and planning on my part. 

Let's start with small changes.  These changes are a reflection of my desire to instill discipline, and pride in the staff. It demonstrates my goal of continual improvement, and the Memberships commitment to provide the resources to make them successful in there jobs.

Some items on the short term list that have been accomplished.
Organization in the maintenance yard.
Daily morning staff meetings with all employees.
Bunker raking techniques changed.
Cups, tee markers, directional signs replaced or refurbished.
Record keeping of chemical, fertilizer, and water applications.

The biggest issue on the Clubs agenda is the re-grassing of the course next August.  This practice has both positive and negative implications, however it is the most impactful things that the club can do to improve the aesthetics of the course, and  it will also improve the playing conditions in fairways and roughs. 

Fairway topdressing is one of the best practices that has happened in the last 20 years for golf, especially in this area.  It has been going on at La Rinconada for over 12 years, and there is a good build up of sand. The current depth in the fairways at about 60% of where they need to be in order to reap the full benefits of this ongoing practice. Putting more financial resources towards this practice is a high priority.



Bunker liner not draining

Bukers. The bunkers will be gone through individually and work done as needed. So far about half a dozen bunkers have had contaminated sand removed and the cause of the problem identified and corrected. In many cases these same bunkers will need to be returned to on a regular basis to mix sand in order for it to dry out. In the case of the bunker pictured at the left, the liner was removed and the soil under the liner recontroured so that the drainage was working properly.

Increasing the capacity of the irrigation computer control scheduling is very high on the operations priority list. The current software may not be adequate. This current system will be tested by staff increasing the scheduling programs this winter so that those programs can be used this summer.  If the course can kept dryer and remain healthy, this effort will be considered a success. If that cannot be achieved, then the purchase of a new control system will be needed to improve the irrigation system and the resulting course conditions.

Greens health. The organic matter and thatch in the greens is relatively high and is inhibiting the movement of water.  This can impact the health of the greens, and has resulted in very soft putting surfaces whenever they are irrigated or rainfall occurs.  Fairway drainage appears to be fair, however it can be improved as well. Aerification practices will need to be adjusted in order to remedy these problems, combined with increased topdressings.

Tree management. As mentioned before, irrigation and drainage play a role in drying the course down and providing firm playing surfaces. Another component is shade. A comprehensive long term tree management plan is necessary. Trees that are not in play, but are compromising the playability and health of the course are identified and prioritized for removal as part of long term planning.  Tree roots are also a problem in competing with grass for water and nutrients, and they are intruding bunkers, and in some cases greens. A root pruning program will be part of tree management.

Bermuda grass.  Although unsightly in the winter, the Bermuda provides good coverage in the summer when managed. The purchase of a verticutter, using more chemicals to control it in the late summer, and increasing the overseed into these areas will be done next year. The regrassing program will not permanently remove this grass from the golf course.

Fescue grass around tee boxes. Slightly increased fertility, physical removal of weed grasses when chemicals are not effective, and providing walkways through these areas will be a priority. They are meant to be low maintenance, and natural in appearance.

Staffing. All these things happen with effort, dedication and time. The effort and dedication will be in place, and the timing and prioritization will be ongoing with the various Club committees. Planning and schedules are best when they are living documents, as priorities change so will the plan.

This is a lot of information for a posting. I hope no one has lost interest. There will be a lot of work to be done in the next year, and it will be enjoyable to see the results of our efforts. In this blog space I will document the progress with pictures, and commentary about what is happening within Golf Course Maintenance, and I hope you frequent this forum and enjoy the journey.



Kevin

The future is here - TurfNet.com

The future is here - TurfNet.com

Kevin

Great Playing Surfaces

The Old Course, St Andrews Scotland

Great golf is played on great playing surfaces, something that has been known since modern golf came into existence on the links lands of northern Europe over 500 years ago.

The earliest 'keepers of the green', including Old Tom Morris, relied on the natural vegetation to hold the links land together, and continued to topdress sand onto the surfaces creating firm and fast golf courses that facilitated an ever expanding variety of options for shots.  Opportunities to play balls along the ground and in the air are found on the greatest courses in the world. These surfaces, then and today, are what create interest, variety, and make golf great.

The key components to great surfaces:  the selection of optimal varieties of grass for the climate, having a sand based soil, and then maintaining the turfed surface in a way that accentuates the course architecture, and maximizing the choices that the golfer considers while playing the course. The judicious use of water, fertilizer and pesticides are critical to balancing the negative effects of too much of these inputs; which are disease, soft surfaces from thatch accumulation, and water retention at the surface. These inputs need to balance the need to recover from damage due to play, otherwise natural resources and dollars are being wasted.

Verticutting approaches, Lahontan G.C.

The commitment to produce great playing surfaces for the game of golf is not as obvious as it may seem. The physical shortcomings of many soils, water quality, climate, and adequate equipment create cost barriers, and the short term disruption of the course playing conditions during aerifications and topdressings are inconveniences to play, and can impact revenue. A firm surface often times has a variety of shades of green, and brown, that influence player satisfaction, and can impact real estate sales, which drives alot of the golf market.  All these are considerations for an individual facility to evaluate.

Fairway peat topdressing, Waterville, Ireland

Which brings us back to the original parameters of grass variety, climate, soil type, and the commitment to disrupt the surface when necessary. Ideally, a golf facillity will commit to producing the best surface it can afford in both dollars and player satisfaction.  This is an educational process for many players on how to evaluate a golf course and the quality of the playing surfaces, based on something other than visual impact, which by the way, will always be critically important.

As a modern 'greenskeeper' who enjoys playing golf, and has visited many of the top courses in the world, I have a great appreciation for the work and dedication to producing these surfaces. They do not happen by accident, and they are truly magnificent.



Kevin