"Green is Beautiful” Ontario Golf Superintendents Association 54 HERNSHAW CRESCENT - ETOBICOKE, ONTARIO M9C 3M4 - TELEPHONE 622-9929 Next meeting .... Galt Field Day HOST: PAUL SCENNA 7:30 - 8:15 A.M. - COFFEE & DONUTS 8:30 A.M. - SHOT GUN 1:00 - 1:45 P.M. - LUNCH 2:00 - 4:30 P.M. - TURF PLOTS 6:30 P.M. - DINNER JACKET & TIE COMPULSORY COST FOR DAY - $25.00 PER PERSON DEADLINE DATE - MAY 25, 1981 BOARD OF DIRECTORS - 1981 PRESIDENT......................................................... KEN NELSON, Sunningdale VICE-PRESIDENT.................................................... BOB BREWSTER, Weston SECRETARY....................................................... RUSTY WARKMAN, Oshawa TREASURER........................................................... JOHN SMITH, Wyldewood PAST-PRESIDENT.................................................... PAUL WHITE, Lambton DIRECTORS. . ......................................................... DAN ARDLEY, Dalewood AL DRAPER, Greenhills BARRY ENDICOTT, Chinguacousy BLAKE McMASTER, Brampton DAVE MOOTE, Scarborough DOUG HOSKINS, Summit MEETINGS - 1981 Date Thurs., June 11 Galt Field Day Galt Country Club Fri., July 17 President, Greenschairman, Supt. Day Scarborough Golf Club Frir, August 7 O.T.R.F. Invitational National Golf Club Mon., August 24 Pro-Superintendent Castlemore • Golf Club Mon., September 28 McClumpha Chinguacousy Golf Club December Annual Meeting January January '82 Symposium University of Guelph EDITOR: CO-EDITOR: BOB BREWSTER BARRY ENDICOTT Weston Golf & Country Club Chinguacousy Golf Club 50 St. Philips Road R.R.#1 Weston, Ontario M9P 2N6 Inglewood, Ontario Phone (416) 241-5551 LON 1 KO MICHIGAN AND BORDER CITIES ASSOC. GOLF SCORES MEETING AT ESSEX GOLF CLUB Gross — The weather started out wet and then cleared long enough 1 Hugh Kirkpatrick 77 to give most people a chance to finish 18 holes. For those 2 Joe Kenney 80 who didn’t get wet on the golf course, the complimentary 3 Kimmo Salonen 80 beer at the Club House quenched their thirst. 4 Bob Demude 81 Before going any further, Bill Fach must be congratulated 5 Mark McDonald 83 on the excellent playing conditions he provided for us at 6 Bob Kennedy 84 Essex. 7 Bob Brewster 85 The turnout was good with 80 for golf and 120 for din­ 8 Whitey Jones 85 ner. The wet weather and free beer, had no effect on Gra­ ham Shouldice, as he proceeded to ace the seventh hole Net - with a fine stroke. Congratualtions Graham. 1 Bill Glashan 71 Low score of the day - 72, was shot by Mr. Priscorn from 2 Ted Hartwell 72 Michigan. Hugh Kirkpatrick shot the finest round from On­ 3 Don Norris 72 tario, with a 74. 4 Keith Nesbit 72 Michigan won the Team Trophy with a total of 298, 5 Walt Winjack 73 made up of : 6 Steve Miller 73 Mr. Priscorn 72 7 Bob Cherry 73 Mr. Myers 73 8 Doug Colley 73 Mr. Delcamp 76 Mr. Mitchellson 77 Ontario Team score was 313, made up of: EDITOR'S COMMENTS Hugh Kirkpatrick 74 Most courses in Ontario got off to an early start this Spring. Graham Shouldice 76 Golf Courses in the Toronto area came through the winter Rick Cylka 81 with very little winterkill. I hope that you will be able to Bill Fach 82 attend the Turf Plots at the Galt Meeting as there are a lot After an excellent dinner, the Guest Speaker, Dr. Paul of new research activities underway. The President, Greens- Rieke, up-dated us on the new 10-acre turf field lab at Mich­ chairman, Superintendent Day invtations will be in the mail igan State University. His main topic was, The Use of Wet­ soon. Get your entry in A.S.A.P. if you expect to get into ting Agents on Localized Dry Spots. Some points made by this event. Anyone that has any material for the Newsletter Dr. Rieke were: please forward it to the O.G.S.A. Office. — if you have a localized dry spot problem, start apply­ ing wetting agent in the Spring. NOTE: The Pro-Superintendent Tournament will be held — do not apply wetting agents during periods of stress. at Castlemore Golf Club on Monday, August 24, — Phytotoxicity was always more severe where high ni­ 1981. trogen levels were used. — best results were obtained, when the turf was watered prior to, and, after applications of wetting agent. — Hydro-wet and Aqua-grow gave the best long term re­ sults with Hydro-wet being the best. Support Thanks again to Bill Fach and the Staff at Essex and the Michigan Border Cities Assoc, for a fine day. Your O.G.S.A. AND W.O.G.A. MEETING Sixty-three golfers toured the St. Catherines Golf and Coun­ try Club on a fine, bright sunny day. Hugh Kirkpatrick was O.G.S.A. the Low Gross winner with a 77 and Bill Glashan picked up Low Net with a score of 71. A meeting followed golf with a long discussion on sand top dressing. Norm McCollum fill­ "ATTEND ed us in on research work that had been done at the Turf Plots on sand top dressing. A fine steak barbeque followed the meeting. Special thanks to Lorraine and John Piccolo, Bill A Glashan, Steve Miller, Bob Kennedy and Barry Britton for organizing the day. MEETING" AIR MOVEMENT the plastic. Temperatures were measured in the AND SYRINGING turf mat and at the two-inch soil depth. For comparison, the shaded air temperature immedi­ Effects on the Microenvironment ately above the turf was measured outside but Bentgrass Turf adjacent to the treatment area. By D. Thomas Duff and James B. Beard The turf utilized in this study was composed of Toronto creeping bentgrass cut daily at 1/4 inch. The soil was a loamy sand with adequate Syringing is a management practice that phosphorus and potassium levels. The area re­ can be utilized on bentgrass putting greens ceived 7 pounds of nitrogen per 1.000 square to mitigate temperature extremes of the feet per year and was irrigated deeply and at a microclimate during high temperature frequency which prevented visible wilting. stress periods. A light application of water Air Movement Effect: The influence of air is applied to cool the leaf surface through movement on the temperature of the turfgrass evaporative processes and to raise the mat in relation to the ambient air temperature relative humidity adjacent to the turfgrass is shown in Figure 1. When air movement was plant to alleviate leaf moisture stress that restricted, the mat temperature became greater may develop. than the air temperature two hours after the frames were placed on the treatment site and A grouping of trees and shrubs is often utilized remained higher for the duration of the treat­ (a) to separate a putting green from a nearby ment period. When air at a 4 MPH velocity tee or other playing area, (b) to serve as a back- was passed across the turf, the mat temperature drop behind a green, and (c) simply for beauti­ never reached the temperature of the adjacent fication. The proper placing and arrangement of air. At 2 PM temperature of the turfgrass mat these ornamental screens is particularly important was decreased 13°F when subjected to a wind because they may drastically restrict air move­ ment over the turf. In humid regions, difficul­ ties in maintaining bentgrass turf usually result due to air stratification and accentuated tempera­ ture extremes at the surface of the turf. The high temperatures and extended dew periods existing on such areas result in a weakened turf and a greater incidence of disease. Experimental Procedures In the summer of 1964 experiments were de­ signed and carried out at Michigan State Uni­ versity to study (1) the effects of air movement over turf and (2) the magnitude of cooling which Figure 1. Influence of air movement on the turfgrass mat can be attributed to syringing. Turf areas 6' x temperature in relation to ambient air temperature. 3' were isolated using frames partially covered with six mil, clear polyethylene plastic. In one movement of 4 MPH. Prior to each observation­ treatment, the sides and both ends of the frames al period, the turfgrass mat temperature was low­ were covered so that minimal air movement was er than air temperatures immediately above the permitted. In the second treatment, only the sides turf. of the frame were covered. The ends were left The temperature levels at the two-inch soil open and a six-inch electric fan was placed at depth under the two air treatment regimes are one end. Anemometer readings indicated that shown in Figure 2. Under putting green condi­ the fan provided a constant air movement of 4 tions, a majority of the bentgrass roots are found MPH over the turf. Conversely, the area which in this soil zone during the midsummer high was completely enclosed had no measurable air temperature periods. At 2 PM, the soil root zone movement, as indicated by the anemometer. The temperature under the 4 MPH wind velocity was tops of both enclosures remained open to provide 10° cooler than the 0 MPH air movement regime for exchange of energy, water vapor, and gases and remained at this level for the rest of the with the surrounding atmosphere. observation period. The frames were put into place and taken up Syringing Effect: The effects of syringing on daily so the areas could be mowed and main­ the turfgrass mat temperature are shown in Fig­ tained in accordance with standard putting green ure 3. Temperatures followed the same pattern practices. The frames were positioned and en­ during the early portion of the day as reported vironmental readings taken only when the solar in the previous studies. When a light syringing angle was great enough so that the sunlight was directed on the area under study and not through Air Movement and Syringing Figure 3. Influence of syringing at 12 noon on the mat temperature at two air movements in relation to the ambient air temperature. Figure 2. Influence of air movement on the two-inch soil temperature in relation to the ambient air temperature. was applied to the turf at 12 noon, the turfgrass mat temperature was again lowered slightly under both air treatments. Under restricted air move­ ment, syringing decreased the mat temperature to the level of the air temperature, but within one hour, the turfgrass mat temperature was greater than the air temperature. When air of a 4 MPH velocity was moved across the turf, the mat tem­ perature never reached the level of the air tem­ perature. Within 1/2 hour after the 2 PM peak the mat temperature began to decrease in both cases and continued to do so for the remainder of the day. Figure 4. Influence of syringing at 12 noon on the two- The temperature response to syringing at the inch soil temperature at two air movements in relation two-inch soil depth is shown in Figure 4. The to the ambient air temperature. temperature decrease caused by syringing was be of vital significance since it does modify the quite small and temperatures started to increase normal diurnal cycle of turfgrass temperatures. soon after water was applied. The net result was a significant dampening in the maximum turfgrass temperature which might have occurred had syringing not been practiced. At critical soil temperatures of 75°F and above, the moderation of temperature maximums can be quite important in maintaining a healthy, vig­ Discussion orous turf. In these studies, temperatures in the mat and Syringing supplies a small amount of readily at the two-inch soil depth were influenced more available water which serves to prevent wilting by air movement than by syringing. These re­ of the turf. This light application of water tends sults demonstrate the importance of good air cir­ to raise the relative humidity immediately adja­ culation in maintaining a favorable microen­ cent to the leaf and, thereby, reduce the transpir­ vironment for growth of turf grasses. When air ation rate. It should be pointed out that indis­ circulation is restricted by screens formed by criminate watering, particularly if applied in plant growth or by physical features of the land­ excessive amounts, can lead to soil compaction, scape, the problems of retaining quality turf­ oxygen deficiencies and poor rooting. Syringing grasses are increased. The high soil temperatures should only be practiced under stress conditions resulting from lack of air movement results in and should be utilized judiciously. increased loss of the bentgrass root system and Dr. D. Thomas Duff is Assistant Professor, Department of subsequent reduced vigor of the turf which, in Agronomy, University of Rhode Island (formerly Graduate Teaching Assistant at Michigan State University). Dr. James turn, is more susceptible to such adversities as Beard is Associate Professor, Department of Crop Science, disease or moisture stress. Michigan State University. The magnitude of cooling by syringing was This work partially supported by a grant from the Michigan small, yet even this small degree of cooling could Turfgrass Foundation. From: The Golf Superintendent - March 1968 OVERSEEDING GOLF COURSE FAIRWAYS carried out. Generally Seaside is used because of low seed cost. However, because of the superior vigor and aggressive­ J.L. Eggens, Associate Professor, ness of the newer cultivars against annual bluegrass, a blend University of Guelph. of the recently developed cultivars should be used or in­ At the present time overseeding golf course fairways is not cluded in a blend with Seaside. Kentucky bluegrass cultivars usually successful because: may be used successfully on golf course fairways where the 1. annual bluegrass re-invades the overseeded areas and mowing height is 3 cm or above and the growing conditions crowds out the overseeded grasses through superior plant too hot and dry for creeping bentgrass culture. Table 1 competition, shows that some Kentucky bluegrass cultivars compete more 2. there are no post-emergent herbicides which will select­ successfully against annual bluegrass than others with A-34 ively remove annual bluegrass from creeping bentgrass (Bensun) Sydsport and Touchdown the most successful swards without unacceptable injury to the creeping bent­ competitors at the 2 cm (3/4 inch) mowing height of the Ken­ grass and newly overseeded grasses and tucky bluegrass cultivars evaluated. Perennial ryegrass is 3. pre-emergent herbicides may not be safely used for 8-10 often used as temporary or emergency cover and again con­ weeks after overseeding, long after annual bluegrass has siderable differences exist in the competitive ability of the successfully reinvaded the overseeded area. cultivars as shown in Table 2. Under uniform annual blue­ The mechanical overseeding operation (including seed grass competition Omega has a higher dry top weight (ie germination and seedling development) is usually very suc­ competed better with annual bluegrass) than Derby, Man­ cessful (Eggens 1979). Research by Dr. C.M. Switzer, Uni­ hattan and Yorktown at both the 2 and 4 cm (3/4 and 1/2 inch) versity of Guelph, has shown that competition from existing mowing height. Sabre rough bluegrass is a strong competi­ annual bluegrass plants can be eliminated by treating the tor against annual bluegrass and may find use on regularly fairways with the non-selective herbicide such as Glypho­ irrigated moist fairways mowed at 2 cm. sate. Glyphosate is usually applied at 1.5 to 2 lb. (active in­ Overseeding success and the reduction of annual blue­ gredient) in 20 to 30 gallons of water per acre (after omit­ grass in golf course fairways may be improved by the follow­ ting at least one mowing) four to seven days prior to the ing: overseeding operation. Do not use gramoxone where thatch 1. overseed during the period mid-June to early-July is heavy because of the tendency of gramoxone to remain rather than during August to allow herbicide treat­ in the thatch layer and kill the overseeded seedlings as they ment of the overseeded area during September. push through the thatch layer. The Glyphosate-treated turf 2. if overseeding takes place into turf which has not been dies over a 10-14 day period and will provide a reasonably killed out with Glyphosate, reduce the mowing height good playing surface for golf for three to five weeks or long­ to 1-2 cm to reduce shading of the seedlings from the er. As Glyphosate does not kill the annual bluegrass seed in competing mature grasses. the fairways, it subsequently germinates to reinfest the fair­ 3. Tupersan may be used at overseeding time to reduce way. annual bluegrass seed germination. Pre-emergent herbicides have provided some control of 4. use urea as the nitrogen carrier and avoid excessive annual bluegrass in established turf. However, Turgeon amounts of available nitrogen. For creeping bentgrass (1974) has shown that pre-emergent herbicides are some­ fairways, reduce the amount of nitrogen supplied late what ineffective in reducing the amount of annual bluegrass August, September and October and supply nitrogen in the turf where conditions are favourable to its growth as a dormant application early to mid-November. and development. Post-emergent herbicides such as Po-san 5. reduce phosphorus to limit annual bluegrass seed pro­ (Goss and Zook 1971) and Endothal (Turgeon et al 1972) duction and seedling establishment. Control potassium have reduced annual bluegrass content of golf course fair­ applications to that required by the turf for good ways but the limits on season of application, the suscepti­ growth. While the role of potassium in annual blue­ bility of perennial turfgrasses to injury and the unaccept­ grass dominance is not well understood, Waddington able discoloration of the turf sward has limited their use. et al (1978) found that the highest potassium treat­ Ingratta et al (1978) found that annual bluegrass can be ments used in their study markedly increased the an­ selectively removed from Kentucky bluegrass turf with a nual bluegrass content of the Penncross creeping bent­ granualr formulation of linuron at 6.7 kg/ha when applied grass turf when compared to the lower potassium postemergence. They found however that because of phyto­ treatments. toxic residues in the soil, overseeding could not take place 6. carefully control irrigation to reduce moisture avail­ for three months after linuron treatment. able for annual bluegrass germination. When grown Golf course fairways are usually overseeded with creep­ under a hardened condition, creeping bentgrass is very ing bentgrass because of its desirable characteristics as a fair­ drought tolerant. way grass. However, no specific studies on the competitive 7. overseed the fairway in three directions, longways, ability of the available creeping bentgrass cultivars has been crossways and diagonally. Do not use excessively high OVERSEEDING GOLF COURSE FAIRWAYS (cont’d) Table 2. Dry top weight of four perennial ryegrass culti­ vars and annual bluegrass, grown in uniform annual blue­ seeding rates. Adequate overseeding rates for the grass competition for 210 days in the greenhouse. Roger’s slit or disc overseeder are 20-25 lb. per acre for Kentucky bluegrass and 8-12 lb. per acre for creep­ Species and ing height MowMow ing height ing bentgrass when overseeded in three directions. cultivar 2 cm 4 cm Table 1. Dry shoot weight and tiller number of nine Ken­ Perennial ryegrass 120 270 tucky bluegrass cultivars and annual bluegrass when grown Derby 120 270 in uniform annual bluegrass competition for 160 days. Manhattan 60 300 Sho tShoot Dry Omega 150 360 Species and Shoot nSumber hotnumber dry weight(m)we ight (mg) Yorktown 60 230 2 cm † 4 cm 2 cm 4 cm Annual bluegrass 120 250 Kentucky bluegrass Adelphi 6 4 80 50 Eggens, J.L. 1979. The response of some Kentucky blue­ A-34 32 16 150 200 grass cultivars to competitive stress against annual bluegrass. Baron 10 14 90 180 Can. J. Plant Sci. 59:1123-1128. Bonnieblue 10 9 70 120 Goss, R.L. and F. Zook. 1971. New approach for Poa Glade 11 15 80 200 annual control. Golf Superintendent: 46-48. Nugget 14 11 60 90 Ingratta, R.G., G.R. Stephenson and C.M. Switzer. 1978. Sydsport 20 17 160 220 Selective control of annual bluegrass in Kentucky bluegrass Touchdown 20 23 140 220 turf with linuron. Can. J. Plant Sci. 59:469-473. Victa 10 9 60 120 Switzer, C.M. 1977. Turf Renovation. Ontario Golf Su­ Annual Bluegrass 36 57 260 630 perintendents Association Field Day, Cambridge Research † Daily mowing height of 2 cm (3/4 inch) and 4 cm (1 1/2 inch). Station, Cambridge, Ontario. Turgeon, A.J. 1974. Annual bluegrass control with herb­ icides in cool-season turfgrass. Proc. 2nd. International Turfgrass Research Conference: 382-389. Waddington, D.V., T.R. Turner, J.M. Duich and E.L. Moberg. 1978. Effect of fertilization on Penncross creeping bentgrass. Agron. J. 70:713-718. For Sale — 7 - HYDRAULIC RANSOMES GANG MOWERS WITH 235 MASSEY TRACTOR (DIESEL). PHONE - MR. BILL THOMPSON, Manager HAMILTON HEIGHTS GOLF CLUB, (416) 885-5011. U.S.G.A Special Report: "COPING WITH THE WATER SHORTAGE" Each year it seems that some region Irrigation Practices . • Cultivation — spike and/or slice turf of the country is faced with a shortage areas when weather permits through­ Proper use of the irrigation system is out the season so that good water of water. If the problem becomes critical one of the most important factors in infiltration is maintained. enough and water-use restrictions are conserving water. Preparing turf for hot imposed, one of the first affected is golf • Wetting agents — a wetting agent summer weather requires that little, if course irrigation. Although the golf should be used during the spring, and any, irrigation water be applied during industry generates millions of dollars in at lighter rates during the summer, to the spring. Encourage the turf to estab­ goods and services and employs thou­ promote good water infiltration lish a deep, fibrous root system in the sands of people, golf course irrigation through thatch and soil, to improve spring by allowing the soil to become is considered a recreational use of water soil water retention and to prevent dry between rains and/or irrigation in most states and therefore has a low dew formation. It is normally used on sessions. priority during a water shortage. The greens and collars, but can be bene­ limits placed on course irrigation in any ficial to most turf areas. particular area may vary from voluntary • Before irrigating, use a soil probe to determine existing soil moisture and • Fertilization — use relatively low rates conservation to mandatory restrictions rooting depth. of nitrogen fertilizer. A lush, fast­ to a complete ban on all water uses. In • Apply water as uniformly as possible, growing turf uses more water and is each instance, short-term and long-term depending on soil conditions and more susceptible to injury from other management programs must be thought­ stresses. Coordinate applications with fully designed in order to ensure the plant needs. predicted rains or apply during light best possible survival of existing turf • Apply water only as fast as the soil rains. areas. can accept it. To avoid puddling and Here are some thoughts on how to runoff, use short, repeat cycles or • Diseases and Insects — avoid turf make best use of existing water resources else cultivate the soil (core, slice, damage from diseases and insects by and how to condition turfgrasses for spike) to improve water infiltration. utilizing a proper pest-control program. drought conditions. • Irrigate when there is little wind and • Weeds — apply herbicides in the when the temperature is relatively spring for weed control only if large The Irrigation System low, usually at night. numbers of weeds are present (broad­ A well-designed, correctly-installed and • Hand-water critical areas if it can leaf) or can be anticipated (crabgrass). properly-utilized automatic irrigation prevent overwatering adjacent areas. If spraying must be done, spot-treat system provides the best means of con­ the worst areas rather than making a serving water. Water savings of 40 to 75 • Constantly monitor the system to blanket application. per cent have been documented on golf ensure that all heads are operating courses which converted from a manual as they should be. • Cutting height — if possible, raise the to an automatic system. However, cutting height and reduce mowing regardless of the type of irrigation system Cultural Programs frequency on tees, fairways and available, it should be operating at peak • Aerification — aerate (core) turf areas roughs. It is unlikely that much benefit efficiency. Steps should be taken to during the spring in order to relieve will be derived from raising the height increase its efficiency if the situation soil compaction, promote root growth on greens already cut at 3/16" -1/4". permits. and improve water infiltration (note: • Thatch control — if excessive thatch • Repair all leaks. concerns about Poa annua encroach­ is a problem, then thatch control ment after spring aerification are of measures (aeration, spiking, slicing, • Check nozzle size as it relates to secondary importance when drought verticutting) and wetting agents should available pressure and resulting stress may place the survival of the be utilized on a regular basis. coverage. turf in jeopardy). • Check for nozzle wear. • Overseeding — on turf areas com­ posed primarily of Poa annua, plans • Where necessary, relocate heads to should include overseeding during improve water distribution. late summer or early fall with a more • Use half-circle sprinklers where drought-tolerant grass species. Turf applicable. areas which cannot be irrigated during • Check pump performance and other the summer will likely require reno­ pumphouse systems. vation during the fall. — James T. Snow, Senior Agronomist, Northeastern Region