UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION EASTERN REGION 814 RARITAN AVENUE- • HIGHLAND PARK, NEW JERSEY Telephone CHarter 9-0225 EASTERN DIRECTOR A L E X A N D ER M. R A D KO EASTERN TURFLETTER AGRONOMISTS C H A R L ES E. C R O L EY R A Y M O ND E. H A R M AN L EE R E C O RD Ho. k August 1962 This issue of your Eastern Turfletter is dedicated to the memory of the late Nr. William C. Chapin who lost his life in a plane crash over Iowa, lo finer or more dedicated a man ever lived — he was dedicated to good, to golf and to better turf for "better golf. Mr. Chapin was a member on the USGA Executive Committee . .. and. served as chairman, Green Section Ccnmittee since 1957- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Turf Field Bays Hhode Island V.P.I. American Society of Agronomy Cornell University How Available August 15 September 5 August 20-23 Golf Rules In Pictures Golf rules take on a new dimension . .. they cane to life in the latest USGA publication "Golf Rules In Pictures" by Joseph C. Dey, J r ., Executive Director, USGA. The book contains 155 wonderful illustrations covering basic rules. It is easier to read and far easier to understand than the unillustrated Rules of Golf booklets. Copies are available at "Golf House", kO East 38th Street, Hew York 16, H. X ., or at most Pro Shops, or at your local bookstore. Price per copy $1.95• "Avoiding a wrong thing does not necessarily result in doing the right thing." Bernard Halane, Good Business. Rights and wrongs of golf cc ;e management are a commonplace discussion whenever turf-fellows get toge .her. When problems arise for discussion at any of the superintendent or other meetings, there are always some on either side of the "argument." This is understandable because there are no conditions exactly alike and so there are some who will, and there are some who wonft show identical results with any one practice. Spring and Fall are the times for experimenting with something new . .. and then only on a small area. Summer's no time for experimenting. Here are a few do!s and dont's that practical men have learned will help reduce summer problems. (1) Don't overdo things in hot weather . .. as Prof. L. R. Dickinson, recipient of the second annual Green Section Award has always stressed, "The grass plant wants to live . .. give it a chance to do so . .. don't try to make it live." (2) Do not chance overstimulating the turf in the summer . .. greens especially should not be "forced" . .. keep nutrients applied on the low side. (3) Do not^ attempt to reduce the height of cut on greens in hot weather. (b) Do remove clippings fran tees and aprons . .. just as you re- move clippings from greens. smothering, and other problems that weaken turfgrasses if clippings build up. Removal of clippings keeps grasses healthier. It is possible to invite disease, insect, (5) Do be careful to avoid the bruising of aprons in hot, dry weather . .. especially when the turf is on the verge of wilting. (6) Do syringe and carefully water greens whether they are suffer- ing from dry or wet wilt . .. we have had extremes in weather these past two years . .. f6l was extremely wet . .. while '62 to date has been extremely dry in most of the Eastern Seaboard. Far less injury has occurred to greens this dry year as compared to '6l. The axiom that "Fewer problems arise when the superintendent can control the amount of water applied to greens" is again proven this year. (7) Do not attempt to correct grain problems in greens in summer... this is best done in Spring and Fall. (8) Do not lose sight of the fact that hydrated lime is a good material to combat disease, algae, and overly wet greens. Gypsum too is sometimes helpful with problems of excess water and heavy soils. (9) Do move cups frequently to minimize wear injury around cups. (10) Do not apply 2,^-D or 2,k,5-T to cool season turf in simmer. (11) Do not apply sodium arsenite to cool season turf in summer. (12) Do measure size, and "be careful of rates of all materials applied to greens. (13) Do not apply phenyl mercuric acetate herbicides (B4A) to Merion Blue grass turf at any time. (ik) Do not apply topdressing in July and August to bentgrass greens. (15) Do follow the Green Section article "Specifications for a Method of Putting Green Construction" if you plan to rebuild any greens this Fall. (Reprints available upon request.) (16) Do not increase phosphorus readings in greens if Poa annua is a problem . .. keep phosphorus down so that lead arsenate will be more effective when applied. Light frequent treatments of lead arsenate applied during the summer season tends to discourage Poa annua, when Poa is most susceptible to discouragement. (17) Donft forget the iron sulphate for improving color and avoid- ing iron chlorosis in greens. Add some magnesium sulphate (Epsom Salts) to the iron sulphate once in a while when color is lacking . .. 1-ounce of each per 1000 sq. ft. in 3 gallons of water — applied when the grass leaves are dry gives immediate color improvement. (18) Do spike greens weekly in the summer season to penetrate the upper, compacted, fraction of the soil which is ever so slight but never- theless very troublesome of ten-times. (19) Do be prepared to spray insecticides for sod webworm and chinch bug in August and September . .. more insect activity has been noticed this year due to the dryness of season. (20) Do plan any renovation work early . .. get an early start so that seeded areas could progress well before the winter season approaches. Seed placed in the ground between August 15 and September 15 will normally provide better results than seeding later. (21) Do be careful of mowing after rains when hot and humid . .. especially heavy rains . .. when turf is in danger of wet wilt, it can be bruised just as easily as when dry wilt prevails. * * * * ** "Experience is a good teacher but a queer old soul . .. she gives the test first, THEN explains the lesson." Wesleyan Methodist BULK RATE U. S. POSTAGE P A ID PERMIT No. 366 NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J. Eastern Turfletter USGA GREEN SECTION UR. CHARLES G. WILSON SEWERAGE COMMISSION P. 0. BOX 2079 ItlLSALKEE 1, WISCONSIN