"m Board of Directors M e tG C S A est 1 9 5 9 President GLEN DUBE, CGCS Centennial Golf Club Vice President DAVID DUDONES Westchester Country Club Treasurer KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCS Cover: Metropolis Country Club. GlenArbor Golf Club Secretary ROBERT B. ALONZI JR. Fenway Golf Club Past President BLAKE HALDERMAN, CGCS Brae Burn Country Club Directors MICHAEL BRUNELLE, CGCS Upper Montclair Country Club BRETT CHAPIN Redding Country Club BRIAN CHAPIN Paramount Country Club DOUG DRUGO Wee Burn Country Club STEVEN McGLONE Siwanoy Country Club VINCENT PAVONETTI, CGCS Fairview Country Club Class “C” Rep DAVID PARSON The Apawamis Club Class “AF” Rep ROBERT STEINMAN, CGCS Pocono Turf Executive Director MIKE McCALL, CGCS Executive Secretary SUSAN O ’DOWD Tee to Green Staff Editor JIM PAVONETTI 203-531-8910 Managing Editor PANDORA C WOJICK Editorial Committee TODD APGAR MATT CEPLO pEVIN COLLINS ANDY DROHEN CHIP LAFFERTY STEVEN McGLONE BOB NIELSEN SCOTT NIVEN TOM REYES GREG WOJICK Designer TERRI E YOUNG Advertising Manager MIKE BRUNELLE, 973-777-6710 TEETO GREEN is published bimonthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819 914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG Copyright© 2016 Feature Part 2 - Escalating Green Speeds: A Look at Where Our Survey Respondents Weigh In ................................................... Survey Results at a Glance .................................................................................................................................................................................... Departments From Our Exectutive D irector.....................................................................2 National News .................................................................................................... 3 U pcom ing E ven ts...............................................................................................9 M ember N ew s.....................................................................................................10 Spotlight ............................................................................................................. 12 SERIALS OCT 27 20)6 LtBRARte* hough we are just heading out of what has become a very long and difficult season, I wanted us all to take pause and rec­ ognize some of the good and, yes, the bad of the season. Specifically, there are happenings within the association and industry that deserve to be, as I refer to it, Cheered or Jeered. This is an area in which, I’m sure, we could Find infinite things to discuss, but I’ve kept it to a pertinent few. Here goes. , Glen Dube CGCS MetGCSA President the use of pesticides on golf courses in an extremely negative manner. Not only did these articles reflect poorly on golf courses and the people who maintain them, they were also inaccurate—based largely on emotion, not scientific evidence. Our executive director, Mike McCall, sent out an email on August 11 containing the links to the articles, as well as some talk­ ing points that GCSAA shared with us. In his letter to the membership on page 2, Mike encourages everyone to bone up on GCSAA’s talking points so that you will be prepared to educate club members or mem­ bers of your community who may, in the future, express concern about pesticide use. Unfortunately, no matter how much talking we do, I don’t think this type of discussion will go away anytime soon. Cheers... To the fact that participation and attend­ ance has been up across the board at all MetGCSA events. Our golf events have been well received and attended. We en­ joyed record attendance at both the Summer Social at Orienta Beach Club and the Sum­ mer Picnic at Bedford Memorial Park. (See snapshots from the picnic, page 11.) And it’s been nice to see many new faces at all of these events. Special thanks to our Board of Directors for working so diligently to pull off these events without a hitch. Now our charge is to make sure this kind of participa­ tion continues! To the upcoming fall season. At the time of this writing, it looks like this nasty weather is moving out, offering some much-needed Jeers... To the weather. Just when we think things relief. Once the challenges of the season are can’t get any worse, it inexplicably does. truly behind us, I hope everyone can get First, we had an abnormally warm then away for a little rest and relaxation. And speaking of R&R, please be sure to cold start to the season. Then in June and encourage your hardworking, and no doubt July came the irrigation-pond-depleting drought with high temps and no humidity. weary, assistants to take a day away from the Next, we experienced devastating thunder­ course and attend this year’s Assistants storms and oppressive humidity. This vicious Championship. It’s being held on October weather pattern has put our turf and crews 27 at Upper Montclair Country Club in on the brink of exhaustion. We need a break! Clifton, NJ, and promises to be a great time. In the meantime, best of luck with your aerification and upcoming projects. leers... To the two recent articles that The Journal Glen Dube, CGCS News ~ Lohud ran on its cover that portrayed M etGCSA President Cheers... Tee to Green August /September 2016 Froin Our Executive Director Educating the Misinformed W f J y n August 11,1 sent out an email 4. Simple attention to proper application procedures, especially avoiding direct dis­ ' / to share with members the two charges into water bodies or near well­ . recent articles published in The heads, should typically suffice. Golf course Journal News ~ LoHud, which essentially monitoring programs conducted in New vilify the use of pesticides on golf courses, as well as the people who apply them. York indicate little to no risk of water contamination from pesticides applied to Feeling compelled to react to the articles’ serious misrepresentation of golf course pes­ golf turf. ticide handling and use, our association con­ 5. Pesticides and pesticide use are regulated tacted officials from the GCSAA Gov­ by the New York State Department of ernment Affairs and Public Relations Environmental Conservation (DEC). The offices and the MGA to discuss the best DEC works with golf course managers to approach. We decided not to respond pub­ assure safe use of pesticides. licly, and we didn’t feel it would be benefi­ 6. An approved pesticide product has typi­ cally undergone more than 120 studies cial for individual members to respond on their own. at a cost of $50 million before it is regis­ tered with the Environmental Protection Agency. 7. Golf course managers have adopted In­ Instead, we would like to encourage all tegrated Pest Management (IPM) as a sus­ members, when addressing any future con­ tainable approach to managing pests cerns related to the use of pesticides, to con­ (including weeds, insects, pathogens and vey the following points that have been diseases, and vertebrates) by combining developed by the GCSAA Public Relations biological, cultural, physical, and chemical department: tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks and 1. There is no scientific evidence to show maintains turfgrass quality. that golfers face any chronic health risks from the pesticides used to maintain golf courses. 2. Golf courses employ licensed applicators In addition to these points, it is also useful to to handle and apply pesticides in adher­ mention that golf course superintendent ence with regulations and manufacturer chapters throughout the state have been one of the most progressive groups in develop­ guidelines. 3. The application of pesticides is made with ing Best Management Practices for New low concentrations of active ingredients, York State Golf Courses in conjunction with Cornell University and the New York often 1- to 5-percent solutions. Points Woii liy of Mention Talk lip the New York BMPs State Department of Environmental Con­ servation. The ultimate goal: to protect water quality throughout New York State. For those interested in further informa­ tion on the BMPs, you might refer them to the Best Management Practices website: http :/ /nysgolfbmp. cals, cor nell. edu/ Finally... Be sure to commit to memory the points GCSAA has suggested so you will be ready with a factual response if and when a mem­ ber of your club or community calls into question our industry’s turfgrass manage­ ment practices. Mike McCall, CGCS M etGCSA Executive Director golf course superintendent chapters throughout the state have been one of the most progressive groups in developing Best Management Practices for New York State Golf Courses in conjunction with Cornell University and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. • • • Tee to Green August /September 2016 National News Sharing Golfs Many Benefits at National Golf Day MetGCSA Makes Its Mark at WE ARE GOLFys Ninth Annual National Golf Day , by Mike McCall CGCS, MetGCSA Executive Director JM / E ARE GOLF, a coalition M / W / of golf’s leading organizations, hosted its ninth annual National Golf Day on May 18 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Bob Nielsen and I traveled to D.C. to par­ ticipate in this year’s event, which offered a unique opportunity for the industry to voice concerns, discuss issues, and share golf’s many benefits with Congressional leaders in D.C. More than 150 Congressional meetings were scheduled throughout the day, a record number! The event drew representatives from GCSAA, the Club Managers Association of America, the Ladies Professional Golf As­ sociation, the National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA of America, the PGA TOUR, the USGA, the United States Golf Manufacturers Council, the World Golf Foundation, and others. The largest contin­ gent of attendees was superintendents repre­ senting their local GCSAA chapters. Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foun­ dation and administrator of WE ARE GOLF, was there to kick off the event, emphasizing the significance of National Golf Day in reminding our country’s deci­ sion-makers of the benefits golf provides our society and how it supports countless chari­ table causes, including many related to our nation’s military. He also went on to empha­ size that with the game making its return to the Olympics, our industry is positioned to reach new global audiences, making it all the more important that we communicate the positive role golf plays in local communities. The Benefits We Need to Talk About WE ARE GOLF has developed a list of golf’s many benefits, which, as professional representatives of the game of golf, we should all be well aware of. Here are some of the easy-to-share facts and figures sur­ rounding our industry’s contributions. Economic: Golf contributes $68.8 bil­ lion to the American economy and impacts 2 million jobs. In fact, one in 75 jobs in the United States is impacted by the golf indus­ try. Golf is a bigger job creator than spectator sports, performing arts, and the amusement and recreation industries. Charitable: Golf raises more money for charity than all other sports combined. Annually, the game generates $3.9 billion for philanthropic causes, almost all of which are unrelated to the golf industry. Environmental: Golf courses are re­ sponsible uses of green space, providing wildlife habitat, a filter for runoff, and a cooling effect on developed areas. Health and Wellness: Golf is an excel­ lent source of exercise. Playing 18 holes of golf burns roughly 2,000 calories when walking and 1,300 when riding a cart. A Game for All: Golf is very accessible, with nine out of 10 golfers playing publicaccess facilities. That adds up to 76 percent of golf being played at public courses. The Issues at Hand While extolling the many benefits of the game of golf, WE ARE GOLF had some specific items for us to address with our leg­ islators, dealing mainly with environmental and labor issues. The “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule was front-and-center on everyone’s mind. The message we took to legislators was to support legislation that would force the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the current WOTUS rule and work closely with industry profes­ sionals to develop a more precise rule. In ad­ dition, we sought to eliminate the re­ dundancy of the Clean Water Act NPDES Pesticide General Permit that requires addi­ tional permitting for pesticide applications on, over, or near the water of the U.S. Our next objective was to address the De­ partment of Labor Overtime Rule. Unfor­ tunately, we were too late. The Department of Labor had just released the new Overtime Rule that morning. It will go into effect December 1 of this year. Bob and I expressed our disappointment to our elected representatives and the nega­ tive effect this ruling is likely to have on golf course superintendents’ operating budgets. On a positive note, however, Representa­ tive Kurt Schrader (D-OR) introduced the Overtime and Reform Enhancement Act last month, which proposes phasing in the overtime ruling over the next three years. We are waiting for this legislation to reach the House floor for a vote. Next on our agenda was to discuss reduc­ ing the delay for issuing H-2B Visas and making the “returning worker exemption” permanent. Senator Charles Schumer has been trying to overhaul the immigration system for years and almost succeeded in 2013. He vows it will happen next year. Sen­ ator Gillibrand and Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Sean Patrick Maloney all sup­ port him in his efforts. Although all are strong supporters for immigration reform, the H-2B Visa system does not sit well with many New York unions and, as a result, does not garnish a lot of support from our con­ gressional representatives. In addition to presenting the WE ARE GOLF agenda, Bob and I were able to up­ date legislative affairs directors about the Best Management Practices for New York State Golf Courses initiative and its ongoing development. Our association is well re­ spected by lawmakers, and we are increas­ ingly becoming a resource for them. Mission Accomplished? So, was it worth the trip? Did we make a dif­ ference? Right now I would say both yes and we’ll see. It has been said throughout history that decisions are made by those who show up. And we did show up and will continue to be a presence, doing our best to present the scientific facts and honest assessments of the effects laws and regulations may have on our industry and the members of our association. Tee to Green August/September 2 0 16 eature: Part 2 Escalating Green Speeds: A Look at Where Our Survey Respondents Weigh In n this, Part Two o f our investigation into the ever-evolving green speed trends and philoso­ phies, we reveal the results o f our third green speed survey, which we’ve conducted every eight years since 2001. For our 2016 survey, a total o f 50 MetGCSA member superintendents from clubs in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut (see list on page 9) responded, offering insight into the current trends and sentiments on the increasing need for speed and 4 Tee to Green August/September 2016 the special grooming practices that go along with it. What follows is a look at what re­ spondents had to say, along with a careful tabulation (see page 8) o f each o f their responses. Where do your greens fall in the mix? Read on for a look at how your practices— and green speeds— compare to fel­ low respondents’, keeping in mind, o f course, that this is just a sam­ pling of the many maintenance pro­ grams out there— here, and across the country. 1. WHAT TYPE OF GRASS IS ON YOUR GREENS? As in 2008, our latest survey revealed that the majority of our respondents share the same turf in common: About 90 percent have either Poa or Pod/bent turf on their greens. That leaves only 10 percent with the more desirable bentgrass-only putting surfaces. 2. HOW OFTEN DO YOU CHECK GREEN SPEEDS EACH WEEK? It is often said, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” And it seems that more supers than ever are adhering to this premise as slightly more than half the courses sur­ veyed check speeds most days of the week, versus less than one-third eight years ago. Steve Finamore of Alpine Country Club Stimps his greens a couple of times a day, which he feels has helped him keep his put­ ting surfaces relatively consistent. Milbrook Club’s Doug Snyder checks green speeds daily, along with moisture lev­ els to gain better control of his green speeds. “I am able to know how long it will take to speed up the greens to 12' for a tournament on the weekends,” says Doug, “and bring them back down to 9’ on Wednesdays for ladies play. I know how long it will take to have acceptable green speeds after heavy rains and how applying wetting agents are going to affect green speeds. It gives me complete control,” he adds. 3. DO YOU POST GREEN SPEEDS? Though a majority of superintendents check green speeds more often than not, few are in favor of posting the numbers. The reason: The superintendents we surveyed believe posting green speeds encourages them to chase speed during times of stress when it wouldn’t be prudent to do so. Paul Dotti of Areola Country Club not only doesn’t post his green speeds, he rarely Stimps them. “We are a golf club, and I believe our greens should be relatively fast each and every day, which is why I seldom, if ever, Stimp them,” he says. “If the members ask me what the speeds are, I tell them they are as fast as I can get them for today. “We are already mowing low,” he contin­ ues, “so it isn’t wise to go any lower. And we are double-cutting and rolling and, like many, only hand watering to keep moisture levels minimal at all times. We are also very aggressive with Legacy to reduce clippings, and we spoonfeed one to two times per week for plant vigor. We are doing whatever we can to achieve the best speed possible while maintaining healthy conditions.” 4. WHAT IS YOUR AVERAGE GREEN SPEED? Green speeds are on the rise. Since our last survey in 2008, the average speed reported by Met area clubs has made a significant jump, increasing by 1’3" to l l ,3".More than 40 percent of respondents report maintain­ ing an average daily speed between IT and n ’6". Despite the undeniable climb in green speed, there are those club members who are convinced that greens were significantly faster “in their day” “I love when members tell me that the greens are almost as fast as they were in the ’70s when they were kids,” says Winged Foot’s Steve Rabideau. “These members have no idea that greens were rolling only about 7'6" back then. And when you try to correct them, they look at you like you’re lying, suggesting that it’s impossible for our greens to be rolling that much faster. “But as we know, it is, indeed, possible, and as each decade passes, speeds continue to escalate, from 7', which was thought to be fast in the ’70s, to a top speed of 14'-plus today at high-end courses.” O f course, as superintendents know well, not all courses are made equal, and speeds and conditioning that are right for one course, just may not be attainable at another. As Round Hill Club’s Sean Foley points out, “Course construction and turf types vary. Budgets and resources aren’t in line, but we all are expected to be the same.” has proved to have the greatest impact on green speed of all the cultural practices. With that, it’s no surprise that the average height of cut has dropped another .010" since the last survey in 2008 and .020" since 2001. The current average: .110". 7. HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU CUT PER DAY? Three-quarters of the group still cut their greens once a day, while only a small per­ centage are double-cutting daily or mixing it up with double-cutting some days and single-cutting others. 7A. WHAT TYPE OF MOWER ARE YOU USING? It appears that, for whatever reason, clubs are favoring Jacobsen (up by 7) and John Deere (up by 4) over the various Toro (down by 13) models. Very few courses are using Triplexes. 8. HOW OFTEN DO YOU ROLL PER WEEK? Since 2008, much research has been done on the positive effects of rolling, showing that, in addition to increasing ball roll distance, it provides many benefits to the turf. So it only follows, then, that nearly all respondents (94 percent) roll their greens on most days of the week (4 days or more). To achieve green speeds in the high 11s as his membership expects, Steve Finamore of Alpine Country Club makes good use of both rolling and growth regulators. “These 5. WHAT IS YOUR RANGE OF have been great tools in maintaining green GREEN SPEED? speeds without lowering the height of cut,” At the low end of the range, courses are he says, noting that alternating between Stimping at 9'9". That number is up by Tru-Turf and Triplex rollers has been help­ nearly a foot since 2008. ful in sparing collars and surrounds from At the high end of everyone’s range, ball excessive wear. roll has increased by exactly one foot to 12'6". In 2008, this milestone was achieved 8A. WHAT TYPE OF GREENS by only three clubs. In 2016, 50 percent of ROLLER DO YOU USE? the group achieved this speed, while ano­ ther dozen clubs reported pushing their Respondents’ roller type preferences have changed. Tru-Turf (up by 13) and Salsco (up green speeds as high as 13'6" to 14'6M. by 7) have grown the most in popularity, “Personally,” says Pelham Country Club’s while the Triplex (down by 7) and Vibratory Jeff Wentworth in response to escalating (down by 7) rollers have suffered the greatest speeds, “I have the most fun playing on greens with speeds of 9'6" to 10'. I know losses. that with the tools we have today, it’s easier to manage green speed and turf health than 9. HOW OFTEN DO YOU it was 5 to 10 years ago, but I feel we often TOPDRESS? end up sacrificing optimal playing condi­ Topdressing intervals have changed signifi­ cantly as superintendents have begun to tions by chasing high speeds.” apply sand more often in lighter amounts. In 6. WHAT IS YOUR USUAL HEIGHT 2008, no one was topdressing weekly; now nearly a third of the clubs surveyed are using OF CUT? To attain these faster ball roll distances, this approach to steadily dilute their thatch. superintendents are cutting lower, which 10. DO YOU USE PGRS REGU­ LARLY AND WHAT IS YOUR PRE­ FERRED TYPE OF PGR? Use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is on the rise, making significant inroads since 2001, when only about 60 percent of our survey respondents used them. Now nearly 100 percent of those surveyed have incorpo­ rated them into their greens’ maintenance programs. O f that group, 86 percent have made Primo their PGR of choice. Fairview Country Club’s Jim Pavonetti feels his cultural program has enabled him to maintain “tournament conditions” on Poa greens while keeping their dark, green color and sparing them from excessive wear-andtear. His formula for success: weekly Primo, biostimulants, and liquid N applications; daily light-weight rolling and mowing with 14-bladed reels at low heights of cut; light, frequent topdressing applications; and ex­ treme water management. Explains Jim, “I feel that the 14-bladed reels, daily rolling, higher Primo rates (our rates went from 5-6 fl. ozs. per acre to 9), and shorter intervals have elevated our cur­ rent green speeds to an average of 13'6" and a high of 14'. Before making those changes, our speeds were 12'3" to 13'.” 11. DO YOU USE GROOMERS, BRUSHES, OR VERTICUTTERS AND HOW OFTEN? Use of groomers, brushes, and verticutters is as prevalent as ever, with little change in grooming practices over the past 16 years. A total of 92 percent of respondents say they groom, brush, or verticut their greens, with a good number of them—28 percent— grooming on a weekly basis. 12. WHAT IS THE AVERAGE MOIS­ TURE LEVEL OF YOUR GREENS? Before the TDR 300 moisture meters were invented, most clubs reported their moisture level maintenance as “field capacity” or “on the dry side.” Even though the survey didn’t require it, this time, 75 percent of respon­ dents referred to their moisture meters when reporting their greens’ moisture levels. Due to meter calibration variations and the different soil types at each course, these numbers can vary significantly, but for what it’s worth, the average level of moisture noted by survey respondents was 16 percent. To maintain reasonable moisture levels on his Poa greens, Fairview’s Jim Pavonetti has had great success with his hand-watering program, which starts every morning with lightly hand watering the entire green and perimeter behind the roller. “Using a TDR moisture meter,” explains Jim, “an assistant Tee to Green August /September 2016 As in past surveys, the overwhelming majority of memberships reported that putting green speeds remain high on their priority list. marks any spots on greens that are below 15 percent and the hand waterer will give those spots a little extra. Then, starting at 1 p.m., we monitor greens until the sun sits low in the sky. At this time, we use only visual observations and foot printing; we do not use the TDRs during the afternoon.” 13. WHAT IS YOUR ANNUAL NITROGEN FERTILITY USE? By 2008, survey respondents had begun upping their fertility rates based on research touting its merits, particularly in anthracnose and moss control. Eight years later, fer­ tility rates remain much the same, with the majority of clubs applying between 2 to 4 lbs. of nitrogen/1,000 sq. ft. per year. In addition to weekly liquid nitrogen applications, Fairview’s Jim Pavonetti takes action to prevent anthracnose and other turf issues from overtaking his greens. “We use a preventive anthracnose program, with Daconil Ultrex and Chipco Signature being the two cornerstones of the program,” he says. “We also take preventive measures against summer patch, pythium root rot, and hyperodes to ensure that disease and insect pres­ sures won’t force us to reduce speed to allow recovery.” 14. DO YOU FEEL THE GREEN SPEEDS YOU ARE ASKED TO MAINTAIN ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE RELATIVE SEVERITY OF THE CONTOURS? In our 2008 survey, the majority of respon­ dents—more than 90 percent—felt that the speed they were achieving was about right for their particular greens. But now, with average speeds climbing, the number of courses reporting the speed too fast for their contours has risen to 20 percent of the group. Fairview Country Club’s Jim Pavonetti is one who admits to pushing his speeds beyond where they should be, but, appar­ ently, with his members’ blessing. “My speeds aren’t appropriate for the relative fceve|ity of the contours,” he says, “but the members are used to it and absolutely love it. They consider it the ‘teeth’ of the course,” he adds. Others, like Jamie Kapes of Woodway Country Club, feel that despite doing their Ilk w %1 l * to 1Green1 August/September 1 2016 best to maintain appropriate speeds, they’re still asked to “back off ” periodically. “We focus on creating a healthy agro­ nomic environment that allows us to push our greens as much as possible on a consis­ tent basis,” says Jamie. “Our goal is to have day-to-day consistency regardless of who is playing or the day of the week, with a maxi­ mum speed that is challenging yet fair for our green contours. “Despite this,” he continues, “we have at times been asked to pump the brakes a bit. For the most part, though, I feel we’ve found a nice place. The consistency assures that we never sacrifice plant health. And we strive to keep the greens as lean and dry as possible to avoid allowing Mother Nature to drastically change the way they play. We feel we can always slow them down with water and cul­ tural practices to maintain consistency.” 15. HOW MANY GREENS DO YOU HAVE WITH EXTREMELY LIM­ ITED CUPPING AREA? With ball roll distances escalating, the aver­ age number of greens per course with very limited cupping area has grown over the past eight years, with the average being four. But more than half—54 percent—of respondents reported having more than the average number of greens with limited cupping area. Last survey, that number included just 40 percent of respondents. Westchester Country Club’s David Dudones always has his eye on the ball—or rather on how it’s rolling, often having to adjust hole locations based on the speed of the greens. “When speeds are excessive,” says David, “we putt to all our hole locations to make sure they are fair and then recut any cup that’s questionable.” According to Blind Brook Club Super­ intendent Les Kennedy, there are several greens that have very little cupping area at 12' and above.“Our greens are very undulat­ ing,” says Les, “so when they reach 12' or higher, the members aren’t happy!” 16. HAVE YOU REBUILT ANY GREENS TO REDUCE SLOPE. IF YES, HOW MANY? It only makes sense that the number of greens being rebuilt to reduce slope contin­ ues to escalate. The 2008 survey showed that 44 greens had been recontoured to accom­ modate faster green speeds; since then, another 78 have been softened. A total of 122 greens have been modified since the first survey in 2001. And there are more clubs fol­ lowing suit, Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, NY, among them. “Given the desire for speed, firmness, and cupping variety,” says Sleepy Hollow Superintendent Tom Leahy, “the club has decided to rebuild all the greens in 2016 and 2017.” Has the need for speed superseded the desire for the interest and challenge inherent in the more contoured and sloped greens of our older courses? 17. HOW IMPORTANT ARE FAST GREEN SPEEDS TO YOUR MEMBERSHIP? As in past surveys, the overwhelming major­ ity of memberships reported that putting green speeds remain high on their priority list. With a membership of largely low-handicappers, the club that seems to have one of the greatest needs for speed is the Meadow Brook Club on Long Island. “On a scale of 1 to 10,” says Superintendent John Carlone,“I would say my members’ need for speed is a 12! It’s gotten to the point,” he continues, “that my members enjoy when they some­ times can’t finish a hole due to green speed/slope issues. We just try to get them as fast as we can every day given environmen­ tal conditions.” At the other end of the spectrum are two public course venues, Silver Lake Golf Course in Staten Island, NY, and Oak Hills Park in Norwalk, CT, where the superin­ tendents take great care to tone down green speeds for the average golfer. Oak Hills Park Super Jim Schell notes that his green speeds, which average 10’3M,actu­ ally exceed golfers’ expectations. “Many of our golfers feel the speeds are fast due to lack of exposure to superfast greens,” says Schell, adding, “I am finding that more important than speed, here, is true roll. These golfers want their ball to travel on the line they start it on.” At Silver Lake, Superintendent Doug Johnstone “amps up” only for the special jm i * m r s r m ft « ü*• f«y*»* U lB ~ 1 Final Thoughts When all is said and done, is it speed that makes for a great round of golf, or is it pro­ viding healthy, true, and consistent putting surfaces for our golfers? As Sunningdale’s Sean Cain implies in his comment on the Stimpmeter—“The Stimpmeter is the most misused tool in our industry due to ego and the pressure to excel.”—we should take great care to put both our egos, and the egos of our member­ ships, aside when preparing our greens maintenance programs. As the experts and many of the superin­ tendents we surveyed seem to indicate, most important is that we prepare our greens with an eye toward not just the needs of the few vocal, speed-seeking golfers, but the majority of our memberships. We must set programs with our greens topography and our re­ sources and budgets in mind to achieve con­ ditions that are both realistic and attain­ able. The need for speed? We may want to rethink it. Scott Niven is a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee and property manager of The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT. Special thanks to Stanwich Assistants Rob Capecelatro and Greg Rotter for their help in processing the data gathered for this article. ¡Æ m m m •f W 19. DOES THE ESCALATING DEMAND FOR FASTER GREENS GIVE YOU MORE PERSONAL STRESS THAN MEETING OTHER MAINTENANCE DEMANDS? This year, only about 25 percent of our sur­ vey respondents mentioned feeling stressed by the escalating demand for faster green speeds. This figure is quite a bit lower than in 2008 when 40 percent admitted to feel­ ing the strain. It’s likely that better mainte­ nance tools and techniques make it some­ what easier to keep the turf healthy and, as a result, sleep a little better at night. But stresses do exist. Siwanoy Country Club’s Steven McGlone, like a number of other survey respondents, finds doing battle with Mother Nature’s unpredictable shifts in temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind along with trying to maintain consis­ tency in Poa pushup greens the biggest chal­ lenge. “This often takes more luck than skill,” says Steven, adding, “Those managing USGA bentgrass greens are the ones sleeping well at night during the summer.” B 18. WILL YOU SACRIFICE SOME TURF FOR INCREASED GREEN SPEED? While the need for speed at most clubs con­ tinues to grow, the number of superintend­ ents who are willing to sacrifice turf to get there remains remarkably unchanged. Simi­ lar to 2008, this year’s survey turned up a total of only nine courses. “Plant health trumps green speed, espe­ cially during peak periods of environmental stress,” says St. Andrew’s Robert Milar, echo­ ing the sentiments of most superintendents. Recognizing the precarious nature of his putting surfaces, Tim Garceau of Haworth Country Club, keeps fertility up, along with mowing heights. “When I started here at Haworth,” he explains, “they had poor expe­ riences with the reliability of greens. We do about 22,000 rounds a year, so I need to be cautious with thinning turf from wearand-tear. But as the membership evolves and turf reliability issues fade from the rearview mirror, pressure will, no doubt, rise regarding green speeds. For now, speeds of 11' satisfy most of our membership.” “Among our better golfers,” says Silver Spring Superintendent Peter Rappoccio, “the desire for more speed on our greens is increasing. But will they tolerate the brown and biscuit look that often goes along with faster putting surfaces? To me,” Peter con­ tinues, “it’s better to focus our efforts on producing healthy turf and true-rolling greens, along with green speeds that will satisfy the majority of our members.” m events they host each year, the NYC Ama­ teur qualifier among them, and even then, by most course standards, they’re not super­ fast. “I will groom more often, drop height of cut, topdress, and reduce hydration. If we Stimp at 10.5', I’m happy,” says Doug. “But for the general public* that’s too fast. Nobody wants to b / and 4 -putt all day long.” The other priority among many club members is consistency, often over speed. The Milbrook Club’s Doug Snyder and Pine Hollows Brent Peveich were two who pointed to consistent greens as more impor­ tant to members than green speed. While National Golf Links’ Bill Salinetti only wishes that were the case: “It would be great if we could convince our clubs that consis­ tency is much more important than speed,” he laments. !i Stanwich assistants Chris Body (left) and Rob Capecelatro Stimp the 18th green. Tee to Green August /September 2 0 16 ( j Survey Results at a Glance Number of Respondents I 2 0 1 6 2 0 0 8 2001 1 1. W hat type of grass is on your greens? Poa Annua 9 5 Bent 6 7 Poa/Bent 41 36 2. How often do you check the green speeds each week? 4 14 1 day 10 2 days 5 13 5 12 3 days 11 5 7 4 2 4 days 5 days 6 2 2 1 1 1 6 days 12 4 7 days 3 4 0 days 4 5 3. Do you post greenispeeds? S 5 OQ No 45 50 29 4. What is your average green speed? 4 6 86- 9 4 4 9' - 9'6" 1 8 7 9'6" 9 4 3 9'6" - 10' 5 13 6 10' 2 2 2 1 0 '- 10'6" 4 11 10'6" 10 io'6-ir 2 1 1 21 2 0 ir-irò " 5 11 '6'' and up Average green speed = i r 3 " 10- 9 '8 " 5. W hat is your range of greer1 speed? Low End... 1 0 <8 2 8 8 8' 4 1 6 8'6" 14 8 15 9' 1 1 9'3" 8 15 3 9'6" 1 2 1 9'9" 1 20 5 10' 31 10'6" 11 1 1• 1 _ _ 1 1 T8" 1 13'3" 9'9 " S 'i l " 8'io" Average Low = High End... 2 1 9’ 3 11 10' 2 10'2" 4 2 3 ÌO ’Ó" 1 1 10'9" 1 10'10" 2 18 8 IT 1 11'2" 4 6 11 '6" 10 15 3 12' 12-2" 1 2 6 1 12'6" 1 12'9" 1 2 7 13' 6 13'6" 14' 2 1 14'3 " 3 14'6" Average High = 12'6n i r ò " i n " 6. What is your usual height of cut? l 0.080 1 0.085 1 0.090 1 0.093 4 0 .0 9 0 -0 .0 9 3 2 2 0.095 0.100 6 1 0.103 1 7 3 0.105 5 11 0.1 10 9 3 l 0.115 - _ - - - _ _ - — _ _ _ - _ - _ _ _ - _ - _ _ - - _ _ - - _ - - - _ - - - - - - - - - - - - Tee to Green August /September 2016 Number of Respondents Number of Respondents 2016 0.117 0.118 0.120 0.125 0.130 0.135 0.140 0.150 0.156 Avg. Height of Cut = _ _ 7 5 1 1 1 _ _ 0.110 1 1 3 13 2 4 6 1 _ 0.120 _ 1 2 14 3 2 3 1 _ 0.130 How many times do you cut per day? 44 17 lx 38 1 2x 5 3 1 1 3x 7 1x or 2x 9 11 What type of mower are you using? 11 20 Toro 1000 19 Toro Flex 18 1 Toro 800 6 2 John Deere 10 Jacobsen 18 5 8 Jac 422 2 Jac Flex 4 Jac E-Walker 1 PGM 1 Ransomes Triplex 3 5 8. How often do you roll per week? 4 Occasionally 4 Ox 5 4 1 lx 5 11 10 2x 1 9 17 3x 3 4x 15 15 17 5x 1 _ 9 6x 1 7x 2 1 4 8x What type of greens roller do you use? 7 Speed roller 11 17 10 Salsco Triplex 1 8 4 11 Vibratory 2 Smithco 3 14 1 Tru-Turf 3 Agri metal Toro 1240 2 1 Greens Iron 9. How often do you topdress? 14 1 Weekly Biweekly 20 21 7 Every 3 weeks 9 9 5 18 Monthly 3 15 2 4 Bimonthly _ With arification 3 1 5 As needed 10. Do you use PGRs regularly? 21 49 48 Yes 1 5 13 No What is your preferred type of PGR? 43 Primo 3 Primo Trimmit 2 Trimmit 1 Legacy 1 Legacy+Primo 1 1 . Do you use groomers, brushes,, or verticutters? 31 46 45 Yes 3 No 5 8 How often? 7 14 9 Weekly 11 Biweekly 3 15 7 Monthly 12 14 Bimontnly 3 As needed 8 7 3 6 Spring/Fall 7. _ _ _ - Average moisture level == 16% - 13. _ _ - - - - - — _ _ _ - - - 2008 2001 12. What is the average moisture level of your greens? >amp 8 6 18 14 Field capacity 25 14 Dry 1 10% 3 1 1% 12% 1 3 13% 14% 5 6 15% 16% 5 17% 2 18% 3 1 19% 20% 3 24% 1 1 27% 1 30% _ - _ 2016 2008 2001 What is your annual nitrogen fertility use? 0 0 3 < 1 lb. 12 4 18 1 - 2 lbs. 25 21 10 2 - 3 lbs. 12 20 3 3 - 4 lbs. 1 8 > 4 lbs. 14. Do you feel the green speeds you are asked to maintain are appropriate for the relative severity of the contours? Yes 39 48 24 5 8 10 No 15. How many greens