W M. H. BENGEYFIELD Western D i r e c t or Garden Grove, California Phone KEllogg 2-2935 Western Twrfletter • V o l. 10 - N o. 1 January - February 1961 T HE S E R V I CE it it it it it it it it it * it * it V I S I T I NG it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it /V it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it /V * * it i t it it it it it it it it /V it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it i it it it it it it USGA Green Section Agronomists made over 1 , 2 40 golf course v i s i ts (and reports) last year throughout the USA and neigh- boring a r e a s. The Green Section V i s i t i ng S e r v i c e s' sole purpose is to be of direct aid to USGA Member Clubs in the e f f i c i e nt production of better golfing t u r f. Is your club making this unique service and unbiased information avail- able to your course superintendent? North, South, E a s t, West: it it it it it it it it it it The b e n e f i ts are many1. In addition to the annual v i s it to each course, emergency consultation is a v a i l a b le when n e e d e d. Direct assistance by corres- pondence and telephone, as well as discussions at local and regional turf con- ferences have frequently proven helpful to subscribers . Subscriptions to the Western T u r f l e t t er and USGA Journal and Turf Management are also i n c l u d e d. it it it And the total annual cost is reasonable enough: Less than 18 holes 18 to 27 ho les More than 27 h o l e s: $ 1 0 0. 1 2 5. 36 holes Per additional 18 holes it it * * Additional information is a v a i l a b le from this o f f i ce or the USGA, 40 East 38th * * it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it S t ., New York 1 6, New Y o r k. planning.!f " E f f i c i e nt Management starts with e f f i c i e nt 1 5 0. 4 0. nF 0 R D I S T I N G U I S H ED S E R V I CE TO G O L F- - - As it is with a ll pioneers, John Monteith, J r. was alone in the f i e ld of turfgrass pathology in the late 1 9 2 0!s and 1 9 3 0 ' s. He explored the f u t u r e. And h is discoveries of that time have become the commonplace disease controls of today. His work remains as a world-wide standard in control of brown patch and dollar spot on putting green t u r f. For Distinguished Service to Golf -" ( C o n t ' d) 2. In 1926 D r. Monteith first published his accounts of mercury containing fungi- cides -- bichloride of mercury in a mixture with calomel. He served as Director of the Green Section from 1928 through 1942. It was during this time that selection and test- ing programs were carried out on a number of bentgrasses including Arlington (C-l), Cohansey (C-7), Toronto (C-15), Congressional (C-19), Collins (C-27), Norbeck (C-36) and old Orchard (C-52) . Merion bluegrass (B-27) and U-3 bermudagrass were also among the t e s t s. deficient in iron, resulting in a general yellowing or bleaching of the g r a s s ." He was an early advocate of soil sterilization on the golf course. became a basic material for weed control in turf under his d i r e c t i o n. As early as 1932 D r. Monteith pointed out that " s o i ls often become Sodium ^rsenite D r. Monteith was a pioneer in every sense of the word. The techniques and research data he developed over 30 years ago continue to influence turf management practices today1. Indeed, much-erf the present turf excellence may be attributed to him. For thes6 reasons, D r. John Monteith, J r. was the outstanding choice to receive the first "Green Section Award of The United States Golf Association tinguished Service to Golf through Work with T u r f g r a s s ," D r. Monteith traveled from his post as Agronomist, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado to accept the Award in New York on January 27, 1961. For Dis- ON GUARD FOR FRIT FLY: Is the Frit Fly (Oscinella f r i t) a new turfgrass insect pest? Evidence seems Serious damage occurred on many greens in California to be accumulating that it i s. and Arizona last spring and summer that could be attributed to this insect. The follow- ing letter from Arthur A. Snyder, Superintendent of the Paradise Valley Country Club, Scottsdale, Arizona is an example: "Do you remember the injury that occurred each spring to my greens as well as others in this area? How, two years ago some clubs were forced to use temporary greens on every hole for a great part of the summer due to this injury? How we were puzzled as to cause and control? "Grass samples were taken to the University where both curvularia and pythium disease organisms were found. I tried several fungicides and some seemed to help at times, but damage would continue at intervals. You may remember our doubts that any fungus was responsible, for its appearance did not resemble any fungus injury we had ever seen. "Early last spring one of the workmen on Superintendent Jay Woodward's course (Arizona Country Club) suggested that a small gnat-like insect might be the c u l p r i t. We were skeptical since it was so small and d i d n 't seem to be in sufficient numbers to create so much havoc. But we switched to i n s e c t i c i d e s. No improvement from Dieldrin but I got miraculous results from 1 q t, Malithion-5 in 75 g a l s, water per 1 2 , 0 00 sq. f e e t. 15% Toxaphene and 5% D ,D .T . dust to each 1000 sq. f e e t ." Jay Woodward was very happy with results after dusting with 1 /2 l b. Thanks, Art Snyder. Insect activity is usually greater on golf courses during dry years and Insects will lay their 1961 is shaping up as a very dry one for much of the West. eggs where there is ample moisture and a food supply. ON GUARD FOR FRIT FLY - - (CONT D) 3. Frit fly damage Is usually noticed f i r st around the collars of greens and then works gradually inward after several days. The grass (bluegrass and bentgrass) turns brown, thins out and takes on an unhealthy appearance. of the insect does the damage and there may be several broods of larvae through the year. are small black f l i e s, about 1 to 2 cm. long and frequently found in large numbers. They seem to be attracted by the color white -- w i ll land on golf b a l l s, white shoes, s h i r t s, h a i r, e t c. Their activity usually starts in the late spring or early summer. The adults It is believed that the larvae Research accomplished last year indicates that Diazinon, Malithion and D . D . T. w i ll give control. A full discription of the F r it Fly may be found in the July-1958 issue of The USGA Journal and Turf Management. The article "A New Turfgrass Insect Pest?" is by Schread and Radko. Look out for Frit Fly this year! NSW USGA BOOKLET AVAILABLE: nA Guide For Green Committee Members of Golf Clubs11 is a new USGA booklet recent- ly r e l e a s e d. The publication is "designed to help guide you past the dangers of this job, show you the opportunities, and assist in making your committee work an asset to your c l u b ." MEETINGS OF NOTE: Northern California Turfgrass Institute University of C a l i f o r n i a, Davis, C a l i f o r n ia March 29 ( 8 : 30 A . M . ), March 30, 1 9 6 1. Mr. Wm. D a v i s, Chairman, University of C a l i f o r n i a, Davis, California Annual Golf Course Equipment Show - Southern C a l i f o r n ia Indian Wells Country Club, Palm Springs, C a l i f o r n ia March 27, 28, 29, 1 9 6 1. Mr. Bud Turner, Chairman, Hi-Lo Desert Superintendents' Association Box 2616 Palm Springs, C a l i f o r n ia Northwest Turfgrass Association; Golf Club Presidents-Superintendents Annual Meeting May 19, 1961 Mr. Don Hogan, Chairman, 1910 Minor A v e ., Seattle 1, Washington •>V & it -k -k -k "You must act in your f r i e n d 's interest whether it pleases him or n o t; the object of love is to serve, not to win.11 Woodrow Wilson E S. GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION WESTERN OFFICE P.O. Box 567 Garden Grove, California BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE P A ID Garden Grove, Calif. Permit No. 83 D r. J• R. f a t s o nf C h e if A g r o n o m i st J r. T o ra M a n u f a c t u r i ng C o r p. M i n n e a p o l is 6t M i n n.