BASIC TRAININGTechnology for turfgrass maintenance is moreadvanced than ever, but basic management programsare still the foundation of success.BY DARIN S. BEVARD

This tee and greenhave an inherentdisadvantage becauseof the excessive shade.Currently. the chainsawis the only practicaltechnology to over-come this problem.

When buying a car, the list of potentialoptions and amenities is endless:stereo /compact-disc player, heated

seats, global positioning system, traction control,anti-lock brakes, etc. Even televisions with DVDplayers are now common in cars, unthinkableonly a few years ago. Options whose benefits arenot even known to the consumer are added tothe car at great expense because the salespersonconvinces us that they are a must-have. Basicitems such as the engine and tires are assumed tobe included. We may make different choices onthese basic items, but rest assured, without them

you do not really have a car.The car ceases tofunction without these basic elements, but con-sumers otten place more focus on amenities.However, if the engine (a necessity) fails, the car isno longer useful; if the compact-disc player (anamenity) stops working, you can still get aroundtown.

In recent years, more amenities or techno-logical advances in equipment, turf grass varieties,pesticides, and other chemicals have allowed golfcourse superintendents to provide daily condi-tions that were unimaginable even 10 years ago.Unfortunately, basic agronomic program~ that

MARCH-APRIL 201lS

Periodic lighttopdressing dilutesthatch accumulationbetween scheduledaeration events andprevents layers ofthatch from developingin the soil profile.

support these advances in technology are in-creasingly looked upon as boring or unnecessary.Nothing could be further fium the truth.

The word basic pertains to a basis. Websterdefines basis as "a foundation upon which some-thing rests; the chief or most stable component ofanything; a fundamental ingredient." The chancefor hardship and failure increases if the basics arenot given proper attention in any endeavor. Basictmf management programs are often taken forgranted by turf managers and golfers. Newtechnologies supplement basic programs, but theycannot replace them. If basic turfgrass needs areneglected over tinle, overall golf COursequalitywill suffer. It is only a matter of time.

The factors that contribute to success or failurein turf management are too numerous to men-tion. What follows is a discussion of several basicelements that are part of every golf coursemanagement program. Properly addressing thesefactors will prevent a breakdown in golf courseconditions.

GROWING ENVIRONMENTGrowing environment is the most basic elementfor maintaining healthy turfgrass. Warm- andcool-season turfgrasses perform at their bestwhen sunlight penetration and air movement areadequate. Good drainage is also critical. Do these

factors sound too sinlple? Maybe they are. How-ever, on virtually every golf course, old or new,poor drainage, poor sunlight penetration, andpoor air movement alone and in concert witheach other contribute to management challengeson the golf course. Their impacts are frequentlyoverlooked and ignored. The best golf coursesuperintendent will struggle to maintain desiredplaying conditions, especially on putting greens, ifthese limitations are not addressed. Shade andpoor air movement promote weak tUlfgrasses thatare less resistant to disease, insects, and traffic,necessitating greater inputs of pesticides and otherresources to maintain inferior quality compared toturfgrass grown in good growing environments.

Many techniques are available to improvedrainage at the time of establishment and inexisting turf grass stands. The proper technique touse will depend upon individual circumstances.Drainage problems recur in the same areas, yearafter year, if they are not addressed. Mechanicaldamage, wet wilt, disease, and poor playingconditions are corrunon characteristics of poorlydrained areas.

Improve sunlight penetration, air movement,and turf quality by removing trees that preventquality turfgrass from being maintained. In somesituations, tree removal may not be possible. Inthese cases, other solutions, such as fans, may needto be considered. In most instances, resistance totree removal is strictly political. Yet, those who railvehemently against tree removal are often thesame individuals who decry poor turfgrass condi-tions caused by the same trees they strive toprotect. Establishing good growing conditions isthe first step in obtaining good grass.

GRASSSELECTIONSelection of turf grasses suitable for maintenancein a particular environment is critical for limitingfuture problems. Better quality can be maintainedif grasses suited for a region's weather conditionsare selected. The grass will be healthier and moreresistant to disease and insect problems.

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program(NTEP) provides excelJent information for com-paring newer turf grass cultivars to each other andto previous standard entries, and encompassesbroad climatic regions. For example, one creepingbentgrass cultivar may perform at a high level inGeorgia but may perform poorly in Marylandbecause of differences in climate, disease pressure,and insect populations. These important differ-

2 GREEN SECTION RECORD

ences can often be seen in the NTEP data. Addi-tionally, new turf-type grasses such as seashorepaspalum offer options for managing qualityturfgrass in southern climates with limited high-quality water or poor soil conditions.

In spite of increases in overall quality and coldtolerance of warm-season grasses, recent trends inthe transition zone have seen cool-season grassespushed further south. Maintenance of cool-seasongrasses in this instance can strain budgets becauseof greater fungicide and water requirements dur-ing the sunlJner months compared to warm-season grasses that may provide better playingconditions during the peak season.

In the last ten years, improvement in turf grassvarieties for putting greens, in particular, and golfcourses in general, have provided unprecedentedoptions for new golf course construction projectsand renovations, but there are limitations. Plantgrasses that perform best in your region. Pushingthe envelope with poor grass selection will lead toexpensive management challenges in the future.

NITROGEN FERTILITYNitrogen fertilizers have significant effects onoverall turfgrass quality. Unfortunately, it is diffi-cult to accurately predict nitrogen availabilityfrom soil tests over the course of the growingseason. Weather conditions, especially rainfall,affect the availability of nitrogen and other nutri-ents in the profile. Nitrogen generally promotes agreater growth response than any other nutrientwhen applied to turf. Atmual nitrogen applica-tions on golf course turf are often low, or eveninadequate, for maintenance of healthy turf.

There seems to be a certain element of pridein maintaining low nitrogen fertilizer inputs. Towhat end is this low-nitrogen philosophy beingemployed? Current and long-past research indi-cates the importance and benefits of nitrogenin reducing disease pressure, allowing recoveryfrom traffic damage, and competing with weeds,including moss, on putting greens. Applications ofnitrogen promote uptake of other nutrients suchas potassium, even when these other nutrients arepresent in lower than recommended amounts.

Do not confuse adequate and excessive nitro-gen fertility! People who consume a healthy,balanced diet generally will be healthier thanpeople who overeat and become overweight.Conversely, being severely underweight is equallyunhealthy. The key is to avoid extremes in eitherdirection. Excessive nitrogen fertility can promote

thatch accumulation, other disease problems, andpoor wear tolerance. In recent years, however,excessive nitrogen inputs are rarely seen.

Often, the goal of low nitrogen fertility is fasterputting surfaces. Reducing nitrogen fertility inthe short terln to achieve green speed is a com-1110nmanagement practice that can be usedsuccessfully. Inadequate nitrogen fertility for thelong term on putting greens and other turf areaspromotes wrfgrass that lacks density, struggles torecover from traffic, and has chronic problemswith diseases. Focus on growing healthy turfgrassand implementing grooming techniques toachieve desired playing conditions.

The exact quantity of nitrogen needed for aparticular turf area on a given golf Course willvary significantly based upon location, weatherconditions, and the number of rounds played. Anyspecific number that maybe offered here would bearbitrary. For example,most courses' heavilyused middle tees shouldreceive more nitrogento maintain qualitycompared to the less usedforward or back tees.Atmany golf courses, all teesare fertilized in the samemanner, regardless oftraffic levels.This maypromote excessive thatchon forward and reartees, while middle teesbecome thin or devoidof turf. Clearly, a golf COursereceiving 50,000annual rounds will need higher nitrogen inputson all turf areas than one receiving 12,000 annualrounds to account for traffic effects.

Look for indicators to help determine nitrogenfertilizer needs for a given area of your golfcourse. One obvious indicator of low nitrogenfertility is dramatic growth responses to animaldroppings. High populations of clover or otherlegumes, in particular, may indicate low nitrogenfertility. Legumes fix their own nitrogen andeasily out-compete turfgrass under low nitrogenfertility. In the Mid-Atlantic Region, persistentdollar spot disease often occurs in conjunctionwith low nitrogen fertility. A more subtle indi-cator is the failure of the turfgrass to heal fromtraffic and other mechanical damage, such as ballmarks, in a timely manner. Monitor the growth

Excessive thatchaccumulation reducesthe superintendent'sability to control soilmoisture, promotescertain disease andinsect problems,reduces the effective.ness of many pesticideapplications, andnegatively impactsplaying conditions.

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irrigation systemsprovide unsurpassedcoverage, efficiency, andcontrol, but they stillare only as effective asthose who managetheir use,

Right: In manyinstances, only a smallpercentage of turfgrassareas on greens maysuffer from droughtstress. Hand-wateringallows these stressedareas to be addressedin a site-specific areawithout applying waterto areas where soilmoisture is adequate.

rate of the turf and scout for potential indicatorsof low fertility. Apply fertilizers based on rurfgrassneed and response rather than an arbitrarynumber of pounds of nitrogen per year.

Nitrogen is not the only nutrient that may bedeficient, although commonly it is limiting inturfgrass. Availability of other nutrients can beevaluated through periodic soil testing. Fertilizerprograms then can be developed to supplynecessary nutrients to allow for good turfgrassgrowth. Sufficient levels of all nutrients must bemaintained for optimum turfgrass growth. Thereare varying theories on maintaining secondarynutrient levels (calcium, magnesium, sulfiJr).However, research in turfgrass indicates thatmaintaining sufficient levels of these nutrientsmay be more important than maintaining them in

any specific ratio. Do not lose sight of the bigpicture of soil fertility by micromanaging forcertain ratios when adequate nutrient levels arealready present.

THATCH MANAGEMENTThatch accumulation cushions the turf fromgolfer and maintenance traftic, but undiluted,excessive thatch accumulation in fine turf areaseventually causes problems on fairways and putt-ing greens. Certain insect and disease problemsincrease dramatically when excessive thatch ispresent. Thatch provides a good environment toharbor many turf grass pests and provides chal-lenges for managing soil moisrure levels duringdry weather. Thick thatch produces a barrier towater infiltration when it dries out, becomingwater repellanc, and making rehydration verydifficult. Under wet conditions, excessive thatchacts as a sponge and increases moisture at the soilsurface. Soft conditions contribute to scalping andnegatively affect playability, especially on puttinggreens and fairways.Whether wet or dry, excessivethatch accumulation reduces a superintendent'sability to control soil moisture status.

Thatch accumulation can be managed viacore aeration, light topdressing, and deep verticalmowing. These programs work best when usedin combination ..vith each other. The requiredanlOunt and frequency of aeration and top-dressing depend on many factors, including

4 GREEN SECTION RECORO

length of growing season, fertility, and trafficlevels. Research conducted by Dr. Bob Carrow inthe 1990s suggests organic matter accumulationabove 3-4% by weight in sand-based puttinggreen soils begins a downward slide in overallturfgrass quality, because the potential for theproblems discussed above are enhanced. The goalshould be to prevent organic matter accumulationfrom exceeding this threshold. Patrick O'Brienand Chris Hartwiger have written two excellentarticles, "Aeration by the Numbers" (Green SectionRecord,July-August 2001) and "Aeration and Top-dressing for the 21st Century" (Green SectionRecord, March-April 2003), that discuss frequencyand intensity of thatch management progran1S.

We know that too much organic matter (orthatch) in the upper portion of the soil profuecan lead to management problems, and we havethe tools to reduce and prevent thatch accumu-lation. What's the problem? Problems with thatchmanagement are often political. The disruptioncaused by core aeration and subsequent sandingof greens reduces playability for varying amountsof time. Depending upon geographic location, asingle aeration and topdressing procedure couldimpact a substantial portion of the golfing season,which means loss of ideal playing time at privatefacilities and loss of revenue at daily-fee golfcourses. Do not be fooled. Over time, neglectingaeration programs for short-term gains will lead

to problems with disease, turf grass quality, andoverall playability.

Implement thatch management programswhen the turf is growing vigorously to minjmizehealing time. Aerating too early in the growingseason leads to increased healing time and moregolfer complaints. A short-term increase in nitro-gen fertilizer inputs will speed healing of affectedareas and lessen golfers' fi'ustrations.

New technologies such as sand injection andsmaller aeration tines have provided options forthatch management that result in less disruptionto playing surfaces. In many instances, these toolsare not being used frequently enough to keep upwith thatch production, and problems developincrementally over time. One may not evenrealize that the basis of rurfgrass decline or failureis related to slow thatch accumulation that con-tributes to a variety of management challenges.Options are available to reduce disruption, butproper aeration and topdressing programs cannotbe replaced.

IRRIGATION MANAGEMENTIrrigation management varies widely across thecountry. In regions where cheap water is readilyavailable, over-watering occurs too often. In theMid-Atlantic Region, turfgrass areas are frequentlydamaged by tOOmuch water during the summer1110nths,more so than by drought stress.Within

Below left: Indicatorsof low nitrogen fertilityshould be heeded.Goose droppingsprovide a dramaticgrowth and greeningeffect that Indicatesnitrogen InputS may befar too low.

Below right: Anlmal-supplied extra nitrogenon this putting green.Aside from the obviousgreening response,note the lack of openaeration holes in theaffected area becauseof Increased nitrogenfertility.

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reason, using less water is better for the grass,better for playability, and better for the environ-ment. Under hot, dry conditions, there is often atendency to put on more, rather than less,waterto be sure that drought stress does not occur. Thiscan promote soft conditions on greens and fair-ways, which upset golfers. It also places additionalstress on the turf. When turf grass is over-watered,soil pore space that is normally filled with air isfilled with water, and root decline can occur dueto lack of oxygen. Roots do not grow deeper insearch of water. Rather, soils that have adequatemoisture and oxygen levels promote deeper rootdevelopment. Root mass rapidly decreases insaturated soils with limited oxygen. Water alsoconducts heat, increasing soil temperatures aboveair temperatures under hot, saturated conditions.

The complexity and coverage area of irrigationsystems continues to expand. Systems costing inexcess of $1 million and operated by computerare becoming the norm on golf courses. Regard-less of how many bells and whistles are includedwith an irrigation system, the results will only beas good as the programs of the people who arepushing the buttons.

Fine turf grass performs better when efforts aremade to maintain drier conditions. That is, watershould be applied only in amounts to prevent wiltor when wilt is occurring rather than on arepeating schedule that does not take actual soilmoisture conditions into account. Over- orunder-watering is often not noticed for severaldays because actual conditions are not beingmonitored closely. Focus management programson meeting the needs of the turfgrass, and wateronly areas that truly need it.

Lack of fine tuning for varied growingenvironments is another overlooked factor.Protected and shaded areas will require less waterinputs than open, full sunlight environments.Golfers must realize that hand-watering will berequired at times to achieve the best turf grassquality, even with the best new irrigation systems,and labor will be needed to hand-water greens.Proper irrigation requires a hands-on approachand constant attention to weather and turf grassconditions. There are no shortcuts!

COMMUNICATIONOne tool at the disposal of every turfgrassmanager, regardless of golf course prestige orbudget, is communication. Communication is theone tool that can pull all other programs together.

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Communication with course officials consists ofeducation about golf course needs, managementgoals, and potential course problems and limita-tions. There are consequences to any managementdecision. When there is a problem, course officialswant to know why it occurred, how it will befixed and how long it will take, and what will bedone to prevent future occurrences. In manyinstances, where controversy erupts over golfcourse conditioning or playability, poor com-munication and lack of understanding do moreto promote the controversy than any single main-tenance practice. Conversely, when interestedparties communicate, controversy can often beavoided.

Not everyone is blessed with good face-to-facecommunication skills,but more avenues are avail-able now than ever before for communicating.E-mail communication is commonplace, and theInternet provides a great source of informationon just about every topic. Industry publicationsprovide articles that can help you to get a pointacross or provide education on a particular topic.Consultants can be used as an independent thirdparty to foster better communication betweenthe superintendent and course officials.

Good communication is necessary so that basicturf grass management programs can be explainedand justified. Without it, well-designed manage-ment programs may be perceived as unnecessaryor unsuccessful, regardless of the actual results.Lack of communication continues to be asignificant problem at many golf courses.

More tools have been developed for turfgrassmanagers than ever before. Golf course super-intendents have more options to provide top-quality turf because of advances in equipment,pesticides, and fertilizers, among other tech-nologies. The Internet places information at ourfmgertips and fosters frequent communicationamong golf course industry professionals. How-ever, if basic, fundamental practices are notemployed, these technologies are far less valuable.There still is no product that can be sprayed orspread to replace basic agronomic practices. Areyou overlooking the obvious? Evaluate yourmaintenance programs to be sure that basic needsof the turf are being met. Fine-tuning strategiesthen can be implemented to maximize golfcourse conditions.

DARIN S. BEVARD is an agronomist in theMid-Atlantic Region.