THE BULLETIN

of the

UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION

Vol. 7 

Washington, D. C., September, 1927 

No. 9

Contents

Page

Turf Culture in South Africa.................................................................................... 166

Arsenate of Lead as a Beetle, Worm and Weed Eradicator. By Norman L.

Mattice......................................................................................................................  167

Milorganite—An Activated Sludge. By H. L. Westover....................................  168

More About Velvet Bent.............................................................................................. 170

The Green Section Meeting in Washington............................................................  170

Golf Clubs Owning Lakes Can Aid Waterfowl. By W. L. McAtee..................  172

Golf Course Architecture and Construction. Designing the Course. Part IL 
By William S. Flynn........................................................................................ 173

Some U. S. Golf Association Decisions on the Rules of Golf..............................  177

Turf Grass Experiments in Kansas. By J. W. Zahnley......................................  179

Questions and Answers................................................................................................ 182

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Wynant D. Vanderpool, Chairman, 766 Broad 

Street, Newark, N. J.

Russell A. Oakley, Washington, D. C.
Harvey L. Westover, Washington, D. C.

H. Kendall Read, Philadelphia, Pa.
Walter S. Harban, Washington, D. C.
H. Y. Barrow, New York, N. Y.

RESEARCH COMMITTEE

Russell A. Oakley, Chairman, Washington, O. B. Fitts, Associate, Washington, D. C.

G. T. Cunningham, Executive Secretary, Wash-

Harvey L. Westover, Acting Chairman, Wash- ington, D. C.

D. C. 

ington, D. C.

The Bulletin is published monthly by the United States Golf Association Green Section 
’

Washington, D. C., at Room 7207, 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 7207, Building F, 7th and B Streets N. W., Washington, D. C.
Subscription Price: In United States of America, Canada, Mexico, and West Indies, $4.00 per 

year; in all other countries, $5.00 per year.

Entered as second-class matter, April 21, 1926, at the postofhee at Washington, D. C.. under 
the Act of March 3, 1879. Copyrighted, 1927, by the United States Golf Association Green Section.

166

September, 1927

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

W. A. Alexander, Chicago, Ill. 
Eberhard Anheuser, St. Louis, Mo. 
A. C. U. Berry, Portland, Oreg. 
William F. Brooks, Minneapolis, Minn. 
N. S. Campbell, Providence, R. I. 
Wm. C. Fownes, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
F. H. Hillman, Washington, D. C. 
Thos. P. Hinman, Atlanta, Ga. 
Frederic C. Hood, Watertown, Mass. 
K. F. Kellerman, Washington, D. C. 
Norman Macbeth, Los Angeles, Calif.

E. J. Marshall, Toledo, Ohio. 
W. L. Pfeffer, St. Louis, Mo. 
George V. Rotan, Houston, Tex. 
Sherrill Sherman, Utica, N. Y. 
Frederick Snare, Havana, Cuba. 
James D. Standish, Jr., Detroit, Mich. 
W. R. Walton, Washington, D. C. 
Alan D. Wilson, Philadelphia, Pa. 
M. H. Wilson, Jr., Cleveland, Ohio. 
Frank L. Woodward, Denver, Colo.

Turf Culture in South Africa

“Greenkeeping in South Africa,” by Dr. C. M. Murray, of the 
Royal Cape Golf Club, Capetown, South Africa, is an interesting 
pamphlet which recently came into the Green Section’s possession.

The turf conditions in South Africa are comparable to those in 
our southern states, and the grass which covers both greens and fair­
ways (Cynodon dactylon), the Bermuda grass of our country, is there 
known as “fine quick.” The results of Dr. Murray’s experimental 
work are so similar to the results secured by the Green Section that 
they will be of interest to all Bulletin readers and will be of par­
ticular value in the section of this country where opinions still differ 
on the proper maintenance of Bermuda greens. A brief outline of 
Dr. Murray’s work is quoted from a letter recently received.

“Up to two years ago I had had to fight a lone hand for my views. 
The history of that fight forms such a vindication of the correctness 
of your work and observations that I believe it will not bore you if 
I give you a brief outline of it.

“When I returned from college in England to my home in this 
country in 1904, golf was very much in its infancy. It was supposed 
that turf would only grow in the British Isles, and so we played on 
hard putting areas covered with ‘blue ground’ from the diamond 
mines. These we called ‘blues.’ They are still in vogue on some of 
the country courses.

“In 1905 I commenced experimenting with local grass (Cynodon 
dactylon), and in the course of three years we finally gave up the 
‘blues’ and ever since then have played on turf. As time went on the 
maintenance of the greens began to give us trouble. Being medical 
with a working knowledge of chemistry I commenced studying the 
problem of so fertilizing the greens as to favor the turf at the expense 
of the weeds. By 1914 I had discovered that our grass preferred 
acid soil and that lime and alkaline fertilizers promoted the growth 
of weeds.

“Then came the war and in common with most people I went to 
France. On my return in 1919 I rejoined the committee of my club 
and we discussed the problem of re-establishing our greens, which 
were in fair condition but showing a considerable growth of weeds 
and bare patches in the summer caused by their depredations. My 
proposal to concentrate on their destruction by the use of iron and 
ammonium sulfate in the winter and spring, when they flourish with 
us, and the subsequent use of ammonium sulfate in all topdressings 
in the spring and summer to stimulate the grass was considered too 
theoretical, although I had proved to my own satisfaction before the 
war that the results were sure. We then called in the aid of the staff 

September, 1927

167

of a big fertilizer factory, to whom I explained my views and scientific 
reasons for holding them. As the result of this conference my pro­
posals were turned down once more, the main objection raised being 
that our soil was acid and that what I proposed would make it more 
so, and finally destroy such turf as we had.

“The recommendations made by the experts were that during the 
autumn we should lime heavily, and two or three months later apply 
a heavy dressing of bone meal and finally in the early spring whale 
meat. This was to be pursued each year until the soil had become 
sweetened, when we might hope for good turf. I had to content my­
self by putting on record that if this scheme was carried out we 
should raise an immense crop of weeds, and that if these were not 
dealt with most of our turf would be destroyed. To make a long 
story short all that I had foretold came true, and by the end of the 
second summer our greens were mere sandy wastes with nothing but 
an odd patch of turf here and there. On the other hand two aban­
doned greens which had been left to lapse into fairway had rather 
improved than otherwise.

“After this disaster I was asked to try my scheme. I said I would 
do so if given three summers to show results. In the first year I used 
three tons of iron and ammonium sulfate and two tons of ammonium 
sulfate on the 18 greens. During the second and third years we used 
3 tons to the 18 greens of the same formula. By the end of the first 
year the bare patches were fast disappearing. During the second 
year water was laid on and with its help most of the greens were 
completely healed. The third year has now passed and the club are 
unanimously of the opinion that our turf has never been better. A 
satisfactory feature from my point of view is that three of the greens 
that have not had water owing to impending alterations to the course, 
and all the tees, have recovered more slowly but quite as well as the 
watered greens.”

Arsenate of Lead as a Beetle, Worm and Weed Eradicator
By Norman L. Mattice, Manager, Pine Valley Golf Club

When I entered the employ of the Pine Valley Golf Club last spring 
permission was obtained to secure the services of Mr. B. R. Leach, of 
Riverton, N. J., to act in an advisory capacity to supervise the use 
and application of arsenate of lead on the tees, fairways, approaches 
and greens. This chemical was used for the purpose of exterminat­
ing the grub of the Japanese beetle, which had done considerable 
damage to the turf in former years. As planned, the arsenate of lead 
was mixed in the topdressing at the rate of 5 pounds per cubic yard 
and spread on 1,000 square feet of area. To date the tees, approaches 
and greens have been topdressed five times and the fairways once. 
As a result of carrying out this program the main object of killing 
beetle grubs was accomplished before any appreciable damage to the 
turf occurred, and in addition three other beneficial but unlooked for 
results were obtained as follows:

Many of the greens contained chickweed in large quantities. In 
one instance, on the old 9th, an effort was made to remove some of 
the chickweed last year by cutting it out, leaving large patches with 

168 

September, 1927

no turf, so that the green has not been in play all summer. After the 
first application of the prepared topdressing it was noticed that many 
of the patches of chickweed on all of the greens (including the old 
9th) turned yellow and disappeared and the turf came back in its 
place. After each subsequent topdressing more chickweed disap­
peared until all of the greens are almost entirely free from it and 
strong and vigorous turf has taken its place.

During July the beetles began to fly over this part of the country 
and light on the greens. They immediately began to burrow down 
into the soil to deposit their eggs, and in doing so little piles re­
sembling worm casts covered the surface of the greens. On closer 
observation, a full grown, dead beetle was found in each pile of earth. 
It seems that the soil had been sufficiently poisoned to kill the mature 
beetle as well as the grub.

After the second topdressing early in May, worm casts disap­
peared entirely from the topdressed area, which would indicate that 
worms do not take kindly to soil so poisoned.

Although some crab grass appeared in the surface of the tees, 
approaches and greens, it did not start to grow until the first of 
August, and then it did not grow vigorously as is its custom. Other 
unpoisoned areas developed strong, thrifty crab grass plants late in 
June, which have already seeded at the time of this writing (Sep­
tember) . Employes who have worked for many years on this course 
state that crab grass on the tees, approaches and greens is not one- 
tenth as bad as it has been in former years. However, the big de­
crease in the growth of crab grass can not be attributed wholly to the 
use of arsenate of lead, for sulfate of ammonia has also been used in 
every application of topdressing. If the marked effect from the use 
of arsenate of lead is as great next year as it has been so far this sea­
son it is reasonable to believe that weeds of all kinds will be elim­
inated from the poisoned area and a better and more thrifty turf 
will result.

Milorganite—An Activated Sludge
By H. L. Westover

For years good stable manure has been highly prized for use on 
golf courses particularly in a compost pile as it furnishes not only 
organic matter, an essential to proper bacterial life of the soil, but 
also some of each of the most essential plant food elements. Unfor­
tunately, the supply around cities has been diminishing rapidly due to 
the marked decrease in the number of horses and mules. This has 
been associated with a greater demand not only for manure but also 
for other fertilizers due to the enormous increase in the number of 
golf courses during the past few years. The limited supply of stable 
manure and the high price of commercial products already available 
has resulted in efforts to utilize all sorts of waste products, partic­
ularly those which carry considerable humus and in which the nitro­
gen is in organic form. In this connection sewage has come in for 
its share of attention as being a potential source of plant food and 
organic matter. The use of sewage in its natural state on golf courses 
is not only unsanitary but the odor is very objectionable to the 
players. Dried in the usual manner the product is more or less inert 

September, 1927

169

and even then can hardly be regarded as a sanitary product. In re­
cent years a special treatment has been devised whereby these objec­
tions are obviated, the term “activated sludge” being given to the 
product. Milorganite is an activated sludge put out by the Milwaukee 
Sewerage Commission. It is probably the best known and most 
widely used of any of the activated sludges. It is a granular and 
porous organic material containing less than 10 percent moisture and 
of a uniform chemical composition. It carries approximately 514 
percent nitrogen (6x/2 percent ammonia), about 2i/2 percent phos­
phoric acid and a little less than i/2 percent potash. The end product 
is said to be slightly acid, testing about pH 4.4. This acidity results 
from the use of sulfuric acid used in dewatering and is not objec­
tionable in growing such turf grasses as the bents and fescues. The 
acid treatment and the high temperature to which the sludge is sub­
jected results in a sterile product that is free from weed seeds and 
bacteria. It is said that this is the first time in the history of sanita­
tion that a product has been produced from sewage that is very uni­
form both chemically and physically. Due to its excellent chemical 
condition it can be applied at a minimum labor cost.

Milorganite has been used on numerous golf courses during the 
past few years with very satisfactory results. It has been tried in a 
preliminary way at Arlington Turf Garden and has resulted in very 
appreciable increase in the vigor of the grass to which it has been 
applied. As a turf fertilizer Milorganite is sufficiently promising 
that plans are under way to give the product a more thorough trial 
in order to determine the effect of continued applications on the grass 
and also on the weed growth.

It is said that applications of 100 pounds to 3,000 square feet have 
shown decided benefit, while three times this amount has been applied 
with no bad effects due to burning where used as a topdressing. To 
insure quick and certain results it is advised that Milorganite be 
mixed with sand and soil and allowed to stand under cover for 10 
days or two weeks before applying. This treatment is said to promote 
bacterial activity and to insure conversion of the nitrogen into forms 
available to the plant.

Where soil is deficient in fertility it is advisable to add fertilizers 
before planting. Milorganite applied at the rate of 100 pounds per 
1,000 square feet and worked into the soil before sowing seed or 
planting stolons has given very good results. Quick acting fertilizers 
can not be used safely at planting time as they are apt to injure the 
seedlings or stolons that have not become established.

On putting greens the effects of a topdressing of Milorganite are 
apparent for four to six weeks and applications should therefore be 
made with about this frequency. In fertilizing fairways yearly ap­
plications, preferably early in the spring, have proved of material 
benefit to the turf grasses. On some of the better soils it appears 
that after the first two years the turf may be kept in good condition 
by applying Milorganite every other year but on soils low in fertility, 
particularly sandy soils, annual applications may be advisable.

The nitrogen in Milorganite is not as readily available as in am­
monium sulphate and certain other inorganic fertilizers but being

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September, 1927

slowly released furnishes nitrogen over a longer period. Some am­
monium sulfate mixed with the Milorganite furnishes a combination 
in which a part of the nitrogen is quickly available and a part slowly 
available. Due to its colloidal properties activated sludge fixes the 
ammonium sulfate and reduces the possibilities of burning.

Some of the advantages claimed for Milorganite are that it does 
not burn the turf and may be applied with safety under all conditions; 
it is dry and ground sufficiently fine for even distribution; and is 
practically odorless and free from harmful bacteria.

More About Velvet Bent

The following letter from Mr. W. R. Hurd, 2nd, chairman of the 
green committee of the United Shoe Machinery Athletic Association, 
Beverly, Mass., will be of interest to those golfers to whom the grow­
ing of velvet bent is of importance:

“I have read the article in the August Bulletin by Major R. 
Avery Jones regarding velvet bent and I thought it might interest 
you to know that the Kernwood Country Club of Salem, Mass., has 
been raising velvet bent for nine years.

“The United Shoe Machinery Athletic Association Golf Club at 
Beverly, Mass., has been raising this same velvet bent for two years, 
and so far we have never seen any brown patches in the sod beds. 
I wish to say that everything Major Jones has told of we can verify.
“We have one sod bed of velvet bent 150 ft. by 40 ft. which was 
planted the first of last August, and it is in wonderful shape. We 
have another sod bed planted the year before this which is about 20 
ft. by 60 ft. We have taken turf or sod from the last bed, and used it 
on a number of our greens for over a year and are very much pleased 
with the turf. We have a very large mother bed of velvet bent and a 
large mother bed of Washington bent. We are gradually changing 
our tee sod over to Washington bent, using the stolon method of 
planting.”

“There is no portion of a golf course which requires more care at 
the time of construction, and more attention later in the un-keen, than 
the area upon which most approaches to the hole will land.”—The 
Links.

The Green Section Meeting in Washington

The Green Section meeting in Washington on August 29 was well 
attended, about 175 green committee chairmen and greenkeepers 
being present from almost every section of the country east of the 
Mississippi. The morning was spent in the examination and discus­
sion of experiments at the Arlington Turf Garden. During the after­
noon four local golf courses were visited where a variety of turf con- 
an'1 maintenance methods were noticed. After dinner an 
mfnrmal discussion was held concerning turf problems in general, 
w 1P,K prnvnd of so much interest that the meeting lasted until 
nparlv midnight This was the first field meeting sponsored by the 
Green Section.

September, 1927

171

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172

September, W27

Ibt- Whnabm t.anh-n a> it app«'»r«i during thv Gr«.en Sevtiim mvdins.

Coif Clubs Owning Lakes Can Aid Waterfowl
Ih W. I., McAtee

Ctu migratory waterfowl of the United Slates inducing the wild 
dudks and geese so much sought by sportsmen need every help that 
car; *w extended to them to insure their perpetuation, Drainage 
piwwH> have so reduced and so continue to reduce the area of water 
available b> ? hem that every suitable bit of permanent water should 
be profe. ted and improved either as a resting, feeding, or breeding 
nkice for wildfowi.

lie* pivseiwe of these birds enhances the attractiveness and value 
a hoPv ot water so t hut attracting them is not without its re- 
'■'ard-.. U i’uhowl will visit unbelievably tiny pools where thev enjoy 
peHect protection, for instance, the writer saw them dropping into 
(onulum basins on the grounds of the Pan-Padlic Exposition at San 
luawse v, itih* div buildings were still under construction bv an 
army oi arti>aus; ami they come into park pools in the midst of great 
cities.

Ordinaiy water hazards on golf courses may lie too small <»r too 
dsnirbvd to ai?rav! these birds. but some golf courses iiwhidc larger 
weals. nf arc hud out along the shore of lake." or other bodies of water 
uhu-b (he ciuli exercises control. In such cases effective steps 
h' t‘v'b wuhoEml can be taken, and al the same time a splendid 
bvsciHvo hw entertainment of the members provided. The Bioh.gkai 
survey. I . S. Department of Agriculture, distributes publications giv- 
ing rovonum ndatioi;> for attrmring waterfowl and it will b.> verv 
glad b» hear tr«>m and to advise any gndf dubs that are in position to 
pr>'h?ct and ingnw Edits of water as refuge." hw wildfowl.

September, 1927 

173

Golf Course Architecture and Construction
Designing the Course—Part II

By William S. Flynn

in staking the preliminary layout of the golf course on the ground 
the first thing the architect’s engineer does is to locate the center of 
each tee, green and the angle, if there happens to be one, on the vari­
ous holes. The staking is done so that the architect may check up and 
revise any particular site where necessary.

The stakes should be high enough to be easily visible and each one 
should have a different colored piece of bunting tacked on—white for 
the tees, yellow for the angles and red for the greens. This color 
combination is not necessarily standard and sometimes in the absence 
of bunting, newspaper or absorbent cotton for that matter may be 
tied on so as to make the stakes visible from a distance.

In the case where holes are played through woodland it is neces­
sary to cut a sighting gap approximately three feet wide. This not 
only provides visibility but also makes it much easier to walk along 
the line of play and study the varying condition of the terrain.

When the preliminary staking has been completed the architect 
starts out with his engineer, beginning at the first hole and making 
a complete study of the course. It is wise in making this study for 
the engineer to accompany him because in this way there is very little 
chance of making mistakes in the construction later on. With the 
engineer along, it is possible for the architect to secure a great deal 
of valuable help in finally determining the exact location of tees and 
greens. The engineer is also of great help in discussing conditions 
involving engineering problems as they arise and which can be dis­
posed of before the final plans for the layout have been completed.
It often happens that swinging a hole slightly to the right or left 
eliminates the necessity of drilling and excavating rock. Serious 
drainage conditions may be obviated by the slight shifting of a green 
or tee.

It is unwise for an architect to attempt to finally decide the loca­

tions of his holes without the help of an engineer.

Many architects may have engineering training but so many de­
tails come up in the designing of a course that have a bearing on the 
subsequent construction that it is very easy for one man to miss what 
two might find.

It often happens that a layout planned on paper does not exactly 
stake out where the architect thought it would and it is necessary to 
make a very careful check of the site for greens and tees.

It might also be that moving a tee slightly to the right or left 
precludes the necessity of taking out some beautiful tree. This also 
applies to green sites. Sometimes a slight change in the alignment 
of the hole permits the architect to keep a specimen tree or trees 
which also may act as a key or turning point in the hole.

In making minor revisions as outlined above it does not neces­
sarily follow that the character of the course is in any way changed. 
As a matter of fact it generally improves the layout.

While the five foot contour map discussed in the previous article 
is invaluable in connection with the design of the course it is neces­
sary to have a really close survey of the green sites.

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September, 1927

It is hard to tell by the eye just how much slope there is to the 
ground and one of the most difficult things to do is to attempt to 
judge accurately when the grade is slight in any direction. It often 
happens that the ground looks as if it were running away when it is 
actually pitching forward.

In connection with the design of greens it is very desirable to 
have a close survey or cross section of each green site, say 100 feet 
square, showing one-foot contours. With this type of survey the 
architect can then design a green that will fit into its particular loca­
tion, making it blend with the surroundings and presenting a natural 
effect.

It is also possible after the design of a green has been completed 
for the engineer to determine fairly accurately how much material 
must be moved to construct it and the cost.

There has been in the past considerable copying in the designs of 
greens. The custom has been to select so-called famous holes from 
abroad and attempt to adapt them to a particular hole. While it is a 
simple matter to copy a design it is almost impossible to turn out a 
green that resembles the original. This is not due to any technical 
reason but is on account of the surroundings being different from 
the original.

Copying greens in detail is not generally a good plan but there 
should be no hesitation about copying the principal connected with 
any green particularly when it is good.

It has often been said that architects have designs for 18 greens 
and that the same ones are used over and over again on the various 
layouts.

A successful architect of today does not follow that system. His 
greens are born on the ground and made to fit each particular hole.
In constantly designing greens it is very easy for an architect to 
acquire a pet type and to apply this frequently, thus creating greens 
of great similarity. A tremendous amount of study must be given 
each site on the ground and also on paper so as to get distinctive 
types, thus avoiding sameness.

The length of the shot to the green as well as the bunkering 
scheme of the hole must be considered in the design of each green. 
A green receiving a long iron shot should not have the same gradient 
or be of the same size as a green receiving a mashie, niblic or a 
brassie shot. Care must be taken so that in the main body of the 
green there shall be sufficient cup space, a very important considera­
tion when the wear and tear of the green is considered as limited cup 
area increases wear.

The tendency in the past ten years has been to bank up greens to 
a greater degree than is really necessary. While holes with long 
second shots whether iron or wood should have a reasonable amount 
of rise, yet the value of being able to apply stop or under spin to a 
shot is entirely lost when such a condition prevails with a mashie or 
mashie niblic to the green.

The advent of vegetatively planted creeping bent in a measure 
checked this condition. This is due to the fact that the bent creates 
a more uniform surface and mowers have been improved, thus giving 
us a faster green or one that is in tournament condition all the time 
rather than, as in the past, merely during the running of a competi­
tion.

September, 1927

175

Steep slopes are out of the question particularly in the main body 
of a vegetatively planted green. In the old days the mixed seed 
greens were cut down real close only when an important tournament 
was being played. At that time the word “slippery” was often used 
in connection with a description of the greens. If we still keep steep 
slopes with our vegetative greens we will keep on hearing the ex­
pression “slippery.”

The maximum gradient of the main putting surface of any green 
should be not more than one foot in thirty-five. There can, however, 
be slopes greater than this gradient on a green particularly where a 
roll blends into the putting surface or a mound perhaps built at the 
back or side of a green sweeps in naturally.

While the maximum gradient of a green should receive due con­
sideration the minimum gradient should also be taken into account. 
It is necessary in designing greens to consider the rainfall and care 
should be taken that the slopes of the surface are sufficient to get a 
quick run off. In fact the water should be carried off at several points 
and the minimum gradient in this respect should be not less than one 
foot, in fifty.

The most important consideration in conjunction with the design­
ing of a green is to create naturalness. Of course this condition can 
only be brought about as construction progresses, but the frame work 
must be right in the beginning. Naturalness should apply on all con­
struction on golf courses, greens, tees, mounds and bunkers alike. 
It is much more expensive to construct a natural looking golf course 
on account of the tremendous amount of material that must be moved, 
but the money saved in the subsequent maintenance greatly offsets 
the original cost.

In designing greens the architect not only makes a close-up study 
of the green sites but also studies from a distance, that is from the 
spot where the shot to the green is supposed to be played. Having 
visibility of the green surface from this point is one of the most im­
portant considerations in the design of a golf course. The drive, with 
the exception of the carry or accuracy required is practically s milar 
on each hole and securing visibility of the area played to is not nearly 
as important as securing visibility for the shot to the green on any 
type hole. The green is the final objective and how can a man reach 
the objective satisfactorily if he can not see it?

It naturally follows that any bunker construction in conjunction 

with the greens should also be visible.

However, it is not always possible to have visibility of every green 
but the hole that does not have a visible green should have some other 
feature or indicator which tells the player where to go to get the best 
results. Visibility in the shot to the green is much to be desired and 
a little more time spent in modifying the layout may perhaps bring 
about the result desired and increase the pleasure in the play of the 
course.

The design for bunkering the course is tremendously important 
and the architect should spend a great deal of time going over the 
various holes determining the exact location of his fairway bunkers.
It is important in locating fairway bunkers to place them in posi­

tions where they also are visible.

A concealed bunker has no place on a golf course because when 

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September, 1927

it is concealed it does not register on the player’s mind as he is about 
to play the shot and thus loses its value. The best looking bunkers 
are those that are gouged out of faces or slopes, particularly when the 
slope faces the player. They are very much more effective in that 
they stand out like sentinels beckoning the player to come on or keep 
to the right or left.

A very important consideration in the design of bunkers is to 
make each one surface drain. In flat country this condition can be 
secured by building them above the surface of the surrounding 
terrain.

It is not wise to attempt to design a complete bunkering system 
for the course in the beginning but the frame work bunkering plan 
can be worked out and as the course is played a complete scheme 
developed more satisfactorily and to better advantage.

The placing of the tees requires considerable thought and they 

also should be designed to fit in and blend with the landscape.

The topography of the ground should have a bearing in the out­
lining of the fairways, they being designed with the idea of produc­
ing character rather than the commonplace straight line effect of a 
decade ago. A curving line whether it be a road or the outline of a 
fairway is much more attractive than the straight line.

After a complete study of the whole course in the preliminary 
layout the architect takes his plan again back to his office or drafting 
room to make his final general layout plan.

The notes and changes that he has made in the original are tran­
scribed to a new plan which is final in so far as a paper plan can be. 
From this general plan he makes individual hole plans on cross sec­
tion paper. This is done to simplify the work of the constructing 
engineer and to indicate just how each is to be treated, instructions 
being written on same for the foreman’s use.

The superintendent of construction may divide his work among 
his foremen giving each the plans of the particular holes on which 
he is to work. The detail plan can be very readily explained to the 
foreman and is not cumbersome to handle in the field.

In conjunction with the plans the architect must prepare specifi­
cations for the construction of the course. While the specifications 
for golf course construction are generally similar, yet, there are sel­
dom two courses alike and the architect must consider any peculiari­
ties that may occur in a particular course and take care of them 
accordingly.

Although the architect has spent a great deal of time and study 
in the preparing of the plans only the frame work has been finished. 
The ultimate character of the course must be developed as the con­
struction progresses.

“Skilful golfers should be able to control their shots, and few of 
them resent punishment when they fail to do so; but high handicap 
players and older men playing indifferent golf are punished quite 
enough by their own incompetence without having to suffer additional 
penalties. The fewer the better of those hazards which simply levy 
fines on bad shots.”—The Links.

September, 1927 

177

Some U. S. Golf Association Decisions on the Rules of Golf
A was playing in a foursome qualifying for a cup, medal score to 
count; but was also playing a foursome match game at the same time. 
On the 15th hole A lost his ball in the rough. He then dropped a ball 
taking no penalty and played three or four strokes getting out of the 
rough towards the green. A then realized that he was qualifying 
medal play and went back to the tee and played the hole over, taking 
a penalty of stroke and distance. The other players contend that 
under local rules governing match play A could drop a ball without 
penalty but that after he had played the ball he could not go back to 
the tee and play the hole over for his medal score, but was disqual­
ified. A then claimed the strokes should be counted as practice 
strokes. The other players claim that there is a rule against practice 
shots being played towards a green during a match and also that A 
was disqualified after playing two or more shots with the second ball.
Decision.—Rule 22 states definitely and specifically the conditions 
covering Lost Ball. A did not comply with the Rules of Golf and 
therefore he is disqualified. There is no possible justification in his 
claim that the strokes should be counted as practice strokes. The 
Rules Committee wishes to point out that the Local Rule of your club, 
allowing the player to drop in Match Play when the ball is lost, with­
out penalty, is entirely contrary to the rules as well as the spirit of 
the game of golf. The question as to the penalty of Lost Ball has 
been discussed many times and in equity to the players, Rule 22 has 
been decided to cover the point thoroughly and we see no occasion 
for having a Local Rule that is in violation of this Rule

A and B are playing C and D in a four-ball match. A is in a 
sand trap just off the putting green but within twenty yards of the 
cup. C’s ball, his opponent, is on the putting green but farther away 
from the cup than that of A, but C’s ball is within twenty yards of 
the cup. Which should play first A or C? A claims that the man 
farthest from the hole should play first whenever he is in any kind of 
a match. Is he right or wrong?

Decision.—Rule 7 states “that the ball farthest from the hole 
shall be played first”; therefore C, being farther away from the cup 
than A must play first in any kind of a match. The exception to this 
is Rule 1 under Rules for Three Ball, Best Ball and Four Ball Matches. 
In this case, if any ball lie in such a position as to interfere with 
the player, he may ask the owner of this ball to either lift or putt at 
the option of the owner.

A, B, C, D, are playing a match. A teed his ball and took a swing 
that differed in no way from his accustomed swing. His club hit the 
ball on the toe and knocked it some ten or twenty feet at right angles 
off the tee. A then stated the swing was a practice swing, thereupon 
the other members of the foursome told him to retrieve his ball and 
take his drive from the tee without penalty. B then stated that, ac­
cording to the rules, A had a right to do so. C demurred, claiming 
he did so entirely at the sufferance and with the permission of the 
foursome and not by any right or privilege contained within the 
rules. Had A the right to retee his ball without penalty?

Decision.__The entire point in this question is whether A’s intent 

178

September, 1927

was to make a stroke when he knocked the ball off the tee. A player 
must know if he means to play a shot or not, and there is nothing in 
the rules to prove the intent; it is a question of fact that the player 
must decide. See definition 13 and Rule 2, paragraph 1. One of the 
fundamentals of golf is that no player wilfully takes an unfair ad­
vantage of his opponent.

During a golf match when one of the players’ ball is lost is it per­

missible for anyone in the gallery to assist in finding the ball?

Decision.—There is no rule prohibiting anyone in the gallery to 

assist the players in finding golf balls.

What penalty is incurred by a caddie getting into a trap with the 
player? This rule has come up for ruling in several matches and no 
one seems to be positive on it.

Decision.—There is no rule in the game of golf that penalizes a 
player for allowing his caddie to get in the trap with him. The prac­
tice should not be allowed as the caddie might in some way improve 
the lie of the ball or give the player information as to the consistency 
of the soil, which would be in violation of Rule 25.

“The climax of golf is at the hole, and the moulding and care of 
the entrance to the green is of no less importance than of the green 
itself.”—The Links.

A new Bermuda grass renovating machine which undercuts the turf, bringing the runners to the 
surface. The knives are adjustable so the soil can be penetrated to any desired depth up to three- 
quarters of an inch

September, 1927

179

Turf Grass Experiments in Kansas
By J. W. Zahnley, Assoc. Prof, of Farm Crops

Three years ago this month the United States Golf Association 
through the chairman of the Green Section, Dr. Chas. V. Piper, 
started a series of experiments relating to turf grasses in cooperation 
with the Kansas Agriculture Experiment Station. Dr. R. A. Oakley 
and Mr. H. L. Westover of the U. S. Department of Agriculture have 
kept in close touch with the work. It is through the financial sup­
port of the Green Section and the advice and help of its chairmen, 
Messrs. R. A. Oakley and H. L. Westover, that the work has been 
made possible.

Kansas is located on the west edge of the section to which cul­
tivated grasses are adapted. The extreme heat of Kansas summers, 
which is usually accompanied by more or less severe drought, is dis­
astrous to most tame grasses. It is therefore difficult to maintain 
lawns or putting greens in good condition. Probably no greater prob­
lem confronts the golf clubs of this section than that of establishing 
and maintaining grasses on their courses. Especially is this true of 
the greens. Our limited knowledge of grasses for golf courses in this 
section makes experimentation along this line highly desirable.

The purpose of the experiments is threefold (1) to determine the 
adaptability of certain grasses, the bent grasses in particular for 
putting greens and for lawns in the region of Manhattan, Kans., (2) 
to ascertain the best cultural methods for establishing and maintain­
ing turf of these grasses and (3) to observe the influence of various 
fertilizer treatments on the control of weeds and maintenance of 
the turf.

The experiments comprise eighty-one plats 10 feet square. Fif­
teen different grasses are being tested, consisting of Kentucky blue­
grass, redtop, Chewings fescue, buffalo grass and eleven strains of 
bent grass. The Rhode Island bent, German mixed bent, and two 
strains of seaside bent were started from seed, the others being 
started from stolons.

The Washington and Metropolitan strains have produced the 
finest putting turf and at the same time have stood up better under 
rigid summer conditions than the others. The summer of 1926 was 
a severe test on all grasses in this section of Kansas. The total pre­
cipitation from January 1 to September 1 at Manhattan was only 
12.12 inches while the normal for the same period, is 23.47 inches. 
For the five months, April to August, inclusive, the total precipitation 
was 8.83 inches compared with a normal of 19.94. This latter period 
of extreme drought, accompanied also by periods of high tempera­
tures and unusually high evaporation afforded a good opportunity 
to observe the relative summer hardiness of the various grasses. 
Excellent turf was maintained on the Washington and the Metropol­
itan plats throughout the entire summer. The best of the other 
strains produced only indifferent turf and some suffered severely. 
The Columbia and Arlington strains produced an open turf and 
languished during the hot weather but recovered considerably as 
autumn approached with cooler days and higher humidity. The Vir­
ginia strain produced a turf of coarse texture which lacked the 
smoothness observed in the Metropolitan and Washington. The Ver-

180

September, 1927

mont strain withstood the hot weather but is more upright in growth 
and seemed to suffer somewhat from close mowing with the greens- 
mower. The Acme velvet has suffered severely from hot weather 
every summer, becoming thin and patchy it produces an unsatisfac­
tory turf. The mixed bents have held their own quite well but the 
turf is not so dense and even as that of the better strains of creeping 
bent. Kentucky bluegrass was almost completely destroyed where it 
was cut close with a greensmower. Apparently close clipping must 
be avoided in order to maintain a stand of bluegrass. It is therefore 
not suited to greens in this section. It has also been found prac­
tically impossible to keep white clover out of the bluegrass plats.

Chewings fescue has been the nearest approach to a complete 
failure of any of the grasses tested. It makes a good growth in the 
autumn and early spring but as soon as hot weather comes the plants 
begin to die and the stand becomes thinner and thinner until the 
entire area is only sparsely set with bunches evenly distributed but 
at some distance apart.

Some of the plats have been reseeded the third time and an excel­
lent stand obtained from Chewings fescue. The seedlings start 
quickly when sown about September 1 and the grass looks extremely 
promising until about May of the following season when the plants 
begin to die. After repeated failures to maintain a stand this strain 
has been discarded and the plats planted to the better strains of 
creeping bent.

Buffalo grass is well adapted and requires little or no care to main­
tain the stand. Close mowing and topdressing have failed to make 
the turf dense enough for greens, so it is probable that it can be used 
to best advantage only on fairways in this section. Buffalo grass 
must be started from small pieces of sod but spreads rapidly if the 
weeds are kept out for a few weeks after planting. It does not com­
pete well with weeds on fertile soil that is well supplied with moisture 
but will persist on dry uplands of central and western Kansas where 
tame grasses will not thrive. The purest stands of Buffalo grass are 
maintained without care under conditions which are unfavorable for 
the growth of weeds and other grasses.

The Country Club at Manhattan, Kans., has started a Buffalo 
grass nursery in which they propose to produce sufficient sod to 
plant a considerable portion of their fairways.

The fertilizer tests comprise 42 plots on which sodium nitrate, 
ammonium sulfate, urea and compost are used. Four applications 
have been made each season at the rate of 6*4 pounds per 1,000 square 
feet for the ammonium sulfate and sodium nitrate. This is equiv­
alent to approximately 1,080 pounds per acre annually of these fer­
tilizers. The effect of all the nitrogenous fertilizers on the growth 
of the grass is very marked. Check plats receiving neither fertilizer 
nor compost are in bad condition; the ground is hard, the turf is thin 
and making little growth. None of the fertilizers have shown any 
effect in the control of weeds or white clover. Tests show that the 
soil on the ammonium sulfate plots is still rich in lime, indicating 
that heavier or more frequent applications of that fertilizer will be 
required to obtain an acid condition and aid in the control of weeds.
Very little difficulty with weeds has been experienced on creeping 
bent plats outside the fertilizer tests which received both compost and

September, 1927

181

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182

September, 1927

ammonium sulfate. The turf of creeping bent is so dense that there 
is little opportunity for crab grass or other weeds to get a good foot­
hold. The contrast with bluegrass in this regard is very noticeable. 
Bluegrass turf becomes open in midsummer thus giving crab grass a 
chance to start at the season when it thrives best and when the blue­
grass is somewhat dormant.

Brown-patch was not observed when the turf was new and 
caused very little trouble in the extremely dry summer of 1926. During 
the past season it has been extremely serious. Both the small and 
large brown-patch appeared repeatedly and caused some damage to 
the turf of all varieties of bent. Some plats were treated every few 
days throughout the entire summer. Perhaps the treatments have 
teen loss effective than usual or the benefits of shorter duration be­
cause of unusually frequent showers and high humidity from May to 
September. Experience has taught us that in order to combat brown- 
yatch successfully one must be on the job every day to observe the 
very first signs of an outbreak and to apply the treatment 
immediately.

During the dry weather when watering was done in late after­
noon and evening birds, especially robins, came to the plats in great 
numbers, apparently in search of insects and for material with which 
to build their nests. The turf would often be torn up in spots pro­
ducing a roughened surface. As many as 50 of these torn places 
were found on 100 square feet of turf. Most of the damage was done 
soon after dawn when robins would flock to the plats in great num­
bers and work industriously until the middle of the forenoon when 
it began to get hot. leaving the torn spots to suffer from the heat of 
the dav. This trouble was largely overcome by watering earlier in 
the dav so that the surface would be fairly dry before evening. No 
damage was done immediately following showers as the birds then 
seemed to go elsewhere for food and nest building material.

The experimental work in Kansas up to this time leads to the 
conclusion that the routine essentials in maintaining good putting 
turf in this section are close mowing, frequent, light watering, use of 
compost and fertilizers, and close attention to the control of the 
brown-patch disease.

“How often we see courses where the approaches have not only 
been overlooked bv the architect, but also forgotten by the green­
keeper.”—The Links.

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.

Whi’e 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.

September, 1927

183

1. Winter greens for the South.—We have always sowed Ken­
tucky bluegrass on our Bermuda greens so as to furnish turf for 
winter playing. We find however that on certain other southern 
courses the regular Bermuda greens are not used during the winter 
but a temporary green is selected on the fairway and sown to a winter 
grass. Is it known definitely which of these is the better practice? 
(Georgia.)

Answer.—There is a good deal of difference of opinion in the 
matter you bring up. A winter grass sown on Bermuda greens, such 
as bluegrass, redtop, or Italian ryegrass, has a tendency to retard the 
recovery of the Bermuda in the spring. We are inclined to advise 
that where it is practicable to do so, temporary greens of winter grass 
be used.

2. Scum on turf.—I am sending you a sample of turf from one of 
our greens on which the grass has been killed by a slimy growth, 
which can still be noticed on the sample. This is a bent green. It was 
doing well until the middle of July, at which time some brown-patch 
appeared, but from which it recovered under treatment with am­
monium sulfate and compost. Toward the end of August however 
these dark slimy patches began to appear, and have since covered the 
entire green. This green has received 15 pounds of ammonium sul­
fate once a month, with compost, and has been thoroughly watered 
twice a week during dry weather. (Ohio.)

Answer.—The scum on your sample is a fungous growth com­
monly referred to as algae, but the cause of which is not definitely 
known. It has been observed however that it usually appears on 
poorly drained soils and on putting greens which are over-watered, 
that is, on greens which have been soaked with water until they are 
in a soggy condition. We have found that daily moderate sprinkling 
•of putting greens gives better results than soakings at longer inter­
vals. In case you have no reason to suspect that the drainage of your 
green is defective, we would suggest as a remedy for the trouble that 
you scratch the surface of the soil lightly and then topdress with a 
•compost consisting of about 50 percent sand, 25 percent rotted 
manure or other composted organic matter, and 25 percent loam. This 
topdressing should be brushed well into the turf and kept moderately 
■sprinkled each day until the grass has recovered.

3. Late fall treatment of turf.—Do you advise fertilizing grass as 

late as October in this latitude? (New York.)

Answer.—Our practice in maintaining turf has always been to 
keep up our regular treatment as long as the grass grows, this in­
cluding watering, cutting, and fertilizing if the stand is thin. After 
the growth of the grass ceases in the fall we do not find that it is 
necessary to give it any treatment. A light topdressing is however 
highly beneficial in early spring as soon as growth is resumed.

4. Pea and butter bean vines in compost.—We can secure quite a 
lot of pea and butter bean vines at no expense beyond that of hauling 
for a few miles. Would you advise us to use the vines in compost? 
(Delaware.)

Answer.—Yes, but they should be composted with a considerable 
quantity of loam in order to get a fairly compact mass which would 
hasten the decomposition of the vines.

Cleveland, Ohio, August 25, 1927.

United States Golf Association Green Section, 

Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:

In reference to Poa annua in putting greens.

We have two greens of bent of the Inverness strain. These two 
greens have been a great disappointment but have improved as Poa 
annua came in.

We have several old greens, seeded in 1921 with the good Lord 
knows what, but with considerable clover, and these also have im­
proved as regards putting as they have been invaded with Poa annua.

At present we have six creeping bent greens of a good strain. 
We will have nine or ten more greens next year of the same strain 
of bent.

While Poa annua has improved the putting qualities of the old 
greens we do not think that they compare with the new greens. There­
fore we are fighting out all Poa annua from the good bent greens.

What we do is cut it out with a hole cutter just as soon as we see 
it, and replace with a plug from the bent nursery. From thirty to 
fifty plugs are needed to keep a green clean of Poa annua, chick- 
weed, etc., most of the plugs of course being used during the spring 
and early summer.

As we change our greens we are doing away with excessive grades, 
either by reshaping the green, or by moving the putting surface to a 
more level portion of the original green, many of the greens being a 
great deal larger than is necessary.

Yours truly,

Spencer M. Duty,

Chairman, Green Committee,

The Canterbury Golf Club.