USGA GREEN SECTION TURF ADVISORY SERVICE REPORT

Transcription

1 USGA GREEN SECTION TURF ADVISORY SERVICE REPORT Carmel Country Club Charlotte, NC United States Golf Association Southeast Region 1097 Highlands Dr. Birmingham, AL (205) , FAX (205) Present During Visit: Mr. Ted Barnes, Mr. Bruce Willette, Greg Powell, Bob Buckner, Tim Jones - Green Committee Members Neil Day Golf Pro Bill Anderson Greens and Grounds Director Ed McClafferty South Course Superintendent Scott Fallon North Course Superintendent Kevin Lutz South Course Assistant Superintendent Bob Campbell North Course Assistant Superintendent John Clark Horticulturist Chris Hartwiger, Patrick O Brien - USGA Green Section Joey Young, Mike Vysocka, Christian Baldwin USGA Interns Stephen Bernhard, Bernhard and Company Date of Visit: Date of Report: July 10, 2007 Statement of Purpose: The purpose of the USGA Green Section is to assist subscribing courses in matters of agronomic management. All recommendations are offered free of bias, since the USGA has no connections or obligations to any manufacturer, supplier, or contractor. Additionally, since quick fixes seldom result in permanent improvement, some of the recommendations in this report may not be easy to implement and could take more than a single season to produce the desired results.

2 Page 2 of 7 Opening Statement On behalf of the USGA Green Section, it was a pleasure to return to the Carmel Country Club to discuss the golf course maintenance program. This year s visit consisted of a tour of the golf course in which numerous topics were discussed. This was followed by lunch and golf with the Green Committee members in the afternoon. Thank you for all the kindness and hospitality shown to us during the visit. The main topics of discussion will be reviewed in this report. Please do not hesitate to contact either Chris Hartwiger or Patrick O Brien with any questions or comments. Aeration and Topdressing Review 1. We stopped on the 18 th green, North Course to discuss the aeration and topdressing programs. 2. A soil profile was taken and the following results were noted. First, the upper rootzone continues to be well diluted with sand from filling aeration holes and surface topdressing applications. The staff has been following USGA recommendations for these practices for several years and putting green performance continues to be positive. 1. Keep up the great work with the aeration and topdressing programs. The Carmel program is excellent and is extending the life of these Penncross putting greens. Spring Fairway Conditions Picture 1: Core aeration and sand topdressing has helped to dilute the natural accumulation of organic matter in the upper rootzone. 1. The question was asked at a stop near the 16 th green about low heights of cut or tight lies on fairways in the spring of the year. This has been a concern repeated over the years. 1. Each spring, USGA Green Section agronomists in the southeast receive numerous s and phone calls about no grass on the fairways or low heights of cut during the spring. What is happening is not actually a low height of cut, but bermudagrass with no or little recuperative potential that has been beaten down through several months of traffic from golfers and carts. The dormant bermudagrass tissue becomes broken, crushed, and matted down.

3 Page 3 of 7 2. Tight lies in the spring can be reduced or minimized with the help of club members. Limiting cart traffic on the fairways October 15 th through April 15 th would result in significantly better fairway conditions in late winter or early spring. However, since turf health is not at risk and the condition is temporary until the bermudagrass begins growing again, most golf courses do not favor this recommendation. In any event, traffic and dormant bermudagrass are responsible for the conditions, not specific acts of the maintenance staff. Sweet Gum Tree Removal at #4 and #17 Tee South Course We made a quick stop at this location to discuss the negative influence of shade caused by the sweet gum trees near the #4 and #17 tees. All were in favor of selectively removing these trees. A bonus will be a reduction/elimination of time consuming sweet gum ball removal and cleanup. Recycling Center Behind Hole 6 on the South Course, we visited the recycling center where vegetative material is composted and other supplies such as sand are recycled. This is a tremendous asset for the club to have and the staff should be complimented for responsible stewardship of these materials. Once the composting process is complete, the staff uses the by-products as mulch under trees and in various projects throughout the course. New Turfgrasses in the Region Picture 2: Massive amounts of material are composted and recycled at the recycling center behind Hole When the South Course is renovated, Committee members will face difficult on grass selection. Southern golf courses now have multiple options for turfgrasses on putting greens and in fairways. All choices have pluses and minuses. 2. The advantages of using ultradwarf bermudagrasses on putting greens were reviewed. This is not a recommendation to select an ultradwarf, but an encouragement for the Committee to perform their due diligence prior to making a decision. Enclosed are two articles that discuss what is happening with these new varieties. 3. Fine blade zoysiagrasses such as Diamond, Zeon, and Zorro were reviewed. These are the new Wow Factor varieties in the south and they are viewed by many golf courses as premium surfaces. Test plots have been grown at Carmel and our observations yielded mixed reviews. Disadvantages of these varieties include greatly enhancing course infrastructure items such as fairway drainage and installing a new watering system that can water fairways separately and

4 Page 4 of 7 rough separately. Spraying for fairway diseases will be needed, too. Finally, if adjustments are desired in fairway width, it can not be accomplished realistically with zoysiagrass fairways and bermudagrass rough. 4. We discussed the merits of TifSport bermudagrass as a fairway grass option at Carmel. A positive attribute of TifSport is outstanding genetic purity at the sod production level. We are confident that there is little risk for contamination in the sod. Additionally, sodding a fairway would limit, but not guarantee, the return of any old fairway bermudagrass that was not killed prior to planting. 5. Emerald bermudagrass is a new variety developed by Champion Turf Farms. The first golf course in the Southeast that has been planted with Emerald is the River Course at Kiawah Island. At this time, the major drawbacks with the Emerald is the lack of availability of sod and Champion Turf Farm s reluctance to plant Emerald only on sandy soils. 6. Celebration bermudagrass is a common type of bermudagrass that is noted for its improved shade tolerance compared to Tifway bermudagrass. We are seeing more and more golf courses use Celebration on driving range tees, and shady areas. However, it has not gained widespread use as a fairway turf due to its slightly wider leaf blade and more coarse texture. 7. One option that should not be forgotten is the older industry standard Tifway bermudagrass. The biggest criticism against Tifway bermudagrass is the amount of contamination and off-types present in varieties sold as Tifway. If Tifway is selected, an extensive amount of homework will be needed to identify a satisfactory source that is genetically confirmed as Tifway and free of contaminants. 1. Each of the grasses mentioned has inevitable strengths and weaknesses. We still have not discovered the perfect grass. Our recommendation is to study the strengths and weaknesses of each grass and how they will perform given the level of expectations and the levels of play at Carmel. Additionally, keep in mind how each of these grasses would affect the club from a business point of view. There is no question that clubs such as the Atlanta Athletic Club that have selected novel grasses that create a different look and equal or superior playing surfaces are now charging more to incoming members. This is an important, but overlooked factor because at every private club, the future of the club is the members that are yet to join. 2. Getting out on the road and playing golf on these new grasses is a fun part of the green committee s homework. We can recommend appropriate clubs to visit for any type of variety. When viewing the ultradwarf bermudagrasses, I would recommend that the club visit cities with similar climates. Stay away from resort coastal areas as their expectations/climate are different. Memphis Country Club and Berkeley Hills in Georgia are two good choices for viewing the ultradwarfs.

5 Hole 10, Par 3 North Course Carmel Country Club Page 5 of 7 1. Bill Anderson reviewed Tom Jackson s plan for lengthening this hole by moving the back tee closer to the edge of the creek. 2. The staff is confident permitting can be obtained. 3. The cost for the project is unknown at this time. 1. We do not have strong feelings either way regarding this proposed change. The staff has done their homework and ultimately, the Committee needs to perform the cost/benefit analysis to determine if this change will improve the golf course. Sweet Gum Tree, Hole 14 North Course We viewed the sweet gum tree near the landing area and the mulch to the right of the fairway. All agreed that selective removal of this tree was appropriate given its propensity to produce copius amounts of litter and the effects of shade on the turf. Sweet Gum Tree, Hole 15 North Course We discussed the possibility of removing the sweet gum trees to the left of this hole. This idea was unanimously rejected due to the protection that these trees provide for golfers standing on the 15 th tee. North Course Practice Tee Upper Level 1. Mr. Tom Jackson has submitted a proposal for improving the practice facility by creating new target greens, bunkers, and remodeling the upper practice tee. 2. New amenities are appearing on high end private clubs and these were reviewed. 1. Golf has become a game of practice for many and more attention is being focused on practice facilities. This is a positive trend as the turf and experience at the practice facility forms the golfer or perspective member s first impression of the golf experience at the course. 2. We support the changes proposed by Mr. Tom Jackson. 3. Outlined below are a few amenities we are seeing currently in the region. a. Larger target poles are being used in place of flagsticks on targets. These are easier to see by the golfer and easier to pick up with a range finder. b. Service is a way private clubs can differentiate themselves from high end daily fee courses. At the Cherokee Town and Country Club, the range

6 Page 6 of 7 attendant shoots yardages to each target from every range stall. The yardage is posted on magnetic boards attached to the bag stand. Picture 4: More attention is being paid to detail and service on the practice tee. Picture 3: Larger targets on the range are easier to see visually and with a range finder. Landscape Master Plan John Clark, horticulturist, reviewed the landscape master plan for the North Course prepared by Mr. Mack Cain. We have worked with Mr. Cain for many years in the region and he is one of the finest in this small, but important niche. The proposed plan provides an effective screen between the golf course and home owners that does not compromise the golf experience or detract from the home owner s perspective. Proposed Changes on #2 North Course The membership has felt for many years this hole is problematic due to the severe terrain and the advantage it gives long tee shots. Mr. Tom Jackson has submitted a proposal that lengthens the back tee, cuts down the beginning of the fairway, and moves fill to the landing area and beyond. The goal is to provide a better par 5 golf hole. There is some concern with these changes about the vulnerability of the tennis courts to errant golf balls because the fairway is going to be moved slightly to the right. Our opinion is that this change is one that is all about trade-offs. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to implementing the proposed change. Ultimately, it should be up to the members to select the best option for the golf course. Conclusion It was a pleasure to visit the Carmel Country Club and discuss the care of the course. Besides providing a service free of bias from affiliation with any product or manufacturer, the USGA Green Section is the largest supporter of turfgrass research in the world. This research effort is critical to ensure the future of the game of golf and the industry of turfgrass maintenance. The thrust of this research is to provide superior

7 Page 7 of 7 turfgrasses that play better and are easier to maintain while ensuring golf courses remain positive influences on the environment. Your club s membership in the USGA and support of the Green Section makes this research effort possible. Thank you for your support of the Turfgrass Advisory Service. Please do not hesitate to call my office should you have any questions concerning this report, the research efforts of the USGA, or any other matter regarding the maintenance of your course. Sincerely, Chris Hartwiger USGA Green Section, Southeast Region