UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION M i d - C o n t i n e nt T u r f l e t t er No. 2 April - 1960 DR. MARVIN H. FERGUSON M I D - C O N T I N E NT D I R E C T OR N A T I O N AL R E S E A R CH C O O R D I N A T OR JAMES L. HOLMES M I D - W E S T E RN A G R O N O M I ST W. WAYNE A L L EN S O U T H W E S T E RN A G R O N O M I ST MID-WESTERN DISTRICT R O OM 2 4 1, L A S A L LE H O T EL C H I C A GO 2, I L L I N O IS T E L E P H O N E: S T A TE 2 - 7 4 83 SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT T E X AS A & M C O L L E GE C O L L E GE S T A T I O N, T E X AS 6 - 5 2 10 T E L E P H O N E: V I C T OR DON'T LET APRIL FOOL YOU Birds are singing; bees are humming; trees are budding; and grass is greening. Everything looks right with the world and you may think now is a good time to go fishing. good time to get ready for the long playing summer ahead. maintenance may save work and worry later on. But it's really spring cleaning time on the golf course and a Early springtime Fusarium patch? Snowmold? Helminthosporium? The Midwest has been covered with snow during much of 1960 and now that it is gone - or at least going - golf courses are quite likely to see disease activity on putting greens. Fusarium patch is the most likely offender. The phenyl mercury materials are excellent controls• If you should find that greens are affected by the gray snowmold (Typhula spp.) the inorganic mercury products will do a good job. PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL GOLF DAY Superintendents of golf courses and chairmen of green committees should be among the foremost boosters of National Golf Day. for them because it provides funds for many worthwhile golf course research projects. The directors of the National Golf Fund (the organization handling the proceeds of National Golf Day) have annually appropriated generous amounts for turfgrass research. total of $10,000 was appropriated for turfgrass research. Studies supported by these funds include breeding and selection of grasses, work on soil mixtures for putting greens, disease control in turf, weed control, and numerous other projects related to the growing and management of golf course turf. From the proceeds of National Golf Day of 1959 a This day has special significance National Golf Day for 1960 will be June 11. will be played at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio by Billy Casper, 1959 U.S. Open Champion, and Bob Rosburg, 1959 P.G.A. Champion. participant in National Golf Day match scores with the champions by playing at your own golf course and using your own handicap. The "round of the champion" You as a - 2- IVATER SYSTEM AT SOMERSET COUNTRY CLUB Herman Senneseth, golf course superintendent at Somerset Country Club in St. Paul, Minnesota tells of a recent revamping of the water system at Somerset. Water flow from an existing well was increased from 350 to 600 gallons per minute by setting off two 16-pound charges of dynamite and the sluicing of 9 to 10 yards of sand from lime rock at a depth of 585 feet. A 100 hp. motor replaced a 50 hp, motor on the pump» Old pipelines were in the rough and they were 40 years old. The new system is cast iron and galvanized pipe, with 4", 6", and 8" pipe being cast iron and with galvanized being used for smaller sizes* Supt. Senneseth lifted the sod from areas where pipe was to be laid and placed the sod about 25f to 301 from the trenches so that it would not be damaged in the backfilling operation. Pipe line trenches were filled and tamped to within 1-1/2 inches of the surface preparatory to sodding. Sod was replaced promptly after the pipe was in place. Herman found numerous rock deposits beneath the surface. With characteristic thrift, he used these stones to stabilize a creek bank that threatened to wash out. The stone gave rise to a small controversy that demonstrated the wisdom of the Somerset Country Club in having their superintendent entirely in charge of the job. Herman says "Rocks an inch in diameter seemed to the contractor as pebbles, but like demons to the man with a fairway mower." The specifications called for the ground to be left free of stone. Two crews of plumbers (3 men in each crew) and 6 men used in hauling and filling completed the entire 18 holes in 14 working days. in the period from September 8 to October 1. Sodding was done a few days later. Thus the work was completed Herman recommends the employment of an irrigation engineer to design the system and draw up specifications. He says the engineer was helpful in "convincing the contractor that the specifications were meant for him to follow." r j DEF IN IT ICN Aeration (soil) - The process by which air and other gases in the soil are renewed. The rate of soil aeration depends largely on the size and number of soil pores and on the amount of water clogging the pores. A soil with many large pores open to permit rapid aeration is said to be well aerated, while a poorly aerated soil has few large pores or has most of those present blocked by water. IS YOUR CLUB SUBSCRIBING ? In 1920 the Green Section "was created because USGA member clubs needed a turf research and advisory agency, impartial and authoritative," The purpose and goal of the Green Section is still the same today. While the Green Section is anxious to help where and whenever possible for better turf, its prime responsibility is to the USGA member clubs which have subscribed for the Visiting Service. The yearly benefits these clubs receive are as follows: 1. Several direct conferences with a Green Section agronomist, in this manner: (a) A scheduled half day on the course consultation, followed by a written report from the agronomist to the course superintendent and the green committee chairman. A second visit will be made if necessary, upon request. (b) Consultation with the agronomist at local group meetings and turfgrass conferences. 2. Assistance by correspondence and telephone. 3. Two subscriptions to a USGA Regional Turfletter (such as this Turfletter) , dealing with golf turf affairs of the particular region, six times a year. 4. Cne subscription to the USGA Journal and Turf Management, published seven times a year. The annual fees which cover all services and expenses with no charge for travel are: Less than 18 holes * 18 to 27 holes More than 27 holes: * (a) 36 holes (b) Per regulation course in addition to 36 holes $ 100 125 150 40 Think about it, ask around about it, then you will want to join. As of January 30, 1960 there were 749 subscribing golf courses. Mid-Continent Turflettei USGA GREEN SECTION BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE P A ID College Station, Texas Permit No. 80 ® À„L ^ ixsdico Northeastern JDirect#USGA Lipi^an Hall?Rutgers Univ. Brm^rlck, N* J.