Bulletin of the Green Section 
of the U. S. Golf Association

Vol. V. 

Washington, D. C., April 16, 1025. 

No. 4

A MONTHLY PERIODICAL TO PROMOTE THE 
BETTERMENT OF GOLF COURSES

CONTENTS 
Page
Creeping Bent and Seaside Bent____________________________________ 74
Some Things We Have Learned About Brown-Patch. R. A. Oakley_______75
The Cleveland Green Section. J. K. Bole_____________________________ 78
Some U. S. Golf Association Decisions On the Rules of Golf____________ 82
Experiments On the Control of Brown-Patch with Chlorophenol Mercury.

George H. Godfrey-------------------------------------------------------------83
The Philadelphia Green Section. H. K. Read_________________________87
Red Fescue As a Fairway Grass____________________________ _______ 90
Trapping Moles ________________________,_____________ _______ ____ 90
Controlling Crab Grass. Hugh I. Wilson____________________________ 91
Questions and Answers----------------------------------------------:_____________ 92

MEMBERS OF THE GREEN COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION

*0. V. Piper, Chairman, P. 0. Box 313, Pennsylvania Ave. Station, Washington, D. C.

R. A. Oakley, Vice-Chairman, P. O Box 313, Pennsylvania Ave. Station, Washington, D. 0.' 

*E. J. Marshall, Vice-Chairman, Spitzer Building, Toledo, Ohio.

W. A. Alexander, Corn Exchange Building, Chicago, Ill.
Eberhard Anheuser, care of Anheuser-Busch, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.
Frank B. Barrett, 30 East Forty-second St., New York, N. Y.
A. C. U. Berry, Selling Building, Portland, Oregon.
J. K. Bole, 611 Hunkin-Conkey Building, East Twelfth St. and Walnut Ave., Cleveland, Ohio.
Wm. F. Brooks, 1100 Builders Exchange, Minneapolis, Minn.
C. B. Buxton, care of H. L. Edwards & Co., Dallas, Texas.
A. H. Campbell, 4 Wellington St. East, Toronto, Ontario.
N. Stuart Campbell, 13 Market Square, Providence, R. I.
Wm. C. Fownes. Jr., 313 Sixth Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa.

‘Walter S. Harban, 2101 Wyoming Ave. N. W., Washington, D. C.
Tnos. P. Hinman, 515 Fourth National Bank Building, Atlanta, Ga.
A. J. Hood, Penobscot Building, Detroit, Mich.
Frederic C. Hood, Watertown, Mass.
"Norman Macbeth, 800 Corporation Building, Los Angeles, Calif.
Sherrill Sherman, 516 John St., Utica, N. Y.
Frederick Snare, Country Club de la Habana, Apartado 1267, Havana, Cuba.
James L. Taylor, 777 Carroll St., Brooklyn, N. Y.
‘Wynant D. Vanderpool, 766 Broad St., Newark, N. J.
‘Alan D. Wilson, 321 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Frank L. Woodward, 1357 Wiliams St., Denver, Colo.

‘Executive Committee member.

K. F. Kellerman, Washington, D. C. 
W. R. Walton, Washington, D. O. 

F. H. Hillman, Washington, D. C.
James D. Standish, Jr., Detroit, Mich.

ADVISORY MEMBERS

Published by the Green Committee of the United States Golf Association, at 2908 8. Dakota 

Ave. N. E., Washington, D. 0. Mail Address: P. O. Box 313, Washington, D. C.

Subscription Price: To golf clubs that are members of the Green Section of the IT. S. 

Golf Association, $4.00 per year (included in membership fee).

Entered as second-class matter December 16, 1921, at the postoffice at Washington, D. O., under 
the Act of March 3, 1879. Copyright, 1925, by the Green Committee of the U. S. Golf Association.

74 

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE Vol. v, No. 4

Have You a District Green Section?

There are now in the United States about ten District Green Sections. 
There ought to be about fifty, at least one in each state, and more in states 
where there are two or more large golf centers. The advantages of a Dis­
trict Green Section are large and immediate. Most of the existing Dis­
trict Golf Associations perform no other service than arranging tourna­
ments and fixing handicaps—a function that consumes but little time and 
effort. Every District Golf Association should foster a Green Section 
for its district. It can very properly establish the District Green Section 
as a feature of the District Golf Association and thus add greatly to its use­
fulness, besides increasing its prestige to no small degree.

Such an organization can do much to bring about better results by dis­
couraging the use of improper materials and of faulty methods, all lead­
ing to physical betterment in the upkeep of golf courses. In the final 
analysis this depends on the efficiency of the greenkeeper. Therefore he 
should be assisted in every way practicable. Stimulating the greenkeepers 
in each section to form a Greenkeepers’ Club is a very helpful plan.

In the extension of the work of the United States Golf Association 
Green Section, the various District Green Sections have been most potent 
factors. At the present time there are seven such organizations in active 
work and at least three others in process of formation. There should be 
a District Green Section for each important golf center, or, in the absence 
of that, at least one for each state.

The District Green Sections carry on various activities not included in 
the work of the United States Golf Association Green Section. A very 
important function is that of purchasing supplies through a central agency, 
which not only results in much actual money saving to the clubs, but also 
tends to prevent them from buying things that should not be purchased.
Two of the very successful district green sections are those of Cleve­
land and of Philadelphia. The organization and the activities of each of 
these are described in this issue of The Bulletin. The information given 
should prove most useful to other golf centers contemplating the organiza­
tion of a green section.

Creeping Bent and Seaside Bent

These two grasses are not the same, but very similar. The former is 
the grass that comes in South German mixed bent seed, and to which be­
long, among others, the strains called Washington, Metropolitan, and Co­
lumbia.

Seaside bent occurs both in Europe and in America, mostly in marsh 
lands and on beaches along the seacoast. In America it occurs on the 
Atlantic Coast seashores in large areas from the mouth of the St. Law­
rence to Norfolk, Virginia; on the Pacific Coast, from British Columbia 
to California. Seed has been harvested at the following places: Prince 
Edward Island, Canada; Revere Beach, Massachusetts; Seattle, Wash­
ington; Bellingham, Washington; and Coos Bay, Oregon.

At Arlington Farm have been tested over several years the strain from 
Revere Beach (now called the Revere strain) and that from Bellingham, 
Washington. The two are not the same. While both form turf of the 
same excellence as creeping bent, the Revere proves highly resistant to 

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION . 

75

brown-patch, while the Bellingham strain is quite badly injured. There 
is as yet no sufficiently long test with any of the others to determine how 
brown-patch affects them. Apart from this factor there can be no ques­
tion as to their excellence as turf-formers.

For clubs located in Canada or the northern tier of states, there need 
be no hesitancy in using seed of seaside bent from any source, so long as 
it is genuine. Farther south, where brown-patch is troublesome, there is 
some risk involved, as some strains of seaside bent are likely to be sus­
ceptible to this disease. While Revere bent is strongly resistant to brown­
patch, it does not follow at all that other strains are equally resistant. It 
is greatly to be hoped that such will prove to be the case; but until it is 
demonstrated, the above words of caution should be heeded.

Some Things We Have Learned About Brown-Patch
By B. A. Oakley

While we behold the brown-patch disease of turf with a much calmer 
attitude than we beheld it a few years ago, nevertheless it constitutes one 
of our most serious and perplexing putting green problems. We are 
more complacent with regard to it now than formerly, because it has not 
proved to be an overwhelming trouble, and furthermore we have made 
some progress toward its control.

No one who has studied brown-patch sufficiently to know it well has 
any doubt as to its cause. That it is due to a fungous organism has been 
definitely proved. Whether the large form of brown-patch and the small 
form are due to the same specific fungus but to different strains, or to 
different species of fungi, is not a settled point; but this is not a highly 
important matter so far as greenkeeping is concerned.

The progress that has been made in the control of brown-patch has been 
chiefly along three lines: (1) the use of fungicides, (2) cultural treat­
ment not involving the use of fungicides, and (3) the selection and use 
of resistant strains of creeping bent for putting greens.

After brown-patch was recognized as a true disease of turf, attention 
at once was directed to the use of fungicides for its control. Bordeaux 
mixture was the first one to be tried, and experience has shown it to be 
the best for the purpose of those commonly employed in horticultural 
practice. But Bordeaux has not proved to be wholly satisfactory. If 
used frequently and properly it has considerable merit as a preventive 
and a check for the large brown-patch, but it is apparently of little value 
in the control of small brown-patch.

Bordeaux, to be effective against large brown-patch, must be on the 
leaves and stems of the grass at times when conditions are favorable for 
the growth of the fungus. To have it thus present, grass must be sprayed 
or dusted with it after rains and after watering and mowing while the 
critical brown-patch season is on. Without doubt vigilance and intelli­
gence in the use of Bordeaux will go far toward controlling large brown­
patch, but the treatment is expensive in the labor to apply it. Further­
more, as has been cautioned, it is easily possible to apply such a large 
total quantity of Bordeaux in a season that poisoning will result. This 
poisoning is a soil trouble which requires rather drastic measures to cure. 
While spraying is a more effective way to apply Bordeaux than is dusting, 
the latter is the easier and cheaper method. Two pounds of dry Bordeaux 

76 

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE Vol. v, No. 4

is enough to dust a green of 7,000 square feet. If the dusting is done 
after watering or while the dew is on the grass the powder will be re­
tained better by the leaves of the grass.

Recently attention has been directed to the use of chlorophenol mercury 
for the prevention and cure of brown-patch. There are two well known 
Ameriean preparations of chlorophenol mercury, namely Semesan and 
Uspulun. So far as their active ingredient (chlorophenol mercury) is 
concerned, they are identical, and there appears to be no difference in 
their efficacy for the treatment of brown-patch. Chlorophenol mercury 
has been available to golf clubs for two years, but tests of it have been 
far from adequate. Reports of results from a considerable number of 
courses upon which it has been tried are quite conflicting. In some cases 
good results are reported; in others, negative results are said to have 
been obtained. So far as reported, no deleterious results were had where 
the chlorophenol mercury was applied properly. From the evidence avail­
able it seems safe to conclude that this product is a promising fungicide 
for the treatment of brown-patch, particularly the small form. It ap­
pears to possess preventive properties and is valuable as a check to the 
disease when it is in an active condition. It also appears to be a stimulant 
to grass that has suffered from the attacks of brown-patch. Much ex­
perimentation is needed in the matter of its application. It will take 
time and careful study to work out methods that will give the maximum 
of protection to the turf with a minimum of cost.

The large field that is open for chlorophenol mercury to fill is that of 
prevention. The nature of brown-patch is such that when once it has 
attacked turf the great harm is done. Its subsequent spread from a par­
ticular infection or attack is, as a rule, not so serious. Consequently 
checking measures in the main may be said to have much the same value 
as locking the stable after the horse has been stolen. But the stimulation 
to the diseased grass that results from applications of chlorophenol mer­
cury is important and may prove to be well worth the cost of the material 
and the labor necessary to apply it. To insure the greatest measure of 
protection against brown-patch, the evidence now indicates that chloro­
phenol mercury should be used as a drench before brown-patch puts in 
its appearance and probably occasionally afterward during the growing 
season—just how frequently can not now be definitely stated. It may 
be necessary to spray or dust the greens with chlorophenol mercury occa­
sionally between drenches. Success will probably depend much upon the 
method of application; therefore, careful attention should be given this 
point.

As for the use of chlorophenol mercury as a stimulant for grass that 
has been attacked by brown-patch, it should be determined whether this 
product is more efficacious than the sulfate of ammonia and compost mix­
ture, or whether the two treatments combined are more efficacious than 
either used singly. There is much still to be learned regarding the value 
of chlorophenol mercury for the treatment of brown-patch, but the evi­
dence resulting from tests that have been made bespeaks for it a thor­
ough trial by clubs whose greens are subject to the attacks of this disease. 
In making tests, the importance of leaving a part of each treated green 
untreated can not be overestimated. It is only in this way that the ef­
ficacy of the treatment can be determined.

The cultural treatments for brown-patch that do not involve the use of 
fungicides are of the nature of remedies rather than of preventives. There 

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION 

77

is now sufficient evidence to say with some certainty that the attacks of 
large brown-patch may be lessened by watering in the early morning 
about sunrise or shortly afterward. Watering at this time seems to break 
up the mycelium or cobwebby growth of the fungus before it seriously 
damages the grass. Probably brushing in a proper way would produce 
much the same effect. But since greens must be watered anyway it does 
not entail much extra trouble or expense to water them in the early 
morning.

After attacks of either the large or small brown-patch, a safe and one 
of the most helpful things to do is to topdress with ammonium sulfate 
or ammonium phosphate and well-screened compost. When attacks come 
in the hot weather—as they frequently do—the treatment given the grass 
should be approximately 7% pounds of ammonium sulfate or ammonium 
phosphate, mixed with 1 cubic yard of well-screened compost, and this 
mixture applied evenly to 5,000 square feet of green. After it has been 
applied it should be watered in thoroughly. No burning will result if 
this is done, and recovery of the diseased grass may be expected within 
two weeks from the time of the application, provided, of course, good care 
is given after the treatment.

The success of creeping bent greens established vegetatively is attested 
to by the very large number of excellent ones that are now in use. But it 
has been found that some strains of creeping bent, while making exceed­
ingly desirable turf, are much more susceptible to the attack of brown­
patch than are others that make equally fine turf. Some excellent strains 
of creeping bent are indeed quite resistant to both the large and the small 
brown-patch. Two that have proved to be outstanding in his respect at 
Arlington and elsewhere are the Washington and the Metropolitan strains. 
There are doubtless other strains that are highly resistant. Those who 
are engaged in selling and propagating strains of creeping bent should 
give attention to the brown-patch resistance of each.

We are learning quite a lot about brown-patch. We find that forms of 
it appear in the winter as well as in the summer and fall. We know that 
Bordeaux, properly used, is in a measure successful in controlling the large 
form of the disease. We hope that chlorophenol mercury will prove to 
be a preventive to the disease and also a stimulant to disease-attacked 
grass. We have good reason to think that early morning watering helps 
to lessen the seriousness of attacks of large brown-patch. We know that 
either ammonium sulfate or ammonium phosphate mixed with compost 
will prevent permanent injury resulting from attacks of either of the 
forms of brown-patch and will hasten recovery of the diseased turf. And 
we know that some excellent strains of creeping bent are highly resistant 
to both common forms of brown-patch and when attacked are usually so 
lightly affected that they soon recover under proper treatment.

In view of all this we are fairly equipped to cope with brown-patch, 
serious as it may be at times; and with more critical study and experi­
mentation we should in time reduce the problem it presents in green­
keeping to a minor rank.

Welcome to the Grass Turf Plots.—When you are in Washington let us 
show you the grass turf plots at Arlington. You will be welcome as the 
roses in June—and we think as interested as a kid at Christmas. No 
trouble to us, but a great pleasure. Come to room 7213, Building F, 
7th and B Streets Northwest.

78 

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE Vol. v, No. 4

The Cleveland Green Section *

By J. K. Bole

The definite organization of Golf in Cleveland was brought about in 
^September, ,1917. This was a purely social association, and was only 
interested in tournaments and in one big get-together meeting for the 
promotion of good fellowship. The association was made up of eight clubs, 
who paid very nominal dues. There was no office of any kind and no 
paid employees, and the interest in the association was entirely dependent 
on those in office and the amount of time and effort they gave to the as­
sociation. From the start, however, the idea gradually grew in the minds 
of the active workers in the association, that there was an opportunity 
to do something actually worth while for the game of golf in the Cleve­
land district, and that there was a big field for a local Green Section 
patterned after the United States Golf Association Green Section at 
Washington.

In 1922, the Cleveland District Golf Association Green Section was 
definitely organized, and a secretary appointed who was paid by the as­
sociation for half his time, and desk space secured in a down-town office. 
During this year (1922) the Green Section did a certain amount of col­
lective buying, and conferred with the different clubs on vital golf prob­
lems to the best of its ability. But it was recognized by those in charge 
that if the local Green Section idea was going to work, it would have to 
be put on a permanent and much more efficient basis, and that an office 
with two paid secretaries would have to be established; for it was very 
evident that it was absolutely necessary that there be some one at the of­
fice all the time, so that the clubs could get service at all times and have 
their needs taken care of promptly. There were at this time thirteen 
clubs in the Association, and they paid for the Green Section service $50 
for nine holes and $100 for eighteen; and although the service during this 
fiist year was very inefficient, the member clubs saved a total of $4,000 
on the year’s purchases.

At the end of 1922 steps were taken to reorganize the Association on 
broader lines. Clubs from the district surrounding Cleveland were taken 
in and a down-town office was secured and equipped so as to be able to 
take care of the work of the Association in a systematic and business­
like manner. A very important part of this equipment is cross indexed 
cards that are kept right up to date, one set covering the sources of supply 
and prices and the other covering problems of construction and upkeep, 
so arranged that definite information can be given over the phone in a 
very few words.

During 1923 the work of the Green Section began gradually to show 
its benefits, and the value of this work to the member clubs was more and 
more evident, and the result was that at the beginning of 1924 the As­
sociation was serving 27 clubs. Today there are 37 clubs in the Cleveland 
District Association. Several new ones have made applications and will 
be added after the first of the year.

One of the elements that helped the Green Section to a marked degree 
was the publishing of the Cleveland District Golfer, a magazine published 
monthly by the Association, absolutely owned by the Association, and

* Address delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Green Section, January 10, 1925. 

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION 

79

controlled by the officers of the Association. This magazine has made it 
possible for the Green Section to carry its message not only to the officers 
of the different clubs in the district, but to practically every member of 
every club.

Our aim has been to get the work of the Green Section before all the 
members of every club in such a way that they will understand what it 
is all about, and to show them that each member has a definite part to 
play in the maintenance and upkeep of his course, and that they owe 
it to their club and their fellow members that they play their part, no 
matter how small it may be. With this object in view articles are pub­
lished every month covering some phase of the work on the course, so 
that the club members will understand why certain things have to be 
done at a definite time, and also why neglect on their part to follow the 
simple rules of etiquette is sure to increase the cost of maintenance, which 
comes out of the pockets of themselves and their fellow members.

Articles are also published each month, explaining why some golf holes 
are good and others are bad, and showing how the bad holes can be 
changed and fair ones improved. These articles are so written and il­
lustrated that every member of a club can understand them. All this is 
with the definite object in view of educating the general golfing public 
on the subject of golf architecture so that much of the bad and costly 
construction will be avoided and the correct and beneficial changes un­
derstood.

The Cleveland District Green Section as it operates today has two dis­
tinct functions to perform: (1) the purchase of implements and mate­
rials; (2) the distribution of information and advice with regard to the 
laying out, building, and upkeep of golf courses. I have put purchasing 
first, not because I think it the most important, but because it is the func­
tion that will appeal most to the average person.

Our first big job was to get the officers of all the clubs who were mem­
bers of the Green Section to send any one who came to them with any­
thing to sell to the office of the Association. Once we had accomplished 
this, we began to get somewhere, and it was only a short time until the 
salesman or representative who had a worthy product to sell recognized 
what a saving this meant in both time and money, and gave the Asso­
ciation not only co-operation but prices that made it possible to save the 
clubs a considerable percentage on everything they bought. We have 
tried in every case, and have succeeded in most of them, to get more 
than one make of every item that we, from our own personal knowledge 
and experience, could recommend, thereby keeping competition keen on 
every item if possible.

The Association is carrying on a lot of tests and experiments all the 
time, under actual service conditions, and as soon as a machine, imple­
ment, or material proves its worth it is recommended along with other 
approved items of the same kind or for the same purpose, and it then 
develops into a question of the best price and deliveries, and in some 
cases service. On many of the large items of equipment and machinery 
we have required the manufacturers to carry spare parts and service 
right in Cleveland, so that the clubs can be taken care of promptly in case 
of broken machines. This purchasing bureau not only saves the clubs 
actual money on purchases, but it also saves a great deal of time, not only 
fcr the chairman of the green committee, but for the greenkeeper and other 
paid employees of the club. All the greenkeeper has to do is to call the 

80 

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE vol. v, No. 4

office on the phone and give his order, which he must confirm with a 
requisition, forms for which he is supplied. The office makes out the order 
in triplicate, one copy to the club, one to the source of supply, and one 
is filed in the office. From that point on the club is relieved of all trouble. 
The order is followed right through until delivered. If it is a hurry-up 
order, it is wired or telephoned. Where the order involves a carload or 
carloads of the same material for a number of clubs, as sometimes hap­
pens, contracts and arrangements are made for delivery right on to the 
different courses. While the purchasing bureau has saved practically 
every member club more than its dues this last year, much more im­
portant is the fact that the Green Section has prevented many of the 
clubs from buying useless and in some cases worthless material that would 
have cost them much more than the actual cost of the material. Some 
clubs that previously bought annually several thousand dollars’ worth 
of seed, did not buy a pound. In other words, we saved many of the clubs 
not only on what we bought for them, but also on what we kept them from 
buying.

The question of buying for the clubs is just in its infancy, and I be­
lieve that it will be only a short time until these district purchasing bu­
reaus will be buying everything that the clubs use not only on the course 
but in the club house, with the possible exception of some of the perish­
able things that have to be bought from day to day.

The second function of the local Green Section, and to my mind the 
most important, is the giving of information and advice to the different, 
clubs. I have known of a number of cases where one club has solved a 
problem of course upkeep, when only a few miles away another club was 
spending time and money trying to solve tire very same problem. With 
the local Green Section everything of this kind is done away with. The 
local Section is a medium through which the worthwhile knowledge and 
experience of one club is carried to every other club that needs or asks 
for this information. Bulletins covering the most important subjects are 
sent out to the chaiimen of the green committees and greenkeepers of 
every member club of the Green Section at regular intervals. Many of 
these bulletins aie in anticipation of seasons, conditions, and problems 
as they are about to come up.

This pait of the vork lias been very greatly helped and amplified by 
the organization of the greenkeepers of the section. In Cleveland they 
ha\e theii own oiganization. dhey meet once a month,—all-day meetings 
at some couise during the good weather, and down-town for dinner and 
the evening during the winter. We have had some man who was an 
authority in his subject talk at these meetings, and at others general dis­
cussions of some subject that was of prime importance to the different 
clubs.

One impoitant thing this association of greenkeepers has developed 
is a standaid report card on which the greenkeeper reports to his "reen 
chairman the distribution of the pay every two weeks. This enables him 
to show just what each part of the maintenance job costs, and by com­
parison with the cards of other greenkeepers, to see also if he is above 
or below the fair average cost for such work. In this way he is able to 
confer and get advice that will make it possible for him to reduce his 
costs where they are high. Because of the interest the greenkeepers are 
showing in their own Association and in the work of the local Green Sec­

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION 

«1

tion, they are rapidly becoming more and more valuable to their clubs, 
and are developing for themselves a real profession.

For the new club just about to build its course the local Green Section 
has a very great value. First, it can advise the club with regard to 
proper architecture; second, with regard to the best and most practical 
construction; and lastly, it can save the new club a great deal of time 
and a lot of money through the purchase and following up of the large 
amount of material that it requires.

A number of local Green Sections are operating in different parts of 
the country, but I know that some of them are not on a sound basis. I 
believe it impossible to operate these local Sections where the one who 
runs it depends on commissions on purchases for his remuneration. Un­
der these conditions the clubs are sure to come out at the little end of 
the horn, and will be influenced to buy instead of being kept from it as 
in many cases they should.

I have purposely refrained from saying anything about the connec­
tion between the local Green Section and the national Section at Wash­
ington, until the end, for the definite reason that I have no doubt but 
that most of you will forget a lot of this; but I do want you to go away 
with one definite impression, and that is that the fountain-head at Wash­
ington is doing a wonderful work for the good of golf and the benefit of 
golfers. But if this work is to be carried on to the very best advantage, 
it must be done through the local green sections, organized along the same 
lines as the national Section, and with the same high ideals. The local 
Section can augment the work of the national organization and can keep 
up, because of its close contact, the interest of the clubs and the green­
keepers in this great work. The local Section can interpret the informa­
tion and advice coming from Washington, into terms that apply directly 
to the local condition. And this is very important. The local Section 
acts as an outpost for the national Section, and serves as an experiment 
station where methods and materials are seen under actual service con­
dition, and the experience and results reported authentically.

I believe golfers all over the country are ready and anxious for or­
ganizations such as ours here in Cleveland, and I thoroughly believe that 
if a definite campaign is inaugurated, these associations can be started 
and operated successfully in almost every golfing center. It will require 
a considerable amount of work by some one or by a committee that is 
experienced and knows how to set up and sell this sort of an organization.
The Cleveland Green Section may not have the right plan or the best 
way; but I am convinced that, were there Green Sections such as the one 
in Cleveland established and operating in all the big golfing centers, golf 
would Ip on a very sound footing, the cost of golf would be greatly 
reduced, and the condition of golf courses throughout the country 
would be improved away beyond anything we know of now; and lastly, 
the great work our good friends here are carrying on at Washington 
would be recognized and appreciated to such an extent that the raising 
of the Endowment Fund would be a simple problem.

Use only finely ground bone meal.—On account of the insolubility of 
bone meal in water it is necessary that it be finely ground in order that it 
may be readily available as plant food. In any case bone meal is a slowly 
acting fertilizer, and little benefit will be derived in using a coarse product. 
The greater part of your bone meal should pass an 80-mesh sieve.

82 

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE Vol. v, No. 4

Some IT. S. Golf Association Decisions On the Rules of Golf
A drives from the tee, giving B a stroke each hole. Each makes the 

hole in 4 strokes. Which one drives first at the next tee ?

(Decision). The winner of a hole in handicap match play is the player 
who makes the lowest net on any hole. The player receiving a handicap 
is entitled to the honor as well as the player conceding a handicap.

A and B are playing C and D in a four-hall match, and in order to 
make the contest even B is giving D three strokes per nine, while A is 
playing C and D even, giving no strokes. On one of the holes where B 
gives D a stroke the scores are as follows: A and B both make 5’s, and 
C and D both make 6’s. Who wins the hole? A claims he does, for his 
side, as he makes a 5 and does not give any strokes, while C and D claim 
they halve it, as the player D, using the stroke, makes the same net as B. 
Some of our local authorities rule that A is right in contending that he 
wins for his side, since he gives no strokes.

(Decision). In the first place, the handicap arranged in this match is 
irregular, as sides should give handicaps, not individuals. Our decision 
is that in a best-ball competition under the conditions stated in your match, 
A had a 5 while his opponent had a 6. A’s 5 stands unimpaired, and 
against him the others actually holed out in 6. Therefore A won the hole 
for his side.

Soil foundation of a putting green.— In building a green the two main 
points to consider are the providing for drainage and the providing for a 
top soil of the character of a good garden loam and not over 4 inches thick. 
All the evidence we have points clearly to the fact that layers of peat moss, 
cinders, or any other material are detrimental to a putting green.

Distribution of the member clubs of the Green Section in the United States.
The foreign member clubs are distributed as follows: fia.n»da. 41. Mexico !• 
’

Hawaii, 1; Cuba, 1; Bermuda, 1; Argentina, 2; Chile, 1; France, 1. 
__ , 
United States inclosed by the heavy black line. In the states that have few or no 
Green Section clubs, there is abundant chance for our boosters to Md

t*10 total membership of 837 clubs, 672, or 80 per cent, are in the part of the

’ 

’ 

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION

83

Experiments On the Control of Brown-Patch With 
Chlorophenol Mercury *

By George H. Godfrey

Professional Paper No. 1, Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Inc., 
Yonkers, New York.

Early in July, 1924, small brown-patch began to appear in the turf of 
the Hudson River Country Club, near Yonkers, New York. An appeal 
for help was made by the manager of the Club to their neighbor the 
Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research. At that time I was at 
the Institute engaged in research work with various plant disinfectants, 
and as I had expressed an interest in the problem it was turned over to 
me for study by Dr. William Crocker, director of the Institute.

The disease was more or less universally distributed over the 14th and 
15th greens and to some extent was present on the 16th. The turf on 
th se greens wrs a nearly pure stand of Poa annua. At that time the 
d’sease was in an early stage of development, but very active in its 
spreading. A fungus was quite obviously seen to be the cause of the con­
dition. Early in the morning on any humid, sunless day the threads of 
this fungus could be seen in the brown patches, spreading outward on 
newly infected grass blades. It was very readily obtained in “pure 
culture”—that is, secured growing by itself on gelatine, according to the 
regular laboratory methods. The organism has not yet been positively 
identified. The spots, none of which was larger than a dollar, were still 
individual; that is to say, there was as yet no running together. The first 
experiments were started on the 15th green. Figure 1 shows the approxi­
mate condition of the green at the time the experiments were begun.

Figure 1.—The small brown-patch disease of golf turf in its early stage of development. 
The applications described in experiment No. 1 were made in about this stage of the 
development of the disease.

* There are two common American preparations of chlorophenol mercury. These ap 
pear under the names of Uspulun and Semesan. They are identical as to the disinfectant 
agent, chlorophenol mercury, though differing in other respects. Uspulun was used in the 
experiments here reported.

84

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE Vol. v, No. 4

Experiment No. 1.—In order to determine, first of all, whether “or not 
a fungicide would have any effect on the disease, Bordeaux mixture 
4-4-50 was applied to a strip 1 yard wide across the center of the green, 
while to another area of the green a form of chlorophenol mercury was 
applied in a solution of 1 to 200. A common garden hand sprinkling 
can was used in making these applications. In about ten days strikingly 
favorable results were evident from both treatments. As weather con­
ditions were favorable for the spreading of the disease, it had increased 
rapidly in the untreated area. Spots had increased in size, new spots 
had developed, and much running together had occurred. The treated 
strips, on the other hand, were of a solid, vivid green, showing complete 
checking of lhe organism and actual healing-over of the spots that were 
evident at the start.

Experiment No. 2.—About the middle of July the green was divided 
into quarters by north and south and east and west lines. In the south 
half copper sulfate and chlorophenol mercury were compared for effi­
ciency. The former was applied in the form of a prepared Bordeaux 
mixture consisting of dry lime and copper sulfate, in a liquid applica­
tion of 5 pounds to 50 gallons of water, in the southeast quarter of the 
green. A form of chlorophenol mercury was applied to the southwest 
quarter in a solution of 1 to 200. Applications were made by means of 
the ordinary 2-wheeled water barrel with sprinkler attachment. The 
barrel was pulled along at a speed thoroughly to wet the surface of the 
green and saturate the turf for a fraction of an inch. No more than suf­
ficient to soak in was applied. Approximately 50 gallons to 1,000 square 
feet gave this degree of wetting.

By August 1 this south half of the green showed surprising results. 
The prepared Bordeaux did not meet the situation other than perhaps to 
check the progress of the disease to a certain extent. The quarter on 
which it was used was of about the same degree of green color as at the 
start. The quarter treated with chlorophenol mercury, on the other 
hand, however, showed not only a complete checking of the fungus, but 
a complete come-back of the grass, as it was a vivid, healthy green in 
color, and the turf covered the ground completely except in small spots 
where other agencies, such as ants, were a factor.

Experiment No. 3. At the same time that the treatments in experi­
ment No. 2 were made (July 17) the northwest quarter of the green was 
divided into checks of a yard square, as shown in figure 2. In these yard- 
square areas a series of treatments with chemicals and various combina­
tions with compost top-dressing was given. Six replications of each 
treatment were given, in as many rows, each treatment being shifted one 
square to the south in each successive row, so that any particular treat­
ment occurred in a diagonal, instead of a horizontal row. The treat­
ments applied were as follows, reading from left to right, or north to 
south: (1) untreated; (2) top-dressing followed by Bordeaux 4-4-50; 
(3) top-dressing alone; (4) and (5) top-dressing followed by Bordeaux; 
(6) top-dressing followed by chlorophenol mercury in 1-200 solution- (7) 
chlorophenol mercury followed by top-dressing; (8) and (9) top-dressing 
alone; (10) top-dressing followed by chlorophenol mercury in 1-400 so­
lution; (11) top-dressing followed by chlorophenol mercury in 1-200 
solution.

The applications were made with a sprinkling can at the rate of Yz 
gallon to 1 square yard, which was just enough to soak the grass without 

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION

85

permitting run-off. This is approximately the same rate as that used in 
experiment No. 2, namely, 50 gallons to 1,000 square feet.

I was away for several days and feared that in the regular course of 
watering and from such rains as might occur the lime check-marks would 
be washed out and that therefore we would have difficulty in observing 
the effects of the treatments in the individual yard-square checks. The 
lines actually were washed out, but to my surprise two weeks later a 
regular checkerboard was nevertheless evident.

Figure 2.—Northwest corner of the 15th green marked off in squares of 1 yard each 
for the application of the treatments described in experiment No. 3. Photograph taken 
July 17.

The squares treated with chlorophenol mercury were of a good, uni­
form green throughout. There was no difference in the results from the 
1-200 solution and the 1-400 solution, showing that the weaker solution 
(1-400) was as efficient as the stronger.

The squares which had been left untreated were nearly 75 per cent 
brown, indicating the condition in which the entire green would have 
been without treatment.

The squares treated with compost were a trifle better, notwithstanding 

the disease had actually increased in them.

The squares treated with Bordeaux were better than the squares that 
had lie 'll top-dressed but not nearly as good as the squares that had been 
treated with chlorophenol mercury.

The contrasts shown in figure 3 give only a suggestion of what was 
actually evident in the field, since it is difficult to bring out color con­
trasts in a photograph.

Experiment No. 4.—Simultaneously with experiments No. 2 and No. 3 
another series of treatments was made in the northeast quarter of the 

86

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE Vol. v, No. 4

green, this time in strips a yard wide. Here again chlorophenol mercury 
showed up to advantage over every other treatment. This is likewise 
evident in figure 3, -where in the left background a dark strip of 6 feet 
is visible; this had been treated with chlorophenol mercury in 1-200 and 
1-400 solutions. On the right it is bordered by a strip treated with 
Bordeaux, and on the left by a strip treated with top-dressing alone.

Other disinfectants, principally organic salts not now on the market, 
gave varying results in duplicated applications made in others of the yard­
square areas.

Figure 3.—Photograph of the 15th green taken about August 7, showing the beneficial 
effects of applications of ch’orophenol mercury. In the foreground is seen the northwest 
quarter divided into squares of 1 yard. The four dark rectangles in the foreground had 
been treated with chlorophenol mercury. Immediately in front of these are squares 
treated with compost alone. Next back of the four dark rectangles that had been 
treated with chlorophenol mercury are four light squares, which had been left untreated. 
Next beyond the untreated squares is a row treated with Bordeaux mixture, and next 
beyond these a row treated with top-dressing of compost alone. In the left background 
is seen a portion of the northeast quarter of the green, treated in strips in experiment 
No. 4. The dark strip is that treated with chlorophenol mercury, on its right the strip 
treated with Bordeaux, and on its left the strip treated with top-dressing alone. In the 
right background are the two quarters of the green treated as described in experiment 
No. 2.

It was, of course, desired to bring the entire green back into condition as 
quickly as possible. Consequently, on August 4, sulfate of ammonia was 
applied and the few squares left untreated were then top-dressed. On 
August 7 a uniform application of chlorophenol mercury in 1 to 400 
solution was made over the entire green. Within a couple of weeks the 
whole area became uniformly green except for the untreated diagonal 
row, which, however, came back slowly. By September 15, without any 
further treatments, the 15th green was uniformly green, no checkerboard 
being evident to the slightest degree, and the green had remained in this 
condition until its last inspection, November 26.

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION 

87

Meanwhile applications of chlorophenol mercury in 1-400 solution were 
made on the other greens at the rate of 50 gallons to 1,000 square feet, 
and the progress of the brown-patch was checked immediately. On the 
16th green only about three-fourths was covered by August 6. A week 
later the line could be easily distinguished where the treatments had 
left off. Treatment was continued, and the green brought back into 
uniform condition.

A few general remarks may be of interest here. The green strips se­
cured as a result of experiment No. 1 were invaded anew by the fungus 
after about ten days. The fungus was, of course, very abundant on all 
sides. The fungicidal effect was obviously no longer present on the blades 
of grass in the treated strips, so that the fungus was enabled to invade 
from the edges.

On the 14th green brown-patch developed, without treatments, to a 
serious extent. In its weakened condition it became a prey to crab grass, 
which became thickly ‘established. An attack of brown-patch is therefore 
not only serious in itself but also in that it permits the invasion of weeds.

Where. chlorophenol mercury was applied in the solution of 1 to 200 
(2 pounds to 50 gallons of water) sometimes a slight yellowdng of the 
grass became evident the following day. This effect disappeared after 
the first cutting. None was evident after the application of the weaker 
solution of 1 to 400, and this solution is therefore recommended. No per­
manent injury from an accumulative effect of the organic mercury has as 
yet been apparent. Since the chemical is already in the form of an or­
ganic compound it is hardly possible that it can accumulate in an in­
jurious form, and such injury as Dr. Oakley has reported from copper 
sulfate, is not likely to occur.

In conclusion I wish to express my appreciation for the facilities and 
help rendered me in connection with the conduction of these experiments 
by the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, and particularly 
to Dr. L. O. Kunkel, of the Plant Pathological Division.

The Philadelphia Green Section *
By H. K. Bead

The Philadelphia Green Section was organized in May, 1921, and was 
the first so-called local section formed. The officers consist of president, 
vice president, secretary, and treasurer. We have various committees, 
and their chairmen with the officers constitute the executive committee. 
Meetings are held at different golf clubs during the playing season—usu­
ally preceded by a tournament in the afternoon. It is at these meet­
ings particularly that we give manufacturers and dealers the opportunity 
of demonstrating or exhibiting equipment or material. In the winter we 
hold our meetings at some city club. We make an earnest effort to have 
all our sessions constructive; we do not gather primarily for entertain­
ment. We try to have at least one special talk on some subject of real 
importance in course maintenance. This leads to a general discussion of 
a most helpful character. This is a brief outline of the activities of our 
Green Section; they have proven to be not only enjoyable but distinctly 
helpful.

* Address delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Green Section, January 10, 1925.

88

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE Vol. v. No. 4

However, some of us thought that much more could be accomplished. 
We knew that all the clubs had practically the same kind of problems. 
Some were fortunate in having as green chairmen men who were enthusi­
astic and willing to give sufficient time to study, to make them thoroughly 
proficient in their job. Other clubs were not so fortunate.' The outstand­
ing need seemed to be some source of information that could be abso­
lutely relied upon and always available.

We finally organized, in March of last year, the Service Bureau of the 
Philadelphia Green Section. Right here I want to record our apprecia­
tion for the help and co-operation extended to us by the Cleveland Green 
Section, which had been operating a bureau service most successfully for 
some little time previous. Especially I want to thank Mr. Joseph K. 
Bole for the practical assistance which he gave to us. Our Bureau main­
tains its own office, in charge of a competent secretary, Mrs. I. K. Eddy. 
Thirty-six clubs are now members of this Bureau, and contribute to its 
support. Clubs having 18 holes or more pay $100 a year, and those less 
than 18 holes pay $50 a year. We act as agent for our member-clubs, by 
placing all orders for equipment, materials, or supplies of any sort that 
may be required. Orders come to us on requisition forms which we sup­
ply. These requisitions are carefully scrutinized both as to kind of goods 
ordered and the amount. This frequently results in changes that are 
not only bmefieial, but afso makes for economy. Naturally we keep in 
touch with manufacturers and dealers and market conditions as far as 
possible.

At the start we met with a limited amount of opposition in our efforts 
to obtain price concessions to which we feel we are entitled. I want to 
take this opportunity of acknowledging publicly the almost uniform good­
will and co-operation that we now enjoy from the trade. If a concern 
has a product of value, it has only to prove this to the Bureau, and there­
by reach 36 clubs at once. It is not hard to realize that this not only rep­
resents a substantial saving in sales cost, but also makes a better price 
possible and justifiable. Our member-clubs are now buying practically 
everything from a rake to a tractor through the Bureau. This enables 
us to sidetrack much foolish and wasteful purchasing; it is not an easy 
thing now to stick one of our clubs with a chromo.

The Bureau also creates a greater degree of responsibility on the part 
of the dealer; he knows he is doing business with an organized clearing 
house of 36 clubs, and not with a single, more or less isolated one. But 
the dealer gets something in return; graft is eliminated. Our method of 
obtaining requisitions and placing the orders, insures this. If a dealer 
passes out commissions or gratuities to anyone connected with our clubs, 
he is a fool. He is simply wasting his money. Moreover, if the Bureau 
learns of it, he will be hurt far beyond any benefit he could hope to ob­
tain. Just as soon as we see a head raised that looks like graft, we hit it. 
and hit it hard. This has been one of the most objectionable practices of 
the past, and no effort should be spared to eliminate it. It is my judg­
ment that the bureau plan, as it is now operated in Cleveland and Phila­
delphia, does this most effectively.

We also supply a bulletin service, the same as Cleveland. These bul­
letins consist of information on various subjects, and a copy is mailed to 
every chairman of the green committee and also to the greenkeeper. From 
time to time, these bulletins call attention to work which should be taken 

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION 

89

care of at that particular season. For illustration, in the.spring we 
issue a bulletin outlining the best method of conditioning the course. "We 
advise when rolling should be done, and how, both on fairways and greens. 
We suggest the best fertilizers to be applied, what quantities should be 
used, and how the application should be made. We cover many other 
questions of interest. But this gives you an idea of the service rendered 
by the Bureau.

The Bureau is indeed a clearing house for information. Every day 
we have calls from manufacturers, dealers, green-committee chairmen, or 
greenkeepers. We try to find out all we can about everything relating 
to course maintenance, and then arrange and index it so that it is readily 
available. It is surprising how much information drifts in to us. It 
would not be possible for any individual to gather the same amount of 
material; the bureau acts like a magnet, and just naturally attracts it. 
Moreover, when it comes in we know what to do with it; it is not lost in 
the shuffle of other things; it is placed in the proper folio, with other data 
on the same subject.

The Bureau also has on file information regarding greenkeepers. A 
number of our clubs have found it desirable to make changes in this di­
rection and we have been able to put them in touch with men of desir­
able character. I believe that this end of our service can be developed 
considerably with much advantage to the clubs.

It would be interesting, probably, to tell you in more or less detail, 
exactly the things which we have been able to accomplish; it is a most 
interesting record but would consume entirely too much time. However, 
starting late in the season, when most clubs had practically completed 
their principal buying, we have placed over 750 separate orders. You 
must understand that one order might constitute a number of carloads 
of material, or a large quantity of equipment from one manufacturer. 
We have been organized less than a year, and a complete summary of 
our purchases is not attempted. Some principal figures, however, are 
as follows: $20,000 worth of large equipment (tractors, mowers, rollers, 
harrows, screens, etc.); $5,000 worth of small equipment and miscel­
laneous materials (wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, scythes, poles, cups, flags, 
insecticides, etc.) ; 15,000 pounds of grass seed; 60 carloads of sand (clubs 
have never before received a first-class grade of sharp white sand at the 
price at which we have been buying it) ; 50 carloads of fertilizer and 
worm eradicator (bone meal, sulfate of ammonia, mowrah meal, mush­
room soil, etc.) ; 26,000 feet of rubber hose. When it is considered that 
the Bureau did not really begin to function until spring was well ad­
vanced, and many clubs had already completed their buying for the 
season, these figures can be better understood. The orders placed this 
year will no doubt show a material increase.

The Bureau is constantly called upon to give advice as to the equip­
ment which should be ordered or material to be purchased to accomplish 
certain desired results. We recommend nothing that we do not have 
satisfactory information about. The Bureau is absolutely impersonal, 
and favoritism does not exist. Any other basis of operation would be 
vicious.

The principal difficulty is in getting a Bureau of this character prop­
erly started. Philadelphia is fortunate in having a number of men con­
nected with its local clubs who have had wide experience and acquired 

90 

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE Vol. v, No. 4

sound information on course maintenance. We divided the work into 
two parts, one having to do with turf culture and the other with ma­
chinery and equipment. When any problem was presented on either of 
these questions and there was not sufficient information on file to take 
care of it, the secretary would call up one or more of our committee for 
additional information. If we needed still more facts, we did not hesi­
tate to telephone, telegraph, or write letters. All the time information 
and experience was accumulating, until now our secretary is able to take 
care of practically all inquiries that come in, on almost any subject.

In conclusion, the Philadelphia Green Section and its Service Bureau 
want to acknowledge the fine co-operation and help always extended to 
us by the United States Golf Association Green Section. It would be 
difficult to overestimate the value of the experimental and research work 
carried on at Washington. Without the assistance of this agency, any 
bureau such as ours could not hope to operate with the greatest efficiency. 
Here again, the Bureau enjoys a big advantage over an individual club; 
we have the problems and answers which develop with all our clubs 
gathered together at one source.

I can visualize the future, when bureaus like those maintained at Cleve­
land and Philadelphia will be scattered throughout the United States, 
and indeed other countries, at all principal golf centers. These bureaus 
can constantly exchange the information which each develops, to in­
crease the value and efficiency of each separate bureau. Such an organi­
zation receiving the valuable and absolutely essential advice from the 
parent body, the United States Golf Association Green Section, is bound 
to bring about not only better playing conditions but a tremendous sav­
ing in operating costs.

Red Fescue As a Fairway Grass

Several golf clubs have had very unsatisfactory results with red fescue 
as a fairway grass even where all the conditions were favorable. The 
trouble is that during the first year or so this grass grows in small bunches, 
allowing weeds to occupy the spaces between the tufts. This result empha­
sizes the principle that a thick stand of grass is the best insurance against 
weeds. Even where such weeds as plantain and dandelion do not occupy 
the bare spaces between the tufts, the latter are very slow in spreading 
so as to make a complete turf. The conclusion forced by these results is 
that red fescue alone should never be used for fairways; and its use in 
a mixture is dubious. In practically every case where red fescue has been 
used, bluegrass and redtop would with little doubt have given better re­
sults. Where some bent seed has been included, it nearly always is 
helpful.

Trapping Moles

Several different methods of killing moles have been recommended 
which have doubtless met with success under certain conditions. These 
include the use of strychnine (The Bulletin, August, 1923, page 207, 
second paragraph), and paradichlorbenzine (The Bulletin, November, 
1923, page 295), and stamping over the mole with the heel, or thrusting 
a sharp metal instrument into it, -when its presence is indicated by the 
movement of the earth along the burrow (The Bulletin, February, 1922, 

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION 

91

page 47). The only method, however, that seems to have met with uni­
versal success is the use of the mole trap. For success with the mole trap 
some care must be taken in choosing the location for placing the trap 
and in setting the trap properly in the burrow. The use of the mole 
trap is fully described in Farmers’ Bulletin 1247, issued free by the 
United States Department of Agriculture. This bulletin describes the 
habits of the mole, where to set the trap, when to set the trap, kinds of 
traps, and how to set traps, and also the utilizing of moleskins, including 
skinning moles, preparing the pelts, and marketing the skins. A dozen 
to twenty moles may be taken in the course of a few weeks with a single 
trap, if properly used, by resetting it day after day at a favorable lo­
cation.

Controlling Crab Grass

By Hugh I. Wilson, Merion Cricket Club, Haverford, Pa.*

In The Bulletin, Vol. Ill (1923), page 89, is described and illustrated 
a sweeper for collecting crab grass seed. We have used this sweeper for 
three years on both our East and West courses and are quite sure that 
the elimination of crab grass is due largely to its use. The sweeper is 
similar to a hand lawn cleaner, but it is made into a gang of three sweep­
ing units, and in this way covers an area equal to that covered by a triplex 
mower. We are trying to get the manufacturers to put the sweeper on 
the market, as we consider it of value to golf courses where crab grass 
is a nuisance.

Our practice for the first two years was to run the sweeper over the 
fairway, follow with a cutting unit, and then repeat with a sweeper to 
gather the seed. During the past year, however, we have found that a 
chain harrow gives better r.-suits than the sweeper in making the crab 
grass plants stand up so that they can be cut easily. It may be that some 
other device much better than the harrow will be found that will pull 
the crab grass up so that it can be cut easily. We followed the harrow up 
with a tractor to which was hitched the cutting unit, and behind that the 
swreeper.

There is, however, one point which we want to emphasize very strongly, 
and that is, that sweeping alone will not eliminate crab grass. Where 
there are badly infested areas they should be seeded and top-dressed 
spring and fall, and fall especially, in order to assist the good grass in 
getting a start. One naturally can not expect grass to grow where there 
are no grass plants. Therefore, in using this sweeper it must be borne 
in mind that the growth of the good grass must be stimulated by top­
dressing and fertilizing, and that seed must be applied to areas which 
are badly infested.

Leaf mold.—This is a splendid material to use in a compost mixture, 
and that is the way it should be utilized. Mix it with top soil and well- 
rotted manure. The longer this compost pile is allowed to stand, the bet­
ter; but even if it stands only a few weeks it will give you good material 
for top-dressing.

* This article was prepared by Mr. Wilson in the fall of 1924 for publication in a 

spring number of The Bulletin.

92

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE Vol. v, No. 4

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

All questions sent to the Green Committee will be answered in a letter to 
the writer as promptly as possible. The more interesting of these questions, 
with concise answers, will appear in this column each month. If your experi­
ence leads you to disagree with any answers given in this column, it is your 
privilege and duty to write to the Green Committee.

While most of the answers are of general application, please bear in 
mind that each recommendation is intended specifically for the locality designated 
at the end of the question.

1. Draining a green to take care of seepage from an adjacent hillside.— 
In your February, 1924, Bulletin, you recommend that a grassy hollow be 
constructed in order to take care of hill seepage, as being a better plan 
than to put tile down, covered with rubble from the tile up to a point near 
the surface of the ground. A year ago we treated a green by the latter 
method. We made a ditch about 4 feet deep, put in 6-inch common drain­
tile, and covered the tile with cinders up to within 8 inches of the surface, 
and then sodded it over. This seemed to give us good results, and we 
intend to treat two more greens the same way this spring. These two 
greens are backed too closely by trees to permit the putting in of a grassy 
hollow, and if we do anything it will have to be with tile. What specific 
objection do you have to this method? (Indiana.)

Answer.—In order to take care of the seepage from the hillside where 
it is impracticable to put in either a grassy hollow or a bunker, the matter 
can be attended to by using tile and rubble. Dig a trench deep enough to 
get well below the level of the green so that the seepage water that comes 
out below your trench will not be too near the surface of the green. The 
lowest part of your green ought to be iy2 to 2 feet above the bottom of the 
trench. To secure satisfactory drainage with tiles there should be a series 
of tiles, one laid over the other from the bottom up, particularly well 
toward the top, so as to take care of the water at all the levels. These 
layers of tiles can be a foot apart; that is, each line should be a foot above 
the other, and the intervals filled with rubble. If you put in only one 
layer at the bottom of the trench, enough water will escape over that layer 
to give you a soggy condition of the green; at least this frequently hap­
pens; but with a battery of lines of tiles one above the other it is possible 
to cut off the seepage water completely. It is possible that you could do 
the whole job, and we think it entirely practicable, with coarse rubble). 
Cinders, we fear, are too fine, as after a while they clog up with silt and 
then satisfactory drainage ceases.

2. Recurrence of white grubs on land previously infested.—Last summer the 
fairway and rough on four of our holes were infested with white grubs 
and upon your recommendation we tried the sodium cyanide treatment. 
This year the grubs have not appeared on any of the fairways, but have 
appeared in several places just off the fairway where the ground is rel­
atively high. They are found at from 3 to 10 inches below the surface. 
Do you think that we will have trouble over the large area that we had 
last year and would you recommend treating them in the same way? 
(Massachusetts.)

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION 

93

Answer.—On this point the Department of Agriculture advises us as 
follows: “Judging from our knowledge of the emergence of the various 
broods of May beetles, which lay the eggs producing white grubs, it seems 
very likely that the beetles of 1924 were responsible for the grubs which are 
present this year near the fairways and that these grubs will mature in 
the spring of 1926, producing beetles during the spring of 1927. As white 
grubs are not known to migrate through the soil to any great distance it 
seems probable that these particular grubs are not likely to cause further 
damage to the golf links and that no general damage from grubs is to be 
expected until the summers of 1927 and 1928. Of course, this is merely 
a guess based on our general knowledge of the subject, but we believe 
that this will generally hold true. ’ ’

3. Corrosive sublimate in the control of earthworms.—What is an effective 
and at the same time safe amount of corrosive sublimate to use on putting 
greens to kill earthworms? Is it better to apply it mixed with sand and 
then watered in, or to apply it in the form of a solution? (New Jersey.)

Answer.—We have had best results by dissolving 2 to 3 ounces of cor­
rosive sublimate in 50 gallons of water and applying this solution to 1,000 
square feet of putting green, and then watering the area thoroughly. 
In very hot weather of midsummer such an application requires careful 
attention, particularly with regard to watering, as otherwise it is likely 
to scorch the grass; in the spring and fall, however, we have had no trouble 
in this respect. Others prefer the dry method of application, using the 
same rate of application. The quantity of sand we have used in our tests 
of the dry method is from 1/3 to 1/5 cubic yard per 1,000 square feet. 
Unless you have a distributor to use in applying the dry mixture we 
would recommend that you make use of a solution.

4. Controlling dandelions in putting greens.—In The Bulletin, April, 
1924, page 107, you recommend iron sulfate for killing dandelions. Would 
it be safe to use it on greens without danger of injuring the turf? Our 
greens are bluegrass and redtop. We have tried sulfuric acid, but the 
weeds are such a pest all over the country here that we had no success! 
with it, just relief for about three weeks at a time after treating. Is iron 
sulfate a sure death for them with continuous treatment for one season? 
(North Dakota.)

Answer.—We would not advise the use of iron sulfate on putting 
greens, although we are sure it can be used without serious effects to the 
grass. However, when used in this way it is not likely to be sufficiently 
strong to kill dandelions. The only methods we have found dependable 
for ridding greens of dandelions are cutting the plants out by hand, taking 
care to remove all of the deep root, and treating each plant with a small 
quantity of sulfuric acid. These are both very tedious and expensive 
methods, but they seem to be the only ones that are satisfactory.

5. Use of sulfate of ammonia in relation to new seedings.—Would you ad­
vise putting any sulfate of ammonia on our fairways before seeding? 
(New York.)

Answer.—We would suggest that you defer the application of sulfate of 
ammonia until the grass has made a fairly good start. This is a very 
quick-acting fertilizer and its effects are not lasting. Therefore if the 

94

BULLETIN OF GREEN SECTION OF THE Vol. v, No. 4

fertilizer is applied before the grass can avail itself of its value or before 
the growing season has begun, its effect is apt to be lost. Furthermore, 
germinating grass seeds and grass seedlings are less able to resist the 
burning effect of sulfate of ammonia than is established grass, and there­
fore may possibly be killed by the chemical.

6. Close mowing of fairways.—We are seeking for some information as to 
how close it is safe to mow the fairways on the average golf course. We 
have noticed the past three or four years that the operators usually set their 
cutting knife down as close to the ground as it will go, and the uneven sur­
face causes the cutting reel to cut the grass down into the roots, and in 
many places scales the sod, leaving large bare spots. It seems to us there is 
great danger of serious damage to the turf to cut so close during the sum­
mer months; besides, it does not leave a desirable turf for the players. We 
have had letters from two or three clubs stating that they set their cutting 
units to cut their fairways a quarter of an inch from the surface—that is, to 
set the lower knife blade a quarter of an inch from the ground, and in ex­
perimenting here the last few days with cutting units set a quarter of an 
inch the knife plowed into the uneven surface and the cutting reel took 
the grass out by the roots. We have, therefore, concluded that setting the 
knife blade a half-inch from the surface of the ground is as close as any 
mower should be run and as close as any fairway should be cut without too 
much injury to the grass. What is your advice in the matter? 
(Minnesota.)

Answer.—In regard to mowing fairways we do not think any harm is 
ever done no matter how close they are cut, provided the grass is not 
crowned by mowing or that the grass is cut entirely out, as frequently 
happens on ridges. Crowning is always undesirable, whether on the fair­
ways or on the putting greens.

7. Improving greens where the growing season is short.—Our playing season 
is limited practically to July and August, and as we generally have no 
real spring or fall weather here, it leaves but one month, June, of growing 
weather on which we can count to get our greens in shape. We have 
enough creeping bent in our nursery to furnish stolons for at least five 
greens, but it is not at all likely that we could have greens ready for sum­
mer play by planting them with stolons in the spring. In view of this 
condition what can you suggest in the way of putting our putting greens 
in good shape for play this summer? (Colorado.)

Answer.—We would advise you to save your bent stolons for use in 
planting greens this fall and seed your greens as early as possible in the 
spring with German mixed bent or Rhode Island bent, using the seed at the 
rate of 3 pounds to 1,000 square feet, or possibly at a somewhat heavier 
rate. If you sew this seed on your greens after they are closely cut, and 
follow that with a top-dressing of 1 cubic yard of well-screened compost 
to about 2,500 square feet, and keep the greens fairly moist; we believe 
you will get very good results. For purposes of economy you could re­
place one-third of the bent seed with redtop seed and still get very good 
results, as redtop seed is much cheaper than bent. Your compost should 
consist of about one-fourth well-rotted manure and the balance about equal 
parts of loam or clay loam and sand. Fall seeding is much more satisfac­
tory than spring seeding, although the latter can be made to answer.

April 16, 1925 UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION

95

8. Exterminating ants with carbon disulfid.—During the past season we 
were greatly troubled with ants in our putting greens and fairways. Our 
method of exterminating these insects was by treating granulated sugar 
with arsenate of lead. This method was only fairly successful. We are 
desirous of having your opinion as to the proper method of exterminating 
ants from greens and fairways, and wish to know whether corn meal 
treated with barium carbonate is effective and whether this poison will in 
any way do injury to fine grasses. (Iowa.)

Answer.—There has never been discovered a good remedy for ants. 
Poisoned bait will reduce their numbers, but no method of poisoning has 
been found that will completely exterminate the pests. For putting greens 
we believe the best and safest method to follow is to take carbon disulfid 
in an ordinary spring-bottom oil can and squirt a few drops of it directly 
into the opening in the colony. A man doing this work should have 
several burlap bags soaking wet to drag along and cover the places treated 
as soon as the liquid is injected into the holes. Carbon disulfid forms a 
heavy gas that will kill all animal life if kept confined in it. This gas is 
somewhat explosive, so that it is a good plan to warn the laborers not to 
light their pipes wrhile using it. It is a rather slow method, but it gets the 
ants, and we believe that in the long run it is the most satisfactory way 
to handle them.

9. Controlling Poa annua.—For a number of years we have been troubled 
from June to September with a considerable amount of Poa annua in our 
greens. While we realize that this does not hurt the putting condition of 
the green, if it is possible to get rid of the Poa annua we should like to 
do so. (New York.)

Answer.—It has been our experience that the application of ammonium 
sulfate will in the course of a few years rid bent greens of Poa annua. 
Applications should be made at least three times a year, once in early 
spring and once in the fall at the rate of 3 pounds to 1,000 square feet, 
and once in midsummer at the rate of iy2 pounds to 1,000 square feet. 
Heavier applications will burn the grass. The applications must be well 
watered in if burning is to be avoided when made at these rates. We have 
obtained the best results when applying the ammonium sulfate mixed with 
compost. The Poa annua can also be controlled by weeding it out in late 
winter or early spring, before it produces much seed. Mowers and other 
implements used on the greens should be washed or otherwise cleansed of 
Poa annua seed in order to prevent the spreading of the grass.

10. How often should cups be changed?—What is the standard practice 

with regard to frequency of changing the cups on a green ? (California.)

Answer.—We are inclined to hazard the statement that in general the 
oftener the cups are changed, the better. At any rate, the cups should 
be changed frequently enough so that the turf around them does not 
become badly worn. This will vary under conditions. In soggy weather 
the turf gets pretty badly used up in one or two days. Under other 
conditions the turf will stand the wear and tear easily for a week. Gener­
ally speaking, we think it will be well to adopt the policy of changing the 
cups every day or every two days. In any event, your best guidance will 
be the wear and tear of the turf.

Meditations of a Peripatetic Golfer

The theory that water and fertilizer should be used on Bermuda greens to 
a minimum seems all wrong. Try the opposite extreme. The evidence is all 
in favor of abundant water and liberal fertilizing.

The Squeegee Golf Course is not bad, but if there are worse in the United 
States we have not seen them. The Squeegee, however, has a lot of close 
competitors.

A championship won by a ball hitting a mound on the front comer of the 
green and being deflected to the hole. Build more of the mounds, boys, and 
we shall have more freak champions.

A rolling stone gathers no moss, but a putting green will if you put lime 

on it.

Too many bunkers merely emphasizes the bunk.

Apparently every greenkeeper must bum at least one putting green before 

he learns to use ammonium sulfate correctly.

If you must have rectangular tees, be consistent and have square greens 

as well.

Poor, very poor turf, in an undrained depression on a putting green. It 

is always that way.

A drive-and-pitch hole with a green of 11,000 square feet. Expensive as 

well as foolish.

If you can see the soil through your putting green turf, it is far inferior to 

what it should be.

A layer of one foot of manure under each putting green. My! this will be 

a happy hunting ground for the grubs.

Maintain your putting greens in first-class shape and the players will ex­

cuse all else. They will always condemn poor putting greens.

The reputation of a community or of a state depends much on the num­

ber and the quality of its golf courses. Look at the map on page 82.