Spring is Here

Spring looks to be finally here and with that we have been able to get out on the golf course and make our first mowing of the year on the greens, approaches, tees, and fairways. The majority of the clippings were dormant with the exception of 5 and 8 greens that had the covers on them. Frost is still present every morning with the first tee times being around 9 AM. All of the playing surfaces received the first treatment for Poa seedhead suppression. Annual bluegrass seed-head production on golf course putting greens is often undesirable due to the negative effect of seed-heads on ball roll, green speeds, and aesthetics. In addition, excessive seed-head production can lead to weakened annual bluegrass plants and a subsequent decrease in overall quality and stress tolerance.

 

Aeration of greens will begin on Monday April 1^st weather permitting and will be finished on Tuesday. The approaches and tees will be aerated following the greens during the middle of next week. The fairway aeration will completed by our contractor, Aer-Core, on Monday April 8^th.

 

Pavelec Brothers will be on property Monday April 8^th to begin the construction of holes 2 and 6. Please follow all directional signs and ropes. Large heavy equipment will be in-use, stay away from the equipment and operators as they might not be able to see you from the operators seat. Do not approach the area where they are working with your motorized or push carts as these areas may be finished raked awaiting sod. Exercise common sense and patience as they are making your golf course a more challenging and fun design. Look to the blog for updates on the progress of the construction and as always I am available for questions.

Green Turf after cover was Removed 5 Green

March USGA Update

What A Difference A Year Makes

By Adam Moeller, agronomist, Northeast Region
March 21, 2013


The cold weather experienced this March is far different than March of 2012 for the Northeast Region. Last year, many courses in the Northeast were open and had plenty of golfers playing at this point. The recent blast of cold air and snow that hit many parts of the region has golfers and course superintendents wondering when the golf season is going to start. The long range forecast suggests a continued stretch of cold weather, which is likely to slow the spring green-up and growth at many facilities. However, golf diehards are still eager to play despite the cold temperatures. The decision to open the course for play before the grass is actively growing is a difficult one, especially given the economic outlook for many facilities. Heavy traffic on grass that is not growing could weaken the putting greens and make them vulnerable to problems later in the season. If the greens are open for play before they are growing, be mindful that adequate traffic management is important to avoid concentrated wear from developing.

The cold temperatures are also making it challenging for golf courses still trying to recover from Hurricane Sandy. Those facilities that lost grass from flooding are in the process of cultivating and seeding the damaged areas. Germination is dependent on soil temperatures so the recovery process will be slow as long as low temperatures persist. The use of covers to warm the soils is a great option until more consistent warm weather is experienced.

One positive that could develop as a result of the recent cold snap is the impact on insect populations, particularly Annual Bluegrass Weevils. These destructive and difficult to control insects can survive the cold winter temperatures well. However, once warmer temperatures are experienced in the spring these insects wake up and lose their tolerance of cold temperatures to some extent. Therefore, it is possible that the cold weather experienced after the previous warmer weather in the first half of March could prove to be lethal to some of these insects. Regardless, monitoring Annual Bluegrass Weevil activity with pitfall traps and soap flushes is crucial to implementing a successful control program.

Course Update

The weather wasn't good for turf this week but we were able to do some projects in the shop and spread mulch around the landscape beds. The crew cleaned up the snow from Tuesdays storm. We had Locust Grove Nursery plant a large Swamp White Oak on the 9th hole in accordance with our long range plan. I hope to mow next week but we will see what Mother Nature has to say.

Course Update - Clubhouse Opens

The clubhouse will open for the season tomorrow and the golf course is available for play. The tee markers and flag sticks have been placed out on the golf course. The greens have been rolled although no turf has been mowed yet due to the cold temperatures. Greens 5 and 8 will remain covered until the nighttime temperatures are above freezing. The crew has done a great job cleaning up the course this week and should be finished by the end of next week. I hope to mow some turf towards the end of next week if the temperatures rise like the forecast is predicting. No electric carts will available at this time due to soft and dormant conditions on the golf course.

USGA March Northeast Update

Uncovering For Spring

By Jim Skorulski, senior agronomist, Northeast Region
March 7, 2013

Deciding whether or not to remove winter covers is a difficult decision and is largely based on predictions of what the weather will be over the coming weeks – hardly an exact science.

The winter season has thus far been kind with well-timed snows and orderly freeze/thaw cycles. Coastal areas may not agree with that assessment following the destructive blizzard and Nor’easters that left many without power and made a mess of beaches and golf courses. Most of the region was fortunate that there was snow cover in place when an arctic air mass dropped nighttime temperatures well below zero. We were equally fortunate to avoid the rapid temperature plunge following the thaw and rain events that occurred. Golf courses further to the north did experience a more severe freeze following a January thaw that resulted in ice encasement and that is an obvious concern in those areas. We are not completely out of the danger zone yet as winter transitions to spring. Annual bluegrass with its zeal for early growth is probably most vulnerable at this time.

March is also the point when mangers face the decision of when to remove winter covers. Most seem to agree that earlier is better, within reason. There really is no hard and fast approach to the decision. It depends most on the weather conditions and the cover system that is being utilized. Those who are managing permeable covers alone will tend to wait longer as they are less apt to see adverse turf effects with the warmer weather. Manipulating a single, light permeable cover is relatively easy compared to the more extensive cover systems that utilize impermeable fabrics and insulating materials. Managers utilizing impermeable cover systems are more anxious to start the removal process and expose the turf to fresh air and light. The removal process can require many days to complete depending on how much snow is on the ground. Ideally, the removal process is scheduled during a dry weather period when temperatures are predicted to be within seasonable ranges. A permeable cover is usually left in place after the impermeable fabric and insulating materials are moved off the green. The permeable cover will protect the plants while they acclimate to the exposed conditions.

There is no exact science to guide the removal decision. I wish there was: it would be easier that way. Instead, managers do their best to make the right call in hopes that the weather ahead will cooperate. The removal process has or will likely begin in central New England and New York in the next week or two if the weather forecast remains favorable. The process will proceed northward as the weather permits and the snow pack recedes. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the final few weeks of winter offer no surprises as we prepare for the season ahead.

Technology

I wanted to show a graph that depicts the scenario from last week in regards to the 3rd green and the ice build up. The ice is long gone now, with more snow to return overnight, but the root cause of the ice is still present, low soil temperatures. We have three in-ground soil sensors at MGC in the Practice, 1st, and 3rd greens. These sensors monitor soil temperature, soil salinity, and soil moisture. I want to show just the difference in soil temperature at this time of year and you will see the difference between the 3rd green and the other two greens. Colder soil and less sunlight especially during the shoulder seasons equals thiner turf and less rooting. A long range solution to the White Pines on the 3rd green is a key focus of the Long Range Planning Committee and it will begin this fall with the addition of a new Swamp White Oak located off the 4th tee cart path about 20 yards in front of the White Pines.

Swamp White Oak for the 9th Rough



3rd green colder everyday by as much as 10 degrees

Spring is Almost Here

Th golf bug is starting to attack as members return from vacations and the days are warming it's time to start swinging the club. The turf on the other hand is still taking its winter nap and is not ready to give up its vacation just yet. I have heard of clubs south of us getting ready to cut next week for the first time but the following article explains why that might not be the best idea for MGC. I can tell you the greens staff will be back on March 11 and we have a lot of work to get done this spring. I am very excited to get going but cooler heads must prevail.


Bumpy and Bedraggled Greens

By Clark Throssell, Ph.D.

Does bumpy and bedraggled describe the condition of your greens today? If it does, you are not alone. Many rounds of golf were played this winter on greens that are normally not in play because of a layer of snow. The good news is increased revenue; the bad news is bumpy greens that need some attention.

Keep in mind it is still early March. Avoid the temptation to jump full speed into your greens management program. It is highly likely that your course will receive another round or two of cold temperatures and more snow is not out of the question in many locations. And don't forget, spring in northern locations is usually marked by dramatic swings in temperature.

For now, rely on rolling to smooth the putting surface and increase green speed. Don't go overboard with rolling; be as gentle as possible while making the improvements to the greens that are necessary. I am not a fan of mowing early in the spring. The reason is that mowing stimulates leaf growth. It is far too early in many northern locations to encourage leaf growth.

And keep the fertilizer spreaders parked in the maintenance facility. Warm temperatures, not fertilizer, will stimulate the creeping bentgrass/annual bluegrass to grow. Wait and see what happens with the weather before fertilizing. Be certain the soil temperatures are consistently near 50° F before considering a fertilizer application. Roots are not very efficient at taking up nutrients when soils are cold.

Hopefully the weather will return to a spring-like pattern so you can enjoy March Madness in relative peace and cheer for your favorite team.

Clark Throssell, Ph.D., research editor for Golfdom and a turfgrass scientist, can be reached at clarkthrossell@bresnan.net.