MGCSA CHRISTMAS PARTY
Date:
Place:

Thursday, December 9th, 1971
Hampshire Country Club
Hommocks Road
Mamaroneck, New York
Cocktails: 7 PM
Dinner:
8 PM
Dancing: 9 —1
Price:
$32.00 per couple

Coming Events:
Dec. 8
Pesticide Conference
8:15 Registration
Tappan Zee Motor Inn
Nyack, New York (Exit 11)
Dec. 17
NJGCSA Christmas Party
No tickets sold at door
Send check to Jack Martin
600 Colonial Avenue
Union, New Jersey
$30.00 per couple
1972
Jan. 10-11 Mid-Atlantic Golf Course Superintendents Conf.
Holiday Inn, Downtown
Baltimore, Maryland
Contact: A. D. Watson
Sparrows Point Country Club
Sparrows Point, Maryland
Jan. 19-21 Golf and Fine Turf — Rutgers University
Feb. 13-18 International GCS AA Turfgrass Conference
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mar. 1-3
Turfgrass Conference
University of Mass.

MGCSA Annual Meeting, Election of Officers
The following members were elected to Office for the 1972
season:
President:
Everett Wood
First Vice President: Harry H. Nicol
Second Vice Pres.: Ron Boydston
Secretary:
Edward C. Horton
Treasurer:
Garry N. Crothers
Sergeant at Arms: Anthony Altomaro
Directors:
Dominick DiMarzo
Pat Lucas, Jr.
Gus Powell
Anthony Savone
John Sundholm
Allan Tretera

Job Openings:
Stevensville Country Club
Sullivan Co,, New York
18 hole resort golf course
Minimum 3 years experience as Superintendent
College education preferable
Salary $1042,000
Fringe benefits include housing
Contact: Mr. Kenneth Dinnerstein
Stevensville Country Club
345 West 58th Street
New York, N.Y. 10010
No later than Feb. 1, 1972

Shorehaven Golf Club
East Norwalk, Conn.
18 holes —Private
45 years old
Degree in Agronomy requested
Manual irrigation
Experience as Superintendent
Salary —open
Send resume to : Paul Harris
Chairman of Selection Committee
Shorehaven Golf Club
P.O. Box 721
East Norwalk, Conn.

Editorial Staff

Editor in Chief
Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff
Advertizing Manager

Garry N. Crothers
Edward Horton
Pat Lucas
Ron Boydston
OFFICERS

Everett Wood, Scarsdale G.C.
Office 914-723-2840, Home 914-472-0174
Harry H. Nichol, Elmwood C.C.
First
Vice President:
Office 914-592-6608, Home 914-354-4582
Ronald Boydston, Rockland C.C.
Second
Vice President:
Office 914-359-5346, Home 914-359-2910
Secretary:
Edward C. Horton, Winged Foot G.C.
Office 914-698-2827, Home 914-835-1181
Garry N. Crothers, The Apawamis Club
Treasurer:
Office 914-967-2100, Home 914-666-7126
Sergeant at Arms: Anthony Altomaro, Greenwich C.C.
Office 203-869-1000, Home 203-661-7019

President:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dominick DiMarzo, Bonnie Briar C.C.

Office 914-834-3042
Home 914-273-8955
Patrick Lucas, Jr., Back-of-Beyond
Office 914-279-4459
Home 203-746-4530
Gus Powell, Round Hill Club, Inc.
Office 203-869-2350
Home 203-531-5826
Anthony Savone, Innis Arden C.C.
Office 203-637-3210
Home 203-637-4475
John Sundholm, Green Rock Corp.
Office 914-631-4560
Home 914-631-4458
Allan Tretera, Fenway G.C.
Office 914-472-1467
Home 914-241-2169
Past President: John Madden, Engineers C.C.
Office 516-621-5350
Not copyrighted. I f there is good here, we want to share it with
all chapters - unless author states otherwise.

DRAINAGE
Edward C. Horton
Superintendent of Golf Courses
Winged Foot Golf Club
The following notes partially summarize the discussion on
drainage led by Professor Carl S. Winkelblech at Winged Foot
Golf Club on November 15, 1971 :
To use the enclosed “The Drain Design Chart” from the 1971
Agricultural Engineers Yearbook, the Drainage Coefficient will

generally be 3/4”- l” for golf course conditions. This is a measure
of the rate at which water should be removed from the soil for
turfgrass survival. Velocity of water in the tile, designated by V-l,
V-2, etc., should be kept greater than 3 feet per second if
possible. This would help to prevent settling of sand and silt
particles which could potentially block the tile. The Acres
Drained column represents the total topographical area in which
surface drainage is to a common location. Discharge in cubic feet
per second, tile grade in inches per 100 feet or in feet per 100
feet are self explanatory. The results obtained by using this chart
would be the determination of tile size.
Further considerations to study when selecting tile are:
1. Soil Type will influence the number of gallons which might
have to be handled by 1000 feet of tile. For example:
Coarse Sand
— 67 to 438 gal/1000 ft.
Sandy Loam
— 32 to 112 gal/1000 ft.
Silt Loam
— 18 to 45 gal/1000 ft.
Clay & Clay Loam — 9 to 90 gal/1000 ft.
2. Spacing between tile lines is
For example:
Sandy Loam
Silt Loam
—
Clay & Clay Loam —

also determined by soil type.
100-200 ft. apart
60-100 ft. apart
30- 60 ft. apart

3. Topography will, of necessity, influence the placement of
tile lines.
4. The depth of tile placement should be 24” if possible. This
would help to prevent breakage from equipment traffic as
well as draw maximum amounts of water from the soil.
Again Soil Types influences this decision. For example:
Sand
Clay

—
-

3 to 4 feet minimum
24”

5. Outlets for tiles are critically important and maintenance
was stressed. One example illustrated particularly impressed
me. If running laterals into an open ditch, attempt to
consolidate the outlets as much as possible for future
maintenance. This could be diagrammed as follows:

6, Types of tile were illustrated. Those discussed were Orangeburg tile, agricultural clay tile, ADS
plastic tile and poros cement tile. Briefly, Professor Winkelblech approved of all of the above and
noted further that:
a. Poros cement tile should not be used in alkaline conditions.
b. Poros cement tile would be most suitable in sandy conditions.
c. Orangeburg tile and ADS plastic tile should be carefully embedded in gravel to prevent
mishaping after periods of time.
d. Although the ADS plastic tile had not been approved for use in New York State at present, it
was probably the easiest to install, cheapest to purchase drain tile available and should provide
life time drainage if correctly installed.

Soil Surface
Soil or gravel to surface
Gravel
Tile

7. Correction of Side Hill Seepage is best accomplished by determing the depth of the impervious
layer and placing a tile along this layer to catch water before surfacing.

impervious
layer

^/P oin t of seepage
>
tile placement

Hillside
Surface

If the ditch is dug to the correct depth, water should enter from the soil.
8. A soil auger approximately 3/4”-1” in diameter and 4 feet in length will be found helpful in
drainage work. This is especially useful to locate tile previously ditched.
Stanley Zontek, U.S.G.A. Green Section agronomist briefly discussed the use of slit trenches for
drainage. It was noted that the trenches, when filled to the surface with pea gravel, would provide fast
drainage for several years but would in time become less effective.
In summary, I am sorry that the rainy weather prevented field examination of problems at Winged
Foot. I had hoped to get some free advice from all who attended. However, I think that Andy Androsko
should be applauded for presenting us with the timely opportunity to question Professor Winkelblech
and Stanley Zontek at the end of a year which proved drainage to be of critical importance.

R E D U C IN G W INTER D A M A G E ON PUTTING G R E E N S

by F.B. Ledeboer and C.R. Skogley
University of Rhode Island
Winter injury to turfgrasses often occurs in the northeastern
United States, and particularly so on putting greens. Excessive
frost heaving in soils of high silt content, and strong winds
blowing over open turf combine in dehydrating the turf and
surface layers of the soil.
These conditions produce injury referred to as .desiccation.
Damage is generally more severe if the turf has been weakened
during late summer and fall and if it is underlain by a moderate to
heavy thatch layer; Excellent fall management to provide healthy
turf for winter dormancy is important in preventing winter
injury. This includes proper fertilization, insect and disease
control, and frequent and judicial topdressing, combined with
aerification and vertical mowing to prevent excessive thatch
build-up.
Once heavy damage through desiccation has occurred,
considerable time, effort, and, often, frustration are involved in
returning damaged greens to acceptable playing conditions. At
times even the professional life of the golf course superintendent
may be in jeopardy. Superintendents and professional turf
specialists are aware of this problem and have devised a number
of counter measures.
Winter irrigation and antidesiccant sprays are used to retard
transpirational water losses through the foliage. Excelsior, hay,
straw or brush have been suggested as insulation against cold
temperatures and to trap snow. However, most of these
procedures have some serious drawbacks which are responsible
for their limited acceptance.
In research work at the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment
Station a number of opaque polypropylene shade screens have
been investigated for putting green winter protection. An earlier
report showed that dark-colored materials providing 45-55 per
cent shade were effective. They provide protection for the
grasses, not so much by trapping heat or preventing freezing, but
by producing a modified micro-environment in the turf surface
with a reduced amount of physical stress on the plants during the
winter. These screens are apparently unaffected by weather and
will last almost indefinitely if not willfully destroyed.
Further experiments were conducted on both Velvet and
Penncross creeping bentgrass putting turf during the winters
1967-68 and 1968-69. In addition to a black polypropylene
screen of 55 per cent shade, several nitrogenous fertilizers and
snowmold fungicide treatments were employed to determine
their effectiveness in conjunction with the protective cover. The
tests were started in mid-December of 1967 and late November of
1968.
Velvet Bentgrass Study: 1967-68
In a split plot field experiment, ureaform (Nitroform) and
activated sewage sludge (Milorganite) were applied at two and
four pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet and compared
against an unfertilized check treatment. Fungicide treatments
consisted of Cadminate at two ounces per 1,000 square feet
applied in 20 gallons of water and Calogran at 10 pounds per
1,000 square feet. Half of all plots were then covered with the
polypropylene screens (55 per cent shade). Data were taken in
the form of visual turf quality scores which reflected color,
density, texture and vigor of the turf.
Results and Discussion
Very little response was observed during December and
January, since the turf was dormant when the test was initiated.
Some color development was noticed on covered plots by early
February. It was most pronounced in combination with the
activated sludge treatments. Effects continued to increase slowly

during February and March. Progress was related to prevailing
weather conditions as the season progressed. Early responses to
cover and fertilization were evidenced by the appearance of new
basal shoots near the surface. During freezing temperatures these
tillers changed color from bright green to a purplish brown - a
characteristic change of chlorophyll in plant tissues during cold
weather. As long a frost periods were quite prevalent, this
purplish color would predominate. As warmer temperatures
prevailed (late March), the newly produced growth remained
brilliant green. At First little vertical growth occurred. Early turf
improvements were produced primarily by the cover but were
strongly enhanced by both application rates of activated sludge.
Visual data were taken from late March through mid-May
weekly, at first and later at biweekly intervals. Until April 19, the
cover treatment was the predominant force in influencing turf
quality. After the cover was removed on April 11 and the turf
mowed on April 19, the cover effect diminished. Most of the
early growth was removed by cutting, and open turf improved in
color with normal spring recovery. The subsequent improvement
in turf quality after mowing from May 15 to May 19
demonstrated that the cover was not detrimental to the grass
since the effect of the cover treatment was still quite noticeable.
Fertilization with activated sludge at four pounds\ N /1,000
square feet under the cover produced the best turf on all reading
dates during the test period, followed closely by the two pound
rate. Ureaform treatments did not show significant benefits over
the unfertilized check until May 17.
Fungicide evaluations were not made because Tiphula
snowmold incidence was small. Both fungicides prevented
snowmold completely in open as well as covered areas. The
thought that the cover would provide better conditions for
snowmold development could not be substantiated. Number and
size of diseased areas in protected plots were not greater than in
open turf of the untreated check areas. Nitrogen sources and rates
apparently had no influence on snowmold incidence.
Penncross Study — 1968-69
A test area of Penncross creaping bentgrass was selected for a
similar study the following year. The site had been maintained as
putting turf the previous summer and had received fertilization to
produce acceptable growth, density, and color. The cutting height
was one quarter inch.

8t

Figure I. Response o f Penncross putting tu rf on 4/4/69 to cover
and fertilizer treatments applied during the winter.
Fertilizer treatments were made on November 22 as follows:
1.Activated sewage sludge at two and four pounds N /1,000

square feet.
2. Urea at one and two pounds N/1,000 square feet.
3. 75:25 Ureaform: Urea at two and four pounds N/1,000
square feet.
4. Check-no fertilization.
The test was laid out in a split plot design. Two snowmold
fungicides were applied across the fertilizer treatments on
November 25, Calogran at eight pounds/1,000 square feet and
Calochlor at four ounces/1*000 square feet. Half of all plots were
covered with the polypropylene screen (55 per cent shade) on
December 10. The cover remained in place until April 8, 1969,
and half of all plots were mowed the first time on that day. All
plots were mowed completely on April 15.
Because of the generally low incidence of snowmold in the test
site, data on treatment effects again were omitted. As in the
previous winter, the cover did not appear to increase snowmold
incidence or damage.

the cover was removed.
Data in Figure III represent turf quality of the test plots one
week later after the entire plot area had been cut at 1/4 inch.
Overall quality had increased slightly in numerical values as
temperatures became more favorable. It is clearly evident,
however,that the delay of mowing by one week did not adversely
affect the turf in previously covered plots. The detrimental effect
of earlier mowing on open plots on April 15 was similar to the
reduction suffered by covered plots.
While significant differences still persisted between fertilizer
treatments, relative differences became smaller as the season
progressed. The effect of the cover also diminished with time.

Figure III. Effect o f delayed mowing on Penncross tu rf quality on
4/16/69. One week after cover removal as influenced by cover
and fertilizer treatments applied during the winter.
Figure II. Effect o f mowing on Penncross tu rf quality at time o f
cover removal on 4/8/69 as influenced by cover and fertilizer
treatments applied during the winter.
Results and Discussion
Results obtained were quite comparable to the 1968 data.
Turf quality was significantly increased by cover and fertilizer
treatments.
The cover treatment, again, strongly influenced spring
recovery early in the year (through March). Turf score data in
Figure I, on April 4, demonstate this effect. Differences between
fertilizer treatments on open turf were only small at this time but
all were significantly better than the unfertilized check. Turf
recovery under the cover was enhanced most by activated sludge
treatments, producing excellent quality turf by early April. Both
rates were clearly more effective than either urea of the 75:25
mixture.
After the cover was removed on April 8, half of all plots were
mowed at 3/8 inch. Mowing on the other half was delayed until
April 15. This cutting schedule was used to detect if a delay in
mowing after removal of the cover would prevent the severe color
loss of turf encountered in earlier studies. Turf scores were taken
one day after mowing in both cases. The data are shown in Figure
II and IV for previously covered turf as well as open plots.
Early mowing resulted in loss of color, depressing turf scores
more severely in covered plots than in open turf. Early mowing of
open turf fertilized with activated sludge actually improved
appearance slightly for a while because mowing removed
primarily necrotic leaf tips and exposed new green foliage below
(Figure II).
The setback produced in covered plots was quite severe for all
fertilizer treatments regardless of rate or types, but it was no
worse than that suffered by the check. The smallest reduction in
turf scores occured with the activated sludge treatments, This
would indicate —and it was clear from the appearance of the turf
- that new growth produced was bright green to the base of the
plants and that this growth was not overly succulent at the time

Summary
Late fall nitrogen fertilization and protective covers strongly
affected the time and intensiveness of spring recovery of
bentgrass putting green turf in test conducted in Rhode Island
during the winters 1967-68 and 1968-69. Cover strongly
enhanced turf quality early in the year, but the effect diminished
slowly as the season progressed.
Fertilizer treatments variably intensified the cover effect
depending on source and application rate. Of the fertilizer sources
tested, activated sludge at four pounds N/1,000 square feet
consistently gave the best results, especially early in the season. It
was followed closely by the two pounds N rate, but urea at one
and two pounds N/1,000 square feet gave similar results. A
mixture of 75 per cent ureaform and 25 per cent urea at two and
four pounds N/1,000 square feet gave somewhat poorer results.
Ureaform (UF) alone, at the same rates, was ineffective in
producing the desired early results. UF did not produce a
significant response until the normal growing season was well
under way.
Timing of cover removal was critical. Subsequent management
requirements of the putting surface depended on proper timing.
The cover should be removed early enough to avoid
overstimulation of succulent foliage, yet late enough to escape
cold weather injury. Removing the cover a few days too early is
better than removing it too late!
Mowing should be delayed for several days following removal
of the cover so that the turf can acclimate to the open
environment (higher light intensity and greater moisture as well as
temperature differentials). No apparent damage is sustained with
delayed mowing, and the turf continues to develop normally.
Two winters of testing did not produce a clear picture relative
to snowmold incidence in conjunction with late fall fertilization,
protective cover and snowmold fungicides. What can be stated is
that the cover has no apparent influence on snowmold
occurrence. Preventive snowmold fungicides should be applied as
usual prior to covering of the turf in fall or early winter.

A* t

Edward C. Horton, Secretary
145 Crotona Avenue
Harrison, New York 10528

First Class

MELVIN B LU C A S UR
A
GARDEN CITY GOLF CLUd
315 STEWART AVE
GARDEN CITY NY 11330

You’re Invited

SWmwTrRF"
43rd INTERNATIO NAL TU RFG RASS CONFERENCE AND SHOW
Cincinnati, Ohio
FEBRU ARY 13-18, 1972
Sponsored by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
3158 Des Plaines Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018, Telephone 312-824-6147
Registration Fee: G.C.S.A.A. Members $15— Non Members $35

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