THE BULLETIN 

of the 

UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION

Vol. 6 

Washington, D. C., October, 1926 

No. 10

Contents

Page

Some Observations on Golf, Golf Courses and Golf Turf Abroad (France, 
Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland). By R. A. Oakley......................  210

The Reconstruction of an Old Course. By H. Kendall Read..............................  214

Some U. S. Golf Association Decisions on the Rules of Golf............ .................  220

1026 Experiments on Brown-Patch Control. By John Monteith, Jr................  221

Questions and Answers................................................................................................  226

OFFICERS

Russell A. Oakley, Chairman, Washington, 

D. C.

ton, D. C.

Walter S. Harban, Vice Chairman, Washing­

burgh, Pa.

H. Kendall Read, Secretary, Philadelphia, Pa.

ington, D. C.

Charles H. Sabin, Treasurer, New York, N. Y. 
James Francis Burke, General Counsel, Pitts­

W. B. Lydenberc, Executive Secretary, Wash­

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Wynant D. Vanderpool, Chairman, Newark, 

N. J.

H. Y. Barrow, New York, N. Y.

■Walter S. Harban, Washington, D. C. 
Russell A. Oakley, Washington, D. C. 
H. Kendall Read, Philadelphia, Pa.

JI. Y. Barrow, New York, N. Y. 
William F. Brooks, Minneapolis, Minn. 
Walter S. Harban, Washington, D. C. 
Frederic C. Hood, Watertown, Mass.

Norman Macbeth, Los Angeles, Calif. 
Russell A. Oakley, Washington, D. C.
H. Kendall Read, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Wynant D. Vanderpool, Newark, N. J.

DIRECTORS

The Bulletin is published monthly by the United States Golf Association Green Section, P. O. 

Box 313, Washington, D. C., at Room 7213, Building F, 7th and B Streets N. W.

Address all MAIL to P. O. Box 313, Pennsylvania Avenue Station, Washington, D. C.
Send TELEGRAMS to Room 7213, Building F, 7th and B N. W., Washington, D. C.
Subscription Price: To golf clubs that are members of the United States Golf Association 

Green Section, $4.00 per year (included in membership fee).

Entered as second-class matter April 21. 1926, at the postofnce at Washington, D. C., under 
the Act of March 3. 1879. Copyrighted, 1926, by the United States Golf Association Green Section.

210

October, 1926

ADVISORY MEMBERS

W. A. Alexander, Chicago, III. 
Eberhard Anheuser, St. Louis, Mo. 
A. C. U. Berry, Portland, Oreg.
C. B. Buxton, Dallas, Tex.
N. S. Campbell, Providence, R. I.
Wm. C. Fownes, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.
F. H. Hillman, Washington, D. C. 
Thos. P. Hinman, Atlanta, Ga.
A. J. Hood, Detroit, Mich.

K. F. Kellerman, Washington, D. C.
E. J. Marshall, Toledo, Ohio. 
Sherrill Sherman, Utica, N. Y. 
Frederick Snare, Havana, Cuba. 
James D. Standish, Jr„ Detroit, Mich. 
James L. Taylor, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
W. R. Walton, Washington, D. C. 
Alan D. Wilson, Philadelphia, Pa.
M. H. Wilson, Jr., Cleveland, Ohio.

Frank L. Woodward, Denver, Colo.

Some Observations on Golf, Golf Courses and Golf Turf 
Abroad
Golf—France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland *

By R. A. Oakley

While abroad April to June, inclusive, 1926, it was my great 
privilege to see something of foreign golf in its various aspects both 
on the Continent and in Great Britain. To be sure I saw it very 
incidentally to my work so that I can claim little more for many of my 
observations than that they are hasty conclusions based on meager 
evidence. This is especially true of those on the game of golf. Cer­
tainly I would not put up a spirited defense of what I may have to 
say on that specific part. Nor would I defend very vigorously my 
observation on golf courses. I might be inclined, however, to hold 
out pretty strongly for my views on golf grasses and turf; for I had 
a much better opportunity to study this phase, and besides I feel just 
a little more at home with it.

I shall attempt in this article to give my impressions on the way 
golf is being taken as a sport in the countries of Continental Europe 
which I visited, and I trust the readers of The Bulletin will not 
think me presumptuous in doing so.

My observations on golf as a sport in France were confined mostly 
to Paris and its environs, and I am informed that golf, except re­
sort golf, is not very conspicuous in other parts of France. It would 
appear then that if golf were taken up enthusiastically as a sport 
anywhere in France it would be there. The outstanding bit of evi­
dence that it is not is the lack of facilities for the game. When the 
number of golf courses tributary to Chicago, for example, are com­
pared with the number tributary to Paris it appears quite certain 
that golf is not as highly popular in the latter city as in the former. 
Golf has been in Paris for years and has had ample time to spread 
abundantly. And it can not be said that the French are not lovers 
of outdoor sports; for they have taken up tennis and other games 
with a vengeance. Paris is literally spotted with tennis courts and 
they are not idle when the weather permits of play. Tennis is very 
generally popular throughout France, and as the world knows she 
has produced some outstanding players.

Although there are relatively few of them for the size of the city, 
the golf clubs of Paris are popular as clubs and certainly neither 
money nor effort is spared in making them attractive. The club 
houses and surroundings, that is the ones I saw, are beautiful indeed, 
and the courses themselves architecturally are built along modern

•This is the first of a series of articles which will be contributed by Dr. Oakley on the basis of 

his observations while in Europe in the spring of 1926. 

October, 1926

211

lines—not without faults. But where are courses to be found that 
meet all the requirements of the modern critic? But in going over 
them and comparing their upkeep with that of the grounds surround­
ing the club houses I could not escape the feeling that the playing 
members were not quite as exacting as where golf is a passion. I 
must say, however, that I visited the Paris clubs during a protracted 
rainy period which interfered greatly with work on the courses, but 
this fact I have taken into consideration in forming my conclusions.
It was my good fortune to meet a number of playing club mem­
bers. They spoke enthusiastically of their clubs and of going out in 
the afternoon for a round, but I could not help forming the impression 
that consciously or unconsciously it was the social rather than the 
sport feature that appealed to them most strongly—that the game 
was a sort of aperitif for the social time which follows. The French 
are notoriously a polite people, but with all their innate courtesy I 
do not think they would delay as they do on their way to the first tee 
to acknowledge an introduction and even go so far as to invite the 
stranger to have refreshments with them in the club house if they 
were as absorbed in their prospective game as would be an Eng­
lishman or an American.

Golf at the French resorts is not a fair criterion of what might 
be called golf at home. The foreign element plays a very large part 
in the case of the former and, furthermore, it is hardly safe to judge 
the everyday predilection of an individual by what he does on va­
cation.

Somehow I have the feeling that golf, while it will become more 
popular in France than it is at present, is not likely to be taken up 
soon with greatly increased enthusiasm. To put it more tersely, I 
failed to see the elements of a boom in golf there.

I suppose I should not mention Italy at all, for my sojourn there 
was confined almost exclusively to Rome, and my business in Rome 
was such as to prevent me from visiting the one and only real golf 
course of which the Eternal City boasts. I judge from what Am­
bassador Fletcher and members of his staff told me that the course 
is kept in playing condition only during the late fall, winter and 
spring months; furthermore, that it is not particularly well sup­
ported and is patronized mostly by foreigners. From the way the 
second-generation Italian and even some of those of the first genera­
tion have got to the top of the game in America, one would be justi­
fied in concluding that there is nothing inherently lacking in the 
Italian to prevent him from taking up golf successfully in his native 
land, but I suspect that for some time to come Italy will be perfectly 
well satisfied to let New York and Chicago represent her in the 
Royal and Ancient sport.

Golf is by no means unknown in Switzerland, but it seems to be 
there mostly because of the wonderful scenery and other attractions 
that draw the tourists from every civilized part of the earth. The 
Swiss learned long ago what our resort operators are learning,—that 
no matter what special features a place may have to commend it to 
the tourist, a golf course of some kind is necessary before it is com­
plete. It doesn’t require much of a golf course either, for the golfer 
tourist will be satisfied with any place that permits him to hit the 
ball if the scenic surroundings please him. So it is in Switzerland. 
Good golf course land is not abundant near tourists’ resorts, but they 

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October, 1926

do the best they can with what they have to make their guests happy. 
And I am free to admit I marvel at their ingenuity along architectural 
lines in adapting their terrain to the requirements of the tourists’ 
game. Elsewhere in that country where golf courses could be built 
agriculture in some form seems to be too strong a competitor for 
the game.

The tourist has taken golf to Switzerland and is keeping it there. 
It will probably develop as his demands for it increase. Very little 
faster. There is local interest in the game, it is true, but not suffi­
cient to give it much impetus.

I was much surprised to find what I believe to be a real interest 
in golf in Germany. I do not know just why I had not expected to 
find the Germans in their home land interested in golf as a sport 
unless it was because I had thought of them as temperamentally not 
quite in step with the game. Anyway the fact remains that I was 
not looking for the evidence of golf life I think exists there. Ger­
many is a large country and a very large part of it is little influenced 
in its sport relations by tourists. Consequently when one finds golf 
courses in the vicinity of towns and cities away from the beaten trail 
of the tourist he feels fairly safe in concluding that the inhabitants 
themselves have taken a hand. This is exactly what one finds in 
Germany. The courses may be somewhat below modern golf archi­
tectural standards or even greenkeeping standards, but they serve 
the purpose and represent a genuine effort in the direction of the 
sport. My sojourn in Germany ended with a visit to Berlin. It is 
not the number of courses, private or public, in Berlin or elsewhere 
in Germany that impressed me but the way the game is being ac­
cepted. If I had any doubts regarding the conclusions I am here 
presenting they were fully dispelled after a visit to the Golf and 
Land Club at Wansee. This club had its start before the war, but 
like many another activity not strictly utilitarian it went into tem­
porary decline while war lasted. With the advent of peace it had 
a marked rejuvenescence. Shortly after the war a golf architect 
from England was engaged to remodel the course extensively and 
many changes were made in the grounds and club house so that they 
are now starting off with an up-to-date layout and high powered 
activity on the part of the members.

My visit to the club was on a pleasant Saturday afternoon. That 
is a favorable time to see the club in action. The course was well 
patronized and pride in the club and interest in golf were manifest 
everywhere. I explained that I was an American (this was quite 
unnecessary) and that I was interested in golf courses, and asked 
that I be allowed to stroll over the course. The secretary granted 
the privilege very cordially and expressed regret that none of the 
officials were just then present. After walking over a considerable 
part of the course a gentleman faultlessly attired in up-to-the-minute 
golf clothes introduced himself. It was Mr. Herbert M. Gutmann, 
president of the club. He told me of the history of the club and 
spoke with apparent satisfaction of the prospects of its success. We 
discussed the game. Several matches passed us. It is true there 
was a considerable display of mediocre golf, but one will see that 
anywhere and any time golf is played. But that the real spirit of 
the game was there was patent. I talked with other prominent mem­
bers. They were mostly beginners skilled neither in the art of play­

October, 1926

213

ing the game nor its terminology, but thoroughly converted. I said 
to one, “The par of this course is what—72?” “Oh, no,” he said, 
“none of our players have made it in 80 yet.”—A new way of de­
termining par, it'is true, but give them a little time; they will not 
only break 80 but they will be adept in terminology and vernacular 
as well.

Of course, the Golf and Land Club is not supported solely by 
Germans. There are a number of foreigners—Englishmen, Amer­
icans, and others, who are active members. My attention was at­
tracted to spurts of dust in the direction of the 18th green. In­
vestigation resulting from the usual curiosity revealed the British 
Ambassador bunkered but not conquered. I was told that he is an 
ardent golfer and club member, as are officials of his staff.

Throughout Germany there is an awakening to outdoor sports. 
Tennis is becoming highly popular, and I am reasonably sure the 
popularity of golf will increase rapidly from now on. The Germans 
like it as a game and they are not insensible to its value as an entree 
to social, economic and political life at home and abroad. Lack of 
available areas of ground will handicap the spread of both public 
and club golf, particularly the former, in many places, but it will 
not prevent a very large participation in the game in the near fu­
ture. If I were a young golf architect ambitious for business I would 
cast my eye in the direction of—but I am getting quite beyond 
my field.

There is a considerable interest manifest in golf in Holland. At 
the seaside resorts the explanation, of course, is not hard to find. 
The patrons are demanding golf there as are patrons of resorts else­
where. The beautiful beaches and other attractive features do not 
seem to satisfy them. But away from the resorts there is an awaken­
ing interest on the part of the local folks. Among them there are 
some real fans.

Holland has a creditably sized group of amateur players, and if I 
am not mistaken certain of them took part in the British Amateur 
Championship at Muirfield this year. As one thoroughly devoted 
to the cause of golf in Holland I think it would be difficult to find a 
man more earnest than Mr. Kramers, president of the Nordwyck 
Club. I trust he will pardon me for this personal reference to him. 
He is the George Crump of that course devoting his own time and 
money to it. It takes such men to put golf across in any new environ­
ment. It was my privilege to visit several of the courses in the 
western part of Holland. They impressed me that most of them 
existed because those supporting them have a true interest in the 
game of golf and it is my firm conviction that Holland like Germany 
will make a real showing in golf in the near future.

It is claimed by some that Holland is the birthplace of golf. If 
this were the case one would expect to find it the national game there. 
It is far from that as yet. And somehow I have a notion that the 
Dutch had as much to do with planting the seed that produced modern 
golf as the American Indian with the creation of baseball.

It is said that commerce and foreign missions and possibly one 
or two other specific agencies will eventually result in making the 
English language the universally accepted language. How about 
golf? In every country of Continental Europe which I visited I 
invariably found the score cards with rules and all printed only in 

214 

October, 1926

English. Now there are a good many words used in the rules and 
their explanations and in playing the game sooner or later nearly 
every accepted English word is used and I might say many are 
created for it.

Golf it seems can be played successfully only in the English 

language. The final outcome is evident.

To make a long story short, golf is making headway in Con­

tinental Europe which is a hopeful portent for world supremacy.

Topdressing fairways.—If compost, good top soil, or other mate­
rial is available for topdressing the fairways, the most economical 
method of applying the material will be found to be the use of the 
ordinary widespread type of manure spreader. After the topdressing 
is applied it should be worked into the turf immediately, and this is 
best accomplished by the use of a chain harrow.

The Reconstruction of an Old Course
By H. Kendall Read

The Country Club of Atlantic City was laid out originally in the 
days of the old “guttie” ball, and many of the changes were made 
and extensions built before the modern ball, with its greater length, 
came into existence. However, this course was considered one of the 
best of its day and had a sufficiently high rating to be chosen by the 
United States Golf Association for the amateur championship held 
in 1901, which was won by Walter Travis. The reconstruction of 
this course was so radical and in some ways so original, and caused 
such widespread comment, that it was thought a descriptive article 
with illustrative photographs might be helpful to other clubs facing 
a similar problem. It might be well to set forth the things we wanted 
to accomplish. These are: (1) To make the course more comfort­
able and interesting for the average player; (2) To provide a real 
test for the man who expects to play par golf; (3)To eliminate hand 
labor as much as possible, and thereby lower maintenance cost; (4) 
To create a seaside course, in appearance as well as in name; (5) To 
erase, as much as we could, all evidence of the artificial.

In carrying out this program, we built seven new greens and re­
constructed completely eight old ones, made fourteen new tees and 
considerable new fairway, and re-trapped the entire twenty-seven 
holes. Perhaps it would be best to explain what we did, and why, 
to accomplish each of the five objects named above. I shall discuss 
them in their order.

To begin with, we had 14 cop bunkers which extended entirely 
across the fairways without breaks and had to be carried mostly by 
the tee shot; they varied in height from 3 to 6 feet. I am quite 
sure that well over 90 per cent of the high-handicap men were caught 
in those bunkers, while the low-handicap man hardly knew they ex­
isted. We removed every one and saved a lot of hand labor at the 
same time. Also, most of our traps, mounds, and hazards of differ­
ent types were located so that the average player was the only one 
usually caught. We removed practically all of these traps and left 
only a few which would figure in par golf. More hand labor was 
saved. We did other things to make it more comfortable for Mr.

October, 1926

215

Average Golfer, such as providing advanced tees with shorter rough 
in front.

Our second object was to provide a real test for the par golfer. 
If a carry or direction hazard is to mean anything worth while to 
the good player, it must be most carefully placed. The accompany­
ing photograph and diagram of our number 12 hole perfectly illus­
trate my point. The hole is 360 yards long. The green is so con­
structed as to strongly invite play to the left of the fairway. If the 
drive can be so placed, the approach shot is comparatively comfort­
able. The approach from the right side of the fairway is very diffi­
cult. The green is quite narrow from that angle and is protected by 
large and deep traps on both sides, particularly the right. But to 
obtain the most desirable location from the tee, you must carry the 
bunker on the left of the fairway at its farthest point, 198 yards from 
the tee. This bunker is on an angle, and the player can take a 
shorter carry if he wishes, but he will have a proportionately less 
desirable location for his approach. There is ample room around the 
bunker for the man who wants to avoid it; moreover, this bunker is 
too far away from the tee for the average player to reach. Personally, 
I consider this type of hole ideal, because it is fair and interesting to 
every grade of player, but par can not be obtained except by first- 
class golf. The bunkering on this hole illustrates very well the prin­
ciple which we had in mind in the construction of our new holes and 
the rebuilding of our old ones. It is perfectly feasible, in my judg­
ment, to construct holes of practically any length that will consti­
tute a real test and at the same time be fair and interesting to the 
average player. A closely trapped green is the most difficult hazard 
for the par man. The reason for this is apparent. Take a two-shot 
hole requiring a good iron or perhaps a wooden-shot approach to a 
tightly trapped green; even with no hazard of any kind through the 
fairway, par is no simple matter. On the other hand, this hole is a 
three-shotter for the average player, who gets as much thrill from 
getting on with his third, as the star does in reaching the green in 
two. Many traps on holes of this length are placed so that they 
seriously handicap the average player, while the good player is un­
affected.

Our third consideration was the elimination of hand labor in 
course maintenance. In all our new construction, including the 
“wastes” to which I shall refer later, we kept in mind the labor 
problem. We all know that labor constitutes about two-thirds of 
the maintenance expense and that hand labor is the most expensive 
of all. Much of this hand labor is essential and can never be avoided. 
On the other hand, I find many courses where changes in construc­
tion could be made that would not only help appearances but save 
a lot of the labor bill. Take the sharp, abrupt mounds which used 
to be the style and which appear on many courses; they all mean 
hand work; and frequently I have found on such mounds some of the 
finest bluegrass turf on the whole course. Plenty of chance for sav­
ing here. In our reconstruction, we built nothing that we could not 
work with either a tractor or a horse. Wherever a hazard or mound 
called for grass, we kept religiously to sheep’s fescue, which we all 
know is about the slowest grower among the grasses, besides having 
other virtues in such spots. In our wastes, we used native beach­
grass, as shown in the pictures.

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October, 1926

Waste between twelfth and fourteenth holes. Country Club of Atlantic City. In the d:»- 
tance is the twelfth green. Note the long, sweeping lines and the absence of any abruptness

Twelfth hole, Country Club of Atlantic City. View from tee

October, 1926

217

In the past, it was also the practice to build hazards in groups,— 
perhaps a series of grave-like mounds frequently near greens, or a 
large number of pits four to six feet in diameter, grouped in large 
clusters and close together. We used to have both styles. These 
things were homely, unnatural, and required an immense amount of 
hand labor. We wiped out all traps of this character. If a hazard 
is called for on any hole, why use a flock of traps, when one large 
one will serve the purpose? Experience has certainly taught us a 
lot along this line, and it is gratifying to find at least some architects 
who have the maintenance problem in mind when they lay out their 
courses.

Next, we wanted to give our course a seaside appearance. Before 
our recent changes, this seaside course showed less exposed sand or 
seaside grasses than most of the modern inland courses. We have 
now gone very far in the other direction. From the photographs 
which appear with this article, an idea can be had of what we have 
tried to develop. We call these great areas between and alongside 
of fairways, “wastes.” We tried to produce the effect of sand dunes, 
which were natural at the seaside before the march of progress ef­
faced them. No picture can show you what these wastes really are; 
they are really tremendous things rolling for hundreds of yards and 
frequently occupying the entire space between parallel holes. The 
tall grass which you will notice on many of the high spots is native 
beach-grass, which we obtained right on the coast. A prominent 
English professional, in going over the course with me some time 
ago, remarked how lucky we were to find “those wonderful rolling 
sand dunes.” It was only with difficulty that I convinced him that 
they were entirely artificial. However, there is no spot on any of 
these rolling wastes that we can not work with either a tractor or 
horse. This was always a controlling factor in the work that we did.
Finally, we wanted the course to present a natural appearance. 
This problem is really tied onto the preceding one. The seaside is 
really a place of long lines and far-flung distant views. Sharp knobs 
and little bumps and pots are wholly out of place; they do not be­
long in the picture. After all, is not the acid test of good construc­
tion the question, “Is this course natural, and does it fit its surround­
ings?” We are not through along this line, but before we give up 
I hope that everything that smacks of the artificial will finally be 
eliminated. Perhaps the little that is left serves a useful purpose 
temporarily, because no one can view these two types of construction 
without learning one of the best lessons that I know.

In conclusion, I would like to state that the reconstruction of 
this course has proved to me a number of interesting facts. In the 
first place, I think it has been definitely shown that a very great deal 
can be done with an old course if sufficient time and thought are put 
on the problem. I recognize that in many cases it would not be pos­
sible to be quite so radical or go quite so far as we have at this club. 
It takes a reasonable amount of money, and there might also be 
physical conditions which would largely restrict alterations. Never­
theless, it is my opinion that there are few old courses where much 
could not be eliminated that would not only improve appearances 
but reduce the upkeep cost, even if no important changes or new 
construction were attempted. It is fortunate that in the elimination 
of many unnecessary and useless hazards, a most desirable improve-

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220

October, 1926

ment in appearance is obtained. This is true because most of the 
things which I have in mind are wholly artificial and unnatural, and 
when you take them away you are taking a long step in the right 
direction.

Our experience has also proved to my satisfaction that you can 
alter holes or construct new ones without disregarding the interests 
and the pleasure of the average golfer and still retain a real test for 
the star. In our changes, I am very sure that we took a considerable 
number of strokes from the score of the high-handicap man, but 
nothing from the low-handicap man, and our feeling is that we added 
a couple of strokes to this latter class.

In this article I have made no attempt to prepare a scholarly pa­
per but have simply given some of the experience gained from the 
work at our course, and have set forth some suggestions in connec­
tion with this work, with the hope that it might contain something 
of interest and possibly of help to other golf courses whose position 
might be at least somewhat similar to that of the Country Club of 
Atlantic City.

Some U. S. Golf Association Decisions on the Rules of Golf
A ball played from 30 yards off the green strikes the stick and 
remains lodged halfway in the hole between the stick and the cup. 
The player or his caddy did not remove the stick, but it was removed 
by his opponent’s caddy, who drew the ball out on the green when he 
removed the stick. Can the player count it holed?

Decision.—This raises a question of fact which your letter does 
not make clear. If the ball or the greater portion of it was actually 
in the hole, of course A can count it as holed. If, on the other hand, 
it was resting against the pin on one side and the lip of the hole on 
the other, he can not count it as holed. However, A was entitled to 
remove the flagstick, and if he was able to remove the pin in such a 
way that the ball would fall into the hole he was entitled to count 
it as holed at his last stroke (see Rule 32). B’s caddy deprived A of 
this right, and in so doing he moved A’s ball, infringed Rule 18, and 
thereby lost the hole for his player B. In any event, therefore, A 
wins the hole.

Ball is conceded to be lost in ground under repair off fairway. 

May another ball be dropped without penalty?

Decision.—No. Rule 22 applies. It is impossible to apply the 
directions laid down in Rule 11 as there is no means of determining 
the place where the ball lay.

A and B are playing a golf match, followed by C and D. On the 
tenth hole, A hits his tee shot down the middle and B slices into the 
rough; while they are looking for the ball, C and D start through, and 
C drives, landing near A’s drive. At this point B finds his ball, A 
and B resume play, A unconsciously plays C’s ball to the green, and 
as B is on in six and A in two, B concedes the hole (A plays only 
one shot with C’s ball). A and B proceed to the next tee and C plays 
his second shot to the green, but when addressing his first putt dis­
covers it is not his ball and calls to A. A then discovers he played 

October, 1926

221

C’s ball on his second shot to No. 10. B promptly claims the hole. 
What is the United States Golf Association’s decision?

Decision.—The question as understood is—A and B are playing 
a match. A hits his tee shot down the middle and B slices to the 
rough. B’s ball is finally found and he reaches the green in six. A 
reaches the green in two, but does so not with own ball but by play­
ing a ball outside of the match. B concedes the hole and they proceed 
to the next tee, but before striking off are notified by the pair behind 
that A has not played his own ball but one of theirs, whereupon B 
claims the hole. B’s claim is sound. By playing a ball not in the 
match and failing to inform B of the fact before B played his next 
stroke, A lost the hole. See Rule 20 (2).

1926 Experiments on Brown-Patch Control
By John Monteith, Jr.

During the past season experiments have been continued on the 
Arlington Turf Garden to determine the efficiency of various 
chemicals in controlling brown-patch. Since the small type of disease 
was most prevalent throughout the season on the area allotted to this 
work, the observations reported here apply chiefly to small brown­
patch.

Numerous chemicals were tested, including copper sulfate, copper 
stearate, Bordeaux mixture, formaldehyde, sulfur, phenol, super­
kalimat, sodium fluosilicate, potassium permanganate, and various 
compounds containing mercury. While certain of the other com­
pounds gave some indication of checking the fungus, by far the most 
outstanding control was obtained with the mercuric compounds.

The tests with the organic mercury preparations used in previous 
work (Semesan, Uspulun, Corona 620, Corona 640, and Germisan) 
were repeated during the past summer. The results were essentially 
the same as those obtained during the preceding season, as reported 
in the October, 1925, number of The Bulletin. Each was effective 
in checking the disease, but the period of protection again varied con­
siderably, apparently depending on climatic conditions. The two 
common commercial chemicals in this group (Uspulun and Semesan) 
gave practically identical results when applied in like manner and 
amount.

Much work was devoted to testing bichlorid of mercury, since 
during the previous season this chemical appeared to be as effective 
as the organic mercuric compounds, and considerably cheaper. In 
this season’s more thorough comparison of bichlorid with the two 
chlorophenol mercury preparations (Semesan and Uspulun), it was 
found that i/t to 1/5 pound of bichlorid gave practically the same 
control as did one pound of either of the above commercial organic 
preparations. These tests were repeated frequently throughout the 
season and gave ample evidence that the preceding season’s conclu­
sions concerning this chemical were fully justified.

A series of plots was devoted to a comparison of several inorganic 
mercuric salts in an attempt to determine whether any of this group, 
other than bichlorid, would prove effective against the disease. In 
these tests were used mercurous nitrate, mercurous chlorid (calomel), 

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October, 1926

mercuric chlorid (bichlorid or corrosive sublimate), mercuric sulfate, 
mercuric oxid, mercuric cyanide, and mercuric sulfid. Semesan and 
Uspulun were also included in the series to give a direct comparison 
with these mercuric preparations. Allowance was made for the large 
percentage of inert material carried in the two commercial prepara­
tions, so that when one pound of Uspulun or Semesan was used there 
was applied only to 1/5 pound of the other chemicals for similar 
areas. These tests were repeated several times throughout the sum­
mer and in general gave similar results. It was found that any of

Control of Small Brown-patch With Bichlorid Applied in Compost

View of 8-foot experimental plot at Arlington Turf Garden previously shown on page 152 of Thi 
Bullhtin, July, 1926, This view shows the plot six weeks after treatment, while the view pre­
viously published shows the plot two weeks after treatment. The second photograph was taken at 
a different angle from the first.

The dark strip of turf in the background is the two quarters of the plot which were treated 
with a topdressing containing bichlorid at the rate of 1 pound per 1,000 square feet. On the right 
of the light strip in the foreground is the quarter of the plot which received a like amount of 
bichlorid applied as a spray, this treatment being followed by topdressing. On the left of the light 
strip is the quarter which received no bichlorid but which, like the others, was topdressed. For 
the first four weeks or mure of the experiment the disease was checked in all three squares that 
received bichlorid. The section treated by the spray method was the first of the three to become 
reinfected, and when this photograph was taken it appeared little better than the untreated square. 
The dark strip of healthy grass in the background illustrates the increased efficiency observed 
wherever the bichlorid was mixed with compost.

these compounds, with the exception of mercuric sulfid, was able to 
control brown-patch. It was obvious that control of the disease could 
be accomplished with any of a large number of mercuric compounds 
and that the efficiency of the compound depends primarily on the 
amount of mercury contained. For that reason, from the standpoint 
of cost, some of the inorganic compounds are from eight to ten times 
more effective than are the common commercial organic preparations 
of mercury.

It has always been recognized that any of these compounds is apt 
to cause severe injury to turf if applied in excess. On the other 
hand it is perfectly evident that with careful handling any of these 
chemicals can be applied throughout the season in sufficient quanti­
ties to control the disease without causing permanent injury to the 
turf. The extent of burning varies considerably with different com­
pounds. Of the various mercuric compounds tested the most serious 
burning was caused by the cyanide. While this chemical could un­

October, 1926 

223

doubtedly be used with safety, the difference between the amount 
necessary for control and that which produces burning is too narrow 
a margin for practical purposes. All the other combinations tested 
appear to have a sufficiently wide margin of safety to make them 
practical for general use on greens. It is well known that bichlorid 
is a dangerous chemical if carelessly used. It is more apt to burn

Control of Small Brown-patch With Calomel

The section of dark, healthy turf in the left background received an application of calomel at 
a rate of approximately 1/3 pound per 1,000 square feet. Note the entire freedom from disease, in 
contrast with the untreated section just beneath. The section in the right background received 1/3 
pound of mercuric cyanide per 1,000 square feet. The light spots in this section show where the 
turf was burned by the application. The section in the right foreground received Uspulun at the 
rate of approximately 2 pounds per 1,000 square feet. When the photograph was taken the disease 
was again active in the Uspulun section but there was no evidence of its presence in the calomel 
square.

than are the organic mercuric preparations; but if due precautions 
are taken to insure even application and proper allowance is made 
for the condition of the grass when applied, it can unquestionably be 
used with entire success. Some of the other inorganic mercuric com­
pounds have proved to be far less likely to burn than is bichlorid. 
The most promising observed at Arlington this season is calomel. 
It has been found that 1/5 pound of calomel is fully as effective 
against brown-patch as is the standard 1 pound per 1,000 square 
feet of the chlorophenol mercury (Uspulun or Semesan). Two chief 
points in favor of calomel are its more prolonged protection and its 
comparative safety from the standpoint of burning turf. In one 
experiment calomel was applied at the rate of 5 pounds per 1,000 
square feet and failed to cause any noticeable injury. This applica­
tion was made at a time when the grass was most likely to be in­
jured, as was demonstrated by an application of 1/2 pound of bi­
chlorid (much stronger than is ever recommended for this chemical) 
which was put on an adjacent plot and which produced severe burn­
ing. In terms of controlling the disease, this 5-pound application i's 
equivalent to at least 25 pounds of Uspulun or Semesan per 1,000 
square feet. From the work this season it appears that calomel 

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October, 1926

should completely solve the problem of burning, for a chemical which 
can be applied with safety in amounts 25 times greater than that 
required certainly should provide for all likely errors in application.
The problem of burning with the mercuric compounds is very 
similar to that experienced in applying sulfate of ammonia or other 
fertilizers. That there is a great variation in burning at different 
periods of the year has been observed by most greenkeepers who have 
used sulfate of ammonia. Early in the season (perhaps through 
June) sulfate of ammonia can be safely used in comparatively heavy 
applications. However, during July and August the amount of the 
chemical must be considerably reduced to avoid burning. The same 
precaution must be used with the mercuric preparations. At Arling­
ton, bichlorid in excessive amounts of 1 pound per 1,000 square feet 
was repeatedly applied without serious damage in the early summer. 
During part of the later summer months, 1/5 of that amount caused 
severe discoloration. For that reason the use of this chemical for 
brown-patch control or for earthworm eradication must be modified 
with the season, and much more care must be used in applications 
during this period. The same need for increased care in application 
and reduction in the amount of chemical used applies also to the or­
ganic mercuric compounds.

There is apparently no way of defining the exact period in the 
summer when burning is most likely to occur. Most greenkeepers 
have learned that when grass is “soft” it is more likely to be injured 
by chemicals. Just what factors produce this condition have not 
been definitely determined. During periods of prolonged hot, wet, 
and cloudy weather the grass becomes somewhat yellowish in ap­
pearance and more succulent. The plants are then more likely to be 
injured by trampling, by large brown-patch, or by numerous other 
agents, and strong chemicals applied carelessly or in excess at these 
times cause much greater damage. Such a condition of turf is diffi­
cult to define, but nevertheless is recognized by every observant green­
keeper. During the past season we have had more of this condition 
at Arlington than usual and at such times have found it necessary 
to reduce our applications much below previous recommendations in 
order to avoid injuring the turf.

Throughout the summer experiments were conducted to deter­
mine the most desirable method for applying the mercuric com­
pounds. As pointed out in the last page of The Bulletin for Sep­
tember, 1926, there are several methods which are effective, so that 
the final choice will depend on local circumstances. If the distribu­
tion is uniform any of the ordinary methods of application will con­
trol the disease. It is apparent that last season’s recommendation 
for two separate treatments (fungicide followed by topdressing with 
a fertilizer) is not necessary. The mercuric compounds may be com­
bined with the fertilizer treatment, whenever the latter is needed. 
This combination appears in no way to affect the action of either 
the fungicide or the fertilizer. It is possible to mix them for the 
liquid method of application or in compost, thus effecting consider­
able economy in time and labor. The method of mixing chemicals 
with compost has two points in its favor which should make it the 
preferable method on most courses. In the first place, the danger 
of burning is greatly reduced when the mixture is allowed to stand 
over night. For this purpose the soil should be fairly moist; with 

October, 1926

225

very dry soil the action of the chemical is not affected even on long 
standing. The period of protection was materially increased when 
bichlorid was applied with compost, as compared with a similar 
quantity applied in solution. In one case this period of protection 
was practically doubled. An objection to this method is that it is 
difficult to thoroughly mix such small quantities of chemical with the 
large bulk of compost used in an ordinary topdressing. This objec­
tion can be largely overcome by using a small amount of compost 
as a carrier for the chemical. If the mercuric compound and fer­
tilizer are thoroughly mixed with part of the finely screened compost 
(perhaps a pail or two for one green), an even distribution through­
out the soil is easily accomplished. This may be spread over the 
green just previous to the heavy topdressing. The smaller amount 
of compost provides sufficient bulk for uniform distribution and may 
be used alone at times when the greens do not require a heavy top­
dressing. The experiments this summer showed that this small 
amount of compost offered practically the same advantages as mix­
ing with the large bulk of topdressing, and the added work involved 
in making the separate application would no doubt be more than 
compensated for in the reduction of work involved in thoroughly 
mixing with the larger quantity of soil. Liquid applications are all 
effective in checking the disease and on certain courses are undoubt­
edly more suitable. The most serious objections to these methods 
result from the tendency of thoughtless greenkeepers to allow too 
much of the liquid to run into slight depressions, or from failure to 
shut off the flow when nozzles are no longer in motion. Naturally 
any excess liquid means excess chemical, and burns are likely to 
result. This objection is simply one of carelessness, against which 
no method is immune. Our experience has found no advantage in 
the dust method except perhaps that of saving time. This saving is 
usually more than counterbalanced by the difficulty of applying the 
fungicide evenly. More severe burns have resulted from dusting 
than from any other of the standard methods, and except in rare 
cases it probably has little value for applying the mercuric compounds 
to greens.

Experiments have been conducted to determine whether mer­
cury would accumulate in the soil to injure the roots of grass as has 
been found to be the case with copper. During the past two summers 
neighboring plots have been repeatedly treated with excessive 
amounts of copper and mercury in the organic and inorganic forms. 
In both the copper plots the grass now shows severe injury. In 
neither of the mercury plots (Semesan and bichlorid) is there any 
evidence of accumulative injury from mercury.

To summarize, the experiments at Arlington this summer indi­
cate that the various mercuric compounds are the most effective 
chemicals so far found to control small brown-patch. There are 
many of these compounds equally effective in checking the disease 
but varying widely in cost of the treatment. Calomel, from the stand­
point of control, cost, and freedom from burning, appears to be the 
most promising of any compound tested so far. There is no evidence 
of injury due to accumulation of mercury in the soil comparable to 
that caused by the copper compounds.

In a later issue of The Bulletin an attempt will be made to sum­
marize the results on various clubs in controlling brown-patch with 

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October, 1926

the various mercury compounds, in different parts of the country. 
Any club which has tested these chemicals is requested to report their 
success or failure in order to make this summary as representative 
as possible.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

All questions sent to the Green Section 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 experience leads you to disagree with any answer given in this column, 
it is your privilege and duty to write to the Green Section.

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. 

i1 — 

--- ~ 

" 

-------- - 

-

1. Late fall and winter seeding.—Do you consider the latter part 
of October or first of November as too late to sow grass seed in this 
latitude? (New Jersey; Ohio.)

Answer.—The matter of seeding turf grasses in the late fall or 
winter is somewhat of a gamble. Late fall seeding all depends on 
weather conditions. We have seen good results follow from seeding 
in November, notwithstanding the chances of success are against 
seeding so late. If your ground is well prepared in late fall you 
might be justified in taking a chance and seeding even as late as 
November 1, as if the stand should turn out thin in early spring a 
little seeding then ought to give good results. Spring seeding is 
usually very unsatisfactory on account of the weed troubles; but if 
the seed can be sown before March 1 the young grass ought to get 
ahead of the great majority of spring weeds. Another difficulty with 
spring seeding is that as a rule the ground is not in condition to 
work so as to prepare a proper seed bed in early spring. If however 
you can prepare your ground for seeding in the late fall, you could 
reasonably hope for success by seeding on this ground in late Feb­
ruary, even if the ground should be frozen at that time. Success 
has also been had with sowing grass seed directly on top of the snow 
in late winter. In general, the best time for seeding in your latitude 
is between August 15 and September 15; after October 15 there is 
chance of both success and failure.

2. Grasses for winter greens in the South.—We are sending you 
a sample of seed mixture that has been recommended for winter 
greens in this section of the country. We should be glad to know 
what this mixture consists of and its suitability for the purpose. 
(Florida.)

Answer.—The sample you send is largely perennial rye-grass, 
containing also some red fescue and some redtop. We would not 
advise you to buy this mixture, nor any other mixture for that mat­
ter. Ordinarily you will get better seeds and at a less price by buy­

October, 1926

227

ing them pure, and mixing them yourself if desired. For temporary 
winter greens red fescue is worthless. Italian rye-grass and redtop 
are both commonly used, often in mixture, for winter greens, but we 
are inclined to regard a mixture of the two as undesirable, as the 
rye-grass grows much more rapidly than the redtop. Both of these 
grasses moreover are injured by brown-patch in Florida, and for 
that reason bluegrass and white clover are preferable, as they are 
immune to brown-patch. There is an objection to bluegrass and 
white clover, however, in that they are quite slow in getting started, 
necessitating planting them several weeks earlier than the rye-grasses 
and redtop. All in all we would advise you to plant either Italian 
rye-grass or redtop, but neither in mixture with the other.

3. Creeping bent nurseries of more than one strain.—Would you 
advise two different nurseries, one for the Washington and one for 
the Metropolitan bent, or just one nursery for one of the varieties? 
(Ohio.)

Answer.—Our experience has been that it is best to grow only 
one strain unless experimental work is to be undertaken. There is 
always a possibility of getting the strains mixed, thus producing a 
mottled turf and losing the identity of both strains.

4. Continuing fertilizing turf through October.—There has been 
some dispute here with regard to the advisability of continuing the 
fertilizing of putting greens the latter part of September and through 
October. Kindly give us your opinion on this question, especially as 
regards the use of ammonium sulfate. (New York.)

Answer.—In our work at Arlington Turf Garden we continue the 
fertilizing and topdressing of our turf throughout the growing sea­
son, and we would advise you to continue your use of ammonium 
sulfate or whatever other fertilizer you may be using, as long as the 
grass has a chance to grow, and especially so if it is in need of fer­
tilizer. It is advisable to keep up the vigor of your turf at all times 
during the period of growth.

5. Italian rye-grass and other grasses for the rough.—What are 
your reasons for objecting to the use of Italian rye-grass for the 
rough? One of our neighboring clubs has it and it seems to be satis­
factory, although it has only been in one year. (Washington.)

Answer.—Our objection to Italian rye-grass is that it usually 
makes too rank a growth and is not permanent, usually not lasting 
more than two or three years. We believe you will find red fescue or 
sheep’s fescue much more satisfactory for the rough, both from the 
standpoint of upkeep and of permanency.

6. Shavings in manure.—Is a small amount of shavings in 
manure objectionable in its use as a compost for greens? (Pennsyl­
vania.)

Answer.—No, particularly if the manure is composted.

MR. GREEN COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN:

As you know there has always been more or less criticism of creeping bent 
greens planted by the vegetative method. Many such greens are not first class 
putting surfaces for one or both of the following reasons—the strain of bent 
used was inferior or the green has not been properly cared for after planting— 
and in many cases both conditions exist.

Any creeping bent green not properly topdressed, fertilized, watered, and 
cut closely through the entire growing season will be unsatisfactory. So will 
any seeded green not properly maintained.

Any creeping bent green of an inferior strain will not be perfect even if 
properly maintained for the reason that the characteristics of that strain are 
not idea], but proper greenkeeping will keep it presentable at least.

At Arlington we have tested over 100 strains of creeping bent and are still 
experimenting. These strains can be divided into three classes with general 
characteristics as follows:

First, those strains whose blades grow upright both in the nursery row and 
in turf, with long internodes and correspondingly sparse foliage. Under putting 
green conditions they produce a thin stubbly turf.

Second, those whose blades lie flat both in the nursery row and in turf, the 
nodes being far apart and the foliage thin. Under putting green conditions they 
produce a “grain,” the blades pointing in one general direction. When putting 
in that direction the green is very fast, but when putting against the “grain” 
the green is slow and bumpy.

The blades of the third class grow close to the ground in the nursery rows 
but the plant has short internodes and dense foliage. Under turf conditions the 
blades are so crowded together that they stand upright.

If you have a bent of this kind on your greens you are to be congratulated. 
Mow them closely every day, topdress lightly every month to keep the putting 
surface firm and true. You need not worry about “grain,” but if you neglect 
close cutting and periodic topdressing they will become “fluffy” which is just as 
undesirable a condition.

To this third class belong the Metropolitan and Washington strains, which 
are also strongly resistant to brown-patch, and as you may remember are the 
only strains recommended by the Green Section for over two years. As the 
Peripatetic Golfer once said, “It is a mistake to use any bent vegetatively 
other than Washington or Metropolitan until a better strain is discovered.” It 
is quite likely that there are strains having all the good qualities of Washington 
or Metropolitan, or that such strains will eventually be found, but until they 
have been thoroughly tested under turf conditions they should not be tried on 
a large scale.

So because some club you know of has creeping bent greens that are justly 
criticised do not be discouraged or apprehensive if you have a strain belonging 
to the third class—and a good greenkeeper. Also bear in mind a remark made 
by one of the greatest putters ever born, “The price of good greens is ceaseless 
vigilance.”

THE GREEN SECTION.