NORTHERN MICHIGAN TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION NK HEMINGER, SECRETARY-TREAS. BEARD WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26th 19^1 1 147 SANTO COtLECriON HIDDEN VALLEY TRAVERSE CITY, Ml. 496S4 GAYLORD MICHIGAN PHONE: 616-947-9274 The above date and. location will be where our next BIG meeting will be held.. We say BIG because this meeting will start at 9:00 A.M. and. continue into the night, if you participate in all programs. The first program is a three hour class in cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) which will start at 9:00 A.M. Our thanks to Fred Miller for getting us a full qualified Instructor willing to take the time and help us to learn how to be able to help others. The others could be your own family, your fellow workers, your friends, your members therefore it behooves us to be present for this session. Arrangements have already been made for a room and I believe it will be in the main building. This session should be finished in plenty of time to get in a round of golf on this beautiful 18 hole layout. Mr. Carl Jeff is Manager of Hidden Valley, Ben Moore is the golf Professional and of course our Board member Fred Bond is the Golf Course Superintendent. The telephone number is 517/732-5181 and your call can be switched to the various places like pro shop, bar, etc. Reservations or starting times are not necessary nor are resersatlons for golf cars required. The host Superintendent invites you to play plus get your two bucks out for the usual tournament. Details will be available when you pay your fee. As you know and as we have experienced in the past, the food at Hidden Valley is excellent and we will have dinner served at 6:30 P. M. Those of you coming for dinner, should schedule your arrival to fit this time as we will have a very busy evening. We have two excellent sneakers for you. One speaker is in the "Golf Hall of Fame" and was 1967 P.G.A. Champion, Mr.^M.R. "Chick" Harbert while the other speaker is Cecil Kerr, District Manager for the North Central States who is known to many of you and he Iras a very special story on something dear to all of us, "Professionalism". This is a most unusual program in its entirety and you cannot afford net to be present. With all this activity, we will have dinner served at 6:30 P.M. so that our program can be started without delay. If you intend to come for the dinner and meeting, please schedule your arrival at the appointed time. As usual, we must advise Hidden Valley in advance of the number that will be present. Please be sure that your card is returned by August 21st. We would also like to have an idea of the number wanting to participate in the CPR Program so please so Indicate on the card if you will be there for the 9:00 A.M. starting time. Your cooperation in getting this postcard back as quickly as possible will be appreciated by those trying to complete arrangements. We thank you in advance. ******************************************************************** , . _ , , , . Date change for our September meeting, it „mi will be the tne l6th. low, GRAND TRAVERSE htlton by PATRICK M. O BRIEN Agronomist, Mid-Atlantic Region, USGA Green Section Sulfur fertilization has recently proven to be very beneficial to bentgrass airways comprise the turf. Dr. Roy Goss of Washington State F largest acreage that require main­ tenance at golf courses. In many Poa Annua Problem areas of the transition and cool, humidThe major criticism of bentgrass fair­ zone of the United States, creeping ways is related to the Poa annua University has been working with a Poa annua control program using sulfur as the key element to the program. Several clubs in the Mid-Atlantic Region have bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) been applying sulfur to bentgrass fair­ problem. Is this criticism justified? and Colonial bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis ways with good results. Sulfur materials Fairway irrigation has contributed to Sibth.) could be maintained as the available are elemental sulfur, ammo­ the problem, along with increased soil principal fairway grass species. How­ nium sulfate, potassium sulfate, gypsum, compaction and turfgrass wear injury ever, other turfgrasses in this area, and ferrous sulfate. Bentgrass fairways caused by golf carts. Forgotten is the including Kentucky,bluegrass, perennial must receive- proper cultural and fact that many fairways were originally ryegrass, especially Poa annua, pre­ mechanical maintenance practices to dominated by common Kentucky blue­ dominate. Without doubt, bentgrass, compete successfully with Poa annua. grass and the fine-leaved fescues. These where managed correctly, provides some Soil tests should be taken periodically unirrigated grasses produced a good lie of the best fairways in its area of on bentgrass fairways to determine but not the tight lie preferred now by adaptation. Many of the most famous golfers. When the bluegrasses and nutritional needs. Bentgrasses prefer a clubs in the Northeast, such as Baltusrol soil pH around 5.5. A higher pH in the fescues were irrigated, golfers demanded Golf Club, Springfield, N.J., Winged that the golf course superintendent fairway soils will favor P.oa annua. Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, N.Y., lower the cut. With the lower cutting Too Expensive and Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pa., height and irrigation, Poa annua quickly have chosen bentgrass for their fairways. invaded the Kentucky bluegrass and Many people do not consider bentgrass Our technology and ability to grow red fescue. This is the primary cause of for a fairway turf because they feel bentgrass is certainly not lacking, so the high predominance of annual blue­ maintenance will be more expensive what are the problems? grass fairways. It should be noted that than for a Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass turf. Others equate Over-Irrigation the annual bluegrass had much more the high cost of maintaining a bentgrass difficulty invading the bentgrass. The putting green with a bentgrass fairway. Perhaps no grass has been so mis­ bentgrasses are able to withstand the managed by irrigation practices as bent­ In reality, bentgrasses will provide an lower cut and, so long as it was applied excellent fairway playing surface at only grass. It ranks favorably but slightly at reasonable rates, the extra water. behind Kentucky bluegrass and the fine slightly higher maintenance standards Presently, the increased soil com­ than Kentucky bluegrass or perennial fescues in drought tolerance. Bentgrasses paction and traffic injury from mainte­ are widely used in Scotland, where there ryegrass. A comparison of management nance equipment, golfers, and particu­ practices will help demonstrate the is no artificial irrigation. The bent- larly golf carts have greatly encouraged grasses have also been found growing in differences in bentgrass and Kentucky Poa annua in our present bentgrass bluegrass/perennial ryegrass fairways. desert areas. Yet somehow bentgrasses fairways. Frequent over-irrigation also have the reputation of needing much 1. The biggest difference in manage­ contributes to soil compaction and the ment will be the height of cut. Bentgrass more water than other permanent turf­ extra moisture necessary for Poa annua grasses. fairways are cut between i/2 and % inch, germination. The bentgrasses are not as while Kentucky bluegrass/perennial Before irrigating, it is good practice competitive with Poa annua on com­ to use a soil probe to examine the ryegrass fairways are cut between % pacted soils. moisture status of the soil. There should and 1 inch. Best playing conditions are Also important to a bentgrass pro­ obtained on cool-season fairways by always be moisture enough in the root- gram is the judicious use of fertilizer. zone to supply the plant’s needs. When frequent mowing. However, Kentucky Bentgrass fairways require minimal bluegrasses require more frequent water is needed, only enough should be amounts of nitrogen, and the preferred applied to restore the supply to the mowing than the bentgrasses. The lower program is to fertilize lightly but more cutting height of the bentgrasses not rootzone. Care must be taken not to frequently. This provides a slow, steady irrigate to the point where macropores only can produce better playing con­ growth of the bentgrasses. High rates of ditions, but also deters Po# annua. Poa become saturated, since this interferes nitrogen, particularly in late winter and with oxygen supply, and grass roots annua is most competitive at % to 1 inch. early spring, encourage Poa annua. 2. The bentgrasses require more water will not function without oxygen. Wilt­ Higher nitrogen levels also increase the ing of the turf occurs when air is cut off during the summer months because water requirements of the grasses. they become very short-rooted during from the plant. Unfortunately, the Applications of phosphorus to bent­ natural tendency is to put on a little July and August. Frequent light water­ grass fairways should be carefully ings may be necessary during these more rather than a little less. We have considered because high soil phosphorus learned the concept that turf roots months. Kentucky bluegrass and also encourages Poa annua. Most soils perennial ryegrass are more deeply require water, but we have a more difficult time learning that overwatering in the United States contain adequate rooted; therefore, light, frequent water­ greatly reduces soil air and causes soil phosphorus levels, except areas in ings to these species during the summer grasses to wilt. the southeastern states where weathering may reduce the root systems and produce intensity is relatively high. a more tender plant. After you’ve made your mark in life, you’ve gotta freshen it up every once in awhile. John M, Cline 3. Disease control programs are needed for all grasses. The best disease Report On Tersan control program, however, is a sound cultural program using minimal fer­ Tersan 1991 Turf Fungicide and Tersan LSR Turf Fungicide have recently receiv­ tilizer and water, proper mowing and ed supplemental labeling as a tank mix­ thatch control. The peak disease period ture for preventative control of Helmin- for bentgrasses, bluegrasses, and rye­ thosporium leafspot, dollar spot and brown grasses will be during July and August patch. when heat and humidity are high. Apply one ounce of Tersan 1991 and three Normally, depending on weather con­ The deep-down desire to stand to four ounces of Tersan LSR to five well with our fellows, this gallons of water for each 1,000 feet of turf- ditions and the fungicide selected, a 7- grass to be treated. Make initial applica­ laudable hunger to win the to 21-day. spray interval is followed in tion when disease first appears and con­ publics “welldone, good fairways in the late spring, summer and and faithful servant, ” is tinue applications on seven to 14-day inter­ early fall. inherent in every human soul. vals for as long as needed. Use the shorter 4. The bentgrasses are also surprisingly We may flout it when we are intervals and higher use rate when condi­ heat tolerant. This is a characteristic tions are unusually favorable for disease young or even in our prime, development. usually overlooked. Bentgrass greens hut when we begin to cast A note on the supplemental labeling in­ are present in areas of the deep south, up our life's reckoning dicates that repeated and exclusive use of and bentgrass tees are common in the, we cannot ignore it. This > Tersan 1991 has led to the development of southern limit of the transition zone on is one of the things that benomyl resistant strains of dollar spot modified soil mixes. It is possible to count, one of the things fungi in some locations and may lead to the grow. bentgrass .fairways further south really worthwhile, this development of tolerance in other strains esteem and good will of our of fungi. “The use of Tersan 1991 as a tank than is currently practiced, if soils are brother mortals, and the mixture with Tersan LSR may delay well-drained. knowledge that we have development of tolerant strains of fungi. If 5. The wear tolerance of bentgrass is sincerely tried to earn it. Tersan 1991 or other benzimidazole or poor compared* to Kentucky bluegrass B.C. Forbes thiophanate-type fungicides have been us­ and perennial ryegrass. Perennial rye­ ed exclusively in the past and are no longer grass is the most wear tolerant of the effective, a tolerant fungal strain may cool-season grasses. Traffic control, already be present; consideration should be given to prompt use of other types of particularly if golf carts are present, is suitable fungicides. The combination of mandatory to reduce wear on bentgrass ★ ★ ★ Tersan 1991 and Tersan LSR should be us­ fairways. ed only in areas where tolerance problems 6. The bentgrasses are the most weed A Denver businessman had to go have not occurred previously.” to New York to attend a conference. free of the cool-season turfgrasses. His wife stated her desire to go Supplemental labeling has also been However, they are more susceptible to along. grantetj for use as a tank mixture with injury from herbicides, particularly pre- “But I’ll be tied up nearly all the Daconil 2787 fungicide (flowable or wet- time,” he protested. “You wouldn’t table powder) for preventative control of emergent and hormone-type chemicals. enjoy going at all.” dollar spot, Helminthosporium leafspot in Clover, particularly on imperfectly “Oh, yes, I would,” said his wife. combination with brown patch on turf- drained, fine-textured soils, is the “I’ll spend my time buying clothes.” grass. . . . biggest problem. Kentucky bluegrass “What, go all the way to New York For dollar spot and brown patch, apply and perennial ryegrass have a higher for a few clothes? That’s silly. You one ounce of Tersan 1991 and three fluid can buy everything you want right ounces of Daconil 2787 Flowable (or two tolerance to most herbicides. here in Denver!” ounces Daconil 2787-75% wettable powder) “Oh, good,” she cried. “That’s just per 1,000 square feet. Make initial applica­ what I hoped you’d say.” tion when conditions favor disease The Future • ★ ★ ★ development and repeat treatment on Hopefully, the criticisms that bentgrass seven to 10-day intervals as needed. Use fairways are too expensive to maintain the higher rate of Daconil 2787 in the com­ and are too subject to Poa annua in­ bination if disease conditions are par­ ticularly severe. vasion will be less in the future. The same note on strain tolerance for Additionally, many managers may select GOLF Tersan 1991 and Tersan LSR in combina­ bentgrass for areas previously considered tion applies to the use of the Tersan 1991 too risky during the summer. IN THE LATER YEARS and Daconil 2787 combination. Intensive breeding work will one day Always read the label on pesticide pro­ produce bentgrasses with greater heat- My muscles are flabby; ducts before use. Ask your LESCO and drought-tolerance. Wouldn’t it be I can’t hit a drive. salesman for details on Tersan and My mind often doubts if Daconil products. wonderful to have a bentgrass with the I’m really alive. ............ DURSBAN rooting characteristics of Kentucky According to Dow-Chemical Co., there bluegrass? Through breeding, we may My chipping is lousy, I never could putt, have been reports from New York state of one day have rhizomatous Colonial bird kills on turf and activity of certain I guess I’ll stay home and EPA employees to ban Dursban in the turf bentgrasses. This feature together with just sit on my butt. market. From what Dow could learn, of greater wear tolerance would signifi­ My iron plays awful, cantly increase bentgrass use on golf the 14 reported incidents, post mortem my woods are as bad, analysis has indicated only two birds courses throughout the country. The I’m describing my game as a showing Dursban residues. Both of the future for better bentgrass fairways shade short of sad. Dursban residues were at levels known to through research now appears more So the outlook today is for be sub-lethal to birds. promising than ever before. grief and for sorrow. Say! who can we get for a JULY/AVGUST 1981 fourth tomorrow? ÜSGA GREEN SECTION RECORD' The Handicap Survey More than 7,000 American golfers had their say when the Handicap Research Team surveyed the nation s players on their games — and views. HE HANDICAP System may seem to be little Yet, the HRT emphasizes that there is no such thing T more than an elaborate numbers game, an arithmetical exercise that would have given Albert Einstein pause, and yet, for avid golfers, that magic figure — whether it is 4 or 40 — is as much a part of them as the average golfer; factors such as age and handicap preclude the existence of such a mythical creature. The survey, however, produced much information, embodied chiefly in its correlative questions, which are as their Social Security Number. Indeed, unlike their cross-tabulated in the Report’s index. For example, SSNs, their handicaps can take a turn for the better — respondents answered a question about the use of 96 or the worse. percent of the differential in calculating a golfer’s Two years ago, therefore, when a Handicap handicap, but age and handicap of the respondents were Research Team was formed with instructions to study taken into account through correlative questions. the system and expose its warts, the HRT went directly This, then, is a view of the HRT’s survey, conducted to the golfers themselves for information. After a pre­ under the direction of Frank Thomas, the USGA liminary test, a questionnaire was distributed to 22,000 Technical Director. USGA Associates; approximately 8,000 responded to a series of 56 questions. Of those, the responses from URVEY QUESTIONS ranged broadly, some per­ 7,143 Associates were used finally in the HRT’s study. Although the respondents might not be typical of S sonal, others aimed at the way these Americans play the game. the average American golfer, a profile did emerge of Do you have a current USGA handicap? those who replied. It was found, for example, that the On what course do you most often play? average Associate is 50 years old, stands 5-foot-10, and How many rounds of golf do you play in a typical weighs 177 pounds. Ninety-six percent are male, and 96 month during the season? percent play right-handed. This composite Associate In tournaments, do you score better or worse than took up the game at 24, but he has played at least 15 your average? rounds each year since the age of 31. His handicap Do you take lessons? presently is 14, but he was in his prime at 39, when he Assuming there is no wind and the terrain is relatively carried a 9 handicap. flat, how far do you hit these shots: tee shots, longest His course is a par 71 that measures 6,369 yards and iron shot, on an average? What club do you usually use has a course rating of 69.9. He slices more often than he for a 100-yard shot? A 150-yard shot? A 175-yard shot? hooks, and most of his penalty strokes result from hitting A 200-yard shot? balls out of bounds. Over his last 20 rounds, his scores What kind of hazards are most troublesome for you? fluctuated by 15.7 strokes. Concentration is a problem, Which type of hole — par-3, par-4, or par-5 — are and while he averages 14 tournaments each year, he is you most likely to play in par (or better)? convinced that most of them are won by high-handi­ Is the present USGA Handicap System fair to you? cappers or by golfers who manipulate their handicaps Do you think the problem of handicap manipulators to keep them high. He believes also that the handicap winning tournaments is significant? system is abused. Responses relating to distance tended to confirm Most respondents are in favor of a system by which what has been suspected: we perceive that we hit the all scorecards are numbered. (Every time a golfer plays, ball considerably farther than we really do. For example, he is given a scorecard with a number. The golfer then is of the Associates who responded, approximately 200 responsible for returning that scorecard. If he does not believe that their typical tee shot — their typical shot, return it with a score, he is penalized.) now — is in excess of 275 yards. Dan Pohl led the PGA The composite Associate who responded believes Tour last year by averaging 274.3 yards. that courses are not rated fairly; they should be rated as Of those 200, half believe their typical tee shot they play, rather than by the principal criterion of dis­ travels in excess of 325 yards. By contrast, through tance. Finally, this Associate feels that the Handicap approximately one-third of the PGA Tour schedule, System should be more responsive, standardized, and just over a dozen drives have gone more than 300 yards. better explained to golfers. Through the Heritage Classic, which was played at the Golf Journal Harbour Town Golf Links, in Hilton Head, South Conversely, poor putting is believed to be the easiest Carolina, March 26-29, Larry Rinker had hit the longest problem to overcome. One-fourth of the respondents tee shot, a 340-yard drive during the Inverrary Classic, consider putting the least troublesome aspect of the in Lauderhill, Florida. game. Chipping was second (17.9 percent), and bunkers Indeed, the average drive of the 7,143 respondents third (16.4). to the questionnaire figured out to 224.7 yards. That is within 20 yards of Mike Reid’s average drive on the Tour ARROWNESS RANKS first among fairway diffi­ in 1980. It is very unlikely that the average tee shot of this group, a group whose average handicap is 14 and whose N culties (31.2 percent), well ahead of hazards situated near the landing zone (21.3). Once they are on the putting surface, more respondents found slow greens troublesome than they did fast greens, 19.9 percent to 17.7. At that, opinion was fairly evenly divided: 17.6 percent were bothered most by sharp breaks, 17.5 by long putts, 13.8 by undulations, and 13.6 by the grain. Par-4s commandeered 47.3 percent of the votes for the holes the players are least likely to par, while par-5s appeared to be least troublesome. This is qualified, however, by the ability of the players: scratch golfers to 10-handicappers find par-3s most difficult; 11- to 25-handicappers are bothered most by par-4s, and 26- handicappers and above find par-5s most difficult. While 71 percent called the existing Handicap N0.3-PAR5 System fair, a follow-up question was the key; it allowed W INFINITUM, respondents to comment on the System’s strengths or failings. Of 3,368 written comments, 732 said that the System is accurate, applying equally to all. Criticisms emerged as well. For example, the high-handicapper has an advantage over the low-handicapper, the System is not policed well, and the System does not prevent tampering with scores. average age is 50, is over 224 yards. It must be remem­ Measured by the frequency of individual com­ bered, however, that the respondents, for the most part, ments, the survey revealed that golfers who manipulate were guessing; they had no means of measuring these their handicaps to keep them unfairly high are very shots accurately, because very few golf courses place much on the minds of those questioned. markers about indicating distance from the tee as they At the top of the list is the belief that the system do distance from the green. Again, this is merely how is abused and policing is poor. Second on the list is the we perceive ourselves. claim that handicap manipulators score much better in tournaments. The fourth most frequent comment is that ONETHELESS, MUCH of the information was a tournament handicap is needed to prevent manipulation. N highly useful and interesting, despite the question Ranking sixth is the view that numbered scorecards of whether the responding group was typical of the should be issued to players to guarantee that all scores much larger body of American golfers. are turned in. Some further information: The responses afforded ample evidence that the Less than 20 percent of those responding were handicap is an element of golf that generates substantial taking lessons at the time of the survey, and a significant interest; the survey further shows that any improvement majority believe they play better in tournaments against in the existing system will not take place in a vacuum — lower-handicap players, whether in stroke play or match the golfers will have their say, contributing to the final play. result. Interestingly, while length may be the traditionally dominant factor in rating courses, it is 10th down the list (This is another in a series of articles on the Handicap in the respondents’ assessments of their chief problems. System.) In the opinions of the golfers, here is the pecking order of problems (with the percentages of response in parentheses): concentration (21.3 percent), consistency The United States Golf Association would like (13.0), accuracy (10.7), driving (8.9), putting (8.7), to express its appreciation of all those Associates psychological factors (8.1), chipping (8.0), judging who participated in the survey that helped the distance (7.2), bunkers (7.2), and length (6.9). The Handicap Research Team identify the problems of concentration problem ranged across all ages as the handicapping. The responses were highly useful. most serious. May/Jvne 1981 The editor is sorry that he could not acknowledge the beautiful gifts and prizes which were donated at the Michigan Turfgrass Benefit Day at Cadillac Country Club, on June 17th, however this information has just become available. We would like to thank therefore for their generosity and kindness the following: Ellis Sales, Kalamazoo Dave Kendall, Cadillac C.C. Professional W, P. Miller Co,, Grand Bapids Spartan Distributors, Sparta Sprinkler Irrigation & Supply Co., Royal Oak 0, M. Scott & Sons( Jim Bogart- Jim Brocklehurst) If you have not paid your 1981 dues, your Treasurer Prank Hemlnger’s address is listed on the front page of this news letter. Will you please make his Job a bit easier by sending your check now. Thanks. #*♦*###♦####■»#*######*****####»###*#######***•»###♦##*#####**♦###**** YOUR 1981 DUES ARE PAID T NOT PAID » Sriü