UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION S o u t h e rn T u rf l e t t er S O U T H E A S T E RN D I S T R I CT UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ATHENS, GEORGIA T E L E P H O N E: LIBERTY 8-2741 S O U T H W E S T E RN D I S T R I CT TEXAS A & M C O L L E GE C O L L E GE STATION, TEXAS T E L E P H O N E: VICTOR 6-5210 No. 1 February - 1963 D R. M A R V IN H. F E R G U S ON MID-CONTINENT DIRECTOR NATIONAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR JAMES B. M O N C R I EF A G R O N O M I ST H O L M AN M. G R I F F IN a g r o n o m i st GREEN SECTION EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS Readers of the Southern Turfletter will be interested in two meetings of a series sponsored by the USGA Green Section which will deal with the subject "Traffic on the Golf Course.11 These meetings will be held in Dallas, Texas, on March 20 and in Tifton, Georgia, on April 9. The Tifton meeting will be a part of the 17th Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference. The matters of traffic, how to control it, and how to counteract the effects of it are among the most serious problems facing golf course super- intendents. The discussions at these meetings will allow you to hear what your fellow workers are doing about the problem, and you will have an opportunity to present ideas of your own. The topics to be discussed and the participants are shown in the following programs of the respective meetings. TRAFFIC ON THE GOLF COURSE March 20, 1963 - Dallas, Texas April 9, 1963 - Tifton, Georgia 10 A.M. - 1 P.M. in Dallas 9 A.M. - 12 Noon in Tifton AT THE DALLAS MEETINGS: Chairman - Mr. Les Stemmons, Jr. The Traffic Problem - (30 minutes) Planning for Traffic-Distribution and Control - (30 minutes) Planning of Golf Course Features - (30 minutes) William H. Bengeyfield B. F. K. Mull ins Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson AT THE TIFTON MEETING: Chairman - Mr. Henry H. Russell Introductory Remarks - (15 minutes) The Traffic Problem and Thoughts About Traffic Control - (30 minutes) Planning of Golf Course Features - (30 minutes) Henry H. Russell W. R. Thompson, Jr. Richard S. Tufts *The remainder of the program will be the same at Dallas and Tift on: Recess - 15 minutes Roads on the Golf Course-Panel Discussion IN DALLAS: (45 minutes) Moderator: Holman M. Griffin Ross Bush Tom Leonard Discussion - (30 minutes) IN TIFTON: (60 minutes) Moderator: J. B. Moncrief Charles Banner Dr. Marvin Ferguson LUNCH - 1 P.M. in Dallas LUNCH - 12 Noon in Tifton 2 -5 P.M. in Dallas 1:30 - 4:30 P.M. in Tifton Effects of Traffic on Turf IN DALLAS: (20 minutes) W. Wayne Allen IN TIFTON: (30 minutes) Dr. Glenn W. Burton Effects of Traffic on Soils IN DALLAS: (25 minutes) Dr. W. 0. Trogdon IN TIFTON: (30 minutes) Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson Maintenance Practices Which Will Overcome Harmful Effects of Traffic-Panel Discussion IN TIFTON: (45 minutes) IN DALLAS: (45 minutes) Moderator: A. M. Radko Grover Keeton James L. Jennings Moderator: A. M. Radko Harry Wright Palmer Maples Recess - 15 minutes Care and Handling of Golf Carts-Panel Discussion IN DALLAS: (45 minutes) Moderator: W. Wayne Allen IN TIFTON: (60 minutes) Moderator: Jimmy Dudley Frank Essex Jack Munger Holman M. Griffin Discussion - (30 minutes in Dallas ADJOURN T. M. Baumgardner Ted Booterbaugh LIME Many soils throughout the South will support better turf if they are adequately limed. Lime affects soil both chemically and physically, and it provides some nutrients for use by the plant, depending upon the kind of lime used. Lime is most often used for the purpose of altering the soil reaction or pH value. Soils which show a reaction of less than 6.0 on the pH scale are usually benefitted by an application of lime. A slightly acid condition of about pH 6.5 (7.0 is neutral) is considered to be the point at which most of the plant nutrients contained in the soil are available for use by the plant. Either very alkaline or very acid conditions cause some of the nutrients to be combined in insoluble or unavailable forms. The amount of lime needed to correct an acid condition will depend upon the kind of lime used and the nature of the soil. A clay soil will require more lime for a given change in reaction than will a sandy soil. This is because of the '^buffering11 action of clay. State experiment stations or commercial laboratories can make tests and provide competent advice about lime requirements of your soil. In addition to its value in the adjustment of pH, lime is a source of the nutrient calcium which is essential for plant growth. One of the important functions of calcium in the plant is that it is a constituent of the cell wall structure. Dolomitic lime is a rich source of magnesium which is another element essential to the growth of plants. Magnesium is one of the elements which constitute chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants. This ir the material that forms carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight through the process of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll has been called the basis of all life because of its role in the photosynthetic reaction. Lime improves the soil physically as well as chemically by causing clay particles to aggregate as granules. This granulation provides better drainage and aeration with all the benefits that these conditions imply. Sources of lime are hydra ted lime, ground limestone, ground oyster shell, and dolomitic limestone. Your choice of material will likely be based upon local availability. Lime is a cheap material unless it has to be hauled a long distance. ** COMING EVENTS ** February 25-26 April 8-9-10 Southern Turf grass Conference Peabody Hotel Memphis, Tennessee 17th Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference Univ. of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station Tifton, Georgia Mr. Ralph W. White, Jr. •4291 N. Dixie Highway Pompano Beach, Florida