Wednesday, April 29, 2015

For The Hundredth Time!

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"!  Today is Wednesday, April 29th and according to blogger.com this is my 100th post!  When I began putting all the information together for this update a few days ago, I didn't realize it would be such a momentous occasion.  That is not to say there is any added pressure, but nobody really wants to reach the century mark blogging about frost delays or ball marks.  No, for an occasion worthy of the Roman Numeral C we need a topic that is a real "hot button issue".  We need dead turf!

Rt Side #1 Fairway
Rt Side #1 Fairway (Opposite View)


















Rt Side #10 Fairway
Rt Side #10 Fairway (Opposite View)



















Left Side #18 Fairway
Left Side #18 Fairway (Opposite View)



















There, that should do it.  These areas and a few others are quite indicative of bermudagrass on the heels of a cold winter.  You may recall I posted earlier this year about how the 2014-2015 winter was actually colder than 2013-2014, and how February 2015 was the coldest since 1978.  If not I've linked it HERE for your convenience, but suffice to say courses throughout our region are dealing with this natural phenomenon.  Recently I talked with my counterpart at Hendersonville Country Club, Craig DeJong.  We discussed fairways, winterkill, ring of death, and ferrous sulfate applications to name a few.  I saw Craig's blog post from Sunday and thought he did an excellent job defining the numerous possible causes of winterkill along with the need to give Mother Nature a little more time to definitively determine what will and will not make it.  With Craig's permission I am sharing his blog HERE for those interested.

I know ultimately what is really on everyone's mind isn't so much why, but rather you want to know what is the plan going forward.  There are tournaments coming up on the calendar and you want to know what to expect.  I can tell you we have been doing what we can where we can, and I am still waiting patiently where I need to.  You see not all affected areas are caused by the same reasons as some are shade issues, traffic issues, and wet issues.  The wet areas became engrossed with algae following the eight consecutive days of rain earlier this month.  We ended up spraying those areas to kill the algae and then verticutting them to break up and remove the algae.
Now the turf in these areas can breathe and with a little warmer weather they should fill-in to everyone's satisfaction.

 The areas impacted by high traffic and shade I am still waiting for Mother Nature to turn on the heat.  We need to see what happens in these areas once we finally experience consistent weather conducive for bermudagrass growth because there are signs of life.
Signs of Life?
New Leaves Emerging
Call me optimistic but with new leaves emerging we will be better served in the long run if we give what can make it time to make it.  Yes we will need to replace portions of these areas with new turf in the form of sod, but we will replace a lot less a month from now than if we start today.  The good news is we allocated funds in the maintenance budget for winter related turf loss and adequate funds are still available even after the sod work performed earlier this month on the collars.

 Speaking of the collars the new turf has taken root and today we topdressed these areas with the same sand we use for patching divots on the range tee (yesterday they were fertilized with an organic fertilizer).  This topdressing will help blend the seams and permit us to mow the turf in the smooth manner required for turf adjacent to putting surfaces.    
Going forward I plan to speak with the Greens Committee during our regularly scheduled meeting next week about the possibility of taking steps to alleviate some of the shade causing culprits.  Tree removal can be a difficult subject on golf courses, but with two consecutive harsh winters and shade negatively impacting fairway turf survival, maybe it's time we more closely examine the situation.  Otherwise it is safe to say we will probably revisit this topic again next year in some capacity.  By the way, did I mention the greens are perfect right now.  At least we've got that going for us.

See you on the course,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS
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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Road Closed, Turf 411, and Behind the Curtain!

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"!  Today is Tuesday, April 7th and one of the absolute best weeks of the year for golf lovers is finally here.  Yes, I'm talking about The Masters!  I don't know about you but after watching the Drive, Chip, and Putt finals at Augusta National the other morning, I am ready for a pimento cheese sandwich and the Back-9 on Sunday... Yes Sir!

 Over the past two weeks an unfortunate turf malady has reared its ugly head at Carolina Golf Club.  Although a true, technical name for this affliction does not exist, my superintendent peers and I have dubbed this the "ring of death" (ROD).  
For those of you uninterested in why the road is closed here is all you need to know.  Some bermudagrass turf adjacent to the putting greens did not survive and is being replaced with new sod as we speak.  Over the the next few days if you should encounter a small army working around the putting surface of the golf hole you are playing, please pick up and proceed to the next hole. Weather permitting we should wrap up all necessary work late Thursday and "detours" will no longer be necessary.
Front of 10 Green
Front Right of 17 Green



















Front of 1 Green
For those of you with a more vested interest in what has been going on here is the "Turf 411".  I first noticed the signs of the ROD when walking the course on March 25th.  I was performing a routine inspection of the putting surfaces to gauge their aeration recovery compared to previous years.  I immediately reached out to Greens Committee Chairman, Stephen Woodard and explained the need to call in Bill Anderson, CGCS.  Mr. Anderson is now the regional agronomist for the Carolinas Golf Association after spending 40 years as the Director of Golf and Grounds Agronomy at Carmel Country Club.  Bill's consult took place Monday, March 30th and we toured the course together and he provided assistance and guidance (sometimes it is good to have "another set of eyes" on a problem).  I then met with the Greens Committee on Wednesday, April 1st.  Joining us for that meeting was Head Golf Professional, Knox Martin and General Manager, Roger Wolfe.  After much discussion with regards to our options and close examination of our upcoming golf schedule (Masters Shootout, OMEGA, Guest Day, Member-Guest, etc.) the decision was made to replace the damaged turf ASAP in order to give the new turf time to establish prior to the start of a busy spring.

 In order to avoid issues with weak or still partially dormant bermudagrass sod we reached out to a provider located farther south (Pike Creek Turf in Adel, Georgia).  Also, the committee agreed to allow me to reach out to our friends at Golf Course Services, Inc. for their assistance with this project.  With our bermudagrass turf ready for mowing, our seasonal staff just arriving and in need of training, it was imperative we get additional help in order to complete this project in the small window of opportunity provided.  
Removing Damaged Turf No. 1
No. 1 Ready For New Turf



















No. 1 New Turf Installed
With just a little rolling to smooth out the new turf and some topdressing sand to blend the seams these areas will be good as new in a short time!  I am marking these areas as Ground Under Repair and the Golf Shop and I are asking you to take mandatory relief until the turf is sufficiently rooted down.  Also, when accessing the putting surfaces please step across or tread lightly in the immediate interim as new sod requires more water which can lead to soft conditions.  I am happy to report things are progressing nicely and by week's end we should all be able to focus our attention on the outcome of a little tournament just down the road from here.

Speaking of The Masters, I ran across an interesting link the other day.  Andy Stanger, Head Greenskeeper of Headingley Golf Club in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England served an internship at Augusta National Golf Club beginning in the fall of 2008 continuing through the 2009 Masters.  I don't know if the information Andy has shared divulges any "protected trade secrets" but it is definitely a revealing glimpse behind the curtain.  If you've ever watched The Masters and wondered how do they manage to obtain perfection every single year, maybe this will help you gain some perspective.  CLICK HERE! 

 All for now, enjoy The Masters and come enjoy the course as spring looks like it is finally here to stay!

See you on the course,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS
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Friday, March 27, 2015

March Madness, Weekend Update, and the Driving Range Tee!

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"!  Today is Friday, March 27th and if you're here to check on your brackets, or view a funny SNL skit then I'm afraid you have come to the wrong place.  Granted, the membership of Carolina Golf Club was buzzing yesterday with all the possibilities surrounding a Sweet 16 containing UNC, NC State, and Duke.  Unfortunately UNC fell to Wisconsin before I could wrap up this post, so I guess it is now up to the Wolfpack and Blue Devils to represent Tobacco Road.

 They say with age comes wisdom, and from the looks of this Throwback Thursday post I shared yesterday I would venture to say I have finally concluded March is my least favorite month!
In my younger days I used to tell people the only good thing to come out of August is September, but after dealing with colder than average winters the past few years I have finally realized March can be pretty ugly.  Yes, I know in mid- to late-March we finally see the colorful blooms of Forsythia, Bradford Pears, Yoshino Cherries, and Saucer Magnolias to name a few, but bermudagrass is slowly attempting to wake from a long winter hibernation, greens have just been aerated and trying to heal, trees have yet to leaf out, and the entire property just looks out of sorts to me.  Not to mention temperatures are a roller coaster as we transition from winter into spring, quite frankly I find it maddening!

 I walked the course Wednesday morning mostly to assess aeration recovery, but also get an early feel for the state of post-winter bermudagrass health.  Compared to the springs of 2013 and 2014 our putting green recovery is way ahead and I am very pleased thus far. 
Looking at the early stages of bermudagrass green-up it is still way too early to tell.  Yes, there are new green bermudagrass leaves popping up throughout the golf course, but overall this past winter was cold enough and long enough to send the bermudagrass turf into a deeper state of dormancy, and that takes a little longer than usual to recover from (this may be a blessing in disguise; more later).

 I can tell you your golf course maintenance team has been very busy since my last post.  We have treated all the bermudagrass areas on the golf course with pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crabgrass and goosegrass from disrupting your game later this year.  We have also been making similar treatments to the natural/native areas for the same.  We are also treating random natural/native areas with a different herbicide to combat annual ryegrass invasion.  Obviously we were very busy with putting green aeration just last week and my staff has been diligently pruning shrubs and mulching landscape beds as we prepare for Easter Sunday in a couple weeks.
For those of you planning golf activities at the club the next two days I would like to share with you the latest forecast for Charlotte.
Courtesy of Brad Panovich
The important thing to notice here is the morning low temperatures the next two days.  The approaching cold front responsible for the current rain is predicted to bring a Canadian air mass that will plummet temperatures to near freezing tomorrow morning (33 F) and well below freezing (23 F) Sunday morning.  Think about that for a minute... 23 F Sunday morning!  Now, if you are a warm-season grass plant trying to slowly emerge from a lengthy winter dormancy period how do you think you would respond to a hard freeze?  Notice temperatures climb back into the mid-70's by the middle of next week and you can begin to understand how someone in my profession can develop a dislike for March.

 For those of you that do not remember the devastating Easter freeze of 2007 let me refresh your memory.  On April 8, 2007 the temperature in Charlotte was 21 F and the effects were devastating to plant material throughout the entire city.  Bermudagrass was set back a solid six weeks because of that freeze as fully emerged plants were sent back into a dormant state.  I mentioned earlier I thought we may be experiencing a blessing in disguise this time around and here's why.  In April of 2007 we were coming off a milder winter and bermudagrass was waking up earlier.  We experienced three consecutive days with temperatures in the 80's prior to that harsh cold blast and those warm, early spring temperatures contributed to bermudagrass being near fully emerged when it was exposed to the freezing conditions (temperatures were also in the 20's the morning before).  This weekend that is not the case as most of our bermudagrass turf has yet to emerge.  We will be covering the blue tees on holes 6 and 9 tomorrow in order to protect them, but hopefully the fact spring green-up is delayed compared to prior years we will be spared an experience like 2007.

 Which brings us to the last question, when will I open the driving range tee.  It is amazing how frequently the golf shop staff gets asked this question after just a few green leaves emerge.  I can tell you the tee is nowhere near ready for use and we will need to evaluate the impact of this weekend's temperatures.  The best answer I can give you is the tee will open at the appropriate time, just please be patient.  I know, it's maddening.

 See you on the course,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS
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Friday, March 6, 2015

Youthful Reminder, Tough Love, and GIS Recap!

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"!  Today is Friday, March 6th and last week I was in San Antonio representing Carolina Golf Club at the 2015 Golf Industry Show (GIS).  Many of you members might be wondering what is the GIS, and others might be wondering why I was in attendance.  Now, I can tell you the GIS is the single largest golf course maintenance trade show in the world, and I was there to learn about new products, equipment, and technologies in an effort to make your golf experience at Carolina Golf Club better.  But rather than tell you this, I thought today I would show you!  Before I do, let me quickly share some weather related statistics that hopefully sheds some perspective on this year's winter.  I am also going to quickly mention a couple of important golf course related things that are not just on the horizon, but literally right around the corner.  After that we will learn about this year's Golf Industry Show.

Most people understand winter begins on the day of the winter solstice and continues until the spring equinox, but meteorological winter is the period from December 1 through February 28 (hey, I don't make these rules I just pay attention to them).  Anyway, I believe most people here remembers the "Polar Vortex" of last winter and how cold the country was throughout most of the northeast and even this far south.  Well, did you know that here in Charlotte, NC this year's winter was actually COLDER than last year.  Last year the daytime temperature average (high and low combined) during meteorological winter was 42.4 F.  This year the average was 41.1 F!  Also, February 2015 wrapped up as the 7th coldest February in Charlotte history and coldest since 1978.  Many of you have commented for years about how we don't have "winters like when we were kids".  Well this year we did and oddly enough, when I was growing up in Virginia we only attended school one day the entire month of January during the winter of 1977-78 because of snow.  I was in the fourth grade and the last day of school that year was June 15th!

 Despite all this talk of record cold the calendar still reads March which means it is almost time to move the clocks forward (Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday) and we will be aerating greens soon. Historically we core aerate putting greens the third Monday in March which happens to be the 16th this year so we are only ten days away!  The course will be closed both Monday and Tuesday that week as we perform all necessary treatments (core aerate, remove cores, apply amendments, apply fertility, topdress, brush in topdressing sand, and irrigate).  It is a very labor intensive process but it is a labor of love as we give the greens a little TLC.  Okay, maybe it sounds more like "tough love" but hey, no pain no gain!  The temporary surface disruption encountered now provides us the ability to push our greens and provide the conditions everyone has come to expect and enjoy during our busy spring event calendar and sets us on the path to surviving summer.  Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy.

 Also, as spring approaches we will be making our spring pre-emergent herbicide applications to all bermudagrass areas and natural/native areas.  We will be spreading fresh mulch in all landscape and on-course areas before Easter.  And, hopefully we will make one final fairway colorant treatment to both enhance the color present but also help speed spring green-up and post-dormancy transition.  In other words, longer days are upon us and eventually the golf course will wake from winter hibernation. It is time to shake off those winter doldrums and get with it!  Am I speaking to the golfers or my staff :) 

Okay, if you are not a turf industry professional and unsure what the Golf Industry Show is, the following information is designed to assist you in understanding what it is we golf course superintendents, assistants, equipment managers, and other industry related personnel do when we gather annually.  This year marked the 13th consecutive GIS I have been fortunate to attend, starting with the 2003 show in Atlanta.  I also attended the 1999 show in Orlando while still a graduate student at Virginia Tech, but that is a different story for a different audience (you know who you are).  This year's conference marked the first time the GIS had been to San Antonio since 1978, and to the Lone Star State since Dallas in 2001, so this was my first time in Texas!

Golf Channel has done a phenomenal job the past few years showcasing the annual PGA Merchandise Show which takes place each year near the end of January.  PGA professionals come from all around the world to Orlando to see the new equipment and merchandise that will help all us golf lovers look and play our best.  Morning Drive, hosted by former Carolina Golf Club member Gary Williams has even broadcast directly from the trade show floor because we are all golf lovers and we all want to find ways to improve our games.

Well, the same is true for golf course superintendents.  We love the golf courses we are entrusted to care for and we are always striving for ways to improve course conditions while conserving costs and resources.  In fact, the GCSAA (Golf Course Superintendents Association of America) was founded in 1926 on that very principle.  A group of greenkeepers got together to share ideas in hopes to learn from one another.  It is this open communication and sharing that makes the golf course superintendent profession one of the greatest in the entire world, because deep down we are all brothers and willing do whatever is necessary to help one another when in need.  For evidence of this I submit what Lukas Harvey, Director of Agronomy at PGA National had to say about the response from local area superintendents when a storm ravaged last week's Honda Classic! CLICK HERE FOR STORY  
   
So back to this year's GIS, Golf Channel dispatched Geoff Shackelford to San Antonio to see what was going on and he managed to spend some time on the trade show floor, talk to some golf course superintendents, and even sat down with the CEO of GCSAA, Rhett Evans to talk about the state of our beloved game.  The segments were edited and aired last week on Morning Drive, and I even tweeted a link to a couple of them upon my return home.  Maybe you were fortunate to already see one or more of them, but if not I have linked each video below for your convenience.  The videos are brief, and you may see some similar footage shared between them but I think for the first time Golf Channel has done a nice job capturing the essence of the Golf Industry Show and why we superintendents come together each year.  Unfortunately there are brief advertisements leading in to these video segments, but hey it only takes 15 seconds to learn Chevy offers 4G LTE WiFi in the new Cruze, the Chrysler 200 is America's Import, or Golfsmith is currently having Trade-In Days so please watch.

 SHACKELFORD ON THE TRADE SHOW FLOOR! 2:10 

 SHACKELFORD TALKS WITH SUPERINTENDENTS! 1:30 

 SHACKELFORD TALKS WITH RHETT EVANS! 2:24  

Before I go I want to share one more video segment with you.  GCSAAtv was once again on hand filming events from the GIS and this video is a brief compilation of the Opening Session.  It includes recognition for outgoing GCSAA President, Keith Ihms, CGCS, the 2014 class of newly certified superintendents, and this year's Old Tom Morris Award winner, Dan Jenkins.  If you look closely you might recognize the guy at the 2:21 mark, but don't blink! 

 GCSAA TV! 3:46  

 Of course I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge one other highlight at this year's conference.  I received an award for the Best Overall Use of Social Media given by Golf Course Industry magazine in partnership with Aquatrols.  This marked the fourth consecutive year GCI recognized superintendents for their communication skills and the various ways we utilize social media to spread our message to our members, guests, and patrons.  I was recognized for how I use both this blog and my Twitter feed, @CGCGreenkeeper to communicate with you about Carolina Golf Club.


Receiving My Award From Pat Jones!
Information about the awards and other winners can be found HERE courtesy of Golf Course Industry. One of the best things about this year's GIS was meeting the other winners, along with other industry people that I have been sharing and communicating with over the past year.  It is cool to "tweet" with someone from anywhere in the world but it is way more cool to shake their hand!

 It was a fun time in San Antonio but I am happy to be home!  I always manage to come back recharged and ready for the spring/summer golf season that is just around the corner.  Like you I am tired of this cold, dreary winter weather and ready to get on the golf course and manicure some actively growing turf!  Fingers crossed and hoping for the best with regards to spring's arrival.

 See you on the course,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS
  
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Friday, February 20, 2015

Thoughts Behind An Unpopular Decision!

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"!  Today is Friday, February 20th and temperatures are still below freezing.  In fact we established a new record low this morning when the temperature bottomed out at 7 F officially in Charlotte.  Yesterday we established a new record (lowest recorded daytime high temperature) of 26 F as the previous record for February 19 was 32 F.  To put just how cold things currently are in perspective our averages this time of year are 57 F (high) and 34 F (low), and the temperature has now been below freezing in Charlotte approaching 48 hours.
Surface Temp of Nursery Green This AM in Shade
I know right now you're asking what all of this means.  For the first time in a long while we have soil frozen to depths greater than two or three inches, and although air temperatures are expected to finally climb back above the freezing mark tomorrow, soils do not thaw as rapidly.  Just think about how much time it takes to thaw your Thanksgiving turkey each year (several days in the refrigerator).  When soil freezes turf roots become encased in the frozen layer.  As the soil begins to thaw so do the roots, but unfortunately it takes time for soils frozen this deep to thaw completely.  This means there will be a period when thawing is taking place at or near the surface but the soil will remain frozen deeper below.  Thawed turf roots in the upper portion of the root zone are pliable but just an inch or more below the surface those same roots are trapped and encased in the frozen soil.  When this condition exists permanent turf injury can occur as traffic, whether from golf cars, maintenance equipment, maintenance workers, or even golfers suffering from cabin fever desperate to enjoy a few holes can cause irreparable harm as the turf roots become sheared off at the interface between the thawed and frozen layers of soil.  In other words, if we were to permit play during a delicate time like just described the foot traffic alone on the putting surfaces can shear off enough roots leaving our bentgrass weak and shallow rooted as spring approaches.
Surface Temp of Nursery Green This AM in Full Sun
Now, we actually opened the golf course today at noon for a few brave souls and you may be wondering how is that possible when it is so cold outside.  With the entire golf course frozen there is actually very little damage or harm that can occur so long as the exposed leaf tissue is pliable and not rigid.  We evaluate this by visual analysis and other means to determine if the leaf tissue can tolerate play while everything else remains frozen.  Contrary to popular ideas, golf course superintendents and professional turfgrass managers do not like making decisions which restrict or limit access to the golf course and hinder your enjoyment and experience.  However sometimes we are faced with conditions that force us to make unpopular decisions for the sake of the greater good (inconvenience some members trying to squeeze in some winter golf in order all members will have healthy, quality turf to enjoy later in the year).  In a typical North Carolina winter I do not face these types of decisions.  Usually if we get cold enough to freeze the rootzone, it isn't to current depths and thawing occurs without a frozen layer underneath.  Also, extreme freezing conditions such as these are not normally followed by drastic warm-ups as currently being forecast for tomorrow and Sunday.

Which bring us to my dilemma, the ingredients for the scenario I have just described are in place to occur this weekend, and I know many of you would like to play.  Yes, we are all tired of winter and more than ready for spring, but the next two days it may very well be necessary to refrain from using the golf course in order we may all enjoy healthier conditions when spring arrives.  My staff and I are closely monitoring the weather and trying our level best to assess and evaluate course conditions.  Stay tuned to the club for Twitter updates and feel free to contact the Golf Shop, as they will be my voice to you as we determine whether or not it is safe to use and enjoy the golf facilities this weekend in some capacity.  Please know I do not make such decisions in haste and without careful thought and consideration.  You have entrusted me to care for your golf course and to use my knowledge, skills, and practical experience to preserve, protect, and nurture your golf course for your year-round enjoyment.  If closing one or both days this weekend should become necessary I sincerely hope you know your patience and restraint will pay big dividends down the road.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Stay tuned,

Matthew Wharton, CGCS

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Friday, February 13, 2015

Dealing With Winter, Project Updates, and Recognition!

Hello and welcome to "The Greenkeeper"!  Today is Friday, February 13th and Old Man Winter is making his presence felt in the Carolinas today.  In fact, it is actually going to get much colder the next several days before it gets better, and that will impact your access to the golf course.  Notice temperatures never get above freezing on Sunday!  
I will touch on that and update you on some things me and my staff have been working on lately.  You know some people might think today is unlucky, but after what happened to me earlier this morning I would have to disagree (stay tuned to find out why).

 One thing every dedicated golfer encounters this time of year is frost delays.  I am not going to lecture here about why frost delays occur and why it is important for the long term health and safety of our golf course putting green turf to close the course until frost is no longer present.  For those of you seeking a refresher you can find that information HERE.  What I am going to tell you is this winter we have experienced some roller coaster weather with bitterly cold days and spring like temperatures.  Golf is an outdoor game and when the weather is exceptional (as experienced last weekend and over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday) people who like golf come out to play (294 rounds last weekend, 442 rounds over four-day MLK holiday).  

 We have always prided ourselves at Carolina Golf Club in our ability to accommodate our members and provide them with more access to the golf course than our neighbors.  The recent frost delays experienced on several weekend mornings led to me meeting with our Head Golf Professional, Knox Martin and Greens Committee Chairman, Stephen Woodard with the purpose of evaluating what we typically do when we encounter frost and have to delay starting times.  Part of our discussion included examining the methods employed by several neighboring clubs and comparing to ours. In the end we concluded we (Carolina Golf Club) do take the greatest measures to get you on the golf course as soon as possible, but we also want to accommodate as many members and guests as possible on any given day.   

 Historically when temperatures at Carolina fall below freezing and we encounter frost, the temperature does not rise above freezing until somewhere between 9:00 and 10:00 am.  With starting times beginning at 9:00 am a delay of one hour is not unexpected.  However there are times when the ground is frozen, the air temperature does not warm as rapidly, and the frost persists much longer than folks can tolerate.  Tomorrow has the making to be one of those mornings and thus we are having our first Saturday Winter Shotgun.  Tomorrow's 11:00 am shotgun is an effort to accommodate as many participants as possible during the warmest time of day rather than endure a potential frost delay of close to two hours.  Essentially we are accounting for the temporary course closure before the shotgun starts.  Hopefully things will go smoothly for all parties involved, but please provide us with your feedback with regards to this experience so we can better serve you and your guests.  Predicting and working around inclement weather while ensuring any inconvenience to your experience is minimized can be quite challenging this time of year.  Thank you for your patience!  

 In other news, the staff has been keeping busy despite the peaks and valleys associated with this year's winter weather.  At this point the entire network of cart path has been edged, all tee markers have been refurbished and placed back on the course, all while continuously maintaining our greens and bunkers.  We also have been removing and hauling away leaves, pine needles and other debris from the natural/native areas.
Next we will be refurbishing all hazard stakes.  For those of you playing in tomorrow's shotgun you may notice all hazard stakes have been removed from the course.  Just remember a line is present and the line defines the margin of the hazard.  Stakes only serve to identify a hazard is present when lines are used to define the margins.

 If you were to gaze across the golf course from just about any point on the property you should notice the golf course is what we golf course superintendents commonly call "clean".  This means the course is generally free of weeds and other unwanted plants.  We achieve this high level of "cleanliness" by virtue of our pre-emergent herbicide program.  We utilize both a spring and fall application regime to prevent the germination and establishment of annual grassy weeds.  Our spring application controls crabgrass and goosegrass and our fall application is used to combat annual bluegrass (AKA Poa annua).  The products we have selected for our program are highly effective but they do not come without any drawbacks.  Our fall pre-emergent herbicide, Specticle has been one of the most effective I have ever used in my career, but we cannot use it too close to the putting surfaces due to the risk we may injure our bentgrass putting green turf.  Therefore we are forced to use a different product close to the putting greens that is safe for our bentgrass.  What we gain in safety to our bentgrass we lose in overall effectiveness and thus we may only achieve 85-90 percent control in and around the putting greens.  
Poa Plants Exhibiting Herbicide Injury
More Herbicide Injury To Poa



Now 85-90 percent control sounds wonderful, but when compared to the near 98-99 percent control we achieve throughout the remainder of the golf course, these areas of breakthrough near the greens can drive guys like me crazy.  I know, I am starting to lose you here but there is good news.  We do have the ability to treat the Poa annua safely with post-emergent products this time of year when play is greatly reduced and the plants are small.  We just recently wrapped up these treatments and the product is already taking effect, as evidenced by the chlorosis (fancy word for "turning yellow") exhibited by the plants.  In other words, our treatments are working and you and me both can sleep easier knowing Poa annua is not able to establish itself on our golf course.
Finally, earlier this morning it was announced I am being recognized and the recipient of an award to be given out February 25th at the Golf Industry Show.  Golf Course Industry magazine and Aquatrols are once again sponsoring the SUPER SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS at the upcoming GIS in San Antonio.  This is the fourth annual event for these awards and it truly is a thrill to be selected, but more importantly it is a higher honor just to be nominated.  For you see, the nominations came from my peers... golf course superintendents, assistant superintendents, turf industry professionals, professors, and etc.  To think this guy that still considers himself a nubie to this whole thing made an award winning impression on his peers is pretty humbling.  Maybe I will just tell folks I won "Rookie of the Year".  
The funny thing is I created this blog in 2011 to help me explain to you, the members what is happening on your golf course and why.  I joined Twitter two years later to help tell that same message and allow tweets to "bridge the gap" between blog posts.  I never knew this entire other world existed, a world of turf industry professionals from all around the globe posting and sharing information with one another in real time.  It was like having the curtain pulled back to reveal the world's largest association meeting in progress where turf nerds were hanging out talking turf!  Thanks to all of you that welcomed me from the very start and encouraged me to share, your posts have helped me and I have picked up useful tips I incorporated at my facility, and I hope somewhere along the way I helped some of you as well.  

See you in San Antonio,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS
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